PIKE

For northerns, which are difficult enough to catch when you're retrieving plugs in fluid water, the best setup through hard water is the tip-up.

What to Use: Michigan fisheries biologist Tom Goniea employs a tip-up rig that includes a 36-inch, 12- to 15-pound-test monofilament leader attached to a shorter steel leader with a round hook. The hook is then threaded under the dorsal fin of a 4-inch shiner or 10-inch sucker. A split shot can be attached to the monofilament just above the steel leader if weight is needed to get the rig to the bottom. If you're fishing waters known for trophy pike, consider making a large sucker your standard bait.