I find that Splake are in all areas of the water column. I set a couple tip-ups near the bottom, a couple about half way up and a couple just under the ice. I also jig with a small swedish pimple tipped with a fat head or a big swedish pimple tipped with spikes. I will jig all areas of the water column also. It helps to have a flasher. If you can get on the bait fish, especially smelt, you have a good chance of getting on the splake.