Favourite tip up pike bait

[tonypower]

Just picked up some bait from TNT for my tip ups tomorrow. Just wondering what you guys lean towards when targeting pike on tip ups?

[FlyTheory]

Herrings

[huntsfurfish]

Large herring would be good. Large suckers 6"-8" and even 10-12 inch.

[Mitchthefisher]

Herring for sure

[pikeman06]

Yep. Roger that on the Herring. Big super fresh flash frozen smelt is my next choice. The smelts that people fry up and eat.

[Angler]

Smelt from Superstore, cheap, like 3 bucks per pound.
Works just fine.
Thinking of trying to catch my own bait this winter.

[PlayDoh]

I was in Victoria a few times this summer and grabbed like 40 pounds of herring for around $10. About 6 or so in a vac sealed bag.
Vs the $12 or more for each bag from a bait freezer out here. I might try dying a few to experiment with.


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[Tfng]

Originally Posted by PlayDoh

I was in Victoria a few times this summer and grabbed like 40 pounds of herring for around $10. About 6 or so in a vac sealed bag.
Vs the $12 or more for each bag from a bait freezer out here. I might try dying a few to experiment with.


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What kind of shape are the herring in? Good fins, scales etc? That's a good price.

[WayneChristie]

Originally Posted by huntsfurfish

Large herring would be good. Large suckers 6"-8" and even 10-12 inch.

tried a 12 inch sucker last week, I had pike of all sizes coming in and staring at it for a couple days, then finally ended up catching maybe a 4 pounder with it. kind of a waste, I kept taking it away from the smaller ones but that one was too quick

[PlayDoh]

Originally Posted by Tfng

What kind of shape are the herring in? Good fins, scales etc? That's a good price.

They were probably caught the same day I bought them. They are bright and shiny. From the net to the ice then sealed back at harbour.
The sockeye I bought was like twice the price as all the herring I got, lol. I cleaned out their freezer then buddy asked me if I wanted more, and grabbed some from the back.


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[PlayDoh]

I cut some of the herring up and caught a couple dozen rockbass out there too, although I was after a lyng cod.


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[Kings]

Smelts works all the time for me. Occasionally herring.

[genno]

What do you guys use for hooks to hold your bait on tip ups? I usually use pickerel rig but that only seems to work in murky water for pike.


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[pikehunter1989]

Originally Posted by genno

What do you guys use for hooks to hold your bait on tip ups? I usually use pickerel rig but that only seems to work in murky water for pike.


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My favourite way to set it up is use a size 4 or 5 treble and than push it up through the belly till the eye comes out and trebles are still sticking out a bit. Than just hook it to a snap swivel. I position it so it sits in a slight nose down position

[anorthernhunter]

I have a comment and a question ...

Comment: I have had good success using a smelt and a "two treble jack rig" ... red trebles with a wire on each that leads to a loop ... one treble in the eye, the other treble in the tail and suspend the bait horizontally under a tip up.

I have also had good success using a jumbo minnow on a pickerel rig.

Question: I have had ZERO success using a large smelt or herring using the same set up above ... I have no idea why ...

Question: What do you think about salmon belly scraps and trimmings suspended on a pickerel rig?

Question: What about salmon belly scraps and trimmings presented horizontally as per above ... my concern is that it doesn't look like a fish ... but should smell good and give off some oil.

Thoughts???

-Northern

[TylerThomson]

When you say no success do you mean you aren't getting any bites or they are biting it but you are having trouble seeing the hook

[anorthernhunter]

Tyler:

I haven't gotten one hit on herring ... not one, but have been doing well with
smelts or minnows.

I have almost given up on herring ... herring on the "two treble jack rig" presented horizontally under a tip up.

If you boys are getting some more hits on herring ... I will give it another go.

Thoughts ... herring vs smelts.

Anyone try salmon belly etc?

[shell_guy]

Originally Posted by anorthernhunter

Tyler:

I haven't gotten one hit on herring ... not one, but have been doing well with
smelts or minnows.

I have almost given up on herring ... herring on the "two treble jack rig" presented horizontally under a tip up.

If you boys are getting some more hits on herring ... I will give it another go.

Thoughts ... herring vs smelts.

Anyone try salmon belly etc?

Caught 3 on large herring yesterday, 2 treble jack rig.

[NSR_RAT]

Caught a 28 inch pike on herring yesterday at wabamun, although I have noticed the pike haven't been very active at all on the tip ups this winter compared to last winter.