Automatic Tip Up Fishing
Tip-ups are an incredibly effective way to catch all different types of fish throughout the winter months. Walleyes, northern pike, bass, trout and panfish can all be caught on tip-ups. In this article we will discuss automatic tip up fishing tactics and strategies.
OnX Fish App In Wisconsin
Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources has done a great job supplying us anglers with information about our fisheries, like stocking data and fish surveys. That same information has always been available in Wisconsin, but it hasn’t been super easy to find. That’s not the case anymore thanks to the OnX Fish App.
Now anglers fishing Wisconsin’s waters can find can fisheries survey data, size structure, abundance, special regulations and more. Everything you need regrading your favorite fishing spots can be found on the OnX Fish app. OnX Fish can be accessed online as well as through the app on your phone.
Automatic Tip Ups During First Ice
Tip ups are widely effective all winter long, but can be especially good at first ice. While most fish species bite well during the first ice period, they can be skittish and sensitive to movement and noise. Tip ups allow the ice angler to set a bait and then leave the area. By fishing a distance away from your set tip up those skittish and sensitive fish aren’t spooked by the noise you are making above the ice.
Bait Options When Automatic Tip Up Fishing
Choosing the right live bait option is an important aspect of tip up fishing. The size of your live bait depends on what species you are targeting and what food source is commonly available in the body of water you are fishing.
When targeting larger species like northern pike, walleye, and bass; a live medium to large sized sucker minnow tends to be the go to for a lot of ice anglers. Shiners, creek chubs, and big rainbow minnows are some other good live bait options.
Smaller live bait options are best when targeting smaller fish species like crappies and jumbo perch. Fathead minnows and crappie minnows are two great choices, because they are the perfect size for aggressive panfish.
Dead bait is another option ice anglers can use when automatic tip up fishing for predatory species like northern pike and lake trout. A frozen cisco or sucker is perfect for targeting big pike and lakers. Dead bait can also be placed on the bottom, which is a good tactic when fish unwilling to chase a live minnow.
Best Locations For Tip Ups
Tip ups can be set at any depth and in any location you like. Rock piles, weed beds, humps, and main lake points are all likely spots to hold fish. When choosing a location for your tip up you need to consider a few things.
The first thing you have to decided is which fish species you’d like to target with your set lines. This will directly impact where you should be placing your flags. Let’s use northern pike as an example.
Northern pike are ferocious predators that can be found all across the ice belt. Northern pike are ambush predators and prefer cover to hunt their prey. Weed beds are the most common area to find northern pike. Target weed beds in five to eighteen feet of water. When setting your tip ups you should always try to maximize the area you are covering.
Set your tip ups in a way that allows you to cover multiple depths in the water column. By spreading out your tip ups and covering different depths, you will get your baits in front of more fish.
The Clam Predator
The Clam Predator Tip Up can be used as an automatic hook setting device or as a traditional ice fishing tip up. The Predator Tip Up has an adjustable sensitivity and power setting so ice anglers can set how much force they would like. This tip up is adjustable so it fits a variety of ice fishing rod lengths and actions. This allows you to customize your set up and use your favorite ice fishing rod. It works great for multispecies and allows ice anglers to cover a larger area on the ice.
Automatic Setting
One of the main advantages of using an automatic hooksetting device is the quick hook set. Once the fish takes the bait, the hook is immediately set, increasing your chances of successfully landing the fish. This is extremely useful for species like trout and panfish that often spit out baits. The Clam Predator’s sensitive triggers can detect even subtle bites, ensuring you don’t miss a bite. The automatic hook setting also prevents the fish from swallowing the bait and getting hooked deep.
Traditional Setting
The traditional setting on the Clam Predators allows anglers to use it in states where automatic hook setting devices are illegal. The traditional tip up setting allows the angler to turn any ice rod into a tip up. It is adjustable so it fits a variety of ice fishing rod lengths and actions so you will be able to use any rod you choose depending on the species of fish you are after.
FAQ’s
Can you catch panfish on tip-ups?
Yes. The Clam Predator has a sensitive trigger that allows the angler to set a tip up for panfish like crappies and bluegills.
What is the best livebait to put on a tip up?
For larger predatory fish white suckers and shiners are the two best livebait options. For smaller species fathead minnows are the best livebait option.
Can you use dead bait when automatic tip up fishing?
Yes. Frozen dead bait works for a variety of different fish species and can be used on a tip up.
Conclusion
Tip ups are one of the best ways to maximize your success out on the ice. The allow the angler to cover a larger area while presenting live or deadbait. They work great for predatory species like walleye and northern pike, and can often out-fish jigging presentations depending on the mood of the fish.
