Mack Attack Magazine

By Benjamin Hayes, Mack's Lure Pro Staff

Tip Ups and Quick Strike Rigs

If you’re targeting northern pike under the ice, one of the most underrated approaches is using tip ups combined with a well constructed quick strike rig, augmented with a blade attractor such as the Mack’s Smile Blade for added flash and triggering effect. This combination transforms standard hardwater pike tactics into a lethal presentation that consistently produces fish when other methods struggle.The beauty of this system lies in its strategic efficiency. Rather than actively jigging a single hole hoping pike swim past, you’re deploying multiple presentations across prime habitat while adding visual attractors that trigger strikes from greater distances. This isn’t about luck it’s about understanding pike behavior, rigging properly, and leveraging the irresistible flash of blade attractors to put trophy fish on the ice consistently.

Tip ups might conjure images of walleye or panfish suspended over deep basin structures, but they’re excellent for targeting northern pike especially when fish are patrolling specific structure or when you want to cover a wide weed flat with relatively minimal effort.

Pro Tip: Using tip ups allows you to cover multiple holes and locations simultaneously, freeing you from actively jigging every moment.

Many states allow for extra lines when ice fishing, and most anglers opt for tip up presentations to maximize their odds of finding feeding pike.This multi-location approach dramatically increases your chances of intersecting with actively feeding pike. Instead of hoping fish swim past your single jigging hole, you’re creating an interception grid across their patrol routes.