GUIDE'S CORNER FEATURED ARTICLE
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ICE FISHING RIGS FOR TIP-UPS
Welcome to the Guide's Corner Page, and as you know, there is a new fishing season in the northern part of the country. Yes, I am talking about hard water, or more commonly known as, ice fishing. In this article you will find techniques that I have been using on my tip-ups which wil help you catch more fish. The leader line rigs I use is what I will go into detail on how to set up. These rigs have been tested by, moving the rig from a spot where I had been catching walleyes on the rig, to a different spot where I was fishing with a traditional plain hook and minnow and not catching any fish. After I switched spots with the different set ups, I started catching walleyes with the special rig in its new spot, and the plain hook and minnow went for naught in the spot where I had just been catching fish. Now a plain hook and minnow will catch fish, but after a test like this, wouldn't you want to up the odds in your favor? Each of the rigs I will discuss, have been proven to really catch any type of game fish through the ice.
First, we will cover how I set up my under water tip-up before we get to the rigs at the other end. I spool my tip-ups with braided nylon ice fishing line, anywhere from 15-30 pound test. The braided line will stand up to the sharp edges of ice that can cut monofilament line. When you catch a bigger fish, you will be pulling on the line to bring the fish in, but then you may have to let the fish have line as not to break your leader line. As you let that line out with a slight tension to tire the fish, the line you just pulled in will be lying on the ice and its sharp edges. This is where braided line will keep you n the game. Next you will need to put a line marker on the braided line. The marker is used to mark the amount of line you have out to fish at a certain depth, so that after you catch a fish, you can reel in the line to the marker and start fishing without checking the depth again. I have used all different type of markers, but a slip bobber knot works the best. You can slide the knot up and down the line as you fish in different depths. So, leave the tag ends on the knot and that way you can retighten the knot if need be. The braided line is of larger diameter, which may spook some fish; that is why you will want to run a leader line of smaller diameter at the end of the braided line. The one thing nice about leader lines is that you can pre-rig them ahead of time. They can be rigged with different types of line, rigs, or colors depending on the moods of the fish. Tie on a snap swivel at the end of the braided line, this will allow you to change leader lines quickly when necessary. These leader lines is where the rigging comes in to play.
First, we will cover how I set up my under water tip-up before we get to the rigs at the other end. I spool my tip-ups with braided nylon ice fishing line, anywhere from 15-30 pound test. The braided line will stand up to the sharp edges of ice that can cut monofilament line. When you catch a bigger fish, you will be pulling on the line to bring the fish in, but then you may have to let the fish have line as not to break your leader line. As you let that line out with a slight tension to tire the fish, the line you just pulled in will be lying on the ice and its sharp edges. This is where braided line will keep you n the game. Next you will need to put a line marker on the braided line. The marker is used to mark the amount of line you have out to fish at a certain depth, so that after you catch a fish, you can reel in the line to the marker and start fishing without checking the depth again. I have used all different type of markers, but a slip bobber knot works the best. You can slide the knot up and down the line as you fish in different depths. So, leave the tag ends on the knot and that way you can retighten the knot if need be. The braided line is of larger diameter, which may spook some fish; that is why you will want to run a leader line of smaller diameter at the end of the braided line. The one thing nice about leader lines is that you can pre-rig them ahead of time. They can be rigged with different types of line, rigs, or colors depending on the moods of the fish. Tie on a snap swivel at the end of the braided line, this will allow you to change leader lines quickly when necessary. These leader lines is where the rigging comes in to play.
All of my leader lines start out with a barrel swivel tied to the one end. This allows me to change the lines with the above mentioned snap swivel. Also the swivels keep out line twist from the swimming minnows. Another item on all the rigs is a chunk of split shot. Some weight is needed to keep the swimming minnow down in the strike zone and size of split shot is to the size of the minnow. Larger minnows can swim around all over the place and require more weight than you should use. To combat that situation, I will take a scissors and cut off some of the tail fin. This allows the minnow to still swim around to attract fish while staying in the preferred strike zone with a smaller weight. One more thing before I get into the final rigging of these leader lines, is the type of line to use. All the rigs can be used on monofilament or super lines. Clear water combined with finicky walleyes may require monofilament line. A lot of the waters I fish have both walleyes and northern pike. A northern pike will make a short life of a mono leader in a hurry, or even a walleye, if the line is placed just right. I have found that using 14 pound test Berkley FireLine will with stand the toothy critters. The 6 pound diameter is still thin enough to catch the spooky walleyes. Now we can get into rigging the rest of the leader line. The first rig is simple but effective. It consists of the barrel swivel, 18-36 inch leader line, split shot and a Mack's Lure Glo Treble Hook. The Mack's Glo Hook will allow fish to zero in on your bait when fishing at night, low light, or cloudy water conditions. With a good charge from a light source, the glow will last a half hour or longer. My favorite colors are Maggot White and Hot Cerise.
LINE TO TIP-UP
WATERPROOF BRAIDED
NYLON ICE FISHING LINE
15-30 # TEST
WATERPROOF BRAIDED
NYLON ICE FISHING LINE
15-30 # TEST
SNAP SWIVEL
BARREL SWIVEL
BARREL SWIVEL
LEADER LINE18-36 INCHES
SPLIT SHOT
MACK'S LURE SMILE BLADE
RED BLACK TIGER
RED BLACK TIGER
4 MILLIMETER BEADS
TREBLE HOOK OR
MACK'S LURE GLO
TREBLE HOOK
MACK'S LURE GLO
TREBLE HOOK
The next two rigs are a little more complicated but similar with slight variations. Both rigs use a Mack's Lure Smile Blade. The Smile Blade acts as an attracter as the light reflects off the easy turning blade while the minnow swims around. Again, both rigs start with a barrel swivel tied to one end of a 18-36 inch leader line. Next, slide one 4mm bead on to the line. Then put the Smile Blade on with the fold of the blade pointing up towards the barrel swivel. Slide on five more 4mm beads and then tie on a treble hook. You need the 5 beads to keep the blade from covering up the hook so that the hook points are exposed for when it is time to set the hook on a fish. It is important that you use a 4mm bead on both sides of the Smile Blade so you don't inhibit the action of the blade. Then put your split shot on the leader line between the barrel swivel and the first bead.
LINE TO TIP-UP
WATERPROOF BRAIDED
NYLON ICE FISHING LINE
15-30 # TEST
WATERPROOF BRAIDED
NYLON ICE FISHING LINE
15-30 # TEST
SNAP SWIVEL
BARREL SWIVEL
BARREL SWIVEL
SPLIT SHOT
MACK'S LURE SMILE BLADE
ORANGE BLACK TIGER
ORANGE BLACK TIGER
4 MILLIMETER BEADS
TREBLE HOOK OR
MACK'S LURE GLO
TREBLE HOOK
MACK'S LURE GLO
TREBLE HOOK
SLIP BOBBER KNOT
The next rig is an adjustable version of the one we just went through. After the barrel swivel is tied on to the 18-36 inch leader line, slide on one or two 4mm beads. Then slide on the Smile Blade with the fold pointing up to the barrel swivel. Next, slide on two more 4mm beads and then a slip bobber knot. Pull the knot tight and trim off the tag ends. Tie the treble hook on and now you can slide the knot up or down to place the blade at different heights on your leader line. Just keep in mind when you put your split shot on above the first bead, of where you would like to place your blade as you position it on the leader line. Also, don't place the blade to low on the line as to cover up the hook points. Either one of the last two rigs can have a Mack's Lure Glo Treble Hook tied on to the business end for further fish attraction. As far as blade colors, the traditional gold and silver are two colors to start with as well as chartreuse, orange, and glow in the dark.
Smile Blades come in a variety of colors and finishes with four different sizes to meet your fishing needs. All the Mack's Lure products along with bobber stop knots and beads can be purchased at their website. Just follow from the Home Page to the Sponsor Page for a direct link to the Mack's Lure website. Now you are armed with some leader line rigs that will help you catch more fish this winter, because I know these rigs have for me. Contact information for Soaring Eagle Guide Service can be found on the About Us Page if you have any questions about the rigs and its components or your guided ice fishing needs.
As Red Green would say, "Keep your stick on the ice."
LEADER LINE18-36 INCHES