homemade tipup

[20lbSloughShark]

Well I had 2 hours until dark after work Saturday, so I went out. I chose cedar, because I live on it, but its not my favorite. I set out two tipups, one in 3 feet of water (my shallowest ever ice fishing) and one in about 8. Looking down the hole, the shallow hole had some tall yellow weeds, the 8 foot was just off the edge of the tall weeds, over a mossy type weed. The deep hole had a live sucker about 7" long, and the shallow had a 5" sucker, that I froze the day before. Both tip ups were just your basic HT black tip up, one with a quckstrike (natural rig) and one with no leader, 30 pound mono line, and a 3/0 circle hook. This was my first time using dead bait. At sunset I pulled the dead bait tip up up, and it was frozen to the ice, breaking it in half. Well this turns out to be a blessing, I'll explain after the fishing update. As I was picking up the pieces, a small 2-3 pound bass took the live bait. I got it in, was not that impressed and released it. Still not impressed with deadbait.

Well I got home and was figuring out what to do. I thought of all sorts of fixes, and even tried melt-welding it back together. This makes plastic brittle. I wasn't that mad; after all, its a tip up worth $10 new, that I found in a shed. After a while I got the idea to make my own. This has got to be one of my better ideas. I have always been good at wood work, but never great. Well this is turning out amazing. I've seen wood tip ups in stores worse that this one. I will post pics when I finish. I used the flag pole, and the spool/pole/rod thing, everything else I made or added. I put a new spring on the flag pole, I used a bolt that screws in the spring, and also the wood base. The wood base it the real art. It was a long 1x6 piece of oak. I cut it to 24" long and 4.5" wide, with a 2.25" channel running the middle 16" long. The flag will screw into a 3/8" hole. I am almost done, all I need is to get the spool/rod/pole thing in, screw the flag on the base, all after a nice clear coat, and done. I am thinking about buying a metal spool, and new plastic flag (the one on it is, well you'll see). I call it the slough shark hunter.

BTW, what is the best way to write/sign your name, sharpie under the clear coat?

[hydro]

That work deserves a picture! I've made lots of fishing equipment and also like to do woodwork. It would be cool to see what you have made as well!

[20lbSloughShark]

Heres the "in progress" pictures. Right now it is drying in the basement, no stain, just a clear coat. I used a sharpie to sign it.

(The flag got ripped off by a cat today)

[Gordie]

Looks great 20lbSS

[Scott M]

Nice job SloughShark! That looks awesome. Now if you can make the ones that let you slip the rod into it (Arctic Warrior), that would really have me interested.

[20lbSloughShark]

Heres the final prouct. It is rigged with 30 pound mono, and one of my natural rigs, but with red trebble hooks. Now all it needs is a better flag.

Before

After

[reinhard1]

great work!!!just that much more pride in all your future fishing experience. good luck.

[hydro]

Very nice work! I make a lot of my own tackle (including tip ups and that "Arctic Warrior" rig mentioned earlier) and it is rewarding to use these creations out on the ice.

You will have a great feeling the first time that flag trips with a fish! Good luck!

[20lbSloughShark]

I went out today on indian lake. I only had 1 large sucker (I bought 6 but got like 8 mediums a large and a decoy 13" long). I fished for a few hours and got nothing. Then I moved to the spot I got the 8 pounder last year (profile picture). I put my slough shark tip up down, and jigged a spoon 30 paces away (in fisherman diamond pattern). 20 minutes later a flag. At this point my dad had worked his way out, but was after crappie. We went over, I emptied my pocket of stuff for unhooking. It was only 45 seconds or so after the flag went up, but the pike had almost took the whole 200 yards of line. I gave it a foot of slack and as soon as I felt a jerk I set the hook. It didn't fight until it was at the hole. The moment I saw it, I knew it was my new heaviest. After a few runs the hook slipped out of the mouth, but somehow the other hook (natural rig) snagged the gut. Eventually it calmed down, but I couldnt turn it up the hole. My dad ran and grabbed the gaff. I reached down and got it in the jaw. We then measured and weighed it; 35" and 12 pounds, way bigger than my personal best. We took some pictures, and after 10 minutes of recovery it went back to the depths. 6' of water, large sucker, weedy bay, homemade tip up.

BTW it could easily close its mouth on that jaw spreader

[hydro]

Nice fish out of that small lake! I guess that home made tip-up works pretty well!

[Gordie]

Great pike and great way to break in that tip up. I also love indain lake and its been far to long since I have been on it.

[20lbSloughShark]

it is defiantly broken in. I never saw a fish take so much line so fast before. I was in 6' of water 50 yards from shore, and it took nearly the whole 100 yards towards shore in only 30-45 seconds. I noticed the line had all sorts of weeds on the line including reeds. Whoever gave me the tip about using barrel slip weights, thanks. I'm pretty sure that saved me that fish, along with a well made quick-strike made by me.