Targeting trout?

[FishinDJ]

When I was younger I recall fishing deep for bows and browns. After recently getting back into ice fishing I have been reading about setting tip ups just under the ice. Thoughts?

[tench]

Find the bait and fish where the bait is... If smelt are 10' down set your tip ups there, if they're 50' down set your tip ups there. Big fish eat little fish... In shallow sometimes fishing crawlers or eggs just under the ice can produce too 

[BomoBrown]

Most of my browns have been off of the bottom at depths ranging from 15 feet to 50.  That being said I have had one on the line at same time a neighbor had one just under the ice. I think they Cruise in schools at multiple depths. 

I always worry that the trout will cruise above my bait unable to see it but still my bottom lines get hit the most.

I also seem to have the best luck with fat heads when I do not have smelt on hand.

[peteinvermont]

I have no clue what depth we catch our browns at because I always get them right under the ice.  I do know lots of them come in areas I can see the bottom, so say 12ft or less depth.

[vermont mike]

Stagger the baits at different depths, once you find them switch at that depth.
I've had best luck at 12-20 FOW with bait suspended at 2-4' under the ice.
But I have also caught them in 2-3 FOW just under the ice while fishing for rainbows.
And also caught them just off the bottom fishing for walleyes.
But most common suspended 2-4' under the ice.

[spot]

When I was younger I recall fishing deep for bows and browns. After recently getting back into ice fishing I have been reading about setting tip ups just under the ice. Thoughts?

We always used to get them deeper down, too. I was pretty surprised when I saw people getting them right under the ice. I think Tench has it right: follow the bait, if they're eating smelt then they won't be far from where the smelt are.

[fishy1]

i fish bows and browns along shore lines in shallow water with crawlers when we have safe ice. not going to happen this year.

[finlessbrown]

it depends what lake you fish. some lakes they are on the bottom some just under the ice and some are mid depth

[FishinDJ]

Thanks for the tips everyone, I appreciate it

[Troutmagnet]

Find the bait and fish where the bait is... If smelt are 10' down set your tip ups there, if they're 50' down set your tip ups there. Big fish eat little fish... In shallow sometimes fishing crawlers or eggs just under the ice can produce too 

Tench, are you talking about using salmon eggs? Has anyone ever tried to fish using perch egg sacks?

[spot]

I tried them (perch eggs) when I was a kid. The fish like them, but they come apart with every nibble, so you end up baiting the hook a lot and feeding the fish at the same time. 

 my son likes to use power bait eggs through the ice.

[FishinDJ]

Thanks again for the replies everyone, I played around with tip ups at different depths and caught this little guy just under the ice on a nightcrawler. No lunker but it sure felt pretty good to bring a trout thru the ice again It was a slow day but I tried out my flasher for the first time and caught a few perch as well....safe to say I'm 'hooked' again

screen shot on pc

[peteinvermont]

Thanks again for the replies everyone, I played around with tip ups at different depths and caught this little guy just under the ice on a nightcrawler. No lunker but it sure felt pretty good to bring a trout thru the ice again It was a slow day but I tried out my flasher for the first time and caught a few perch as well....safe to say I'm 'hooked' again

screen shot on pc

Nice work.  Forums can be such a snakepit sometimes, but when people help other people, it sure makes it all worth it.