IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Ice Fishing Tips -Check your local regulations! => Tipups => Topic started by: hntfsh09 on Jan 03, 2013, 08:29 AM
-
So in the midst of a million "best tip up threads" here's an easier one. I stumbled upon some river walleye. They are shallow and spooky so electronics are worthless and jigging is a bear with the current. So, as somebody who hasn't touched a tip up in 5 years, I'm now forced to get some. So I need something that is fairly economical, reliable, and easy to use. I need to get my hands on at least six for this season but after that their use is more limited, so I'm not looking for the top of the line tip ups. Instead, what can I get that's right in the middle of the road that will serve an occasional user well?
-
Honestly, I got jack traps and some other store brands. Your better off saving your money and getting polar tipups with good heavy braided line. And get the Polars with the 500 yards spools so they can double as pike tip ups and keep it simple. Put your money into good leaders and hooks!!
-
I agree with Eagle..... I have 5 jack traps and I wish I had saved some money and bought cheaper ones. Get the polar tip ups.
-
Im not a big fan of polars if u have deep snow they get hard to see by sleders i prefer ht jard water explorers
-
ive got beaver dams, big bobs, trout jrs, polars, heritage, indian hill noreaster, and 40 ups, and a few more. for the money and longevity its really hard to beat a 40 up
http://www.40uptackleco.com/
-
HT hardwater explorer magnum's.
-
Frabill makes an awesome basic tip up called "Dawg Bone". Simple design and nice materials. 10 bucks at Cabelas.
-
ive got beaver dams, big bobs, trout jrs, polars, heritage, indian hill noreaster, and 40 ups, and a few more. for the money and longevity its really hard to beat a 40 up
http://www.40uptackleco.com/
Darn, never knew they were 12 miles form my house... :tipup:
-
I would go with 40 ups.
-
i'm a beaver dam man. Bought them unfinished through fishusa...then stained and finished them. The flag height is like 42" when it goes up...so if you get a lake with drifts or pressure ridges they are easily seen. I've used the frabil thermals when it's below 0 but I've had 2 hit by sleds / trucks. Hard to see a 12" flag when there is 14"of snow as well.
-
The frabill dawg bone tip ups are great, 5 for the price of one jacks. They are kind of small but they pack up really neatly. For $10 you can't beat them.
-
Polar tip ups are nice, you can see if the fish is taking line without touching the trap. I wouldn't spend more than $15 a trap... the fish don't care what kind of trap you have.
-
Polar tip ups are nice, you can see if the fish is taking line without touching the trap. I wouldn't spend more than $15 a trap... the fish don't care what kind of trap you have.
Same here...Polar are super...and work best in rivers for walleye...
-
I bought a set of HT hardwater explorers for $12 each about 4 or 5 years ago and they have served me well with no issues. They are all wood with a metal spool and even have an adjustable drag. The only improvement I made was to add a little nail polish at the end of the spool shaft to keep the drag screw from possibly backing off. They were cheap and so far have passed the test. No complaints.
-
hertage laKERs
-
hertage laKERs
By far heritage laker
-
I agree with Eagle..... I have 5 jack traps and I wish I had saved some money and bought cheaper ones. Get the polar tip ups.
Unless you plan to fish when there is actually snow on the ice......can't see them at all.
-
Indian Hills ... You will never have a problem with them !!! trust me i fish em hard and you will NEVER get a wind flag and you could have a 3/4 lb perch set the flag off . Check them out ... ;)
-
I have the $10 and $15 HT Enterprises tipups and they have lasted me for two years now with no issues.
I am sure the Jack Traps/Indian Hills/Beaver Dams are all really nice and well worth the money but I don't have a need for them right now...plus I need 15 of them so that would be a lot of money.
-
Orange Heritage Lakers with black flags imo
-
Orange Heritage Lakers with black flags imo
good luck
-
I have one Polar... somewhere, and thirty Beaver Dams, so you can guess what I like but have no experience with any others...
-
I have beaver dam tip ups and love them and I have some that are 25 years old.
-
I have beaver dam tip ups and love them and I have some that are 25 years old.
That reminds me. My newest one is 20 years old. I was told some ups and downs about the newer ones, so if I ever needed anymore I would look on craigslist or yard/garage sales before buying new. That's just me though! Good call MEMAGGIENCOMET they sure do last!!! :thumbsup:
-
I have a variety of different styles and today i wish I had more than 2 ht polars. The 40up style were being blown out of the holes but high winds were no problem for the close to the ice ht polars. I wish I had a set of 5 of a few different styles so I could select the one that would be best for what i'm fishing for and the local conditions.
-
I have used polars, cheap stick tip ups, and 40 ups and I am in love with the polars and will be upgrading to just polars at the end of the year.
-
I imagine if your fishing a river. At least in Pa. You are not going to have to worry about snow depth. So any tip up, polar or other wise would work. :)
-
I have used polars, cheap stick tip ups, and 40 ups and I am in love with the polars and will be upgrading to just polars at the end of the year.
Dont waste your money. Indian hills the only way to go.
-
Try an HT Husky.
-
A homemade one...
-
I agree, Indian hills are for the money the best trap on the market as we speak.
-
Every body has their opinions on what the best trap is. I say what ever works for you and your style of fishing is the one.
-
Ive got an assortment of traps about 30 in all, days i know holes are gonna freeze constantly i bring my frabil thermals.. Typically cold days like that i fish in close proximity of them especially if we have some snow...
Decent days i use my south bend version of beaver dams, ive had these for about 15 years and have put a beating on the and they still work great...
Those are my main 2 styles i use...
The rest are an assortment of Heritage Lakers, Hard water explorers, the green wooden tip ups everyone has one of LOL...
All get the job done and basically i have certain styles rigged different ways for different species as ill fish for anything from lakers to walleye and pike and some waters i fish i can target all 3..
-
I bought a set of HT hardwater explorers for $12 each about 4 or 5 years ago and they have served me well with no issues. They are all wood with a metal spool and even have an adjustable drag. The only improvement I made was to add a little nail polish at the end of the spool shaft to keep the drag screw from possibly backing off. They were cheap and so far have passed the test. No complaints.
Never had any problems with HT's either.
-
I would go with 40 ups.
:thumbsup: ditto
-
I have been using Heritage Lakers for 15-20 years with a little maintenance they work great and are visible in all condition
I have started to notice the post that the spool is on is loosening and have been considering replacing them with screws
My bigger problem is weight, I don't want to go to plastic ones but I am considering the BD or the HT husky - are these any lighter than the Heritage? I mainly fish for RT, LT and LL Salmon with WW fish thrown in so I will most likely go with the HT husky because you can get a bigger spool for it.
I don't like the wicker baskets and over the years have experimented with several methods and even considering a bag, then I saw a caddy that carries 6 of the BD or HT tip ups and there are a lot more bag options for this type of tip up.
(https://i.postimg.cc/PLWzMCfy/Capture1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/PLWzMCfy)
-
been running ht polars since the 80s. same ones!
-
Love the Frabill Arctic Fire
-
Good grief! There's a zombie alert... Last post in 2013.
(https://i.postimg.cc/CKrHMtZg/S-cuse-Me.gif) (https://postimages.org/)
-
I love tip up fishing and have or have had all the various types. After crossing off the cheap Walmart junk ones there are basically 3 standard types, cross sticks such as Heritage, Jack Trap, 40 Up and Indian Hills.
Flat board folders like Beaver Dams and a few other makers and the disc types like HT and Frabil. They all have their place and I use them all depending on the type of fishing I am doing and the conditions I will be fishing in.
Deep water with a heavy snow or windy conditions I tend to stick with my cross sticks, Heritage and Jack Traps. Shallower waters with no snow and I usually go with the BDs. On bitter cold days with some wind and snow I go with discs to keep the holes covered.
I think those who fish big lakes for big fish that could be deep will always go for cross sticks with the larger spools. I never have fished much for big Pike or Lake trout so I can only surmise which tip ups I would use if I do go for them, Jacks or Heritage. I like my disc type HT Polar Therm Extremes with the retractable antenna flags and a small tackle box for extra terminal gear on board and they travel easy in a 5 gallon bucket called brimable. The trip mechanism on each style is what I consider most important. Wind flags and big bait flags are a PITA so the Heritage and Jacks win that battle every time. Frozen over holes are another PITA so the discs win that battle IMO. I love my Jack Traps over my Heritage Lakers for the quality and build but both perform fine as long as they are cared for properly. The Heritage ones had to be upgraded from the pressed in spool stud to bolts because the spools could loosen up and fall right off. If you are just getting started then decide what type will work best for your conditions but do spend the money on the best quality ones you can afford. I have not checked prices in a long while but buying in the off season seems to always be the best deal.
-
It seems to me that it depends on what part of the country you live in. Also, what you were exposed to or what was available at the local bait shops. Of course, this was before the big box stores and the internet. That being said I have been using the HT Polar tipups for well over 20 years without an issue.
-
Love the Frabill Arctic Fire
Those are also my go to. I will second the Frabill Arctic Fire.
-
Firehouse "R-Tec Claw".
Easy to store and transport.