Stopping tip up spools from spinning?

[Hawg]

Even after 20 years of using tip ups theres still one thing has me stumped. How do you keep the wire form/line holder from spinning on the shaft, thus letting out a little line. If the wire holder spins the flag doesn't trip. Where this happens most is when the thing sits for a while and an active minnow pulls just hard enough to pull a few inches of line by moving the line holder. Where this is most damaging is when I try to fish just a few inches off the bottom. When I go out to check the tip up the marker bobber will be pulled down 6-8 inches, that puts my bait right on the bottom. It really pi--es me off. I've tried rubber bands, twist ties, tape, and other things but they just get wet and don't stay. The round Frabill's have a tight rubber band type thing but you can't make it work on a Polar because you can't get it past the spool and wire form. You guys know what I'm talking about? It's hard to explain.

[tonkapat]

Go with a beaver dam tip up. The cheap ones all do what your talking about.

[Tipupdown]

If you look at the Polar HT's or any new Tip ups like them you should be able to see that they come with a paperclip type deal attached to it.. (Looks like the clip on the end of a pen or so) these stop them from spinning pretty well..

[MuskieMojoTackle]

tape has always worked for me.

I have used JB Weld on a couple too

[Whateverzbitin]

The clip answer is correct. In fact I have a bunch of HT brand tips that did not have them. I think that sometimes people take them off in the store for ones they have at home. Just call HT and ask for some and they will send you like 6 for free. That is what I did.

920-533-5080

[Hawg]

I just called HT this morning and a very nice gentleman told me about the clips. I have probably 25 of these things and only remember 1 ever coming with a clip, and that didn't work very well. I just retuned from Fleet and not a single Polar tip up on the shelves has a clip. As far as you Beaver Dam guys, if you really want to spend 4 times as much on a heavy, clunky tip up thats is not even as smooth as a Polar go ahead. They have that big pot metal arm that is always in the way and requires whatever you are using to go thru it instead of just the line like the HT and Frabills. Sorry, go ahead and blast me if you want, Polar makes a better product.

[alumamusky]

How dare you talk that way!!

Just kiddin, black tape works everytime.

[blackdog1101]

Dang! Learned something new today. I always wondered why that line guide spun around. JB Weld here I come.

[Hawg]

But then you can't move them up to transport them. They have to move up and down to close them up.

[silverbulletguy]

Put a split-shot weight on the line just above the circle that the line goes thru.

[Hawg]

Seems that would hinder a real bite?

[20lbSloughShark]

That's an easy fix. One layer of electrical or duct tape around the bottom, and wedge the guide over it.

[gill man]

I've used scotch tape, electrical tape, and hot glue. All have worked fine. They don't need to be held extremely tightly, just enough to keep from smoothly spinning around the shaft.

Tucker

[Walleye Guy]

I have both polar and Beaver Dam (and others) and the Beaver Dam is a far superior product mechanically. Way smoother, way more reliable. I wish the Beaver Dam had a nifty handle on the spool for winding up the line and being able to get the line in and out of the cast arm would be convenient. However when I am fishing for finicky walleyes the smooth Beaver Dam are the only tip-ups I use. All the rest, including Polar, get relegated to pike fishing when smoothness, sensitivity and reliability are not as critical.

[tonkapat]

I have both polar and Beaver Dam (and others) and the Beaver Dam is a far superior product mechanically. Way smoother, way more reliable. I wish the Beaver Dam had a nifty handle on the spool for winding up the line and being able to get the line in and out of the cast arm would be convenient. However when I am fishing for finicky walleyes the smooth Beaver Dam are the only tip-ups I use. All the rest, including Polar, get relegated to pike fishing when smoothness, sensitivity and reliability are not as critical.

+1

I got mine for a present 20 years ago.