Hi maybe I have just been a having bad luck but it seems like I'm doing something that browns and brookies don't like this year I have always set my tip ups for browns about a foot off bottoms sandy and rocky bottom in no more than 20 fow with 6 lbs test and number 12 hooks with 2-3 inches bait usually iceicles or fat head minnows brookies same thing but no more than 15 fow and about 5-10 feet below ice am I doing something wrong