tip-up pike

[art321]

I want to try a small lake(70 acres) near our home for pike on tip-ups with my 5 year old son when it warms up. He's caught walleye on tip-ups but I think he's ready to really feel a tug on the line. The lake has 2 holes about 35ft deep. What would be your approach to getting some flags this time of year? I think I will put 2 in shallow (6-7ft), one midway to the hole (15ft), and one at the base of the drop(25-30ft). Does that sound like a good game plan or switchit around some?

[Doop]

If you are going to put out tip ups soon...lets say before march I would try the approach you mentioned. Try to cover the entire water column with amount of tip ups you have out. Put one a foot off the bottom...and work your way up until you have one right under the ice.

The primetime will be in March/April when the big girls start getting the itch to spawn. They will go shallow near an inlet/river/creek...they'll stage/feed in a bay before they actually hit the creek. If you can find an area like that...I'd set up there. If you don't have any feeder creeks or anything like that....look for a shallow bay that may have held weeds the previous open water season. Good Luck getting that little guy some action! I can't wait until my 3 year old is old enough to do this!

[andrew chadwick]

Pike season closes in february, so dont even think about putting a tip up out past then, unless you like the idea of getting a ticket.

[art321]

He's from Texas. He didn't know our rules. As to your reference to putting them at all levels of the water column, I was actually speaking of putting them all about 2-3ft off the bottom from water that is 5-10ft deep down to the deeper hole that is 35ft deep. You know, running a straight line out from shallow to deep. Or does anyone feel I should concentrate on one depth more than others. I've caught them at all depths but just thought I'd put it out there for the group to elaborate on in case I'm missing something. Spearing usually occurs in shallower water, doesn't it?

[Doop]

LOL...I do know the rules..but thanks for asking.

I tip up fish on LOTW where you can fish northerns at that time of the year and that's what I was referring to...my fault for not making that clear in my post. ooops.

[andrew chadwick]

I heard a rumor that that will be, or has changed as well, does anyone have any confirmation?

[art321]

doop, didn't mean to insult you. I just made an assumption. I'm glad you're here to contribute and visit MN. I'd love to get up to LOTW for those big pike some day. Aslo glad you take the time to know the laws. Alot of Minnesotans that hunt and fish often don't.