Tips ups hmm...

[Knoc]

Was just thinking the other day while looking at tip ups. I use a tip up only a few times a year so Im not by any means a avid tip up'er. One thing I was wondering was, why would a person prefer a open tip up over a hole covered (ice free)style tip up? To me it seems like a no brainer that the hole covered tip ups would be more practical. Are there any benefits of a open tip up compared to a hole cover type? Is it because they tend to be cheaper in price?

[FlagsDown]

The rail-type are traditional! "That's what your grampa used, best fisherman ever, yadda yadda yadda" It's what a lotta guys started with and stayed with.

I run both kinds, depending on conditions.

I do think the better rail-type tipups trip a little smoother than the frisbees-more important for walleyes, less important for pike.

The foam circles work pretty well with the rail-type in less extreme conditions.

The frisbees store a little easier.

Plus, the foam circles also work well for keeping a buddy heater off the ice and prevent premature tank freeze-up.

[ClownColor]

My big reason for the open tip-ups...I can pack them in my bag or bucket easily. I've had them frozen in and they still work great. to me though, it's just a space issue.

[MNice]

Heck, I only own 1 tip up, an old polar. If I were to buy new I would still stick with the rail cause it fits right in my rod bag, easy to rig & handle, and its what I'm used to.

[mrfish1991]

I don't usually run tip ups because of the species I fish for. But the few tip ups I do have are the good 'ol beaver dam wooden ones, and the only reason I have those is because they were given to me years ago.

[tgruenke]

I have an old Beaver Dam tip up that i got for Christmas one year. It does fit nice in my rod bag. I also have two frabil circular one. The big advantage is that the hole doesn't freeze. I agree that the rail ones are a bit more sensitive.

[Twins 57 Fan]

I also use the hole covering tip ups.

One disadvantage to using the thermal ones is being able to look and see how much line has been taken out. You can walk up to an open tip up and see the tip up marker on the line if it was a false trip. Thats about the only thing I can think of. I would never switch back.

On a nice day when the holes arent freezing over they are equal.

[gopher_nation]

I have both and my round Frabill insulated tip-up hasn't been brought on the ice for three seasons now. Being able to see how much line is out, and direction of movement is what I really like about the traditional style. Also when the round ones get frozen in it's a PITA to get out because you can't just chip away the exposed ice.

[Tipupdown]

Hmmm... Open Tip-Up HANDS DOWN!

I use tip ups all the time.. Few years back bought a couple Frabill Hole Cover tip-ups... JUNK... easy to freeze into the ice, terrible with 10" holes, and they break easy!

Pro's about Open tip-ups :

1. Cheap u can buy a good Polar for $12's Unlike $20 for the Frabill

2. You can see the way your line is going if a bite

3. See how far your slip is out (Wind bite or not)

4. easier to set the depth off bottom

5. Easier for storage

Little trick i use with my tip ups is if it's real cold out nothing like a little 75 cent carpet sample to cover the hole!

[FlagsDown]

Good point about the spool visibility!

[MattL]

Also when the round ones get frozen in it's a PITA to get out because you can't just chip away the exposed ice.

This is why I don't use the round tip-ups. I had one until it froze in and destroyed while trying to chisel it out.

I use the rail style with a foam hole cover. That way you can easily remove the foam and chisel it out if it gets froze in.

[JBone]

polar tip-ups are the ony way to go in my mind

[bloc004]

Beaver Dam PERIOD Guys with beaver dams will never have to think about converting to the round plastic ones, because their tip ups will last forever! I have had the round ones in the past and are just not as easy to set depth, check how much line is out, and break easily.

[gixxer01]

Still use the BeaverDams I bought 15 years ago. Flag Springs still stand up straight, everything spins like the day it was new. Durable as all h.e.l.l! I've ripped the spool through 1.5" of ice and the thing didn't break. Buddy bought the cheap plastic disc ones with the plastic spools...junk.

[jigginjerk]

Hole cover tipups also have very short shafts which can be a problem when there is a lot of snow.

[Moose]

I was a fan of the frabill thermals until I had to chip one out of a hole on a typical red lake day. Ended up destroying it. I will be going to the open style. I agree the open style is more sensitive and the shaft is longer to avoid the freeze up I always seemed to get with the "thermal" tipups.

[herefish101]

Set a standard one and pull the line to see how easy it trips, then set a Frabill thermal and pull the line, the Frabill tip ups are very hard to trip and thus catch less fish, Polar makes a non thermal round one with a more standard trip mechanism and they work pretty good. The round foam hole covers for the standard tip ups are worth every penny.

[BehindtheHead]

if your worried about freezing in. drill a hole about 6" deep that barely overlaps your tip up hole so it floods with water. put a fue rocks in a coffee can, to sink it in the shallow hole, with 5 or 6 charcoal briquets. it will keep your hole open on the coldest days.