Tip Down Ideas

[potatosal]

Does anyone have a great homemade or store bought design for tip downs?  My grandfather gave me his since he can no longer fish.  I had a blast with them this past weekend but I had a lot of misses.  I found a few designs on ebay and youtube that look promising.  Anyone care to share their tip down design?

[LENNY]

Sounds like the ones you have work good, maybe your choice of hook/jig is the problem. try changing that up and see how you do. I like small circle hooks for crappies when using smaller minnows and change to horizontal jigs for larger like walleye/bass occasionally add a stinger hook if they just lip the minnow and wait for you to jerk it. Good luck...

[Ice Surveyor]

I built around 30 of them so far.  I used crappie guys design.  Deadly this time of the year on crappies and perch. 

http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=260539.0

[potatosal]

What size circle hooks do you use?  I've made a switch to fluorocarbon line and that made a difference.  My current rods are a very short length so I think if I am not quick to respond right away the fish feels resistance and drops the minnow.  I ordered a new one from tipdown.com and will give that a try.

[hardwater diehard]

Nice video ....got to get to the tip down when rod is horizontal

[potatosal]

Thanks for everyone's advice.  I am going to position the tip downs a lot closer to me while jigging so I can respond faster.  That seems to be my issue with missed fish. 

I received my order from www.tipdown.com this week and I am really impressed.  The entire tip down collapses into a short tube and the reel fits inside.  I was going to make some of my own out of PVC but would end up spending pretty close to their $32 asking price by the time I bought all the couplers and a rod.  I am glad to support a local WI business.  I will report back with results!

[hardwater diehard]

Do a review and video of your experiences