-Hot tip from  SAMMUNN@aol.com 
When fishing for Pike over shallow weeds (5-8feet), I keep the shiner 
directly under the hole by placing a split shot at the top of the leader. I 
also use a devise called "The Shiner Shiner" on my tip-up. The Shiner Shiner 
is a mirror that attaches to the top of the tip-up that is pointed at the sun 
so the beam of light is aimed into the hole and onto the shiner below. This 
draws the attention to the Pike and thus prompts the Pike to strike. This 
also works great on trout and panfish too.   
www.shinershiner.com

-Hot tip from  Jon Eis - Mishicot, WI
One thing you always want to keep the same, is the depth you have your line 
set at.  If a fish takes your bait out about 50ft and you lose the fish your depth is 
all screwed up.  To save alot of time on resetting your depth, put a small round
bobber (those red/white or orange/yellow ones) on the line just coming off the 
spool. Also, if you have a flag go up and you run to it you can tell if any line was
taken out by whether the bobber is gone or not in its original position.
   
-Hot tip from  James Condusta
Check out the ice jigging buddy tip-up that jigs your bait for you. 
     
-Hot tip from  Russ Shoberg
In Maine the most popular types of tip ups (called "traps" here) 
are the Thompson, the Moosehead, the Heritage, and what we call "Factor X" traps.  
I think that most are made here in Maine.  Very few folks hereuse Igloo or Polar.  
They lean to lots of braided line (50+ yds) with a 5-15 ft mono leader of an 
appropriate poundage for your target fish.Target fish are usually togue (Lake 
trout in the Great Lakes region),browns or brook trout, splake, and landlocked 
salmon (version of Atlantic salmon, native to the Sebago lake region of Maine).  
Folks fishing non-trouty waters also take chain pickerel and largemouth 
& smallmouth bass on traps.  Having moved from the UP of MI to Maine, it's a 
similar sort of place. However, the fishing is different as far as what to catch 
and how to do it.
 
 Having a ball here in New England.

RJS

-Hot tip from   Kenneth Laessig
The wind tip-up known as "Mr. Tip-up" they were carried for 5 years in Gander 
Mountain stores in Wisconsin. The maker Ken Laessig was featured on a ice 
fishing segment with Debra Johansen from "OUTDOOR ENCOUNTERS" in 1996.  
Good video footage of how well the product works to catch all kinds of fish. 
It features a "built in" lighting system, powered by 9-volt battery, made from 
solid oak, (or red cedar) and beautifully handcrafted here in Wisconsin! 

-Hot tip from The Shanty
When the northern pike action slows use a 20lb monofilament leader. You will 
lose some fish due to those northerns teeth but you WILL have more action.
Check out some of the new fishing lines available Red prism Swedish pimples are 
proven walleye killers. I hate to even give this secret out. Tie this baby 
on some 2-10 spider wire leader and get ready for some walleye action.
New treble hooks should be slightly bent out with a needle nose pliers.
I leave one alone and hook the minnow on it and seems to stay on better. 
Check your knots every time you go fishing or tie a new hook on. 
Knot Links
Grants Guide to fishin knots
Ropers KNot Links all the knots you can imagine
-CHECK those tip-ups often raising them up to look at the minnow I get more 
strikes this way than anything I do I had fish take it right out of my hands!

Send your hot tip-up tips to  The Shanty