Ice Team

2012-2013 Ice Annual

Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/80912

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 25 of 36

NORTHERN PIKE // CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25 map to potential ambush areas, such as sharp breaks, pockets, turns, edges or a point. When fishing the mouths of larger bays, be sure to focus on those weedlines and steeper breaks as those will be prime locations to find bigger pike. A wise pike and muskie fisherman once told me the mouth of every bay holds a nice pike protecting its turf; find out where it lives and what makes it tick, and you will have a battle on your hands. As the winter leaves and late ice arrives in March and April, the sun starts to melt the snow and the ice current from water tributaries starts to flow, creating current under the ice, often causing a large concen- tration of big pike. It is during this time that pike prepare for the spawn and will migrate back into shal- lower water. During this window you should focus your attention on pre-spawn areas. Go back and check out some of those same weedlines and shoreline breaks as you did dur- ing early ice, but also pay attention to your lake map to see if there are any creeks, small rivers or tributar- ies that dump into the lake. When you find these creeks they are likely pouring into large expansive weed flats. Check them out as they often serve as a hot bed for pre-spawn and big female pike. Remember, finding pike is not as simple as just drilling a few holes, dropping down that number of tips ups, and just letting them sit. If you want to be a success- ful tip-up fisherman, you need to be moving these tip ups around and varying your depths and locations. Another tip when fishing these shallower weed flats is to put your tip ups in a circular formation. When using this formation, put your dead baits on the outer edge and a couple lively suckers in the middle. The pike will be attracted to the live suckers, but won't be able to resist the Big Tooth Tackle rig and dead bait when on their way toward the lively sucker minnows. Having a strategic layout when setting up your tip ups, such as the circular one already mentioned, perhaps a diamond pattern or simply a line of tip ups along a shoreline break, will set you up for more suc- cess. Before even dropping the tip "If you want to be a successful tip- up fisherman, you need to be moving these tip ups around and varying your depths and locations. " ups, look at the piece of structure you are going to fish, map it out, and create a battle strategy to besiege these monster pike. You may be dozens of yards away, in the truck, on shore, or in the fish house when a flag trips on the tip up. Don't worry about missing the fish. Big pike, by nature, tend to grab bait and run with it before turning it and swallowing it. As you approach the tip up you can see the spool turning the flag trip mechanism as the fish runs. Watch for the spin to slow or even stop. There are many ways fishermen go about setting the hook on a fish using a tip up, and ultimately it is a comfort thing like many other aspects of fishing. We recommend using a couple of different techniques depending on the type of rig you are using. If you are using a quick strike rig you do not have to give the fish a lot of line or time with how the rig is set up with the bait. When approaching the tip up, watch the spinner trigger to see if the fish is running with the bait, slowly moving with it, or sitting there sucking it in. Simply approach the tip up, lock the spinner in your hands, and set the hook, pulling up on the tip up. Be sure to use a sharp upward motion to get those hooks set into the fish. A second way is to gently take the tip up and take it out of the water, grabbing the slack in the line, and then feeling for ten- sion. Once you feel the tension, set the hook and it is game on! Finally, if you are using a more conventional set up with a single treble hook, once the flag pops up, count to 20, feel the tension and "Hawg Belly, here you come!" These fish can be great fighters and as you are battling these pike it can be very helpful to have a fishing partner next to you to help you with the line as you are pull- ing it in. Being able to lay the line 26 ICE TEAM.COM >> THE ICE ANNUAL down neatly and keep it from get- ting caught on the ice will give you a leg up on the fish when it makes its well-known line ripping runs as it approaches the hole. Once you are able to put the fish on the ice, be sure to have the necessary tools with you to help give the fish its proper care and release. At LOA we always have the hawg bucket nearby where we carry pliers, tape measure, camera, possible glove, and other tools which help catch, record and release with ease. Finally, remember this is an opportunity to not only catch fish but also to create a great atmosphere with your fishing bud- dies. Enjoy that time to socialize with them and play some games on the ice to help the time go by quick- er. Remember, a watched flag is like the bobber that will never go down when eyes are upon it. So relax, kick back, don't watch it and you will soon hear FISH ON! Also be sure to check local regulations. The sea- son closes at the end of February to early March in much of Minnesota. Many Minnesota lakes have begun to exercise slot limits to boost the size structure of the pike within specific lakes. Some of the bodies of water to focus on for these Hawg Bellies are Lake of the Woods, Rainy Lake, Winnibigoshish and Leech Lake. Get your tip ups spooled up, rigs ready, and take advantage of the battle you can partake in with this predator. Happy hunting and get hooked! social Leisure Outdoor Adventures is co-owned by Ice Team Pro Staffer Jeff Andersen and FLW Pro Toby Kvalevog.They spe- cialize as a first class guide service both on the ice and water as well as in outdoor photography, videography, and outdoor marketing. They are based out of Walker, Minn. on Leech Lake, but work through- out all of central Minnesota.

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

view archives of Ice Team - 2012-2013 Ice Annual