CHECK TIPUPS OFTEN TO TRIGGER MORE STRIKES
There's no doubt that ice anglers are some of the most dedicated of all outdoorsmen. Sitting patiently out on a cold frozen lake in search of a few fish is dedication. No argument there. However, in many cases these anglers do too much sitting and not enough moving around. A lot more gamefish can be taken on tipups by simply checking them more often. Yet the majority of ice anglers make the critical mistake of setting their tipups at the beginning of an outing, and then never checking them again the rest of the day. So much time can be wasted, if the initial setting wasn't just right.
For example, if the bait was set just a few inches too deep over a weed patch, it will most likely become …show more content…
Nothing will frustrate you more than trying to free a frozen-in tipup on a below-zero day that's got a big pike or giant walleye running out line. Most often the fish is lost during the struggle, and worst yet the tipup gets permanently damaged.
Always take a skimmer/chopper with you to each hole when making the rounds to check each tipup. Carefully chip away any hard ice forming around the hole and the tipup. Also lift the tipup out of the hole everytime you do this and check the bait. I don't have to tell you any longer -- why.
Just as with any kind of fishing, efficiency often makes the difference in fish caught at the day's end. I find it hard to understand why some anglers will go through all the effort buying expensive livebait, and hauling all that gear out on to the ice only to not thoroughly check their tipups every 15 to 20 minutes; all day long. Once you're out there, all your money and time is wasted if the effort is carried through with your actual fishing rigs. Take the time to painstakingly maintain your tipups once you set them, and you'll easily catch twice the fish you would
There's no doubt that ice anglers are some of the most dedicated of all outdoorsmen. Sitting patiently out on a cold frozen lake in search of a few fish is dedication. No argument there. However, in many cases these anglers do too much sitting and not enough moving around. A lot more gamefish can be taken on tipups by simply checking them more often. Yet the majority of ice anglers make the critical mistake of setting their tipups at the beginning of an outing, and then never checking them again the rest of the day. So much time can be wasted, if the initial setting wasn't just right.
For example, if the bait was set just a few inches too deep over a weed patch, it will most likely become …show more content…
Nothing will frustrate you more than trying to free a frozen-in tipup on a below-zero day that's got a big pike or giant walleye running out line. Most often the fish is lost during the struggle, and worst yet the tipup gets permanently damaged.
Always take a skimmer/chopper with you to each hole when making the rounds to check each tipup. Carefully chip away any hard ice forming around the hole and the tipup. Also lift the tipup out of the hole everytime you do this and check the bait. I don't have to tell you any longer -- why.
Just as with any kind of fishing, efficiency often makes the difference in fish caught at the day's end. I find it hard to understand why some anglers will go through all the effort buying expensive livebait, and hauling all that gear out on to the ice only to not thoroughly check their tipups every 15 to 20 minutes; all day long. Once you're out there, all your money and time is wasted if the effort is carried through with your actual fishing rigs. Take the time to painstakingly maintain your tipups once you set them, and you'll easily catch twice the fish you would