Tip-ups for Northerns??

[Deep_Sinker]

Can anyone shed some light on the best way to fish for northerns under tip-ups? I have heard suckers or shiners off the bottom? Will smelt or ciscos work? The real question is what is the preferred URL gator set-up? I'm heading up there this weekend and would like to try for the big one...

[Random guy]

http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=691899&page=2&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

Check this out from last week.

[matthothand]

Anyone have any success with smelt? I plan on using jumbo smelt and also wetting a few suckers. Just wondering which has been doing better for some.

[Random guy]

I have never used smelt on Red but have used large frozen shiners with some success. Remember Red is a unclear or stained water and pike will use sound and vibration to find baitfish more then relying on site. A sucker will give you this where as a dead smelt doesn't move around to much.

[matthothand]

Sounds good. There's three of us so I'll put the stinky smelt on one rig just cause I'm a rebel but as I said I do plan on using suckers too. It's just a matter of how long to let that smelt dangle before swapping it for a real treat.

[Random guy]

Ya know the stink factor does come into play and smelt do stink!

[FishPiCkLeS]

My 2 pennies are this: I've had pretty good luck on the southern lakes down here using smelt. I do however need to mix it up a little. I take a frozen smelt and break it in half. Use a big hook, put on a fathead, then put the smelt on so the head and tail face the same way. Then put on another fat head... You end up with a big stinky cluster of fish bait and it still moves... Sounds primitive, but seems to work for me here better than a live chub even. Its alot to swallow, but dont they say "big minnow big fish, little minnow little fish, no minnow no fish"?

Pickles

[Deep_Sinker]

Wow, I like your creativity FishPickles. I just might try that. It seems very logical, as I have caught gators on smelt and minnows but never together. Thanks! I let you know how we do.

[PRWoody]

Trying using hotdogs!

[matthothand]

Sounds crazy enough to work! And I'm crazy enough to try it! I'll post how I do. Won't be out til next weekend but we're gonna give 'er heck.

[Stan7600]

Are quick-strike rigs legal in MN? We used them on Devil's Lake last week with frozen smelt and they worked great. Stan C.

[Random guy]

Quote:

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Trying using hotdogs!

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Sorry guys you are off a little...if you want to catch big pike in the Waskish area you have to use Polska Kielbasa!

[Lip RIPPER!]

Quick strike rigs are legal.

[matthothand]

As long as there is a bead or a spinner blade on the rig it is legal...and lethal.

[Random guy]

I believe you need a bead or spinner to classify them as a lure for the multiple hooks? Is this correct?

[matthothand]

Indeed you are correct. I had to elaborate on this issue with a rookie CO years back as he was attempting to cite me with a ticket for fishing with trebles on a homemade rig under a tip-up. Multiple hooks may be used when part of an artificial lure. Artificial lure status may be attained by the addition of beads or blades.

[mskyfshntchr]

I called the DNR office this year before using them and they said that there must be a spinner within 3" of each hook. Just a bead is not enough.

Good luck.

[Bobb-o]

I have it in writing from the DNR that says that a bead, feather, or spinner will do the job. They also told me that they are trying to make just plain trebles under a tip-up legal. I have the email still if anyone wants me to forward it to them as it is always nice to have it in writing if questioned by the CO.

"They don't meet the definition of an artificial lure so they are illegal. However, if they are modfied by adding a bead or feather or blade or whatever they would be considered artificial lures and be legal. You can add bait to any lure. By the way, this year we are trying to make legal some hook set-ups such as treble hooks. Stay tuned.

Any more questions feel free to contact me."

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Allen Stevens

Lake and Stream Survey Program Consultant

MN DNR Fisheries

500 Lafayette Rd, Box12

St. Paul, MN 55155-4012

phone: 651-259-5239 fax:651-297-4916

email: [email protected]

[Muskie_Man]

JUST HAVE PLENTY LINE ON THE TIP-UPS LOST A COUPLE OF THEM IN THE PAST!!!! RIGHT DOWN THE HOLE COULDN'T RUN FAST ENOUGH. ( I DO USE STRIKE SENSORS TOO)

[crdsrob]

A couple questions: What is the consensus about how much line is enough. 100 yards, 200 yards? Also, my friends and I have been in a debate about when to set the hook on these gators. Have caught plenty of pike on tip-ups and have caught several Red Lake gators in the summer, but not sure what to do in the winters. Do you suggest setting the hook right away while the tip-up is still spinning or let them take the line until it stops spinning and then set it? Finally, what size suckers are you using?

Thanks for the advice

[LABS4ME]

Use quick strike rigs... as the name implies, you set it right away, lessens the chance of "gut" or "gill" hooked fish. That way they can photo's and released unharmed.

Good Luck!

Ken

[Walleye Guy]

With a quike strike rig or a treble hook set-up I set the hook as soon as I get to the tip-up. If you wait until they stop you increase the chances of having them swallow the hook.

[Random guy]

With a quick strike rig pick up the tip gently allowing the fish to run until you can get a good grip on the line and let em have it as soon as you can. The faster you get to the tip-up and set the hook the better with a quick strike rig, you want to set the hook while the fish running or leaving creating a good hook up in the fishes mouth and not it's belly.

[eyepatrol]

I'm new to tip-up fishing for pike also. And these questions are going to sound real dumb, but what pound test should I use? I've got some 20lb mono...would that suffice? Also, I would assume you need to use a steel leader and attach your hook directly to the steel leader? If so, how long of a steel leader do you use and does it matter if it's silver or black colored? I have a few 9" titanium leaders. Last but not least...how big of a sucker minnow should a guy use and how much weight would it take to keep the minnow down there in the strike zone? Has anyone ever tried to cut the sucker minnow's tail off so that it can't swim so well and so that it realeases off some "blood" scent?

thanks for any and all help!

[Random guy]

Not dumb questions at all. My basic set up for tip up pike is a wood based tip-up (I like the classic look ) with a spool filled with 30 lb black braided line. I seem to have the best luck with the good old black braid that that has been around since the fifties. I then attach a 80lb fluorocarbon leader about 24 inches long with a GOOD ball bearing swivel and top it off with a quick strike rig or circle hook. I very seldom use weights on my tip up rigs unless I’m fishing deep. I like to let the sucker swim around at different levels and appear as natural as possible; the hook through the back is enough to give the sucker a panic or wounded action while keeping it down. The one trouble with this is the sucker may tangle itself up so you need to check it from time to time.

As far as sucker size that is a tough question, try to match the size of fish you wish to target for that water. On red I use 8” suckers, smaller lakes I use 4-5 inch bait and LOTW I have to wrestle them down to get the hooks in . The trouble with big suckers is they trip your flag when they really get kicking. Try slicing the tail lengthwise many times in between the “vanes” or “ridges” (?) in the tail, this will allow the bait to move around without enough power to trip the flag.

Tip up fishing is an effective tool for the winter angler when using a tip up paired with jigging. I like to jig for pike in the house and watch a tip up from a distance. For me it's just like having another thirty something, overweight, balding angler sitting on the ice next to me.

[eyepatrol]

Thanks for the info Jon! Looks like I got a little shopping and re-rigging to do.

[eyepatrol]

Jon -

One last follow-up question...how much line would you estimate you put on the spool of your tip-up?

[Random guy]

The tip-ups I use hold an entire smaller spool of Mason tip up line. Not sure how much that is but I like to keep the spool as full as possible.