Thoughts on/about beaver dam tip ups,

[DTro]

Can't understand why anyone would even question a well lubed beaver.

[nolte]

I am a beaver dam fan myself. I've got a dozen or so that are all 5+ years old. Haven't tried the rounds ones but might pick one up in the future. If a guy keeps his eyes open at garage sales or some bait shops, you can pick them up cheaper. Some places will run a 3 for $100 type of deal.

All tip ups break. Some of my BDs have bent springs/shafts or big chunks of wood missing hitting them with a chisel. But there is no comparison when you compare the type of abuse they will take vs a plastic model. All tip ups work in nice conditions or being checked often. Now leave it in there all night on a -20 night and you'll see the difference. A BD will be fine where a plastic one will be broken eventually.

[mallardnwalleye]

I have one Beaver Dam that is over 20 years old.

Most of my other tip ups last 2-4 seasons.

Their pluses -

They have the smoothest action that fish cant detect.

They are built rock solid and last along time.

Their minuses-

They weren't round until recently.

They don't have a clip to prevent lively large bait from triggering the flag. You can make your own though.

No storage containers or corks to hook.

No insulation to prevent hole freeze up.

They cost a lot.(not in the long run though)

Heavy(round)

The flag cant go very high.

Some people use them on Walleyes because they can set them up so the eyes don't have a sinker-weight dropping on them and they cant feel the spool. I don't think it matters that much for northerns.

If ya got the cash and don't need the storage/weight they are worth it. If you don't the frabills do fine unless you are really fine tuning your presentation.

[NCLaker]

... There are some things I dislike and I wish Beaver dam would change.

1. Spool diameter. I really like the larger spool capacity that some others offer.

2. Line winder handle on the spool. Plastic spools are easy to build this into, and I would not concede to a plastic spool, but if they could somehow incorporate a winding peg onto the metal spools that would be awesome. I have a wooden line winder that I use, but it can be a pain.

I'm not a hard core tip up fisherman, but if Beaver's had these features (especially the wind handle), I would more seriously consider one. I've been using frabill's and they seem to work well enough, but after 6 years they are do to be relubed.

[Boar]

So this is wiered. I havent read this thread till now. I was in scheels in fargo brousing the ice fishing section and i came across beaver dam tip ups. Took alook and went holy sh-- at the price and kept walking. Got a tub of the plastics. From thuat point on something was bugging me about them. Untill tonight.

I was in my man closet, some have a cave i have a closet. I was going over my fire arms and such for hunting weason. And looked in the corner and there they were. Looking at me

Cant even remeber when i bought them and ive been ice fishing for 3 decades or more. There is a sticker on tuem that says 30th aniversery edition. Made by "The arctic fisherman" Beaver Dam WI.

Thoguth about sellng them at first. But then i guesse i owe it to them to see first hand yow they preform cause i dont recall ever using them. Maybe in my dark days of way to much beaver.