Alternative bait for tip ups

[perchking4ever]

Anyone one use any baits besides minnows on tip ups? I know nightcrawlers work for trout but has anyone had any luck with nightcrawlers or any other bait for pike, perch, or walleye on tip ups?

[Eric27930]

Bass go crazy for suckers if you can find them

[hardwater diehard]

Mostly a dead stick technique but could work with tip up I guess

[ran7ger]

hotdogs f.t.w 

[Sierra57]

I always keep a ziploc bag full of hotdogs and garlic salt with me

[WARRIOR_ON_ICE]

I have had good action using frozen whole sardines laid right on the bottom. These sardines are 6-8 long so no tiny pike caught with them but also no monsters on them yet, but plenty of 30-35 inch pike caught on these.

[chilly-willy]

Small perch ans blue gills take big pike! Michigan law allows us to use fish out of the body of water we cought them from as bait..so check local regs!

[albo]

smelt and cut bait

[Whytie]

Leeches, no joke. Kept some alive after fall fishing and caught a few sauger and walleye before I ran out. Used a small treble with a slip shot 2' up. Hardest part is keeping them alive for 2 months.

[eiderz]

A small hook, size 12-14, with 4-5 spikes on it will catch any panfish, walleyes and most salmonids. Especially deadly on rainbow trout. Trebles work well but gut hook a lot of fish. The main problem is a light leader is required so you may break off large fish.

[Light liner]

Second on perch.
Pike and lakers love them.

[SirCranksalot]

Leeches, no joke. Kept some alive after fall fishing and caught a few sauger and walleye before I ran out. Used a small treble with a slip shot 2' up. Hardest part is keeping them alive for 2 months.

Feed them red meat occasionally perhaps??

[Iceassin]

Cisco/Whitefish can be deadly. Pike love that oily smell...and taste.

[DaveSS1]

besides minnows, I have used crawlers on a small pond I used to fish for trout with ok success.  Also spawn sacks with salmon eggs can be ok for trout in lake or if you fish any larger lakes connected to the great lakes for various silver fish.

[chilly-willy]

Second on perch.
Pike and lakers love them.

That's why I will only carry spikes or waxies gave up on minnows.. if there not natural to the water fish are not going to eat them..

[esox_xtm]

That's why I will only carry spikes or waxies gave up on minnows.. if there not natural to the water fish are not going to eat them..

I'm confused chilly. Spikes and waxies are land based larvae and only get into the water if we put 'em there. Minnows on the other hand... FWIW I've caught pike on garlic spike hot dogs. Also caught 'em on lake herring, bloater chubs, smelt and creek chubs. All dead and found nowhere near where I was using 'em. Had both perch and crappies pop a minnow on a tipup but never a gill. I'll respectfully disagree.

[chilly-willy]

Use the waxies and spikes to catch perch and gils! Use the gils ect.  to fish with.. spikes and waxies look lIke may fly larva under water that's why gils and perch eat them.. all in the fish eye view lol's

[chilly-willy]

Not all lakes and river around here have creek cubs in them or dace or stone rollers etc many verity of minnows ect. Better to find forage fish of that lake then to bring invasives in .. but like I say read the regs one states legal is another's ilegal.

[Iceassin]

Use the waxies and spikes to catch perch and gils! Use the gils ect.  to fish with.. spikes and waxies look lIke may fly larva under water that's why gils and perch eat them.. all in the fish eye view lol's

Mafly larvae are actually what we commonly refer to as "wigglers". Deadly on perch and big gills. Because they are so soft they're a one and done hit. Got to hook 'em the first time. 😉

[SirCranksalot]

My bro has caught specks on pieces of shrimp.

[esox_xtm]

Got it chilly! I'm not beyond using snack size pannies for bait  Silver Dollar gills can be killer.

[SirCranksalot]

in .. but like I say read the regs one states legal is another's ilegal.

Yes indeed---using perch for bait is illegal here in Ont.

[esox_xtm]

Here in WI we can use anything we catch out of the same water for bait as long as it meets minimum size limits (if any) AND is included in our daily bag limit. That means most any panfish, maybe a trout, bullheads, ciscoes, shiners, chubs or suckers. All kinds of stuff.

Never actually used a trout as I don't fish those two-story waters often but would not be beyond it. I'd also need the appropriate trout/salmon stamp for that as well.

[800stealth]

In my neck of the woods crawdads are a good alternative and hold up well to being bounced around in the bait bucket.

[chilly-willy]

Mafly larvae are actually what we commonly refer to as "wigglers". Deadly on perch and big gills. Because they are so soft they're a one and done hit. Got to hook 'em the first time. 😉

Ever hear of larav huskING it's skin ?  this is when a may fly she'd it's skin some times they turn white and have air trapped in it?  and it floats to surface  this is ware mashed on the hook waxies,look like mayflies. Larvae or husk from the larva. If you want to get real technical lol's.. 

[UFCreel]

Big Pike love big Crappie. Just check your state and specific body of water regulations first.