I've always used about 8" of wire. Cortland makes good stuff called Tyger wire that knots well. A figure 8 knot works well with wire. Sz.  4's always did it for me, but I've never bested 42".  With suckers I'd run a double hook rig- one behind the dorsal, one in the lip off a small 3 way swivel.
Pike pick up the minnow and run with it. They generally attack from the side and end up with the bait crosswise.  They'll then stop and orient it to swallow. If you pull during the initial run, you have to hope they have the hook positioned to hit home. If you pull during the pause, likely you'll just pull it away. The best  is after they move off the second time, as they now have it going down their throat.  Pike will attack relatively large prey for their size. HT probably has some finer points, and better suggestions, but that's what worked for me for many years.   10-12" suckers are the preferred bait- Not a bunch of spiny rays on their dorsal and lots of fat on them. Good eatin' for a 'gator.  Big shiners in the 7-8" range are good also.

O come on Rich,time to tell the truth and nothing but.....you land the Lakers with your mouth....don't you?

God yes, Jack. Big pickerel are brutes. Still one of my favorite fish. I'm hoping Jersey lakes freeze up this year and are OK in Feb. to relive some of those memories with my older brother. After my sister passed, I've been paying a lot more attention to family. I talked to my niece in Portland Or. and sad to say, she's started to fish for steelhead with a spinning rod and I may have to twist my arm and go out and visit.

I think I am going to get the #8 trebles.   I am CHEAP,  so paying $8 to $10 for a dozen minnows every time out makes me cringe, especially when I am targeting perch for the most part. A few times a year I will spurge and get a dozen.  I usually just throw a perch or small sunfish on 2 tip ups and that's it. It's legal as long as you count them towards your daily limit and do not take them from lake to lake.  Have good enough luck like that.     The others are set for perch.
I finally picked up my Marcum pro 1 tonight so it is game on
http://www.amazon.com/Marcum-Fishing-Sonar-System-Flasher/dp/B0041INZCM
 
I have a Pop up lined up from someone at work because the one I wanted is sold out.  My old Clam wieghts at least 80 lb and is a bear to load in the back of my SUV
 

Clint,
I hear you about the bait.. The Big Pike bait that I get are $2.00 each so they are very few and far between.. Generally I buy 3 every now and then and use heavy or med shiners for warm water fish..
I do have a good tackle shop that treats me well so a little bait order goes a long way :)
 
When Jigging for perch or Lakers , live bait is really not necessary.. It's all about attraction and sometimes scent for Lakers.. I have found plastics or gulp tipped on jigs or spoons work just as well as live bait.. It's the electronics and seeing what is happening under the ice that makes a bigger difference.. Your eyes will light up when you see that fish appear on the screen and you will learn how to present your lure to make them strike.. Much different then blind jigging..
 
Gerry & crew:
You guys tell me when and I will be there, heck I'm there regardless..
Schroon lake has enough ice to drive a semi out right now and has been giving up decent lake trout on the short pole.. We have caught very large pike in there as well and at the one local shop they have a 50" on the wall from schroon.. I like that lake personally..
Lake George is better potential for bigger Lake Trout and just froze over this past week.. Most likely I wont be giving that lake a try until the weekend of Jan-17th but may swing in on my way to Schroon on Monday..
 
As for lodging:
Our first choice is Maple Leaf Motel on north end of Schroon Lake right off exit 28 on northway (87) .. I stayed there Monday night..
 Very good place 2 miles from where I walk on.. He likes cash over credit and the room for 2 was $60.00 out the door.. We have had 4 comfortably in there in the past.. No need to reserve ahead of time as there is always a place to stay..
In Lake George I stay at super 8 downtown.. They are $70.00 per night (2ppl cash or credit ) and again 2 miles from fishing or the winter carnival that happens in Feb...
If one was to bring their spouse for a weekend getaway, the Alp Horn Motel on Loon Lake (6 miles from schroon) is a good place with a great restaurant, a little bit pricey though but sometimes worth it.. You can walk to good fishing on Loon (pike & walleye) and is a middle spot for Schroon & Lake George..
 
P.S
The trail systems for sleds are out the door from the Maple leaf and the Alp Horn..
 
 

Geez I may even have to get in on this.  How long is the drive????

I'm down every/any weekend + a monday until March on ice somewhere .. I will say the GIANTS are now being found on fresh ice . The warming trend sat may hurt that lake if it continues longer ..I'm going to check it out sunday & monday.. 
My suggestion would be a weekend in feb on that water (lake George) if possible..
If you got the itch and want to make the trip the other waters are plenty fine and I'll be out and ready to play..
 
Clint.. Google/mapquest Lake George, NY.. Gotta be a 3 hr trip I'd guess.

John...I'm with you man. I'd like to catch lakers also. Plenty of perch pike Wally's and pannies near me. Definitely not 100% on going as I'm a newly wed of eight years myself ;)

Honestly I have no ice gear so would be a scrub in that sense. But I'm sure I can contribute something...I can get creative :)

Rich, haven't lived in jersey for over two years now... but thanks for the offer bud.

Wife and kid want in and we are going to stay the whole weekend. Her best dates are Febuary 15,16,17  What do you folks think? My daughter is 9 anyone bringing kids?

I think I could throw together a few poles that may  work at that depth.  I am mostly a pan fish guy.   I just got my flasher too.  Would probably bring my nephew if he wanted to come.  Bout 3.5 hours and only get limited time off this winter due to new computer systems going in so I would be  a suicide type trip of Saturday and a partial Sunday  If I could swing it

That works for me. I won't be able to get there until sat first light as I just learned the wife roped me into going to see hootie ( without the blow fish ) Friday night but no worries, first light sat - mon is fine for me.
The sagamore is WAY to upscale for me $$$ but a great place if you got the dough. I will most likely do the super 8 or possibly up at maple leaf in schroon.I will keep you guys up to date as things get closer.
I just remembered that the water park ( splash water kingdom ) requires you to lodge there for access to the water park. It's also a bit pricy but some times they run deals. Unless the wife decides to bring the grand kids that will most likely be out for me as well.

Raining pretty good here now . My brother in law is on schroon now & tomorrow and doing well so far with lakers.
My target goal Monday is Lake George . Report back then

Clint, Thats awesome you got a few with the new toy.. Game changer for sure !! I was a stubborn old school bastard just blind jigging and tip-ups for years and happy as heck to get a fish or 2 .. Once my friends started smokin' my azz with electronics with double digits, I got wise to the game.. They ain't cheap but they are effective and deadly on the fish.. Just wait until you see a lake trout charge the lure from 50-100 feet down and look through the hole and see them just bump or nose the lure , or take it too.. AWESOME stuff ..
 
Here is what mine looked like every time a school of smelt would pass by, and with them , TROUT ..
 
P.S.
the red marks are Lakers..

 

Easy 3, it's pretty cake in the lake George Schroon area in winter. The travel distance between the 2 end to end is about 20 mins .Really super easy..
Lake George has more tourist things to do, schroon has nothing but ice and snowmobile trails. There is also a middle ground of Alp Horn Motel it's between the 2 , just to confuse you .. Lol
My wife stayed at the water park last year with grand kids while I stayed at cheap maple leaf (schroon) fishing with friends. I know it wasn't cheap but didn't think it was that outrageous . That's a bit over the top..
Like said I stayed at super 8 downtown Lake George . It was $35. Each for us 2 guys. It's a standard hotel within a mile of the winter carnival and 3 miles to hearthstone campground ( state) where I fish on lake George . If your thinking of sleds, it's not out the door there.
The alp horn ( chestertown) and maple leaf ( schroon ) are, again 20 mins max either way to Lake George .
There really is no worries about reserving way in advance as there is always room at 1 of the 3 and I can throw more in the mix too.

Yea that certified bait deal is the biggest joke beside the fire wood . I got my stupid receipts , a wallet full. i just hand them a stack and let them figure out which minnows or suckers were purchased when. We do get checked more on the ice then ever on the SR.. F'N joke.. ..
One thing about jigging is , they can't say anything about hard baits or plastics , gulp etc ..

Well I'm going to get into the serious planning stage on tues.. I got a bunch of stuff to do tonight and will be fishing all day tomorrow..
John, My wife is cool with bringing the 8 year old granddaughter to spend a day at the water park (I guess you don't have to stay there to enter )if your family is into that.. It really works to my advantage too :)
 
P.S.
What ain't made in some foreign cheap labor country anymore :(