Newbie and dead bait

I haven’t ice fished in over 20 years and back then it was just a spreader with minnows for perch. I decided to try ice fishing for pike this year. Been doing lots of reading and I have bought a bunch of quick strike rigs . When using dead bait do you add weight somewhere to stop it from floating? If so what size weight Also want to make sure I’m correct in that I want it about 1 foot off bottom? Thanks can’t wait to get my first pike.... pray🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Depends on the bait really. If you're using salt water baits from the grocery store, they usually sink on their own. If you're using something like lake herring, I usually slit the belly deep enough to pop the air bladder. Then stick it in the hole and give it a squeeze to expel the air. Weight shouldn't really be necessary.

As far as where to set it - a foot off bottom isn't a bad place to start. Halfway down the water column if under 10ft. And 5ft off bottom in water deeper than 10ft is a formula some use. If that doesn't work don't be afraid to try laying it right on bottom - in theory, that's the most natural presentation.

Thanks for the info very appreciated

Great info from Chuck. Cant go wrong with 1-2 ft off the bottom like you mentioned. When fishing with a group, I like to experiment with different depths to see what they want on any particular day (on bottom, 1 ft up, half way up). When in doubt, I like to go higher in the water column since a pike's eyes on on the top of it's head.

Went out with a couple buddies targeting pike this weekend with deadbaits under tip ups and did pretty well. Nothing like hand bombing those northerns! Save yourself a couple bucks and grab some frozen herring, mackerel or sardines from a grocery store.

If you don't already have tipups, I would go with a round type like the frabill thermal ones. They are much better at keeping your hole free of ice on those cold days, and pack up nicely in a 5 gal pail.

Get to those tip ups quickly too, they really like to inhale those deadbaits.

I picked up 2 of these at the expo to try . Sets hook when bite releases it.can be set for pike bite or peach bite

This post has been edited by kev_7680 on Dec 21, 2018 - 01:13 pm

I use a jaw jacker.

https://www.cabelas.ca/product/72840/jawjacker-hook-setter

I’m going to try cooks bay for pike when it’s ready. I’m going to use the store bought herring, sardines,ect...what size do you guys recommend?

coat hanger bent the right way, a piece of string and any stationary rod holder works just as well and costs way less. you tube search" DIY auto fisher".