Great day on pike

[Sask hunter]

This is only the third time I have ice fished all winter and my first actual full day. Anyways we got out and started getting setup and before I even had the second tip up out we already had a flag. First fish turned out to be a small hammer handle. While setting tip up 3/4 I had a bite so I had a feeling it could be good today. Anyways then the action died until we had a little five minute rain storm and the sun popped out and the fish did too. For the next couple hours the flags flew like crazy and we could hardly keep up with chasing flags and getting them reset. We had to cut the day a bit short cause we actually ran out of bait today. I think we caught 10 pike and a burbot but honestly lost track a little bit. Best fish of the day was a 35”, 2x36” and a very very chunky 38”. My fiancée was able to get a new PB with a 36” pike today so she was pretty stoked

 

[BearFoot]

Nice catch'n

 

[Gellar]

Good day! No pictures of the burbot?

 

[Sask hunter]

Good day! No pictures of the burbot?

Just for you lol

 

[Gellar]

Just for you lol
View attachment 361828

I think I caught a small one 30 years ago in Minnesota and didn't know what it was. I think I cut the line because I was scared of it. Now, I'd love to catch some to eat.

 

[Sask hunter]

I think I caught a small one 30 years ago in Minnesota and didn't know what it was. I think I cut the line because I was scared of it. Now, I'd love to catch some to eat.

Everyone likes them but I’m not a huge fan. I prefer pike or walleye

 

[Bonasababy]

Burbot are from the Cod family. And like fresh cod--Tasty! Not many people like them though, might have something to do with the slime and their habit of coiling their tail around you if you let them. They spawn very early it's something to see.

 

[Treeshark]

While setting tip up 3/4 I had a bite so I had a feeling it could be good today.

Beautiful fish @Sask hunter- what type of tipups do you use, and what do you bait them with? Live or dead bait?

 

[Sask hunter]

Beautiful fish @Sask hunter- what type of tipups do you use, and what do you bait them with? Live or dead bait?

Mostly use HT but type doesn’t matter much as long as you get the ones with big spools and fill it full. They can usually hold close to 50 yards of line. We can’t use live minnows or anything like that here so I run big smelts or Cisco’s on quick strike rigs. Hook near the fin on the top of the fish and you almost never have deep hooked fish

 

[Treeshark]

Mostly use HT but type doesn’t matter much as long as you get the ones with big spools and fill it full.

Agreed- although those HT Polars are nice for perch etc, I’ve found you can set them a lot lighter than a Beaver Dam.

 

[Sask hunter]

Agreed- although those HT Polars are nice for perch etc, I’ve found you can set them a lot lighter than a Beaver Dam.

Yes if we could use live minnows then we would have a chance for perch or walleye on tipups. Cause we can’t jaw jackers are the way to go for your dead stick