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Here’s a trick that’s worked well for me for replacing tip up flags quickly, cheaply and fairly permanently - even while on the ice.I carry a small roll of bright red or bright orange duct tape in my gear box. If the flag on one of my tip ups falls off (as they all seem to do at some point), just tear off a piece of the tape about 2x the size of the flag. Position the tape with the tip up rod centered and fold it over itself sandwiching the rod inside. Voila! Instant replacement flag ready to go in about 3 seconds for about a nickel. Best yet, you can find this stuff in a pharmacy or dollar store, cut it to any size you need and it will work with pretty much any style of tipup.
That's a good tip! I've heard black flags are more visible than orange chartreuse etc. because of the snow/white background. Anyone ever try that?
Jaeger - I’ve never tried black flags but I could see where they would be good against snow. I’ve never had a problem seeing red or orange so that’s what I use. Also, there are many times I’m fishing without snow cover so I’d think black would be tougher to see without snow. In recent years, I’ve also added bells to my tipups so they make noise when they trip. I buy small Christmas jingle bells from a craft store: https://www.joann.com/fab-lab-craft-72-pk-0.38-jingle-bells-silver/15531163.html#start=1Then attach them to a paper binder clip. The clips are available in pharmacies or office supply stores: https://www.officedepot.com/a/products/808857/OIC-Binder-Clips-Small-34-Black/fromLocalBrowse=falseYou can remove the metal wire from the clip, thread a couple of bells onto the wire, and then reinsert the wire back onto the clip or you can thread the bells through a piece of mono and tie to the wire on the clip. Two or three bells are plenty. Once you’ve attached the bells to the clips, just clip them onto the flag of your tipup. When it trips, you’ll hear the bells even if you don’t see the flag go. When finished, just Unclip the clip and attach it to a piece of cardboard or something similar to store for the next trip.
I have done the button thing for years but if you get a knot in your line you can't slide the button past the knot most times. Also if when you wrap it up and then your line freezes it can be a pain in the butt to get it out if it happens to somehow get below the button rather than on top of it. I've used bobbers, and split shots but found tooth picks work great. Make a loop in your line and then each end thru that loop to form another loop, put toothpick in that loop and pull snug. End of day pull toothpick out and wrap it up., end up with no knots in the line.
When fishing tip-ups I save any dead shiners I have for chum. Cut it in half, smash it to release more scent and break the air bladder, drop a half down the hole. On a clear day as it sinks you will see the small scales coming off and shining like pieces of glitter going down. I think it makes both a site and scent attractant. Doesn't always work, but I have had days with nothing happening where would I would get flags a few minutes after chumming with the dead shiners.
An old friend of mine used old egg shells as a panfish attractant.
The only superstition i have is i dont refuel my truck or boat the day before or day of a fishing trip.im almost positive gas and oil keep fish from biting.i wont even run my snowblower the day before a fishing trip.lol and if i need gas i will have my wife refuel the truck.
Each year I take some old egg cartons and make an attractor that I drop down the hole when its slow or just when I get there. Grab a small rock for each spot in the egg carton so the ice cube sinks. I mix in some fish attractant, maybe some ground up shiners and my trick is some rice crispies and then flash freeze as fast as possible so the crispies hold air. Over the course of a few hours the crispies float up from the bottom randomly attracting fish. If you dont mind them on your flasher every once in a while you can use them in a jigging hole, if that bothers you toss them in your tip up holes for some extra attractant. Works like a charm.
Hmmm... very clever! Quick question - how do you flash freeze your rice crispies? I know that can be done with certain industrial and commercial equipment but can it be done in a standard household freezer?