tip-ups for walleys

[synergyboy10]

what is  your best tip-up set up for walleyes?

[Jim111]

Unlike some, we only fish walleyes at night. We set-up and get all our holes (including extra holes) all drilled well before dark each afternoon. We fish the shallows at night, no deeper than 10-12 feet usually, and much shallower as the night wears on. We use a 4-6 foot mono leader and #6 or #4 hooks generally and usually medium size hunts or goldens for bait, small black snap swivel about a foot above the hook. To release undersize or slot fish, we seldom do other than just to unhook the hook from the snap, often with the fish still in the hole. The swivel is the only weight used. We like to have extra holes here and there throughout our spread, in case we get a "hot hole", which often happens. Some nights, we seem to get almost all our fish from just a couple holes.
We use Heritage tip-ups and often (if no wind) set the flag-springs on hair trigger and set the spools to free-spin. Nice part about Heritage tip-ups is both reels and flags are adjustable and they are absoluetly wind-proof too. I like the big spools as well as the tall flags. All out tip-ups are now rigged with reflective tape, both on the top of the post and stapled in place on both sides of each flag, for ease in nightfishing.  -Jim

[slimechaser]

Jim111,
Couple  ?'s,  what is a hunt? where do you hook the bait (mouth or back)? If the swivel is the only bait, how do you keep 'em down? And lastly, how much line do you let out for the bait to swim on?

[Jim111]

Hunts minnows are a variety sold here. They are very silvery, scaly and hardy. The fish seem to love them. They have a husky build to them, not flat like a golden (or Arkansas) or skinny like an emerald shiner. They also live well in the tank, unlike emeralds. The swivel is enough to keep the minnows down usually. Keep in mind, we are not fishing all that deep to start with. I generally hook the bait not too deep and about a third of the way up, from the dorsal to the head. They swallow them and take them head-first, so I like to have the hook in the front third of the baitfish. We fish the baits anywhere from six inches to 18 inches off bottom, depending on weeds in the area.  Here's a tip for weedy areas in the shallows. Bring a garden rake (iron rake) and rake out a small circle under the hole in the weeds. We sometimes duct tape a longer handle to it, which helps. The 'eyes come right INTO those weedbeds often, late at night (after 10:00 PM). Many times, we are fishing holes cut over five feet or less of water, by 11:00 PM or so. Again, this works well if you've already precut holes there before dark. Cutting holes in the shallows after dark with a gas auger can spook the whole school, and they DO run in schools, at least in the lakes where we fish them here. Good luck!  -Jim

[walleyechaser]

I agree with the after dark thing.  Its the best time to catch eye's around here.
We have basically the same strategy we'll get set up drill a bunch of holes and hole hop after dark.
If we set tip ups that shallow I only run them 2 feet under the ice.  All of the bigger eyes I've caught have been like this.  Also I've found the inviso leaders by south bend company are a better option.
I've been cut off by too many Pike to screw around with mono.  I also use a small shot about 12" from the hook.  I don't think the fish can see that shot when its dark out. 
I've also found different minnows work better on different lakes so you'll have to experiment.

[Jim111]

I agree on trying a variety of live bait minnows. Things can really be different from lake to lake, even in the same general area. Try various size baits too. One lake we fish for 'eyes, only small to medium baits seem to work well, yet on others, larger minnows take fish, so you never know? I'm gonna try that "two feet unbder the ice" thing, next time I go! I'm always looking to learn new tactics. I darn sure don't know erverything!
-Jim

[NJ PIKER]

how do you set the flags for a hair trigger

[Jim111]

With Heritage tip-ups the flag itself can be positioned to easily trigger, or to have more tension, as well as the reels.  You can see "Heritage Laker" tip-ups on Fish307.com website.    -Jim

[iceisnice]

how do you set the flags for a hair trigger

You can twist the spring around a little at a time.  Each time trying the release.  As you do this you will see where the lightest and heaviest set will be.  Set it where you like and you will be ready.  I marked my tipups with a red marker in the heaviest spot and black in the lightest so there is no fiddling when I am out fishing.

[NJ PIKER]

Thanks will have to play around
with them. always used them with big
baits for esox and never tried this