How to Make Tip Ups
Ice fishing is a pastime that is enjoyed in many parts of the United States and the world. Ice fisherman set up shanties on the thick winter ice of lakes and rivers, cutting holes in the ice in which to fish through. Because of the more lethargic nature of fish during this time of year, setting up several poles and waiting for a bite is the norm rather than the exception. Watching all of these poles can be tedious unless you use a tip up, which raises a colored marker when a fish bites. There are a myriad of commercial units available for this purpose; however, you can just as easily build you own.
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Things You'll Need
- Dowel rods
- 2-by-4 lumber
- Ice fishing reel
- Eight penny nails
- Screw-in metal eyelets
- Jigsaw
Instructions
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1
Cut the 2-by-4 lumber into 24-inch sections, then cut one end of each section into a point using the jigsaw. Next, cut a 2-inch-by-2-inch square notch in the end of the 2-by-4 opposite the point. This is where the rod will sit and should be as even as possible.
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Cut the dowel rod into a 28-inch section, and mount the spinning reel at one end of the rod. Screw one eyelet into the rod right in front of the reel and one at the very end of the rod, opposite the reel. Thread fishing line through the eyelets, then measure 8 inches from the reel, placing a nail on either side of the rod body. The rod will balance on these nails when the tip up is set.
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3
Assemble the tip up by driving the 2-by-4 into the snow near your fishing hole. Then pull out some line from the reel, bait your hook and drop it through the hole. Balance your rod on the nails in the notch at the top of the 2-by-4 and watch for it to tip up when a fish hits the bait.
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Tips & Warnings
Paint one end of the rod with fluorescent paint to make it easier to see the tips from a distance.
