An easy tip here to double your chances for catching fish while ice fishing. Simple, use two lines.
In Canada you are allowed to use up to two lines in the water while ice fishing. Two lures in the water will increase your chance of catching fish. Does that mean you have to try to fish with a rod in each hand and two holes? No, of course not. What I like to do is drill two holes, at least 10 meters apart, and put a tip-up rig down one hole and set my bucket seat at the other with my jigging rod.
I always set myself up so that I am somewhat aligned with the bucket, the hole I am jigging in, and the tip up hole. That way I can see the tip up hole without having to turn around. If you are thinking ahead, on a breezy day, put the tip up down wind of you. That way you have the wind at your back, making it easier to stay warm.
To make sure you comply with the fishing regulations, you have to keep both lines within 25 meters of you and within line of sight. So if you are fishing in an ice shack or a pop-up shack, you need to leave a door open and the hole within the required 25 meters.
There are many styles of tip up equipment. My new favorite is called a Jaw Jacker Hook Setter. What I really like about this style is that when a fish is hooked, you still get to fish/retrieve the fish with a rod and reel. Some tip up products require the line to be hand over hand retrieved which is just not the same.
