Tip-up tinkering

[zmantc54]

So, I decided to focus this year on plastics, and gaining confidence in using them.  With that being said, I only planned on doing such with my crappie fishing...However, I recently read a large article in a Michigan based magazine about tip-up fishing and techniques.  One of the mentions, was a few paragraphs on live vs. dead bait, which was crazy because I have always used live bait (thats what my dad taught me).  Now that my wheels are spinning on dead bait, has anyone ever used plastics for tip-ups?! I have a ton from fishing the Detroit river (minnow shapped, not worms) and am considering giving it a try....wanted to get all of your input.  Thanks, and please be safe this weekend!

[RealityCheck]

I say try it.
But dead bait has a certain aroma to the fish. Jigging plastics will work for pike. I HAVE DONE THAT!

[swampbuckster]

You could always try injecting a plastic with a Krill scent or other similar liquid scent.  Pike come into still motion, spearing decoys all the time. I've even had them crush them while stationary like a freight train.

[Hollywood703]

take some live bait and then slit the belly of the plastics and put a chunk of the real fish in it.....cost effective and similar effects.....

[GourdneckGills]

Ive never tried plastics on a tip up but have had quite good success with dead smelt. It seems that the largest pike that ive caught have been on dead smelt. So that just shows if the sent and the visual presentation of the bait is there then the pike will eat. This is also in lakes where the pike have never seen smelt

[fishin machine]

I have also caught all my biggest pike on dead bait.
I think the real challenge with plastics would be getting them to hold on long enough to get a hook in them.
Maybe a slammer style tip up would solve that problem.

[zmantc54]

I will be experimenting with it over the next two weeks, I'll post my results either way (unless I catch a few 40" er's)!

[TFish57]

Never tried artificials with tip-ups.  Real bait (dead or alive) is the way to go with unattended lines.

[DR.SPECKLER]

I don't  even  have luck with dead bait let alone trying plastic for tipups.haha.kind of like the chubby darters I bought that guys get fish on .i have never even seen a fish come up to it on my vexilar screen.lol