deadsticking

[coldsteel]

i have been reading up on deadsticking for walleye and this will be the first yr that i give it a try. it seems there are alot of different ways you can go about it, so what do you guys prefer? i think i may go with a 1/32nd ounce jig and minnow or a minnow with a split shot for my deadstick rod. What do you guys use for a rod holder and how is your drag set? i will be using my flasher and most likely using a clackin rap or a PK flutter fish for my actively jigged rod.

[Svengalli]

I use a live target lipless crank, PK flutter or northland buckshot on my active rod.  My deadstick presentation varies more based on the fish but I usually use downsized baits (from what I would if I was jigging it) and a minnow hooked through the flesh just under the dorsal fin.  This allows the minnow to swim around a bit but the weight of the lure will always bring it back and it makes them struggle a bit more.  Rod holders I use the wire type with a circle bottom that's larger diameter than a 10 inch hole and locks the rod in place.  That way no lost rods down the hole.

[coldsteel]

thanks for the input i have a good feeling about using this technique and i am pretty pumped to try it out now i just need a little more ice! i hear good things about those northland bucklshotstoo

[Svengalli]

thanks for the input i have a good feeling about using this technique and i am pretty pumped to try it out now i just need a little more ice! i hear good things about those northland bucklshotstoo

You're quite welcome.  As for drag, hard enough that a fish will hook itself it but lite enough to let a big fish run with it if I miss the bite or am otherwise engaged.  Have had many a 10lb+ walleye or big pike slam my deadstick and run with the lure before I got to it.  I always seem to be pouring a coffee or answering nature's call when the big ones hit the deadstick...lol. 

[nodakclam19]

Just try plain hook and minnow. Thats always what I use and never lets me down.

[wiskeyfish]

You can also put a quick strike rig on your deadstick.

[fishlessman]

not really dead sticking but the theory is the same, when drilling for your traps drill a second hole for jigging next to the minnow on the trap, i take the trap out of the hole and lay it on its side drapping the line over the flag and down the hole, you can see very light bites watching the flag lift up or slightly drop. if your up on a lake trout pond, sucker fillet on the bottom and jig next to it, you can even jig a small dodger and pimple setup, mix it up

[pocono]

I put fish alarms on my dead sticks.  They work great and just go on ebay and you can buy 4 for $15.00

[fishingabomb2006]

i actually use my deadstick rods on the artic warrior, often i don't set the flag, the rocker allows me to see when i fish is playing or the minnow is freaking out! the two rods i use are the frabill 28" deadstick and the 40" quick tip that long rod works great on stocked trout and calico around here

[TobStar]

Find one of T-Bone's Rock 'n Reels.  You can't beat it.  TobStar

[coldsteel]

this is all great info thanks guys, i hadnt seen muhc on here about deadsticking maybne its just one of those tactics people dont talk about that often. i am pumped to give it a try hopefully it puts more fish on the ice!

[coldsteel]

do you guys suspend your deadstick rod in the water column or do you have it close to bottom generally?

[spudsaway]

do you guys suspend your deadstick rod in the water column or do you have it close to bottom generally?

 Close to bottom is a good start, then move it up..   Measure the depth then try a foot up then halfway then two thirds down.. Like most guys have said fish are looking up so over the head is better then under them.   Just under the ice is great too .. What kind of fish are you after and how deep is the water you are talking about.. 10 feet , 40 feet, 100 feet ?

[coldsteel]

Close to bottom is a good start, then move it up..   Measure the depth then try a foot up then halfway then two thirds down.. Like most guys have said fish are looking up so over the head is better then under them.   Just under the ice is great too .. What kind of fish are you after and how deep is the water you are talking about.. 10 feet , 40 feet, 100 feet ?

thanks for the response i will be fishing at about 20-30 ft of water for walleye

[SeisMec]

Plenty of great info in this thread!

[spudsaway]

start at 5 feet up from the bottom.. Minnow and split shot Walleye ( Big Eyes ) no need to have them looking at a jig head and wondering what it is when you are fishing with a real minnow and that is all you want them to be looking at.  Hook behind the dorsal try not to hurt the Guy, split shot enough to bring him down and not much extra.  I set my rod in a cheap wire holder and use a rubber band and attach the butt of my rod to the holder. If the hole is a 6 inch hole the rod on the holder will not fit in the hole therefore not run away on you.  If 8 inch or bigger I use an extra anchor on my holder and rubber band it.  Snug the holder under the anchor so a pull toward the hole is blocked..  I can lift and set hooks with the holder attached. I pull the holder off and toss it aside after I start playing the fish..  I have the drag set to go I do not leave my spool open, remember a fish swimming away will have all the line under the ice as slack already, he may wonder why he is being pulled up but he will not drop the bait. On the surface your rod will bounce.. Pick it up easy reel in a bit wait for a tight line or reel into a tight line and set on the tight line ...  Bell your rod if you are the type who gets distracted by the scenery ..  If you hear a tinkle trust me it was a fish pay attention, some fish tail wack bait before they plow into it hard,

[coldsteel]

start at 5 feet up from the bottom.. Minnow and split shot Walleye ( Big Eyes ) no need to have them looking at a jig head and wondering what it is when you are fishing with a real minnow and that is all you want them to be looking at.  Hook behind the dorsal try not to hurt the Guy, split shot enough to bring him down and not much extra.  I set my rod in a cheap wire holder and use a rubber band and attach the butt of my rod to the holder. If the hole is a 6 inch hole the rod on the holder will not fit in the hole therefore not run away on you.  If 8 inch or bigger I use an extra anchor on my holder and rubber band it.  Snug the holder under the anchor so a pull toward the hole is blocked..  I can lift and set hooks with the holder attached. I pull the holder off and toss it aside after I start playing the fish..  I have the drag set to go I do not leave my spool open, remember a fish swimming away will have all the line under the ice as slack already, he may wonder why he is being pulled up but he will not drop the bait. On the surface your rod will bounce.. Pick it up easy reel in a bit wait for a tight line or reel into a tight line and set on the tight line ...  Bell your rod if you are the type who gets distracted by the scenery ..  If you hear a tinkle trust me it was a fish pay attention, some fish tail wack bait before they plow into it hard,

great stuff thank you, monday cant come soon enough

[coldsteel]

I tried deadsticking and my friggin shiner kept getting caught up on my active jig so it didnt last very long  any tips for this? i was using big baits so may i should have used a smaller shiner so it couldnt swim around as much.

[spudsaway]

I tried deadsticking and my friggin shiner kept getting caught up on my active jig so it didnt last very long  any tips for this? i was using big baits so may i should have used a smaller shiner so it couldnt swim around as much.

Sounds like you had bait down  inside your hut and Jig beside it... I cut a hole outside my hub pop up and watch it from an open door..  That way I can keep it far enough away so the Bait can swim and I can Jig in my Hub and stay warm. The other option is take a few fins off your bait so he can wiggle but not move very far and the split shot will keep pulling him under the hole..  Big bait needs a big anchor We used to use small herring and anchor the by two trebles one behind the head , one behind the dorcel, now this is called quick strike. We gave it 3 feet of line to a Barrel swivel then a large sliding sinker on the main line ..  We would put this down for lakers on jig sticks and anchor the stick above..  you can use bigger sucker the same way.. Folks use rods now

[FullTmeDad]

I just saw a demonstration (at the Bass Pro Shop Ice Fishing expo) of the Indian Hills Nor 'Easter. It lets you use your fishing rod in free spool but uses a clip that holds the bait firmly so a big fish has to pull to release it. I was just thinking that it was the answer for dead sticking a bait for pike and muskies. I would hang the bait just over the weeds early in the season and later on put a big dead bait right on the bottom.

[rswope2004]

if ya want to keep bigger shiners on use a little more weight.  I fish my deadstick next to my other jigging setup side by side.  If you add weight the shiner can still move but wont go as far side to side. 

[Svengalli]

I tried deadsticking and my friggin shiner kept getting caught up on my active jig so it didnt last very long  any tips for this? i was using big baits so may i should have used a smaller shiner so it couldnt swim around as much.

First suggestion... put your deadstick further away  .  You can use a weighted jig as opposed to a plain hook, the extra weight of the jig will prevent the shiner from swimming up and around too much and will bring it closer to centre as it gets tired, then swims around and comes closer to centre as it gets tired.  it doesn't have to be anything big and the Northland Forage Minnow in the smaller size is a great option but I recommend upsizing the stock treble or switching to a single hook of your choice.  Another option is to clip the tail fin of the bait with a pair of scissors just enough to prevent them from moving too much.  A lot of Pike guys will do this on big suckers on tip ups to prevent them from swimming around too much and tripping the flags, etc.

[RapShack]

I used to use a rod with a little tip down sort of thing I made that clips to the inside of my shack.  This season I've gone to drilling a hole right next to where my chair will be and just setting a tip up there.  This way opens up another rod that I can have set up and ready to go for those short bite windows, and if I'm busy with something when the flag pops the fish can run for a few seconds without resistance.  I use the same setup regardless if it's on a tipup or rod though, a small (#12 maybe?) red treble hooked by the dorsal fin of the bait with a couple glow beads set a foot or so off bottom.

[Ironeagle]

Here is easy thing to do. Take small cutters and cut his fin off. So he really struggles but can go anywhere. It makes a difference what you clip so do a search in the pike forum. The do it on tip up wih big bait. One way make bait swim head up, the other way make it swim head down. And I'm sure your table problems will go away and you mite even get more hits because your bait will be struggling more but not going anywhere

[coldsteel]

thanks guys, when i drilled the holes i thought i had given plenty of space between the two about a foot to 18" away but like most of you had said i must not have had enough weight for the size bait i was using. i never thought of clipping the tail thats a good idea and will try that on tip ups as well now with big pike baits! thank you

[RapShack]

thanks guys, when i drilled the holes i thought i had given plenty of space between the two about a foot to 18" away but like most of you had said i must not have had enough weight for the size bait i was using. i never thought of clipping the tail thats a good idea and will try that on tip ups as well now with big pike baits! thank you

IMO that's a bit too close regardless.  I use a small 4.5 by 4.5 hub and try to keep my holes as close to the corners as possible to create separation.  At 18" baits that swim circles like raps and spoons that flutter out to the side are gonna get tangled up. 

[duckace]

Everything you said sounds perfect!  ... Except the rod holder...    :-\I would give it a jig or two and reel up a tad then let it sit. It will look alive.