Dead + Live?

[bearnoob]

First off, I am cheap and I never have much luck with tip ups, so I have trouble spending money on big bait for my tip ups. That said, I usually have some live crappy minnows on hand. Local bait shop has some big salted shiners.

Has anybody ever baited a tip up with a big dead bait on a treble hook and a couple little minnows to provide some motion?

Anybody think it will work?

Bueller?

[esox_xtm]

Yep! Pike are shameless creatures that will eat just about anything. I've caught 'em on hot dogs. Real dead bait can be extremely effective and I find it at its best if it's moving slightly. I bob mine under a Windlass tipup most of the time but if it's really bitter cold I'm not beyond doing exactly as you suggest: Dangle a dead and add a medium shiner/sucker/chub for some extra attraction.

[fishinator]

That will definitely work. Pike eat about anything. Another option if legal in your area would be to try to catch small panfish to use. Perch, gills, crappie all work.

[bearnoob]

That will definitely work. Pike eat about anything. Another option if legal in your area would be to try to catch small panfish to use. Perch, gills, crappie all work.

Not legal in MN unfortunately.

[Hillsfisher]

I use frozen smelt bought at the grocery store.  I do not have good access to live bait.  Pike are scavengers, especially in the winter.  This makes sense as it requires virtually no energy to eat a dead fish, compared to chasing down a live fish.  I tried a hot dog for my first time this year and caught a pike on the first try!  Feels weird tossing a hot dog down the hole but whatever works...