Tipup Depth for Pickerel and Bass?

[Hardwater75]

I'm fairly new to ice fishing as this season will be my third year. I usually set my tipups about a foot of the bottom (in 8-12 FOW) with a medium shiner, a foot long leader of 8lb fluoro, and a circle hook hoping to catch pickerel and bass while I jig for panfish. I've had decent success fishing my baits a foot of the bottom, but nothing to write home about. I've heard that the best way to catch pics on tipups is to set your bait just below the hole. Is there any truth to this? I was just wondering from some of the more experienced anglers your "magic depth" for pics and bass. Thanks and tight lines.

[Seamonkey84]

Not from your area, but those depths are about right, I’d start 1-2ft off bottom. Usually they are in the shallows early and late in day, deeper during mid. I’d recommend 2-3’ of 8-10lb fluoro if pickerel is in the cards. Not just for line shy fish, but so you don’t need to tie on more leader due to retieing hooks from cuts in the line from teeth. 
If your just starting with inline circle hooks, I’d be using size 2-2/0 for those fish. Hook your baitfish just behind the dorsal fin.  Don’t set the hook! when you get to your line, slowly pull up any slack and just apply steady pressure as the fish is pulling away.

[Drill plate 18]

I usually set 2' off the bottom. That work quite well. Last year, my partner wasnt catching much and we split every other hole. He was set 1' up. I was hitting he wasnt. He changed to 2' and then he kept pace with me. Give it a try

[esoxnepa]

I start with setting my minnows around 12-18" off the bottom.  If I have no bites in about 30 minutes, I'll start mixing the depths a bit.  Winding some tipups up 6" or dropping down 6".  I will also set one shallow, like 2-3' below the ice. In the lake I fish it seems like some days the fish are cursing well off the bottom.     

I also use a small split shot (3/0) around a foot above the minnow, to give it swimming room, but somewhat limit it.

I usually set my tipups about a foot of the bottom (in 8-12 FOW)

[chez]

Your right on the money Hardwater75.
If your after trout set 1 tulip 2 feet or less under the ice.ive gotten a lot of trout that way.

[Hartman99]

1 to 2ft off bottom with a shiner has always worked well for me

[butcher]

The 1-2 foot rule is good in general but it's not absolute.  For example if you find good green weeds in the waterway you are fishing, that should be a great place to target pickerel, bass and other species of gamefish.  However, if those weeds grow three feet off the bottom and your bait is buried inside the weeds a foot off the bottom, it will be difficult for your target species to find the bait.  I generally try to set baits 1-2 feet above any cover to make it more visible but I will also set a few larger baits about mid-way in the water column as well.  I find this very effective for pickerel and other large predators. 

One other quick tip (no pun intended).  Instead of using a store-bought shiner, use a natural forage bait from the lake you are fishing.  One of my favorite baits for big pickerel and other large predatory fish is a dink perch.  If you happen to jig up a 4-6" perch, and it's legal to keep, put it back down on one of your tip ups on a quick strike rig.  You won't get as many takes on these larger baits but the ones you get will usually be (much) larger.  Dink gills and chubs also work too.  Just remember to check the regs on the waterway you are fishing.  Some lakes have special regulations that apply to panfish and other species so you'll need to make sure they meet the minimum size requirement.  Also, remember that each fish you use for bait counts toward your creel limit for that species.

[chez]

I agree with Butcher on using sink perch.
I've caught many a Walleye on that bait at Lake Carey.
Great tip Butcher.