Sorry for the belated response. So I tip-up and jigged just off the edge of a rock pile which leads out to a flats like basin on Lake Monona. I would like to say I was successful but it wasn’t the case. I spread the tip-ups out starting at 7ft to 12ft of water. I jigged along the edge of the rock pile and just beyond. I used rattle spoons, flash champs, and jigs with minnow heads and spikes. I obviously could not move around that much b/c of the tip-ups. I am going to leave the tip-ups home this week and just jig in the morning and evening in deeper water. Not sure what else to try. Having a hard time recognizing bait on my Marcum. Any ideas?

Champs,

I got it. Mix it up until you find them. I figured the eyes would disperse like you are thinking. I am going to try the basin this weekend. Then move out to deeper water. I will report back with updates. Saturday night. I just got a underwater Marcum camera to utilize I my search of the eyes. I will put it to the test.

Champs,

I got it. Mix it up until you find them. I figured the eyes would disperse like you are thinking. I am going to try the basin this weekend. Then move out to deeper water. I will report back with updates. Saturday night. I just got a underwater Marcum to utilize I my search of the eyes. I will put it to the test.

I will definitely try the single or frog hook. I know where I have been catching perch so I will try to post on that site and see if that helps. What kind of bait do recommend? I work a couple days a month at a bait and tackle shop (outside my hospital job) so I can get almost anything. I do not think I have been using that light of fluorocarbon but I will definitely get some.

TS,
I would definitely fish until 11:00PM if I didn’t have kids or a full-time job. Don’t forget my wife who needs time in between. With that said I will definitely try fishing until 9:00PM. Do you think I should still stay up in the U-Shaped path with my tip ups or should I go to the flats (basin?)? I want to stay close to home which is on the shallow bay but I will walk a mile if I have to.

Champs,

I appreciate the input. When you talk about the main basin where are you referring? Are you talking about the deep water or the flats before the breaklines leading to the deeper water? I guessing I am really asking about depth which would determine whether I jig only or am able to tip up as well.

TK,
To be honest I haven’t because of all the pressure in those cabbage areas (3-5 feet) for panfish. However I have been able to pluck some nice perch here and there from the shallower water. I was hoping to catch the eyes coming into those areas later at night but haven’t had much luck. When you are setting up shallow how far do you position your bait from the bottom? Any specific setup in mind? I have pretty much everything for tip ups and jigging.

I am a brand new participant but I have been watching the show for a few seasons now. I even got a “fun” job at a bait shop to get deeper into ice fishing. I would definitely make the hike from Madtown (Madison). Can NEWBS join in?

Ron