Ice Fishing Anglers

[BR1AN]

This coming ice season will be my 2nd. Had my buddy show me the ropes and had a blast. Its getting close again so of course i am already trying to prepare. When we set the tipups we always used minnows but we went a few times a week and that added up money wise. We enjoy catching bass / Perch / Crappie was wondering what other baits we could use to set the tipups with other than live bait.

[cadman]

If you are going to use stationary tip-ups, then live bait is the best. If you are going to use tip-ups that self jig or propelled by wind, you can use frozen smelt, or chubs. Most of what I caught on tip-ups are usually bass or northern pike and sometimes walleye.

 

Now if you are looking for panfish (crappies, gills, perch, walleye etc), then I would use a jigging rod and jig for the fish. In this case you can use waxies (waxworms), spikes(maggots) or wigglers(hellgramites). Also you can use the colored berkely power nibblets. I've never used nightcrawlers or leeches, reason being, fish under the ice, especially panfish are looking for a smaller presentation. Also I don't think nightcrawlers and leeches are readily available in the winter months. As you know minnows are a killer for walleye and bass. Finally, it's good to have several baits with you.

 

You can buy waxies and spikes in bulk as they are cheaper that way, and can be kept in a cool place.

[BR1AN]

If you are going to use stationary tip-ups, then live bait is the best. If you are going to use tip-ups that self jig or propelled by wind, you can use frozen smelt, or chubs. Most of what I caught on tip-ups are usually bass or northern pike and sometimes walleye.

 

Now if you are looking for panfish (crappies, gills, perch, walleye etc), then I would use a jigging rod and jig for the fish. In this case you can use waxies (waxworms), spikes(maggots) or wigglers(hellgramites). Also you can use the colored berkely power nibblets. I've never used nightcrawlers or leeches, reason being, fish under the ice, especially panfish are looking for a smaller presentation. Also I don't think nightcrawlers and leeches are readily available in the winter months. As you know minnows are a killer for walleye and bass. Finally, it's good to have several baits with you.

 

You can buy waxies and spikes in bulk as they are cheaper that way, and can be kept in a cool place.

 

Yeah we set the right amount of traps then we spend our time jigging & watching the tipups. Basically my question was is there anything to use other than minnows on the stationary tip-ups.. I mean they work obviously was just curious if anything else worked.

[cadman]

For years, I've tried putting frozen smelt on a stationary tip-up along with a live one on another tip-up. I've never had a fish pick up a dead bait in the winter. Always live bait. Been ice fishing for 35 years  Good Luck

[bassh8er]

For years, I've tried putting frozen smelt on a stationary tip-up along with a live one on another tip-up. I've never had a fish pick up a dead bait in the winter. Always live bait. Been ice fishing for 35 years Good Luck

A popular destination is the western part of my state allows no live baitfish, so frozen smelt are a popular option for setting tipups for pike and bass.

I can't say that I've ever caught s fish on them but I know guys that have with somewhat consistency.

I cannot wait for hard water and was getting my shack ready this weekend.

[Mainebass1984]

For years, I've tried putting frozen smelt on a stationary tip-up along with a live one on another tip-up. I've never had a fish pick up a dead bait in the winter. Always live bait. Been ice fishing for 35 years  Good Luck

 

 I use dead bait for ice fishing all the time I have had a lot of luck though the ice using the largest shiners I could find dead on bottom. Freshly killed dead bait works the best. Pre packaged dead bait doesn't work nearly as well. Dead smelt work as great bait when targeting trout. Again freshly killed smelt not pre packaged smelt. I just don't have much luck when using pre packaged bait. I have done really well fishing a dead smelt directly on bottom or directly beneath the ice. I do mean directly beneath the ice, within 6 inches of your spool.  If I am using dead smelt I am almost always targeting trout or salmon. Some of my best days have been using dead smelt. Living in New England my entire life I go ice fishing a lot. It is fun. Not the same as openwater but still fun. Dead bait can be effective. I have caught brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, lake trout, landlocked salmon, white perch, yellow perch, chain pickerel, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, and cusk using dead bait. Dead bait can be very effective at times especially if everyone else is using live bait.  I almost always have one or two tip-ups rigged with dead bait. In winter fish do not feed as actively or aggressively as they do when the water is warmer. Their metabolism has greatly slowed down. They are seeking the best meal for the least amount of energy.  A big dead shiner or smelt is the perfect meal for them and they expel very little energy feeding on it. They do not have to chase it. Then again that doesn't mean you'll get them on dead bait every time.

[cadman]

I've always used frozen smelt from a guy that catches them in Spring here. So they are not packaged just frozen. I'm sure dead bait catches fish, just not on my tip-ups for some reason. :dazed-7:

[CWB]

This would depend on what you are targeting. I've never used a tip up for anything other than pike. I have caught quite a few bass and walleye but I'm targeting pike. A 38"er on a 8" long dead Herring last year I bought from Jewel. Have caught quite a few bass on deadbait as well. Never a walleye and live roaches do get more bites but it seems when one takes the deadbait, it's a big one. Just saw an In-Fisherman show on tip-up fishing for pike. All they used was deadbait. Fresh whole Herring and Smelt they got from the grocery store. They were hooking the baits vertically on quick- strike rigs and got a couple monsters. Probably gonna try the vertical thing. As far as crappie and perch, smaller minnows are not very expensive. Look into tip-downs. Getting vey popular around here. Maybe start up an ice fishing section?

Check out IceShanty *. More info than you'll ever need to know.

[desmobob]

Check out IceShanty *. More info than you'll ever need to know.

 

+1 on IceShanty *... it's the Bass Resource of ice fishing!  :-)

 

Dead bait works fine for me for ice fishing, by the way; especially for lake trout and pike.  I always use a jigging rod for panfish.  If you're in the right spot, the action will be too fast for tip-ups!

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[Frenchman83]

For the panfish I would suggest live minnows.