There are times when windlass tip-ups are incredible and other times when they are not so good. If it is much below freezing they aren't so good. Although I have found that when it is between 10F and 32F you can put a really small bobber right at water level, and because of the jigging action, the bobber will keep the water from freezing as quickly. If it's colder then 10F I leave the windlass at home and use a traditional tip-up. When I lived in eastern MT, I used to use my windlass at South Sandstone and nail the pike. Up here in AK we don't get the wind like MT does, so they don't really do much. The best thing to do is play with them in your yard a few times before you take them fishing, figure ouy the best way to set them up for your style of jigging and then just do that when you go fishing. Just my $.02.
