Author Topic: tip-up rig comments...? [pic] (Read 1614 times)

Mich-Again · « **on:** Mar 03, 2011, 08:45 AM »

Does anyone see anything REALLY wrong with this tip-up rig? I've had absolutely no luck this year... I mean NONE. I know people use shiners and smelt, but I can't find or catch whole smelt, and I'm NOT spending $20/month on pike minnows.

The line is 15# (Mason brand) tip-up line. The leader is 20# fluorocarbon. I fish the Muskegon area... Muskegon Lake, White Lake at Montague, and the Spring Lake bayous. I tried fishing 6-15 FOW up and down the water column. I had some luck last year at the narrows of White Lake (using a steel leader at that time), but nothing this year since first ice.

One thing I don't like about the fluorocarbon is the memory it has developed from sitting on the spool.

Maybe I should just keep trying different lakes.

Iceassin · « **Reply #1 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 09:06 AM »

Looks like the rigs I use and have had success with. I don't worry too much about kinks, twists, etc. in the leader either, unless in messes with the action of the minnow I'm using. Those pike will clamp down on a small chain if there's food at the end of it.

chi92 · « **Reply #2 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 09:16 AM »

Appears to be just like the rig I use-cheap but effective. I caught my first pike ever trhough the ice this year and last Sat. I caught a 20.5 inch bass-only difference I can see is that I used a pike minnow instead of the perch.

Trek · « **Reply #3 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 09:52 AM »

Looks pretty typical to me...Might want to try putting a small barrel sinker above your swivel and making that leader a little bit longer.

marcus · « **Reply #4 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 09:55 AM »

same way I set mine up maybe a little longer on the leader for anything but pike, but it should work. I am in NY so things may be different but alot of my esox (pike, tiger musky) hits have come just a few feet below the ice in deeper water lately.

Mich-Again · « **Reply #5 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 10:13 AM »

Thanks for the suggestions. I've thought about a longer leader... I've got plenty of the stuff so I might as well use it. I seem to lose several inches when I tie it on.

Still, seems like I'd get lucky once in a while. I've had these out for at least a couple HUNDRED hours (combined ~20 hours/week for several weeks) in areas that are known to have pike... nothing. I've even had at least three hits from pike on my jigging pole nearby with a teardrop and waxworm!

allcaughtup · « **Reply #6 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 10:17 AM »

Yes...you are missing a sinker....get rid of the flourocarbon...altho its not hampering your HIT rate it will decrease fish out of the hole rate which matters the most....are you keeping you minnows too far on the bottom...alot of guys think the BIG fish stay at the bottom...this is not true...run your tip up only few feet from top no matter how deep...unless fishing for walleyes...does this help...$20 a month on minnows for fish and a good time is WELL WORTH THE MONEY...i have tried lake live bait...never works as good for some reason....pike like shiny...

Mich-Again · « **Reply #7 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 10:32 AM »

How big of a sinker? I assume the idea is just to weigh the bait fish down so it can't move so quickly...?

I have to agree that pike shiners would probably be better... but I'm no ready/willing to put the money down just yet.

I thought about the "shininess". I made the rig below so I could jig nearby and maybe get some pike action that way. As it turns out, the perch seem REALLY interested in it. I've caught perch of all sizes on this rig... they'll take the entire treble hook!

That's a short wire leader I made using 30# steel wire and clamped wire guides (ferrules)

allcaughtup · « **Reply #8 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 10:40 AM »

not sure exactly...use just one round medium size...last thing you would want is for your bait to dodge a huge fish..lol....what depths do you drop ur bait at?

Trek · « **Reply #9 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 10:40 AM »

Something around the 1/4oz size should do the trick. I dont use steel leaders at all. I use 15lb trilene big game line as a leader. Im thinking the biggest thing is your bait to be honest. Man sucker minnows are only like .75 cents a piece and if your going through $20 worth in a week your catchin a LOT of pike. You can keep them alive for days even weeks if you change the water in your bucket.

Mich-Again · « **Reply #10 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 10:48 AM »

Yeah, this could easily turn into a debate on the leader material. That's part of why I was surprised by the second rig I posted... all that hardware and perch are still all over it... and people talk about using 1# line.

No, $20/MONTH. 75 cents each, 3 minnows/trip, 3 times/week, 4 weeks/month actually $27 (or $18/mo if you only go twice/week). They might be $1 here, I don't know. I might consider getting just one per trip.

allcaughtup · « **Reply #11 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 10:53 AM »

or just keep doing what your doing..could be a tough lake for biggins...one day your rig might produce the beast and you can be proud...

marcus · « **Reply #12 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 11:00 AM »

I am broke so I hate spending a ton on bait, but you should pick up as many as you can ( be it 3 or a dozen ) and set them out . On the remaining traps use the normal available bait (perch, sunnies) whatever see what happens. Also if there are any open creeks try and catch some suckers they are awesome bait in most places. In NY we are not allowed to bring bait from other waters so this is tough for us we have to catch the bait where we are fishing. One of the best ways to figure it out is talk to someone on the ice where you are fishing they may know something you don't.

Mich-Again · « **Reply #13 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 11:04 AM »

Thanks. You can't bring/use fish from other waters here, either.

allcaughtup · « **Reply #14 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 11:30 AM »

Quote from: Mich-Again on Mar 03, 2011, 11:04 AM

Thanks. You can't bring/use fish from other waters here, either.

one of the dumbest rules...wonder where the bait from the local baitshops comes from?

? Could it be a different lake...LOL

crosscobra · « **Reply #15 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 12:17 PM »

looks good to me. Just keep trying.

HardWaterMachine31 · « **Reply #16 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 12:32 PM »

I make all m own steel leaders with crimps and wire. What I usually use to add to the shiny factor is a small blade like on a crawler harness or some of them litte red or yellow plastic deals on the swedish pimples. I slide the blade above my bottom crimp. I put a sinker (size varies depending on size of minnow i use) above where I tie my leader. The trick is you want the fish to stay at the depth you put it at with out hindering it's swimming capability too much. I've also read in a few magazines that pike will take a sucker and goldens over any gill or perch 90 percent of the time due to the fact that the spines on these fish can hurt them.

Mich-Again · « **Reply #17 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 03:14 PM »

Thanks Hardwater... very interesting info. I kind of enjoy making my own wire leaders.

allcaughtup · « **Reply #18 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 03:26 PM »

I've also read in a few magazines that pike will take a sucker and goldens over any gill or perch 90 percent of the time due to the fact that the spines on these fish can hurt them...

I knew there was something to it....you would THINK that being that they normally eat those fish it would be a no brainer...after enough attemps without any hits...I just buy my bait from now on...im NOT sittin in the cold for my own well being...lol

Mich-Again · « **Reply #19 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 03:32 PM »

That's true... I'm definitely tired of not getting hits. I'll make some adjustments to my rigs, and consider buying a few shiners. Almost too late now, though... I hope to be casting from my boat in less than a month!

allcaughtup · « **Reply #20 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 03:43 PM »

Quote from: Mich-Again on Mar 03, 2011, 03:32 PM

That's true... I'm definitely tired of not getting hits. I'll make some adjustments to my rigs, and consider buying a few shiners. Almost too late now, though... I hope to be casting from my boat in less than a month!

I would have never done anygood icefishing if I didnt learn from other people....its kinda like drywall...its not something you just no how to do...but once someone shows you it amazingly easy...

Santo180 · « **Reply #21 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 03:59 PM »

I caught a pike on a rig like that. I used a golden shiner for bait. I bet you're just having bad luck or it's a slow lake. Bad fishing makes me second guess myself too.

Mich-Again · « **Reply #22 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 04:02 PM »

I'm mostly talking about Muskegon Lake and White Lake. Lots of pike in both, but the lakes are almost too big... too many spots for fish to go/hide. I've spent a lot of time on the bayous of Spring lake fishing for perch and gills... they are *supposed* to have pike in them, but I don't believe it, although I did have something hit my jigging pole on one of the bayous.

fishbuckett · « **Reply #23 on:** Mar 04, 2011, 08:57 AM »

Use a longer leader (3-5 foot). Put a sinker 12-18 inches up from your hook. Don't be afraid of deeper water in Muskegon and White Lake. Lose the perch. - Just my opinion

I saw quite a few pike taken at bruce's this year

Mich-Again · « **Reply #24 on:** Mar 04, 2011, 09:09 AM »

Thanks. Very good advice. Bruce's? Really? That's news to me. I went there once and didn't mark anything... and it was only 5-6 FOW. I was only on one end/part of it, though.

allcaughtup · « **Reply #25 on:** Mar 04, 2011, 09:16 AM »

I can gurantee you mulitple tip up hits...lots of pike...go to Angel Lake Cedar Springs...small lake loaded with pike...you can rent boats there too....i was slammin pike out there a few years back...snapped my spinner bait off....grabbed my line to get my lure back...and BAM hand reeled a pike in the summer...was prett cool.

fishbuckett · « **Reply #26 on:** Mar 04, 2011, 09:36 AM »

Yep bruce's is shallow, I don't think it gets much deeper than 8ft. I've been skunked there in the past but there were some in there this year. I haven't been there since january though.

Threefish · « **Reply #27 on:** Mar 04, 2011, 01:06 PM »

The set up looks allright .Caught alot of pike using perch and blugills but golden shiners work better. Might be there closer to the river mouths and getting ready to go up the rivers. But its hard to believe you haven't caught a pike on that rigg.

wartfroggy · « **Reply #28 on:** Mar 04, 2011, 05:51 PM »

Quote from: allcaughtup on Mar 03, 2011, 10:17 AM

....are you keeping you minnows too far on the bottom...alot of guys think the BIG fish stay at the bottom...this is not true...run your tip up only few feet from top no matter how deep...unless fishing for walleyes...

No matter what, huh? Try that in 40 fow with a dark stain. I can think of several lakes around me that unless you are with in a couple of feed of bottom, you may as well throw your bait away and go home.

tjl1982 · « **Reply #29 on:** Mar 04, 2011, 06:11 PM »

If we are talking pike fishing I see no need for the leader I tie a steel leader straight to the tip-up line with a spoon/swedish pimple or just a treble tipped with a golden shiner and fish 3/4 or 1/2 of the upper water colomn. All lakes I believe are different but it never seems to fail me and anyone looking to pike fish and willing to come north PM me.

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Author Topic: tip-up rig comments...? [pic] (Read 1614 times)