Agencies set 4 inches of clear, solid ice as the minimum for walking out. See ice thickness safety.
How a tip-up works
New York DEC describes a tip-up as basically a spool on a stick holding a baited line suspended through a hole in the ice. When a fish takes the bait, usually a minnow, the pull on the line releases a signal, usually a red flag. Iowa DNR adds that the tip-up spans the ice hole with the spool of line underwater, and the spool is connected to the flag that springs up. You then bring the fish in by pulling the line in by hand (NY).
Most anglers set out several tip-ups to increase their odds (NY). For the jigging side, see ice fishing for beginners.
Rigging a tip-up
New York’s standard rig for most fish uses 50 yards of backing (Dacron or ice-line), a 2 to 3 foot monofilament leader and a barrel swivel to connect the leader to the backing. A split shot goes on the leader 18 to 24 inches from the hook to help get the bait down. Hook size and leader strength depend on the species.
Setting a tip-up
- Find the bottom. Attach a weight, called a depth sounder, to the hook and lower it to the bottom.
- Pick your depth. Raise the weight off the bottom the distance you prefer for your bait, and attach a line marker to your line at the water line.
- Bait up. Bait your hook and lower it to the pre-marked depth. Minnows are most often used, hooked through the lips or under the dorsal fin (NY).
- Set the flag. Set the flag or other signaling device, then check each tip-up periodically to make sure it still has bait and to clear ice and slush from the hole.
What to put on a tip-up
| Fish | Setup |
|---|---|
| Northern pike and pickerel | New York: large minnows (4–7 in) in shallow water of 5–15 ft, around or over weed beds, set 2–3 ft off the bottom or above the weeds; a wire leader is recommended because of sharp teeth. Wisconsin: large live minnows in shallow bays of 4–12 ft. Montana: smelt or dead minnows |
| Walleye | New York: tip-ups with 3–4 in minnows |
| Perch | New York: tip-ups with small minnows |
| Trout | New York: set tip-ups at a variety of depths until fish are found |
Iowa says tip-ups are popular along the upper Mississippi River and on the Iowa Great Lakes for northern pike and walleye. For a panfish approach with the same minnows, see ice fishing for perch.
Connecticut allows no more than six tip-ups when ice fishing, and on one listed water no more than five tip-ups plus two hand-held jigs. Wyoming’s general rule is no more than six lines at any time, with the angler’s name on each line, pole or tip-up when using more than two. Missouri counts tip-ups as pole-and-line tackle, which it defines as not more than 3 hooks per line. Check your own state agency’s regulations before you set up.
Minnows and disease rules
Wisconsin says minnows are the preferred bait for many species and that restrictions exist to prevent the spread of VHS. New York says to make sure baitfish are certified disease free when you buy them, and never to dump unused baitfish or water from your bait bucket into a lake or pond.
Sources
- How to ice fish, New York State DEC
- Ice fishing in New York, New York State DEC
- Ice fishing techniques, Wisconsin DNR
- Ice fishing (learn-to-fish guide, PDF), New York State DEC
- Ice fishing (I FISH NY lesson plan, PDF), New York State DEC
- Ice fishing, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
- Fishing regulations, Missouri Department of Conservation
- Lake and pond regulations, Connecticut DEEP
- Fishing regulations, Wyoming Game and Fish Department
- Ice fishing, Iowa DNR