Line markers

[trapster]

just curious if there is some special, or 'neat' way to mark depth on the tip up line.   I usually use a rubberband, or tie a light knot (that will pull out with any hard pressure).  Im thinking a slip bobber bobber stopper might do the trick...so what do you use??

As stated in an earlier post.  I use a white button.  Line in one eye and out the other.  The size is probably about 3/8 inch.  If the line doesn't fit the hole just ream it a little with a drill so it will slide when you want to move it.

[icecruiser]

matchstick with a slip knot, pull the stick out the knot goes away. 

Used to do the button, but had them break, freeze in a spot when really cold, froze my hands moving the button when pulling traps.  I took them all off.  Matchstick is much better and easier I find much less hassle.

John

[trapster]

matchstick with a slip knot, pull the stick out the knot goes away. 

Used to do the button, but had them break, freeze in a spot when really cold, froze my hands moving the button when pulling traps.  I took them all off.  Matchstick is much better and easier I find much less hassle.

John

Great idea.  I'm going to try it.

[brewmeister]

just curious if there is some special, or 'neat' way to mark depth on the tip up line.   I usually use a rubberband, or tie a light knot (that will pull out with any hard pressure).  Im thinking a slip bobber bobber stopper might do the trick...so what do you use??

see if you can get stainless steel alligator clips its quick and easy for removal ,especially if you change depth,plus they clip on your jacket when your done,the little line marker bobbers suck because sometimes they wont open because their made cheap,and when its cold and your fingers are numb they really suck to remove

[GAMBELL]

Regular old buttons...not very large ones either.....Esox

I'm with you Esox.  I use the smallest buttons I can find.  The holes need to be big enough for your line to slide through. 

[empty hook]

Think everyone has lost something in the old shanty.
I like the bobers but only use em from time to time. I often will check the holes with the vex and mark depths that meet and then set baits. Example if Iam fishing a drop from 5 to 10 fow, I will set baits at the 5 foot level in 10 fow. Sometimes its really the ticket and other time nothing? Part of the game, but a indicator really helps to get you back quick and 100%

  I also use my vex and a bobber.

[doodle]

I mark my line with a very small bobber. The smallest I can find. They can be moved very ealily to the required depth.

[billditrite]

matchstick with a slip knot, pull the stick out the knot goes away. 

Used to do the button, but had them break, freeze in a spot when really cold, froze my hands moving the button when pulling traps.  I took them all off.  Matchstick is much better and easier I find much less hassle.

John

i do the same john...no abuse to your backing this way....ive never met anyone else who did it this way other than the guy who showed me and my kids   

[Oldbear]

I use to use the little buttons but now go with the micro bobbers.  Match sticks would be fine just try them all and use what you like.

[harpua]

I have always used tiny split shots.

[iceman_4432]

Ive always used the smallest removable split shot I could find (bb size).  I did see the micro bobbers though ....... i figured you would feel more resistence with that though .. seems like a popular choice in reading thru this thread though.  Maybe ill give em a try.

[pieman1998]

i use small bobbers becuese we fish in at lease 50fow or more also marker line every 10ft to see how much line go's out when a fish hits it 

[Rumrunner]

Ive always used the smallest removable split shot I could find (bb size).  I did see the micro bobbers though ....... i figured you would feel more resistence with that though .. seems like a popular choice in reading thru this thread though.  Maybe ill give em a try.

The resistance isnt really a problem when you have a big ole toothy critter just hammerin your line.  Once caught I can usually rebait and drop it back in then reel the line up to the bobber and its fishing immediatly.

I feel goffy...never heard of a button being used....Always used a bobber.

[walbra60]

i use plastic buttons. just find the bottom come up then lip the button were you want your bait. then i just reel the button up to the eyelet in front of the spool.

[esox13]

I had always been a button guy - until I found the HT micro bobber. It works great. The only problem I ever had was this year when it was -12 with a wind chill of -38 and I couldn't get my fingers to work properly to change depths after 6 hours.

[Big Burk]

i use buttons and haven't had a problem with them yet but i only fish from 3-40ft. so it isnt that hard to change. i tried the bobbers but found that if it was really cold out and you tried to change the depth the bobbers would freeze up if not moved quickly and they suck trying to move them with cold fingers

[joefishfishing]

Have had pretty good luck with HT micro bobbers last couple years

[SPARKYICE]

i've been using slip bobber stops to mark my line. i used to use buttons.
i use the ones made of heavy thread, they come wrapped around a little piece of tubing.
i dont use the beads that come with them.

i'll use a weight to find the bottom, and then slide my stop to the surface of the water in the hole.
now i know what the depth is, i adjust my bait by counting turns on my reel.

they don't last all season, but about time they wear out i'm ready to re-rig my gear anyway
you could put a couple on to mark different depths.
when a fish takes, they have no resistance in the water.

[CTFishes]

I use tiny splitshot as a depth marker,it allows me to easily change depth.i find it much easier to deal with than buttons or twist ties,ecspecially when fishing deep water.

Iuse yellow and orange 30# dacron flyline backing for tip up line.which I have  a measured mark every 10' with a sharpie . I make a black slash for every ten feet .Basically one slash at 10' ,2 slashes at 20',3 slashes at 30',4 slashes at 40' ect.I do this to 100'.Inbetween to 10' slash marks i make a red slash at 5' in between the black slashes.It took me a couple of hours to mark my lines but it was well worth it in the end. No more guessing how deep the bottom is or how deep I am fishing.

[duck doctor]

Iuse yellow and orange 30# dacron flyline backing for tip up line.which I have  a measured mark every 10' with a sharpie . I make a black slash for every ten feet .Basically one slash at 10' ,2 slashes at 20',3 slashes at 30',4 slashes at 40' ect.I do this to 100'.Inbetween to 10' slash marks i make a red slash at 5' in between the black slashes.It took me a couple of hours to mark my lines but it was well worth it in the end. No more guessing how deep the bottom is or how deep I am fishing.

I use to do the same thing before I started guiding the hard water.  With over 20 polars and many, many more traps, I gave up!  I just use buttons now.

[Whiskey_on_ice]

I Don't use any...Just reset the depth every time.  It only takes a minute.  I don't like the idea of having extra crap on the line that my 30+'' walleye might feel dragging in the water.   

[Tautog Rich]

I'M USING BRIGHTLY COLORED RUBBER BANDS WHICH I LOOP ONTOTHE LINE ANYWHERE I LIKE, THEN SNUG 'EM DOWN TIGHT. I CUT OFF MOST OF IT, LEAVING TWO TAG ENDS AMYBE 1/8 OF AN INCH LONG. THEY CAN BE SLID UP OR DOWN AND STILL STAY ON THE LINE WHER YOU LEAVE 'EM. THEY COME OFF EASY TOO ONCE YOU'RE DONE---JUST PULL THEM OFF WITH TWO FINGER NAILS(MAY TAKE A SECOND TRY---THEY STAY ON NICELY).

[polarfisher]

i used the premade thread stopper last season for slip bobber set up but in that -10 weather it gets realy frozen to the line, i think ill have to use ht's micro bobber this year.

[eyehunter]

 I use to use small bobbers years ago,then when it go really cold the fish couldn't pull the bobber through the skim ice or felt enough resistance and would drop it now I use a double loop and part of a stick match or tooth pick and the fish don't seem to feel it.

[scavengerj]

Have always wondered about this button/bobber/line marking/depth setting for tip-ups. If I use my flasher to determine the depth, and then lower my line/bait watching with the Vex in the water, I can see exactly where my bait is positioned. If I am in 15' and want my bait 2' off the bottom I can see it is 2' from the bottom.
If I get a hit (and heaven forbid, I miss) I pull my line in and rebait. Knowing what my arm span is and holding the baited end of the line in one hand and pulling line with the other hand till my arms are fully stretched, I have 5' of line. Then dropping the baited end in the hole while holding the 5' mark with my  fingers and pulling another arm span of line I have another 5' of line to drop in the water. Given that I do not have to be exactly at 2' off the bottom I can pull roughly an additional 3' of line and let it down the hole. I may be at 12', 13' or 14'. Would it make that much difference? I mean a foot or two difference in depth I wouldn't think to be that critical. Not like I am trying to jig for tight lipped crappie sitting in a brush pile. Once I know the depth using my Vex and knowing my arm span I would think I get close enough.

If I am going for pike and such, then being a little closer to the bottom won't hurt and if I am fishing for other types of fish, being a little further from the bottom shouldn't hurt? Agressive fish tend to attach from the bottom up. So just curious as to why such detail to depth when using a tip-up?

[Flash_King]

Been using the same depth marking system for 40 years; slip knot with a pcs of match - end of day ,just remove match. I can fish a variety of lakes and depths and not have to slide a button up and down the line every time you fish,and change depths during the day if needed

[Haywood]

I am with the tiny split shot guys.  They spool up a lot nicer at the end of the day too, and I hate spooling up tip-ups after a day of negative temps.

[Mainehazmt]

up till this year I have used a red sharpy to get the line to the same spot   Now I wont due to #1 red line   #2 let the vex tell me where it is  lol!

[ralwag]

I use buttons. They work fine and have no trouble when winding up for the day.

[pipes18079]

red beads from the craft store work great