Best methods for river ice fishing rigging / current?

[Chots]

Can anyone share some tips on river fishing the ice, mainly on what type of rig to put in your hole with slight current, thanks

[chamookman]

Chots - I fish the Saginaw River (MI). Jigging Raps, Nilsmasters, Buckshot Rattle spoons and Cicadas are My tools of choise. For some reason, live-bait rigs or tip-ups don't seem to produce. Bob

[REW]

I 2nd the previous comment on the use of some of the spoons mentioned.

However, I do have good success using a wolf river rig - ice fishing in current.

Essentially, it is rigged exactly when open water fishing.

Tie a heavy weight on the end of the line - typically 1/4 - 1 oz weight - depending on the amount of current. You want enough weight to keep your weight pretty vertical. If the current pushes your line out of the view of your depth finder - add more weight.

Then, go up about a foot on the line. Tie a loop in the line. Then tie a line with a hook on the end that is about a foot long. Hook a minnow through the tail on the hook and you will be good to go.
As the current ebs and flows, the minnow will be tight out on the line at times; and other times will be able to swim near the bottom.

Very effective. The key thing is to have a tight line - for the weight to stake the line to the bottom, and then having a free line with a free swimming minnow to attract the fish.

With this set up, it is nice to use a rod that is stiff enough to quickly set the hook - knowing the amount of weight that you are having to lift when you set the hook. Conversely, it is nice to use either a bobber or a softer tip on the rod, so that it is possible to see light bites. Many times the bite will be very very light on this rig.

Take care
REW

[Doc_wi]

I take a 12" piece of line and put a snap on both ends and a couple of Lindy floats in the middle. On one end I attach the weight of choice and through the other I pass the Dacron line from my tip up. I put a small bead on that line where it meets the flourocarbon leader, usually about 18". When a fish takes it it can take line without moving the weight. Letting a little slack in the Dacron between the tip up and weight can let the fish take it before popping the flag and obviously a tight line would move the spindle right away. The reason for the snap opposite the weight is so I can easily change the length (I have these tied up at 6", 12", 18" and 24") and because you can remove it you don't commit the tip up to one style of fishing. Sometimes they bite best when you just put on a split shot or two and let it our 40 feet or so till it stops. Easy to change without retying.

Drill your holes on an angle too.

[MJP]

I know a lot of guys that tie on a Phelps Floater direct, the Wobbler is better in current, then put a couple split shots about four feet up the line. The Floater will work back and forth with the current, while keeping your bait off bottom and in the strike zone. It works. Good luck.

Matt

[Unlogged T-Mac]

Sounds like a plan to me...Matt. :)
Make sure it's a PHELPS 'tho.

How ya doin?

[Unlogged T-Mac]

Sounds like a plan to me...Matt. :)
Make sure it's a PHELPS 'tho.

How ya doin?

[MJP]

T-Mac - I'm doin ok. Been doing a lot of running. No fishing yet though. You are right about as long as it says... Our new styles of floaters have been out selling the original, and they can only say, It Helps to Use... Good to hear from you. Take care. Happy Holidays to All.

MJP