Topic: running flag

[Loudmouth879]

was wondering if anyone has made their own "running flag on their tip-ups that shows if the fish i running or not. I know you can but them with it but was just wondering if any one has added a running flag as a modification to their tipups

[surflizard]

That is the main reason why I use the polar style tipups, I can see the flag trip bar spinning ! I have never seen any kind of running signal flag on a crossbar style trap, I wonder how it would work ?

[Loudmouth879]

That is the main reason why I use the polar style tipups, I can see the flag trip bar spinning ! I have never seen any kind of running signal flag on a crossbar style trap, I wonder how it would work ?

they make tipups with them and my dads old tipups have them but I'm not buying new tip-ups with them since i already purchased 5 this year but I
m not impressed with the polar style tip-ups because when there is a lot of snow on the ice you can't see the flag and not a big fan of plastic ones either

[MLBob]

That is the main reason why I use the polar style tipups, I can see the flag trip bar spinning ! I have never seen any kind of running signal flag on a crossbar style trap, I wonder how it would work ?

40-up makes a crossbar tipup they call the "Double Flag" that has a second flag attached to the top of the trip wire, see it at http://www.40uptackleco.com/ .  The trip wire itself has a light spring that keeps it swinging back to the set position after it is tripped so that every revolution of the spool causes the trip wire to move, thus flapping the flag.  It's a light spring, but it does give a little bit of momentary resistance with every turn of the spool when a fish is running.  I played with some of these decades ago in a store, but I bought the reqular 40-ups instead. 

[gooseblaster49707]

how about if you take a sharpie felt marker and put lines on the top of the spool then look down the hole. if the spool is moving, the marks will come and go. lines at 12:00, 3:00, 6:00 and 9:00 should be enough.   if not, add 12 lines for slow moving fish.    a silver pen for a black reel should be good.  red on a metal spool would work or even a paint stick sold at wal-mart or a craft store would be visable. 
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i've been marking the spools on my tipdowns and fish brothers tip-ups, where the line sits above the ice for years.  very helpful.    don't know why it wouldn't work for a submerged spool.   you would just have to go slowly to the tip-up and look down the hole.
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if you decide to try this, please, post if it works for you or not. 

[Loudmouth879]

how about if you take a sharpie felt marker and put lines on the top of the spool then look down the hole. if the spool is moving, the marks will come and go. lines at 12:00, 3:00, 6:00 and 9:00 should be enough.   if not, add 12 lines for slow moving fish.    a silver pen for a black reel should be good.  red on a metal spool would work or even a paint stick sold at wal-mart or a craft store would be visable. 
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i've been marking the spools on my tipdowns and fish brothers tip-ups, where the line sits above the ice for years.  very helpful.    don't know why it wouldn't work for a submerged spool.   you would just have to go slowly to the tip-up and look down the hole.
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if you decide to try this, please, post if it works for you or not.

i can look down the hole and see if my line in running with out the lines.... I'm trying how to rig it like my dads old ones that had the running flag... My idea is to be able to see if i need to run to the hole or if i can walk to it.

[gooseblaster49707]

i can look down the hole and see if my line in running with out the lines.... I'm trying how to rig it like my dads old ones that had the running flag... My idea is to be able to see if i need to run to the hole or if i can walk to it.

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got ya. just trying to help.  i'm out of this one but, want to add one more thing before i leave.
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when fishing pike, trout, etc additional resistance usually won't matter, like a running flag. even down to the trip lever bouncing a second wand with spring.      walleye and perch won't put up with that kind of  ''extra''.
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i've spent many years and hundreds of dollars trying to modify factory tip-ups and building my own to come up with something that will trip softly then free spool until i get there.
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when we used to be able to fish lakers, brookies and browns thru the ice our tip-ups didn't seem to matter. now that we have lost our agressive fish and have to deal with either the light biters or grocery store, things are different. 
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i'll keep an eye on you post to see what you come up with.
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best of luck.

[Loudmouth879]

walleye and perch won't put up with that kind of  ''extra''.

I dont really target walleye or trout with tipups that more jigging for me but if I figure anything out I will post it on here

[stripernut]

I get to the hole as fast as I can, then look down the hole. Many years ago fished with running flags and found no advantage. I set the hook as soon as I feel a fish and I don't want the bait to be swallowed...