Using "Dead Sticks" on the Saginaw River

[WALLEYEvision]

Just wondered if anyone has used a dead stick as a second line while ice fishing on the Saginaw River?

If so...how did you rig it? I've all ready tried the Dead Stick search with little help...

I know I'll need atleast a 1/2 oz. jighead on the dead stick because of the current, but I've done some testing at home and even my biggest (and baitless) thill slip-bobber sinks with the 1/2 oz. jighead.

Am I wrong to even attach a bobber to the line or should I give up the Dead Stick idea and just jig the second line?

Planning on hitting the river the weekend after next. Thanks in advance for your help!

[patcheroo]

I have never used a dead stick on the river. I have always jigged with two poles. I compare a dead stick to a tip-up. Over the years I have seen many guys , probably over a hundred , try tip-ups on the river and have NEVER seen a fish caught on one. I don't know why, I know that they produce well in other places. This time of year, I don't believe that you need to go as heavy as 1/2 oz. The last time that I was up there, 2 weeks ago, I dropped down a 3/8 oz jig and my line went straight down. There was hardly any current. I pulled up the 3/8 oz and dropped a 1/4 oz down and had no problem getting down with it. Just my 2 cents! Good luck!! ..........Patch

[deadduck12]

i have good luck on rapalas. i dont truly deadstick it i just let it sit for 10-15 min. then jig it a few times. just gotta keep your on it the slightest movement of your rod tip is usually a walleye. perch really give it a good rip. when i take the kids i usually only let them jig one pole and leave one next to them to watch. the one they watch usually out fishes the one they jig.

[catfishhoge]

I have never done it but it might be a good thing to try a slammer setup. They are used for steelhead through the ice. Might work on a walleye too!

Rick

[WALLEYEvision]

Thanks for the replies!

I've read a lot of posts (here and on other sites) where guys using an Aqua-Vu are seeing the larger fish come it to investigate their lure, then lose interest and turn away.

Thought maybe a less aggressive approach with a Dead Stick might get them going.

[Sib]

Well, I guess I run a modified dead stick at times. I don’t use a pole tho, I use a rattle reel, which is mounted on some rather thick romex with med weight nylon wire ties. The romex is sleeved in some foam pipe insulation(the tube stuff). On the other end of the romex-sleeved foam is a clamp that clamps on the cross support on the ceiling of my shanty.

I like the set-up because there isn’t a pole getting in the way in the close quarters. I chose the romex core idea because it’s very flexible and you can just bend the rattle reel out of the way when you’re not using it and bend it right over the hole when you’re going to use it. Mounting it on the ceiling made sense, because floor space is always an issue and anything I can do to utilize the cubic footage of my blind makes sense over the limited square footage.

I try and go as light as possible, even in current. I’ve used a light as 1/4 oz and rarely more than 1/2 oz. On the sag, I’ve not been too successful with this approach, but have been on other bodies of water. I’m going to be throwing a new curve in it this w/e, tho. I’ll be running a 3-way swivel with a jig down below and a micro spoon slightly above. The jig will have the dead stick effect and the extremely light spoon should flutter above with the right leader length. The current should help against tangles, doubt if the technique would work in a no current situation.

During peak hours you’ll catch me using two jigging poles, but when things are slow and I get tired of double jigging, or when I’m cooking a little chow on the ice, I’ll take a break and hook up the rattle reel.

[slim Jim]

I don't know if you want to call it a dead stick or not, but I let the minnow do the job. one pole put #8-14 treble with a live minnow. Other rod put a lure and a lively grey on there have had hit's so far doing this. seems like just the dinks want to hit though. wonder where there pa and grandpa are at?

Jim

[FishingJoe]

I usually have a deadstick out on the river. Jig with one, and the other down off a slip-bobber with a 3/8 oz jig. Later in the afternoon the cuirrent drops significantly and you can go down in weight if you need to. Last Sunday most of my fish came on the deadstick. They would look at my jigging tool, follow it up and down, then move over and hit the minnow - just like in the book.:D

[SEABASS4213]

well i have never tried it but i was hickin of getting that artic warrior thing anybody bought one or used one ?