I've been fishing for Northern Pike for many years through the ice and tip up fishing is a great way to catch a lot of fish and some hogs.  Unfortunately the guys beside us always seem to get the ones over 20 pounds, haha! Here's a video on how to make your own mono-filament quick strike rig, hook your bait and set an HT Windlass Tip Up. Over the years we seem to catch most of our big pike on the Windlass Tip up. The only trouble in Alberta is that using these can be tough when it is cold since the line freezes in the hole killing the action. On those warm windy days of winter though this is a go to set up!  This video was made at Wolf Lake, I'll be putting the rest of the video together soon.

If anyone has any suggestions how we can turn those sub 20 pounder pike into over 20s I would greatly appreciate the tips if you have any?

here is new video from USA...

Love the vids Brandon but do you ever work lol 

Wish I had time to fish as much as you

Haha, yeah I'm working.  Working my 12 hour night shifts this week.  Working three weeks straight of 12hr shifts.  That's why I get all the time off.   My full time is 182 shifts a year.  It's a good job for a fisherman.

So what was the size on they various minnows they are using to catch the big pike.  I usually just use big herring, anchovies and mackerel like 8-10 inches in length.

My recent trip we were using minnows 4 to 6 inches long to catch those 20 pounders pike.

Really that isn't even that big.

I was surprised as well but the lighter minnow gives an slower drop when jigged.

So you were jigging them or they were on a Windlass or other jigging tip up?

Both types....either method produced some big pike. The hook color combined with fluorocarbon line made for a quick strike. Red hook is hard to see in the water. Action was slow with only one fish an hour. In both cases we were set up 100 feet from a weed bed. The still one did have more strikes on it. Hope that helps...happy pike hunting.

Interesting, thanks for the tips.  Sounds like how we fish for them at Pinehurst, except we're about 100 yards off a weed bed 10 feet of water on a sand flat.  We usually get the best action on the Windlass Tip ups though and the biggest fish.  Does depend on their mood though..

Thanks for all the information.  I always like to hear what other people are doing out there.

Your welcome Brandon...may your lines be tight and hooks always wet..