New to tip ups this year

[Martinezb9]

What do you guys use to bait your tip ups on lakes that do not allow live bait fish

[IceDoc]

Frozen Smelt

[Unclegillhunter]

Try gulp minnows.
Keep it safe! JDL

[hardh2ofish]

If you're pike fishing I'd go with the biggest smelt you can find!

[BORGMANN5]

like previously said, Frozen smelt or gulp minnows. I have seen ppl use worms also. On the smelt, we usually use the 4-5" ones that you can get your hands on for the refuge lakes.  We had found larger ones as in about 10" and they did not seem to work.

[Martinezb9]

I knew I could count on you guys for great info. Tried tip ups for the first time this year and loved the rush of seeing the flag pop up and running to the flag especially when there was no marks on the flasher. What do you guys think about using leeches with a float with a weight a foot or 2 above that and drop it to the bottom for walleye. Thanks again I'm young and still learning so everything I have learned on here big or small goes along way.

[whitetips]

I knew I could count on you guys for great info. Tried tip ups for the first time this year and loved the rush of seeing the flag pop up and running to the flag especially when there was no marks on the flasher. What do you guys think about using leeches with a float with a weight a foot or 2 above that and drop it to the bottom for walleye. Thanks again I'm young and still learning so everything I have learned on here big or small goes along way.

Have never ever heard of fish being caught on leeches through the ice.

Those walleyes are eating fish most of the time, especially during the winter.

But, it may be worth a try?

Daryl B.

[Unclegillhunter]

I mentioned gulp minnow. Just got back from the store with some. I was surprised with the various sizes and colors! Come on ice!!
Keep it safe! JDL

[Martinezb9]

Have never ever heard of fish being caught on leeches through the ice.

Those walleyes are eating fish most of the time, especially during the winter.

But, it may be worth a try?

Daryl B.

Yeah the leech thing was just a crazy idea in my head. Just thought about it because I was with a guy and he was dragging bottom bouncers with leeches and we were catching walleye. Thought maybe it could work for ice fishing.

[hardh2ofish]

If you have them, try it.  If you don't good luck finding them. Lol.  Pretty sure almost all leeches that we get around here are trapped in Minnesota lakes.  And since their lakes are now frozen supply will be extremely rare by now. 

Now I was really think of stocking up on a pound of horse leeches late in the summer.  Those are those little tiny biting kind you get on you when wading around some of these sandhill lakes.  I have cleaned panfish in the winter time that were full of them.  I've heard the trick to fishing winter leeches is to acclimate them to the water you will fish them in.  Otherwise they tend to ball up and wind themselves up in your line.  I think if you can get them used to the lake water temp. you have a chance of keeping them swimming.  Anyway that's for what its worth.  I've not tried it myself.  I think there was a discussion on here somewhere else a year or two ago.  But I don't remember where.  But I think that was pretty much the gist of it.  Good luck if you try it and give us a report on how it worked (or didn't lol).  We're all here to learn.

[Martinezb9]

If you have them, try it.  If you don't good luck finding them. Lol.  Pretty sure almost all leeches that we get around here are trapped in Minnesota lakes.  And since their lakes are now frozen supply will be extremely rare by now. 

Now I was really think of stocking up on a pound of horse leeches late in the summer.  Those are those little tiny biting kind you get on you when wading around some of these sandhill lakes.  I have cleaned panfish in the winter time that were full of them.  I've heard the trick to fishing winter leeches is to acclimate them to the water you will fish them in.  Otherwise they tend to ball up and wind themselves up in your line.  I think if you can get them used to the lake water temp. you have a chance of keeping them swimming.  Anyway that's for what its worth.  I've not tried it myself.  I think there was a discussion on here somewhere else a year or two ago.  But I don't remember where.  But I think that was pretty much the gist of it.  Good luck if you try it and give us a report on how it worked (or didn't lol).  We're all here to learn.

Now I have to try it. I always like a good challenge. Thanks again everyone

[WItransplant]

I've always used minnows on tip ups. I used shiners for pike and fatheads for walleye and bass. Try using a single book instead of a treble hook for walleye and bass.

[okcableguy]

I've always used minnows on tip ups. I used shiners for pike and fatheads for walleye and bass. Try using a single book instead of a treble hook for walleye and bass.

he said when live bait was not allowed.  hope you followed those rules LOL