Large Live bait

[StCroice]

What's the largest live bait you guys have used on a tip up for pike?  Any tricks with keeping the bait from triggering the flag?

[Gills-only]

Trim the fins, they can’t pull as hard but can still swim

[Kevin23]

Ha you can't go too big! Personally, a 10.5" golden shiner that I caught on a jig (never seen one there before). Put him on a tipup and got the fish in my avatar. 12.8lb.

I use polars and set in the thick groove, then tighten the freespool nut so the bait won't trip. I use a lot of bluegills for bait and they can trip a lot easier than a shiner or sucker when spooked.

[UFCreel]

I like to use 8 inch plus Crappie where it is legal to do so. Pike love em.

[Alex Delarge]

Attach a downrigger release to the bottom of your trap, the type of release that resembles a clothespin. Adjust accordingly.

[esox_xtm]

The famous "rubber band trick": https://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=266318.0

[kpd145]

Rubber band.

I used to nip them with a nail clipper. Super clean and accurate cut.

[StCroice]

Thanks guys good stuff!

[Doeslayer]

14" sucker... Cut just the tail fin off and that little nub with go like crazy but generate no force... Creates a helluva struggle

[Gills-only]

14" sucker... Cut just the tail fin off and that little nub with go like crazy but generate no force... Creates a helluva struggle

.        Like I said, do some trimming !!

[esox_xtm]

Trimming tails only goes so far. Few years back had a 6 -7" chub kept popping the flag. Every time I went out I clipped a little more tail. After 5 -6 trips out for nothing I just cut the whole thing off. Don't know how it did it, still had another false alarm. But only one. The flag after that was a 39" musky.

[Gills-only]

Trimming tails only goes so far. Few years back had a 6 -7" chub kept popping the flag. Every time I went out I clipped a little more tail. After 5 -6 trips out for nothing I just cut the whole thing off. Don't know how it did it, still had another false alarm. But only one. The flag after that was a 39" musky.

.       I also trim some fins, they will swim in a somewhat circle, and really look wounded!

[Doeslayer]

Trimming tails only goes so far. Few years back had a 6 -7" chub kept popping the flag. Every time I went out I clipped a little more tail. After 5 -6 trips out for nothing I just cut the whole thing off. Don't know how it did it, still had another false alarm. But only one. The flag after that was a 39" musky.

Chubs seem to be livelier than suckers... Also super rare to find anymore... Except in the creeks and irrigation ditches... But no baitshops seem to carry em except a stray one or two.... Redtail chub hooked through the meat of the tail was a go to for walleye when i was a kid