How to Set Up an Ice Fishing Tip-Up

Instructions

1

Open the tip-up up from its closed position. Typically with a wooden tip-up, this involves unscrewing a nut that allows movable arms to unfold into the form of an "X." The arms criss-cross over the hole in the ice, while the reel arm with the reel on one end and the flag and its trip mechanism on the other run perpendicular to the folding arms.

2

Lock the nut to keep the folding arms in an open position. Do not tighten the nut too snugly--this will make it very difficult to turn when you are done fishing at the end of the day and the tip-up is potentially frozen from the winter chill.

3

Bait your hook. Let out some line from the tip-up's reel and then attach your bait to the hook. Most ice anglers employ the use of live bait, such as minnows, shiners or meal worms on a tip-up.

4

Pull the flag up until it is as high as it can go on the tip-up. Traditionally a wooden tip-up has a thin long metal strip to which a flag is attached. One end stays attached to the very top of the tip-up's reel arm while the end with the flag is bent. This allows the flag end to fit into the part of the tip-up that triggers the flag to go up. In some cases it is a short bit of metal that the spinning reel dislodges the flag from, sending it into its upright position. On other tip-ups, the trigger is one long piece of wire with a catch on one end that moves in unison when the fish takes the bait and spins the reel. This movement dislodges the flag from the catch.

5

Attach the flag to the trip mechanism and carefully take line off the tip-up by hand. Simply pulling the line off the reel will cause the tip-up flag to go off. Take as much line off the reel as you desire so as to have your bait at whatever depth you decide.

6

Place the tip-up into the hole without causing the flag to go off. Be alert so that if the flag does go off from the tip-up being bumped that it does not whip up and slap you in the face. This is most unpleasant on a cold day. Your tip-up is now set up with the bait down in the hole and the flag ready to go up if the mechanism is triggered by a bite.

How to Build Ice Fishing Tip-Ups

Instructions

1

Gather your equipment on a table where it will not be disturbed by anyone if you walk away from building the tip-ups for a while.

2

Grasp the dowels, one in each hand. Lay the 1/4-inch dowel over the center of the 1/2-inch dowel to form a cross. The 1/4-inch dowel should be about one-third the way down from the top of the half-inch dowel. Wrap the braided fishing line around the middle of the cross, bringing the fishing line up from the bottom where the two dowels meet.

3

Alternate sides as you wrap the middle of the intersection of the two dowels. Repeat five times. After the fifth time, tie a knot. Cut the fishing line as close to the knot as possible.

4

Add a drop or two of superglue to the center of the knot to ensure the line will not break apart. Tie a strip of brightly colored cloth to the end of the 1/4-inch dowel. Use a distinctive material to ensure you will be able to recognize your own line.

5

Lay the tip-up with the 1/2-inch dowel on the ice above the hole. Center the tip-up. The 1/2-inch dowel should cover the hole and be equal on both sides of the hole. Tie your fishing line loosely on the opposite end of the dowel with the recognizable strip of cloth.

Bass Fishing Tips for February

Where to Find Them

According to the bass fishing resource website Largemouth Bass Tips, bass tend to stay in about 10 feet of water during the mid- and late-winter season. However, keep in mind that February has highly variable weather patterns, which will cause the bass to fluctuate their depths. As the hunting and fishing resource Game & Fish Magazine notes, on cold, dreary February days, bass tend to mope down into deeper waters, while on warmer days with lots of sunshine, bass will perk up and move into shallower areas. Regardless of the weather, you will likely find February bass hanging around boat docks and pillars, as these structures conduct heat into the water surrounding them.

Shallow-Water Tactics

Jigging is the go-to strategy for those fair-weather February days when the bass move into shallower waters. It involves castingor dropping, if you are ice fishinga weighted artificial bait (the jig) on to the bottom, or just above it, and then flipping or jerking it up and down. According to professional bass fisherman Greg Hackney, when it comes to selecting the colors of your bass jigs in February, darker is better. Some of the best choices include purple, blue, black, green and brown.

Deep-Water Tactics

For colder, more wintry February days, Greg Hackney recommends using a suspend bait, particularly one that resembles a shiner. Unlike with a jig, with a suspend bait the goal is to leave the bait still: the less movement the better. This willideallytrick hungry, lazy bass into thinking your bait is a rested or wounded prey item. Another deep-water February bass fishing strategy is drop-shotting, which, as Game & Fish Magazine notes, is similar to using a Carolina rig in reverse. While a Carolina rig has a sinker, or weight, between the rod and the baited hook, for keeping the bait on the bottom, the drop-shot has its weight below the bait so that the bait stays just off of the bottom. For optimal drop-shotting results in February, use small, rubbery artificial worms, about 4 inches long, for bait.

Irritation

As Greg Hackney notes, bass are lazy and slow-moving during February, which means they are unlikely to go chasing after a lure. One of the best strategies for encouraging bass to be aggressive is to irritate them, which you can accomplish by repeatedly casting, or dropping, your bait in the same areawhere you suspect or have seen a bassover and over again. Ideally, the bass will become so annoyed that it attacks your bait.

Catfish Tips for Lake Fishing

Temperature

According to Ask about Catfish Fishing, catfish prefer warmer temperatures, and typically spawn in 75- to 80-degree waters. It is best to fish for catfish in lakes that are in southern parts of the country that have warm climates. If you live in an area with colder climates, try finding large lakes that do not freeze solid during winter. It is not impossible to catch catfish in cold lakes, just less likely.

Depth and Location

It is a common misconception that lake catfish prefer only the deep sections of a lake's basin. According to Lake Avalon Fishing, catfish prefer shallow waters---less than eight feet---during many parts of the year, particularly winter. If you are looking to pull in some catfish from a local lake, try fishing close to and along its shores. Position yourself near areas with obstructions, such as fallen trees and patches of aquatic vegetation where catfish commonly hang out.

Bait

One of the best baits for catching catfish in lakes is live or freshly dead shad, which are small baitfish. Catfish are attracted to their movements and their scent. Another good option is to use commercial stink baits, also known as punch baits, which manufacturers lace with potent, odorous compounds to attract catfish.

You also can make your own bait using ingredients from the grocery store. According to Ask about Catfish Fishing, mash up cheese, mix it with ground chicken blood and liver, and let it sit in the sun for a few days. Mix in some flour and roll the bait into balls. Mold these catfish bait balls onto your hook.

Line Setup

Choose a strong line. Usually catfish are large and aggressive. Use 20-pound test line or greater. Test is a measure of the line's strength, not an indication of how much weight a line can hold. For example, a 20-pound test line will be able to support a fish that is much heavier than 20 pounds.

Use a sturdy, stainless-steel hook. Alternate using double and triple hooks, which may help increase your chances of hanging on to a catfish after it bites.

River Walleye Fishing Tips

Scout It Out

The first step in finding walleye is to scout out the location. Walleye like to sit in deep holes in a river during the day and then come out to eat at night. Using either a map of the river or a depth finder on a boat, look for a shelf alongside a deep hole. If you can find a weedy area here then you have found the ideal walleye fishing grounds as bait fish tend to hang out in the weeds so walleye will look in the weeds for their next meal. Spending some time finding the right spot will save you hours of fruitless fishing.

Bait

One of the most common bait set-ups is a spinner with a minnow attached. A spinner does just what the name implies--it spins. This spinning action catches light and makes the bait noticeable to walleye. Walleye prefer live bait so be sure your minnows are alive and replace them if they are dead. Trolling for walleye with a spinner bait about a foot above the bottom can be an effective way to catch your limit.

Time of Day

Walleye fishing tends to be best at either dawn or dusk. These fish have the ability to see very clearly in low, or no, light situations so that is when they are most active in searching for food. Fishing when it is dark will give you the best chance of catching walleye.

Listen to Your Elders

Experienced fishermen like to tell tall-tales, but they also have the experience of how to catch fish so it may be worth listening to their stories to hear a few local tips. People who have been fishing in an area for many years know where walleye like to hang-out and what bait works best. Talking to a few people at a local bait shop or simply following where the other boats are on the river may be easy ways to find where the big ones are.

Bass Early Spring Fishing Tips

Equipment

Having the right equipment, especially in the early spring, is key to making sure you have a successful and enjoyable experience. Make sure not to bring a pole that is too light for the job, instead choosing a medium-heavy or heavy-action rod and reel combo to take on the feisty bass. Don't skimp on the line, either, opting for a test that can take 40 lbs. of pressure, which is a better bet than one that can take just 20 lbs. Large plugs are recommended, and "Field and Stream" magazine suggests utilizing crank baits with varying retrieval speeds to entice any picky eaters. Access to a boat isn't needed to catch bass, but it's recommended. Being mobile is important when trying to put together a day-long excursion of trophy bass fishing.

Location

In the spring, look for bass in the shallows of lakes, especially in tall weeds. Spring is spawning time for bass, and the large females are found swimming in the shallows looking for a nesting place. While they are spawning, female bass are difficult to coax into a bite, but they are extremely aggressive before and after the event. If you're out on a warm spring day, look for bass in the shallows as well as in 8- to 15-foot water. The mouths of creeks that are pouring into shallows are usually a good bet as well.

Entice Them

If you're finding the bass are being choosy, try switching your lure to a jig with leeches, pork chunks, crayfish or plastic trailers. Having a scent in the water will help bring them and the jigging action will often be enough to trigger their aggressive instinct.

Where Did They Go?

Spring is a fickle time of year, especially the farther north you travel. One day you might catch plenty of bass and the very next day not get a nibble in the very same spots. Cold fronts will push the fish back into deeper water and often find them feeding infrequently. Keep your eye on the local weather forecast to see if there are any cold fronts that might push the bass deeper before going out.

Striped Bass Fishing Tips

When and Where to Fish

Striped bass are known to be caught throughout the day, though many anglers report having the most luck just after dusk and just after dawn. Night fishing is very popular for striped bass and is considered to be at its peak in the midsummer months. According to the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, anglers have reported the most success while fishing near the shore in areas with strong tidal movement, which creates "live" water that brings in fresh food to the hungry schools of fish.

What to Use

Most anglers choose to use a 10- or 12-foot rod combined with a 40-pound test monofilament line while using swimming plugs and live eels as lure. When jigging, plugging or utilizing bottom-fished baits, anglers should consider a medium- to heavy-action spinning rod combined with 20-pound test line. Another tactic proved successful is live-lining menhaden, herring or mackerel with a heavy-action rod. The live bait should be pierced along the spine with a treble hook for maximum efficiency.

Handling After Catch

If you're planning to eat your striped bass, gut it, bleed it and put it on ice immediately. If there is any ice melt, drain the excess water to keep the meat of the fish from soaking in warming conditions. This will keep the fish firm and ready to be cut into steaks and cooked.