A tip-up is a spool under the ice and a flag above it. What matters is what you hang beneath it: a heavy dacron line so it doesn't freeze, a leader matched to the fish, a hook or quick-strike rig, enough weight to hold the bait down, and the depth set right. For pike, a big minnow or dead bait near the weeds; for walleye, a lively shiner a foot off bottom on a fluorocarbon leader.
What you need
- Tip-up line20–30 lb braided dacron or vinyl-coated ice line
- Barrel swivelSize 5–7
- Leader18–24" of 12–17 lb fluorocarbon (walleye) or 30 lb wire (pike)
- Split shot1–2 large shot 12" above the hook to keep the bait down
- Hook#4–#6 octopus or a #6–#8 treble (walleye); quick-strike rig (pike)
- BaitLive shiner or sucker, or dead smelt/cisco for pike
How to tie the tip-up rig
- Tie the tip-up line to the barrel swivel.
- Tie the leader to the other end of the swivel; tie on the hook or quick-strike rig.
- Pinch a split shot or two 12 inches above the hook.
- Hook the minnow just behind the dorsal fin so it swims upright.
- Drop the bait to bottom, lift it 1–2 feet (or to the top of the weeds), and set the trip so the flag releases on a light pull.
How to fish it
Spread tip-ups across a depth range along a weed edge or point. When a flag goes up, check whether line is moving; let a walleye run briefly then set by hand, and set on pike immediately with a quick-strike rig. Fight the fish hand-over-hand, keeping steady tension.
Tips
- A small bead or spinner blade above the hook adds attraction on slow days.
- Check bait every 30 minutes; a dead minnow catches little.
- Mark your line with a button or knot at the set depth so you can reset fast after a fish.
Common mistakes
- Setting the trip too heavy so the flag never fires on a light walleye.
- Bait too close to bottom in weeds.
FAQ
How deep should I set a tip-up for pike?
Just above the weeds, or 1–3 feet off bottom on a flat. Pike look up and will rise for a bait.