How to rig a tip up for lake trout/Whitefish?

[chiefsLB59]

I planned on goin up north to fish houghton this weekend but with the lack of good reports i have been hearing i think i am going to go up to higgins instead to try for some lakers and whitefish.

I need some advice on how to rig a tip up for lakers. Are they finnicky like a walleye on tip ups . braided or mono line on the tip up. etc. Ive never targeted trout icefishing before and It sounds cool so I would love to give it a try. I normally am after Pike on tip ups. What size split would u put on it to get it down the 100+ feet needed??? :confused:

Thanks

[chiefsLB59]

any one?:help: :confused:

[wetfoot]

make sure you have enough line on your tipup braded is fine. then rig like a carolina rig 3/4 or 1 oz sinker 3-4 foot 8#flourorcorben leader #14 trebel smelt or minnow smelt prefered. your in bisness good luck. got 9 last sun remember they must be 15 in to keep



wetfoot

[Captain Happy]

When (if) you get a laker on a tip-up, do you take it immediatly or wait for a second run like pike fishing, is the same true for whitefish?

[hypox]

Do you use a dead or live smelt? Does it matter?

[chiefsLB59]

thanks for the post. I was wondering if any of the bait shops sell the smelt or would i have to go fish for them. And can you catch the smelt in the same location as you would whitefish and lakers?

[wetfoot]

live u catch !

[beer and nuts]

Bait shops can not sell smelt. You must catch them yourself or beg borrow and deal. Grays do work also just smelt are the golden child for bait.

Setting the hook, if its slow and steady off the tipup give it a couple minutes if its peeling line it already has felt the hook and its usually safe to start the retrieve. It really depends on how fast you see and get to the tipup.

See other posts as where to get smelt, nighttime is when you will get smelt. Lost of info. on catching smelt on here do a search for posts.

Also they do catch whitefish on tipups now and then but don't count on it, whitefish come from the occasional jigging for lakers but most come from the usual whitefish tactics--again do a search for info. on catching whitefish.

Should be a good weather weekend.

Fishing Contest February 19th on Higgins at the DNR West End Landing form 8am to 2pm. FREE FISHING WEEKEND TOO!! Kids Divisions and Adult divisions-perch, trout and whitefish!