Am going to add tip-ups for pike to my ice fishing fun this season. My guess is that I should use a wire leader, even though I wonder if it will cut down on the number of bites. Was thinking of just buying some 7 strand wire and tying my own to save money. Was wondering what you all use for leaders (if indeed you do use them), and what advice you could give on making them, such as what sort of knot, etc. Thanks.

Woodsdweller

Hiya,
All you need is some 17 or 20 lb. Sevenstrand and small swivels. Take the sevenstrand, run it through the swivel, then grab the tag end with a forceps and clamp it on. Hold the main line so the forceps is hanging down, then swing the forceps and wire around the main line a few times, and trim it off. You can either use a snap on the other end, or just tie direct using the same forceps loop and twist.

You can use singlestrand leaders too - they work just fine. Use the same lb. test wire and wrap with a haywire twist.

If you're going to pike fish and plan on letting some go, please, please us a quick strike rig, which you can pre-make out of the wire. If you aren't sure how to make quick strike rigs, I can help you out there as well.

Cheers,
RK

RK pretty well hit it on the head . Personally I like the brown uncoated myself . I've got some 20# I've had around for years , what I usually use . Got some 8# when I'm feeling daring . Another way to tie them on is to run it through the eye twice & use a double overhand Knot , pulled tight with a pair of pliers . That's how I tie on my hooks for a quick strike rig , two trebles 2-3 in. apart . Good Luck .

Thanks for the tips on tying. How long do you usually make your leaders? I was thinking about 10" would do.

As far as quick strike rigs go, I confess that I really don't know a thing about them, except that I've heard they cut down on deeply hooking fish. I release most pike, and use circle hooks in open season with live bait, so I'm very interested in quick strikes. What do they look like, how do they work, and how do you make them? I'd love to give them a try.

Woodsdweller

10 to 12 inches is what I usually make mine . The quick strike rigs I make up are just two trebles . One is tied up like I described with about a six inch tag end left hanging off . Then I tie on the other about 2-3" from the first . I'll normally hook the one closest hook to the swivel in the middle of the minnows back & the other in their mouth . Theory being you have twice as many hooks so you don't have to wait to set the hook , hopefully elliminating any gut hooked fish . I like to use smaller hooks than a lot of guys , #6-8's , less damage if I do hook one deep . Good Luck .

Mudpuppy, So... your quick strike rigs are sort of like a stinger hook? I think I get the picture now. I imagine I still need to get to my tip-up pretty darn "quick" when the fish "strike", or he'll have it in his gullet. Is this the case, or do winter fish chomp down so much slower than summer that it's not a problem? Running a line of tip-ups with my boy means, realistically, our reaction will sometimes be delayed when the flag trips. Are there any other methods out there that might also work for us? I just want to find the best way to release the highest possible percentage of fish unhurt. Thanks.

Woodsdweller

Hiya,
Yeah, 10-12" is about right for tip-ups, though I usually do 8" or so for jigging which seems to be plenty.

As far as making a quick strike rig, it's pretty simple. I make mine adjustable for various sized live or dead baits, but you can do fixed hook ones too... Basically I start with the wire (stranded works better for QS rigs, in my opinion) a swivel, a couple #6 or so trebles (you can go bigger if using large dead baits but usually not necessary), and crimping sleeves for the size wire you are using (you can get them where you get the wire, but these are basically just little metal tubes...)

To make the QS Rig:
- Take a length of wire, and wrap on the swivel.

- Thread a crimping sleeve onto the wire and run it about half-way up, then thread on one of the hooks and slide it up next to the crimping sleeve.

- Loop the wire through the crimping sleeve from the same direction you threaded it on. What you should end up with is a loop beneath the crimping sleeve with the hook hanging on it. (Kind of like this, if my ASCII art works out...)


<- to swivel -------=====-------- to tag end -->
/ \
\ /
--0--
|
\|/



- Thread on the second hook at the tag end, and wire wrap it on.

To adjust the separation between the two hooks, just slide the crimping sleeve up or down.

I usually take one barb on each treble and bend them out straight (perpendicular to the hook shank) and use that to stick into the bait. I think they pop loose on the hookset easier that way. Hook one hook near the tail of the bait and one around the dorsal or just forward of it. Baits hang vertically, but pike really don't seem to care. You do need to be on the ball and set hooks right away or they'll swallow them like any other rig, but once a flag flies all you need to do is give the line a sharp jolt (not even a yank, just tighten up the slack hard) and the hooks will pop out of the bait and into the fish. Don't miss many at all...

Hope this makes sense.. let me know if more ??

Cheers,
RK

Great artwork, RK!! I appreciate the help. The rig looks promising. Thanks.

Woodsdweller

i use double mono usually 8#

i have never been bit off by pike

i fish pike quite a bit too in winter

i don't know why it works but i just tried it one day about six years ago and haven't looked back since

just take about 6' of mono and fold it over tie to your swivel and then pull it tight then tie the other end to your hook you will end up with about a 2 1/2' leader

try it it really works