Tip-Up Rigging

The Leader
For Walleye and other game fish a mono leader is preferred. To allow the use of a mono leader tie a small barrel swivel to your braided main line. This will allow you to attach your mono leader. Use about a three-foot section of 8lb. test in clear or clear green color. In extremely clear water with shy fish, the use of a fluorocarbon leader can make a big difference. Fluorocarbon line is practically invisible underwater. Use of a smaller #8-#10 finer wire treble hook provides a more natural presentation and will increase your percentage of hook-ups.

For Northern Pike use a "quick strike" style braided steel leader. Available in different lengths and hook styles, they allow instant hook-sets with less chance of deeply hooking and injuring fish that may be released.

Weights
Split shot or twist on rubber core sinkers work fine. Use just enough weight to keep the bait in the strike zone. Winter fish are not overly aggressive and less prone to chase bait. Keep the weights closer to the bait (4"5") to prevent the bait from swimming up and away from the fish.

Tip-Up Location
Locate drop-offs and weed lines adjacent to deeper water, which are natural migration points for game fish. Spread your tip-ups along these breaks to find the active fish. When first setting up, spread out your tip-ups to cover a wider area. You can cover more water in search of active fish. Once an active spot is found you can then concentrate your spread.

Let the fish tell you where they want the bait. Walleyes can be fussy at times and want the bait just inches off the bottom. Experiment with different depths until you establish a pattern. Once a productive depth is found make sure to mark the depth so you can automatically return to that exact depth. Simply attach a tiny clip-on bobber to the line to mark the depth that's most productive.