Tip Ups?

[TrapMan13]

Hello Everyone... Its that time of year again!! I do a lot of Ice fishing but not really any Ice fishing with Tip-Ups... I am wanting to pick up a couple nice tip-ups but I'm clueless as to which kind? This where you guys come into play haha... Just a dumb question... Thanks for your help...

- Chad

P.S. - Finally got out last night and had my limit of Crappies in about 1/2 hour... Finally got to satisfy the itch!

[hanson]

Hey Chad-

Sounds like you had a good night on the crappies!

As far as tip-ups are concerned, I really, really, really like the Frabill thermal tip-ups. They are the orange round ones that you can buy just about anywhere. They typically sell for $20 a piece but you can find them on sale quite often for $15. A buddy informed me that you found them for $11 and some change the other day. Now that is a steal. I thought he said Gander but I could be mistaken. What I'm saying is don't pay $20 for them because they can be had for much less if you look around.

In addition to the Frabill tip-ups, I love the Beaver Dam tip-ups by Arctic Fisherman. The Beaver Dam is your classic wood tip-up. They are very, very smooth and are of the highest quality. You can even ship your tip-ups back to the Arctic Fisherman factory for a tune up or to get replacement parts. The company has been around for a long time and still stands behind the quality. A+ in my book! The only drawback is you pay for that quality to the tune of about $30. But this is also a tip-up that you should be using 25 years from now as well.

Feel free to ask any more questions about tip-ups, rigging, or how to fish them as well.

There is nothing more exciting than watching your tip-ups and seeing a flag trip!

[fishingmike0770]

I won a Beaver Dam tip-up by Arctic Fisherman last year at one of the Ice Leader events. I was not aware of how nice they are. Very smooth and definitely worth the money. Nicest ones that ive seen. Sure they are on the expensive side but like hanson said, you will be using it for 25 yrs or more. One of my dads buddies gave me one that he got when he was 15 yrs old. Hes pushing 50 and it still is in top notch condition. A+ for Arctic Fisherman.

[augernaut]

I'm from Wisconsin - tipup fishing is darn near a religion over here, so I feel qualified to put in my 0.02 :-) Save yourself time and frustration and alot of money in the long run, and go buy a couple Beaver Dams (Arctic Fisherman) Far and away the most durable, smoothest tripping, smooth operating tipups made. I've used Polars, Frabill Pro-Thermals and the like, none of them compare. Spool up with some good quality black dacron line (forget superline), add your leader of choice, and go catch fish.

[irvingdog]

Beaver Dams.....The "Ice-Busters" of tip-ups appearantly.

Wonderful product. Quality from front to back.

[ChuckN]

I got my hands on a pair of the Fish Brother's Tip-Ups last winter and I've used them a lot, with great success. The pack includes 2 tip ups and they fit nicely in a box-like container.

I have yet to have my holes freeze over with this set-up and the reel is above the water, which I really prefer over my 3 other tip ups I own.

You can find them right here at this link.

Fish Brothers

Here is a small bluegill I caught with this set-up last year on the first ice trip. I still can't believe that these tip-ups are that sensitive (for fishing with walleye tackle, lol)

[fishnfool]

I have two Beaver Dam's that I inherited from my grandfather who passed on in 1976. Not sure how many years he had used them but after 30 years they still work like new. You get what you pay for with the Beaver Dam's.

[Surface Tension]

I've got a Beaver Dam thats 30 years old and it still works great (well it did till it got ran over last winter) so theres something to be said there.

I'm also using a set of Fish Brothers Tip-Ups and thats all I use now. I did ad a nut to lock the axle bolt to the frame and added a bell to the flag. Use shavings or snow to seal the base to the ice and your hole won't freeze. The spool is above water so I wouldn't use anything but mono for line, thats not a problem for me because thats what I prefer for line. The FB sits up high and getting run over isn't a problem anymore and I've found if sledders can see your Tip-Up they go way around it.