gotta give the tip-downs a try

[old geezer from here]

a few weeks fish-n-adventures and reel force hinted that i should give tip-downs a try--- i will admit i was kinda biased against them --as  i had never used them--nor seen any fish caught with the few i have seen used by other anglers---so being biased against them was just wrong-----soooo, bitting the bullet i made 5 home made tip-downs in my work shop  to try out this ice season ....{did i say ice }? ,,i have the balance point just right ,and adjustable , flag--all the good tips from reading what to have , and not have from the various post--what i don't have is--1.  what range of mono line should i use , i will attach a small swivel and home tied circle hook .  2..can i add the usual colorado spinner attracter i always use --or just go with a pearl or red bead for an attractor---or--bare hook---3...do i use a split shot like i always do on my tip-ups--or just let the ice fly with grub or minnow do all the sinking ?would be kinda nice to catch a few eyes on the tip-down--i have only caught 1 walleye in my life , and that was by accident as i don't really fish for them  wish i had a digital camera to post picutes of the tip-downs , and  the small permy i built this year...... . . . . ..

[Irish Jigger]

I spool mine just like my tip ups, dacron to a swivel and a flourocarbon leader. When I used straight flourocarbon or mono I was fighting the loops formed by line memory. I would have to add so much weight to straighten the loops that it was hard to keep them balanced correctly, as far as your hook setup as long as you can keep them balanced go with whatever setup you're confident in. I've used just a bare hook, a hook and splitshot, and even used jigs or spoons. Good luck, you'll find they can be really productive with light biters and it will add a new tool to your tackle box.

[beeverfishing]

Just to add a bit..  as for the line, Consider what you are fishing for.  For most fish 4 or 6 lb is good.
Tip downs are a great tool for those light biting fish, But can be a pain to keep the hole open when it is really cold out.  can't let the ice form in the hole /around the line. 

[Irish Jigger]

Just to add a bit..  as for the line, Consider what you are fishing for.  For most fish 4 or 6 lb is good.
Tip downs are a great tool for those light biting fish, But can be a pain to keep the hole open when it is really cold out.  can't let the ice form in the hole /around the line.

I agree, if it's bitter out keeping the holes open and the line clean can be a pain. I have foam hole covers and will run my line through the hole in the center to help keep everything clear. I've also taped a piece of plastic to the handle on breezy days and they'll work like a windlass tipup and jig in the breeze. Just like anything new it will take a bit of using them to get the hang of them. Personally, for panfish, a tipdown beats a tipup any day, you'll see alot more bites that with a tipup you would never know even happened.

[WARRIOR_ON_ICE]

I have super-sensitive tipups that catch tons of crappies and perch. They catch as many fish as a tipdown would, they do not spook the fish, they do not have line freezing in holes, and they have a high flying flag that you see easily.

Conclusion - I have no need to use tip-downs to catch crappie and perch, and I don't need to skim ice out of holes every 2 minutes on really cold days

[Pequod1]

They work great in some lakes and for some fish and so-so in other lakes and fish. I fish them all the time up to about 22 mph wind. Beyond that the ice/snow blows in the hole and freezes them. Normally, I just whack the holes once in a while with my scoop. 4lb. test, small treble hook, no weight works for me in the Rochester area.

[jiggin jeff]

Tip-downs work well for me as i use them mainly for crappie  but i find tip-ups work better for  the eyes.last year i ran 4 lb.on all my tip-downs but broke off many pickeral.I changed to dacron and a short leader of flourocarbon with no change in the the amount of crappie but really helped with the breaks.

[addicted to ice fishing]

I made some for the upcoming season.  Can't wait to try them out.