Setting the Hook with Tip-Ups..... PIKE

[icejunky]

Im new to PIke fishing since  this is the first time I have had a pike lake in my area. I was out this weekend and used my tip-ups for pike while I jigged for pannies.

I only had 2 flags this weekend, one I missed but the other I got to and felt for the fish then attempted to set the hook by pulling up in the opposit direstion the fish was running...I got the fish right up to the hole only to have him spit the hook back at me....

Any suggestions on the best way to set the hook!

[WntrMrngWood]

as always, each angler will give advice on his/her best hook setting technique.  Most of these are discussed under the "Tip up" section of "ice fishing tips".  try a few and see what works the best for you.  good luck junky,

travis

[Auger]

I've been a fan of using quick strikes for pike since I was in grade school.  That's more than a few years (don't ask  )  If they are legal in your area, I'd be using them.  Other's will disagree, but they work for me.  That being said, it doesn't sound like you did anything poorly.  My only other advice would be to get those tip-ups back in the water as soon as possible.  You'll eventually have a banner day with more flags than you can remember, you'll ice a bunch, and your technique and confidence will both improve.  Then you'll really be dangerous.

[Lobes]

What ever method you use, make sure you don't let the line go slack. I have seen people hesitate when setting the hook before pulling line in. I try to keep even pressure after the hookset. Sometimes that is when they run, sometimes they don't until they have been pulled towards the hole. There will be a very few times you may have them hooked good enough that a little slack line won't hurt. But more often than not that is when you will lose a fish.

[grumpymoe]

What ever method you use, make sure you don't let the line go slack. I have seen people hesitate when setting the hook before pulling line in. I try to keep even pressure after the hookset. Sometimes that is when they run, sometimes they don't until they have been pulled towards the hole. There will be a very few times you may have them hooked good enough that a little slack line won't hurt. But more often than not that is when you will lose a fish.

...the advice doesnt get any better than the above......Grump

[iceintheveins]

Of all the pike I have caught through the ice in my life, I have NEVER missed one that is running with the bait which is shown by the spool steadily turning. I have missed a couple when feeling the line and then feeling the pike on the other end. My advice is to use quick strike rigging and to set the hook when the spool is running.

[AD]

If the fish is still running when I get there I tend to give it a little more line, so I dont pull the hook out or put pressure on the fish when I lift the tip up out of the water, I pull the line untill I feel it is tight and give it a yank,   now dont go ripping the pikes mouth off either.   You pull too hard youll loose the fish, you pull too soft you wont get a solid hookset.   
     Another problem could be the way you hooked your bait?     What hook are you useing and how did you hook the bait?   Sometimes if the bait isnt hooked right you wont get good a hookset or one at all if it is hooked in the wrong spot.     

[icejunky]

I was using a williams spoon and had 1 treble hooked thru the back of the shinner. Is there a better way to hook the bait?

I Think another issue I had was the fish did not really run. He was relativly close to hole and the ice..maybe 5-6 feet of line is all he had...It made it a guessing game when which direction to set the hook

[AD]

I dint like putting spoons out on my tip-ups, cant really even say why.     

What I use is either a regular cable leader hook, or one that I tied up with the cable leader that you can tie with, and tip that with a red octopus hook.   
    I think I picked up a good way on how to hook the bait from HT, the video's on there website.     I use the larger hook off the octopus treble or just the regular hook off of the cable leader, and put the hook to one side of the dorsal fin.   Put the tip of the hook in right to the front and side of dorsal fin and push it towards the baits mouth and then back through the skin.   This avoids hitting the backbone and the bait will stay alive all day long.    Plus from what Ive seen so far pike grab the bait from the headside, not caudal side, so they grab the hook also.  Makes for a good hook set.   
      Best bet is just to read up on what everyone else does and go out and experiment and see which way, right and set-up works best for you.   
     I might have a pic somewhere of how Ive been hooking my bait Ill dig around and see.     
     I hate it when the fish do not run after they trip the flag,  the flag is up but it isn't pulling when you get there.   Some people wait to see if it moves again.  Me?   I get to excited and see if the fish is there, have lost and got some fish that way.