setting up tip ups

[zpeters73]

I received a couple of the HT round tip ups this year for my birthday. Actually, it came in a kit which included a storage bucket than can be used as a seat, some 20 lb. black nylon line, and a couple of gaudy treble hook set ups that look like they are meant for northern pike.

I have fished with others who use tip ups, but I don't think I have ever seen two of them set up the same way. For walleyes, does anyone have any recommendations as to what kind of line to use. Should I use this 20 lb. stuff, with a snap swivel and a mono leader, or would some other combination be preferable? What kind of jigs/hooks work best? I would assume a straight hook or a small treble would work well.

I am basically just looking for some fine tuning tips to make this method more effective. Any suggestions are welcomed.

[Larry L]

As you said, everyone has their own idea on how to rig them. I generally use 20-30 lb braided on the spool. And then a snap swivel. I rig a mono leader (8-10 lb usually) 2-4 feet long.

I slide a button up on the braided line before I tie on the snap swivel. It can be slid up and down to mark the depth.

I used to use split shot and a small treble hook. I would tail hook the minnow. This works farily well.

Lately I have been using a 1/4 or 3/8 jig head with no split shot. I lip hook the minnow. I have found that not as many fish swallow the hook this way. Even ling seem to come out of the hole with the jig head sticking out of their mouth. It is not fool proof but works often enough to convince me. Especially when it is 3:00AM and 27 below zero.

Concerning the round cover style tip ups you mention. The intention is that the hole is covered and insulated by snow piled around it. And this is often the case. BUT, if they do freeze in, they are very hard to chop out. I generaly only use them in the daytime. (Or for my brother in law.):-)

Good luck