What is the best "TIP UP"

[The Great Guide]

Mom sent her favorite son some $$$$$'s for a Christmas present. I want to pick up a couple of tip-ups. In your opinion, what should I buy?

TGG

[SLIPKNOT]

The frabill orange round ones (can't remember what they are called) The best tip up ever made.

[Upnorthwalleye]

Buy yourself some Beaver Dams------They will last more than your life time! Ray

[Doc_wi]

I'd think the Frabill Pro-Thermal Tip-Ups are great. As a true ice-fishing rookie, I think the way they store easily in a bucket, the little storage compartment and their ability to keep the hole open make ice fishing a lot easier then I remember it being. It's things like these and improvements in shanties and ice fishing tackle in general that have me testing my ice fishing "luck" (or lack of it) again. The new Frabill Lite-Bite tip-up also looks like a great concept in some situations. Just my opinion on some of the stuff that I've gotten this year for ice fishing.

Doc

[punch1]

Doc, I'm shocked! A native Wisconsinite failing to mention "The Artic Fisherman" (Beaver Dam) tip-ups?

Honestly, I've never tried the Frabill thermal tip ups, but have read on Lake-Link.com that several people would rather use them as frisbees. There was a winded discussion on this there as well and the overall consensus went for the beaver dam tip ups. The 50% hike in price this year (now $30.00) combined with their rebate program is a marketing ploy that I think will fail. The tip up is NOT worth $30.00 $20.00 yes.

I've tried Polars and they are a reasonably priced and good tip-up as well. I've also tried others and have yet to be impressed.

[Mckoz]

I've got to agree with the frisbee comment - I've got everything from the Frabill's to the Finicky Fish Factory's. I'll stick with the Beaver Dams - easiest to use and store.

One use of the Frabill's on a cold day and you've got a bucket full of frozen parts. Nice idea but my wooden hole covers take up much less room and don't need to be thawed out.

Mike

[Mattman]

I don't have any experience with the Beaver Dam's. My favorite is the pop-up style. Can't think of the name right now but it has tripod legs and a tube that stands vertically over the hole. I love these when you don't have to de-ice your hole every two minutes! I like the Polar ones when your hole is freezing all the time. Best way to go. And I also like the Windlass tip-ups if it isn't too cold. That jigging action is great. Put an airplane jig on and LOOK OUT! Especially for Lakers and Northerns. I just got a Finckey's for a gift and I am dying to try it out this winter. I feel bad for the guys that only have just one kind and stick with it. They're really missing out.


Better to have and not need than to need and not have!

Matt Davis

[THUMPER]

All the tip ups mentioned are good........in Nw Ontario more big walleye are caught on willow sticks than any other. Easy to set and very effective.A flexible stick is used and flagging is tied to your line. It is then set on the branch. In the wind the stick moves and it also tells what the minnow is up to. Lots of visting yanks laughed at the boys when they first saw them being used......but after a day or so all the yanks had at least one of their lines set on a branch.............

[Lundman]

Doc!!

You mean you are going to jinx all those that dare venture on the ice with you, again? Ha!! Just kiddin'. I just had to bring it up because I remember the funny conversations we've had on this topic in the past. Heres to hoping your luck is better this time around, Doc!!

Flag's up!! Set the Hook!!


Lundman

[Upnorthwalleye]

I was going to use the "Frisbee" comment also, but I decided to be nice----A buddy bought one last year and the thing totally froze up on us(it was a very cold day in Northern Wis.)---And that's what it became, a frisbee-----No matter what you do, the hole freezes up if you are an all-night fisherman, and I honestly think that the Beaver Dams hold up better than any tip up out there---I spend many days on the ice during the winter and have been with people who have used other styles and in the end, they go to the Beaver's----It does boil down to what you like though and I'm not here to tell anyone to use what I like-----I wish you all luck this ice season!!!!! Take care! Ray in Wisconsin

[Eyez]

Sorry, I can't help with tip ups, I might be able to advise you on the purchase of some "stay downs" though :)


Eyez

[Doc_wi]

Oh I'm sure that there are many people who think that the Beaver Dam tip-up is the best and only tip-up to be used by a real ice fisherman. Personally from what I remember of ice fishing years ago, they were and probably are still a pain in the butt to keep from getting tangled, and working with cut out wood or insulation board to keep the hole open a bigger pain. I sure didn't say the Frabill Pro-Thermal was the best and only tip-up and I'm sure the Beaver Dam still has it's loyal following. From what I recall you can get a Beaver Dam pretty well froze to the ice also. I still have a couple of old ones that I use as wheel chocks, so I would say that they ARE much more durable then the Frabill. I also have some Mr Tip-ups that I didn't mention that are great on above zero days, but I don't get much use out of them. The concept is nice and they have a great little storage bag too. Actually a Beaver Dam is a fine and sturdy tip-up that will last for years and years and deserve their fine reputation and following. There is something to say about something that will last.

Doc

[Chuck Pederson MN]

Where can you get beaver dam tip ups? Are they the ones John Gillespe had with the heated black box? I know Frabil is one of his sponsers but that black box looked like a good idea. Can anyone help with info. Thanks and by the way where is the ice besides the North Pole.

[Upnorthwalleye]

Wheel Chocks???????? Hahahahah---Hey Doc, I'll make you some solid maple chocks for those BD's you got!----hahaha--Take care---Ray

[Mckoz]

Hey Doc -

The best way I've found to keep them from getting tangled is to put a heavy duty rubberband right on the end of the tip up, gotta replace it every year but it also helps if you are using steel leaders.

Now if somebodys got a good method of removing tip ups at the end of the day I'd sure be interested. After the second line my fingers are numb up to my elbows.

[Upnorthwalleye]

Is it because you have to take off the "depth marker"??---I used to use bobbers, buttons,slip-bobber stops----But now I use a very small sinker---can spool it right up with the rest of the line---But...............My hands do still get cold at times on those real cold days!!!!! Good luck--and think ice!!! Ray

[redbone]

the one that catches all the fish or anyone of the above.

[Vickie]

Thank you for saying Frabill's. I just bought my son one for Christmas. He told me last night that he could use a new Tip up and I was at Gander Mountain today looking at them. I thought It looked the best to me. I also bought him some other fun stuff he should be happy.

Happy Fishing -- We need Ice!!!! Vickie

[slick2526]

Im not much of a tip up fisherman. Just get something that has a good, reliable brandname.

[Lund_Dude]

Doc:

I see that you mentioned MrTipups. Do you mean the wooden windjammer style with the amber light? Do you know if they are available anywhere? I have a couple and haven't seen them for sale in several years. I think those are the best of the windjammers! Thanx for any info.

[irv johnson]

I have used them all.
Frabill is great for fishing as you can adjust the flag tension so it doesn't trip with a big/active minnow you need for walleyes as well as northerns. You need a 4 inch golden shiner for large early walleyes. I have never been able to do that with another type tip up except for the tube tip-up with the 3 legs that utilizes a magnet adjustment for the trip tension.
When picking up Artic or Beaver Dam tip ups and everything is freezing I wrap the line around the unit and throw it into a light weight sled for later attention. By days end most of the tip-ups and jig poles need attention to thawing out and checking over the lines, hooks, etc... These sleds are lightweight and the last to go into the trunk or top of everything so as not to break anything and then into the motel you are staying at or kitchen. After supper or the next morning get organized and ready to go.

[Dave S]

Irv, I agree 100% with what you say. I have a number of the Beaver Dam tipups. At the end of the day it is allot quicker to just wrap the line around the whole assembly as versus trying to wind the line around the small spools in the dark. I place all my tipups in a light duffel bag to make carrying easier. I learned the hard way about not taking them inside to thaw out if you are going to be using them the next morning as the line will freeze on the spools making it difficult to remove the line the following day.

[Lundman1701]

If you are talking about the beaver dam tip ups, with the metal spools, here's a good trick. Remove the line from the spool, get yourself some spent 22 cartridges and a soldering gun. Turn the cartridge upsidedown, and solder it to the bottom of the spool to make a small handle. That way, you can wind the line up with your gloves still on. If you have choppers, can't help ya...hehehe.

Set the Hook!!

Lundman