Tip up line guide

[walikilr]

I noticed my depth marking bobber was as much as 12” from the spool without popping the flag. How do you secure the guide so it doesn’t spin around the spool letting line out and not popping the flag.

[dogfish]

No mater how good your tip-ups may be you have to remember you are fishing in a very harsh env.  And your tip-ups take a beating.
Every time i set a tip-up I set it up in my hand, pull the line and make sure the flag pops.  If not you need to make adjustments:
Might need to tweek the trigger mech.
Might need to tighten the spool
Maybe water got into the grease tube and froze
Each problem is different isn't just one fix.

[walikilr]

I was thinking there was a way to afix the guide to the shaft. This way it would not spin and the spool would spin. All my tip ups with secure guides work properly. If no quick fix I have some work to keep me busy taking them apart and tweaking. Thanks

[RapShack]

I used tape, glue would work too, or maybe a drop of solder.    It's not rocket surgery, don't overthink it.

[Icemole]

 I have all Polar style tip-ups.... for the ones that I rig up with 1-4" minnows. I have had to put a band of tape on the shaft to "tighten" the line guide on a couple. You can also increase the tension on the spool or "pinch" the line in the "pig tail" of the guide but only on bigger(6+") shiners that I typically run for musky.

[esox_xtm]

Assuming that you are using a Beaver Dam, Polar type tipup. 99% of the time this is nothing more than an active minnow swimming in circles spinning line off the spool. Sometimes this is good with light biting fish as the line comes off the spool even more smoothly. Keeping minnows anchored can be accomplished a number of ways: more weight, trim the tail, rubber band  secure the line guide.

On my Polars I added a piece of rubber tubing in lieu of the goofy "pen clip" that comes stock. It's the black thing right above the spring looking thing. I can slide it down to keep the guide from spinning or slide it up just enough to allow some guide motion. See the upper left pic.



Beaver Dams have nothing to my knowledge and (older ones) are easy to disassemble but not easy to put back together. I'd use just enough silicone/rescue tape right above the guide and if you don't want line spinning off you could slide the guide up just a bit and lock it in place.

[Fishingjg]

... switch to a button instead of a bobber.

I have to agree with using buttons, I have been using buttons for a very long time and they work great. I also have polar tipups and have not really run into that issue. Depending on how you set the trip there are quite a few opinion to set the tension and not have a minnow trip.

JG

[walikilr]

Thanks for all the great ideas.

[ActiveTrapChecker]

Assuming that you are using a Beaver Dam, Polar type tipup. 99% of the time this is nothing more than an active minnow swimming in circles spinning line off the spool. Sometimes this is good with light biting fish as the line comes off the spool even more smoothly. Keeping minnows anchored can be accomplished a number of ways: more weight, trim the tail, rubber band  secure the line guide.

On my Polars I added a piece of rubber tubing in lieu of the goofy "pen clip" that comes stock. It's the black thing right above the spring looking thing. I can slide it down to keep the guide from spinning or slide it up just enough to allow some guide motion. See the upper left pic.



Beaver Dams have nothing to my knowledge and (older ones) are easy to disassemble but not easy to put back together. I'd use just enough silicone/rescue tape right above the guide and if you don't want line spinning off you could slide the guide up just a bit and lock it in place.

I still love your elastic band mod for picking up those polars. One day I’m going to spend the time the mimic that on mine

[cebice]

Thanks for all the great info.