Live or dead tip-up bait?

[Steve Foss]

This one came up a couple years back, but there are LOTS of new FM members, so I'm interested in everyone's experience.

Dead bait (cisco or smelt) has outperformed live bait for me 2 to 1 in side-by-side tests under tip-ups for pike. I've done these tests in N.D., where you can use four tip-ups, in Wis., where you can use three, and Minn., where it's two.

My live bait of choice during the tests was live suckers from 4 to 8 inches long, and I think that's probably most tip-uppers' choice for live, too. Now, I simply don't go to the expense and hassle of carrying live bait around for tip-up pike. Frozen ciscos are easy to carry and use. No minnow bucket, no hands in really cold bucket water, nada.

My first outing this year, last weekend on Birch Lake near Babbitt, brought 29 flags, with 15 pike coming through the hole. Nothing but dead cisco for bait. Now, that was an exceptional day even for Birch, which is a pike (and big pike) mecca.

What experiences to you all have with live and dead bait for pike, and which do you prefer?

[PGAGolfPro]

stcatfish~

I actually have done quite well with live bait...most of my fishing has been in the twin cities/metro area and the bait of choice has been suckers. I will say that most recently I have started to use shiners on tip-ups for northerns and done very well.

As for Birch Lake, I have been to formentioned area (Kramer Bay) a few times for the early season northern run and have used only dead cisco and had numerous flags as well. It probably just depends on the lake for what type of bait to use. Certain lakes may prefer certain baits.

As for the trophy potential of Birch, my cousin who is from babbitt, has a 21lb northern hanging on the wall. What a fish!

[Random guy]

Both. I always try to set one with live bait 8-14 inch sucker and I will rig the other with a frozen ciscoe or big shiner until I see what the fish are after that day. If I am going after crappies or walleyes and the chance at a pike is there I will bring some frozen bait with just because it will pack easy and I don't have to babysit a cooler full of suckers all day while I'm trying to fish other species.

[Cooter]

Haven't given the dead bait a real shot, will do that this year. As far as livebait I'm not convinced that suckers or shiners are better - I think both work well if the fish are there and active. I go with shiners usually simply because they seem to 'keep' longer both on the hook and in the bucket.

One question, does the dead bait need to be on the bottom or is it effective suspended as well?

[buzzin for bass]

We had good luck last year with dead shinners (the ones that were in the bucket for a little too long) hanging one to two feet below the bottom of the ice, in fairly shallow areas, 5-12 fow. Never had much experience ice fishing, but that sure seemed to work for us last year. In fact, after a while we began throwing our shinners out on the ice while we were drilling and setting up the tip ups to have more dead bait. We seemed to to better with the live suckers right off the bottom and anything dead just under the ice.

Where do you guys get the dead ciscos and smelt and do you know if there are any restrictions about using either?

[RK]

Hiya,

I've always preferred dead bait. Year in and year out it seems to outproduce live bait, particularly on bigger fish. I think big pike can really show a preference for scavenging in cold water, and from what a few folks have described to me about catching big summer pike, even during open water. I think scent has a lot to do with it. Big stinky smelt really can do a number on pike under the ice. Plus, as someone else said, no messing around with keeping minnows in a bucket. I just keep frozen smelt in ziploc bags. After an unfortunate incident with some wet coveralls and a dryer a couple years back, I also try really, really hard to remember to take them out of my pocket when I get home...

I typically fish them on quick strikes without weight, and as near as I can tell, it doesn't make a lick of difference whether or not they're horizontal. I just hang 'em upside down. When I do use a weight, I run a bullet sinker with the point towards the bait so that if I fish takes a quick run and the bait gets into any cover it'll slide through or slip before the fish feels resistance.

I do tend to fish my sets higher off the bottom than a lot of guys seem to with dead bait. I catch a lot of pike with baits basically suspended mid-way between the ice and the bottom, even in fairly deep (14-18 feet) water. Rarely do I set baits closer than a couple feet off the bottom unless fish are really 'off.' Up on shallower flats, sometimes baits just a few feet down can get hit a lot. Seems like pike will cruise just under the ice looking for fish that have croaked and floated up. Seems especially true late in the season when you're somewhere you can fish pike late ice.

Cheers,

RK

[Crickschop04]

I was thinking of going to a nearby stream and catching a bunch of creek chubs to freeze for bait. Anyone used live or dead creek chubs???

[RuKiddingMe]

Hey great topic, now for the big question, say a guy wants to try out this dead bait BST, where could one find some in the Metro Area? I'm a consultant and travel the Metro daily so I'm not locked to any specific area. I'd like to get out this weekend if the ice is in good shape.

RK, that cracks me up about forgetting in the pocket and sending them through the dryer, man I think I'd be dead bait after that. haha

RU

[Random guy]

Quote:

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RK, that cracks me up about forgetting in the pocket and sending them through the dryer, man I think I'd be dead bait after that. haha

RU

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Shoulda thrown some salt in the works and made snacks.

[hogsucker]

Quote:

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Hey great topic, now for the big question, say a guy wants to try out this dead bait BST, where could one find some in the Metro Area?

Vado's in Spring Lake Park(off hwy 65) usually has frozen ciscoes and smelt. ~hogsucker

[RuKiddingMe]

Quote:

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Shoulda thrown some salt in the works and made snacks.

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Yummy, my mouth is watering...

Thanks for the smelt reply, and it just so happens to be close to home.

RU

[cybermuskie]

I guess I will throw in my .02 cents on the question...live or dead. My friends and I have been going to LOW in march for the last 8 or 9 years, and we have tried both live suckers and smelt, and ciscos. And for us atleast the live suckers have done best. There was only one time that smelt did better for us. We always try to get the biggest suckers we can find, I would say up to 14 inches. Yeah you get a few falsies but you learn how to set them big hogs so the don't trip every 5 mins. So I guess my vote is for live suckers.

[RK]

Hiya,

Yeah, the tumble-dried smelt was a sad deal. Wasn't a lot of fun picking half-cooked smooshed smelt outa the lint filter. Didn't smell the best either. Fortunately I was still a bachelor at the time. Man, if I did that now... The BOSS is cool with keeping maggots in the fridge, and the only time she complains about me going fishing is when she can't go with, but if I ran smelt through her dryer, I'd be a dead man.

I usually get smelt either at Vados, or at someplace like Coastal Seafoods. They can usually order it.

Someone asked about dead chubs. Yeah, they work. I've only used them a couple times, and done fine, but I know some guys that fish LoTWs in March that swear by them.

Cheers,

RK

[Random guy]

Cyber,March, LOW, big suckers, Backus...do you know Kenny Carlson? I used to go up to LOW for pike with him in March when I lived in Walker.

[cybermuskie]

Jon...I guess the name doesn't ring a bell, but I really don't know that many people around here yet cuz I work road constuction around Duluth all summer. The wife grew up around here so she knows more people here. I go to LOW with guys I know from when I lived in Bemidji. Nothin better than yelling "Tippie" in March! I am just waiting for the slot to kick in a bit more and start seeing more of the big girls. The last couple years have been a bit slower for us on the big girls. But we may not have hit it right either.

Have a good winter!

[Random guy]

Look him up. He is a big pike under tip up guru. Our last few trips up to LOW was a little on the tough side also. Getting to be alot of poeple learning the "secret spots"

[cybermuskie]

Jon.... I asked the wife if she knew the name.She wondered if he didn't have a welding shop,but she said there are alot of Carlson's in the area. I hear ya on the secret getting out though. When it's slow....it's really slow, but ya never know what flag might be the one. It's always a good time. Keep me in mind when it comes tippie time, and maybe we can trade info if one of us goes up before the other. We have our first baby coming in Jan. so I am not sure how much fishing I will get to do this year. But I always like to get up there for a few days.