How deep do you go?

[WalleyeStriker]

Hey everyone, I was wondering how far down your line is when your using tip-ups? Also I was wondering what kind of lures you put at the end of the line? And one more thing, how much line do you put on the spool? Thank you!

[Bobb-o]

generally it depends on the type of bait you are using. When i am using live suckers or shiners i like to put them aboot 1-3 feet off the bottom. When using dead bait, i either put it right on the bottom or maybe aboot 1 foot under the ice. Generally if you are using tip-ups for northern pike or larger walleyes youa re going to want to use something similar to a quick-strike rig which you can buy at any outdoors store, or you can make one yourself, by putting a small spinner blade above a treble hook (the spinner blade is essential because without it your rig will be illegal). some people will just put jigs on the end of their tip-ups for walleyes, bass, or even crappies. one hook that works really well at the end of a tip-up is a circle-hook, cuz it is almost impossible to gut hook a fish with one, just remember if you are using a circle hook not to set the hook, but just to gradually increase the tension on the line, the hook will do all the work. I generally put enough tip-up line on to fill the spool aboot 3/4 full.

[WyoChris]

Do people often use treble hooks on thier tip-ups? Thats what i usually use..... but i only ice fished last season and never caught a thing on a tip up all season.

[Bobb-o]

i mostly use treble hooks on mine, and i know a lot of people who use treble hooks exclusively also.

[efgh]

When you use a treble hook, my understanding is, it is considered 3 hooks and you need a spinner above it to make it legal in Mn.

[efgh]

When using dead smelt or any dead bait, I always place it 3 or 4 ft. below the ice no matter how deep the water is when I fish pike, reason, the underside of the ice is like a big mirror and reflects the bait image in all directions, pike are sight and smell feeders and like to inspect their prey before feeding. I place Live bait 2 feet off the bottom.

[lars0926]

Using a treble hook is considered 3 hooks and is illegal. In addition, simply adding a spinner does not count. The treble hook can only be used as part of a "lure". I know this from first-hand experience. We had some guests over from Wisconsin for a 4-day fishing trip to Leech Lake and all but my father-in-law and I got busted. I told them treble hooks were illegal, but they didn't listen. They were all fined. The best thing to do is to use a regular hook for walleye minnow or anything smaller. Shiners and larger should get a circle hook. Just my $0.02. A hefty fine is the spoiler of the best outing.

Note: I used to use treble hooks and I came across a CO that was a little more forgiving. I was on Phalen two winters ago and he checked my line and told me about the whole "treble hook" thing and only gave me a warning. Since then I've moved to single hooks. There is a popular rumor that adding a spinner makes it a lure, which is not the case. It would need to be a single body lure, such as a jigging spoon of some variety.

[lenny4077]

I also vary my depth depending on where I am fishing and the time of year. My best luck for early ice is to find the largest weed bed on the lake. Then find the steepest dropoff to the deepest water adjacent to the weed bed. Depending on how many people you have with you, I put out some tip ups on top of the flat (usually in the top 1/3 of the water column, in 10ft of water I put the bait 3-4 feet deep). Move to the middle of the dropoff and place some baits in the middle 2/3 of the water column (in 20ft of water I put the bait 10-15 feet deep). Then place some tip ups at the base of the dropoff and have the baits in the bottom 1/3 of the water column (30ft of water I have the baits within 5ft of the bottom). If the base of the dropoff is deeper than 40ft I will put my deep baits at 40ft and keep moving up until I find some fish. Like I said this depends on how many people you have out with you. When I go out fishing by myself I usually will put down one tip up (in any of the above mentioned places) and then move around with a large jigging spoon and a piece of belly skin from a sucker minnow until I find some active fish.

[coldmark]

Can anyone verify lars0926's take on treble hooks in MN? I've read numerous posts that said adding a tiny flipper makes it legal. I'm preparing for my trip and need to know.

In Michigan, I use a #6 or #8 treble hook for walleye with a medium to large sucker or shiner. Uwsually about 1 1/2 feet off the bottom. Add a few beads and/or small spinner if I want to jazz it up a bit, but usually just a fiesty minnow. No treble hook restrictions here.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

If you just slide a spinner onto your line before tying on a treble that is illegal. To make it legal you need to make a lure. Easiest way is to make a lindy rig type of leader with either heavy mono or wire.

When I fish walleyes on tipups I prefer to use a single hook, the size depends of the minnow size. this I tie onto a piece florocarbon attached to the main line. I dont like the bulk of spinners and trebles when fishing walleyes.

Northerns I do use trebles (quickstrike rigs) but those I buy and are already setup with small spinners to make them legal.

[Hookmaster]

I asked the treble question to a CO at the Sportshow 2 years ago. He said the treble needs to be within 3 or 6 inches, I don't remember which. He said nothing about how it is attached to the line.