Depth marker

[kpd145]

Get a piece of contrasting colored dacron and tie a uni knot. It will take 15 seconds to do.

I used to use buttons but my buddy runs the uni knot. Definitely like it better.

I would like to think that almost all of us have dacron which should eliminate the cost. I have dark green dacron marking my tip ups that have orange line. I use the same orange to mark my tip ups with dark green line.

 

[shippeevt]

i like buttons but i go from deep lakes to shallows alot and its gets annoying sliding that little button up a 100 ft line  but i do it...

[thomasthepikehunter]

I think the best thing for you would be to have a bobber stop for deep lakes, and use the button for shallow lakes.

[Capt Phil]

i like buttons but i go from deep lakes to shallows alot and its gets annoying sliding that little button up a 100 ft line  but i do it...

Buy another set of traps so you have a set for each lake.

[kb]

I use buttons, but on many of mine I have a few knots in the line. On those I use a match stick or toothpick with a slip loop knot.

[pikeaddict]

I've tried a bunch of diff things, but I always come back to the button.  I use the smallest two hole buttons that I can get away with.  I use a sewing needle to help thread the line thru.  The line should go in and out the flat backside of the button too.

[Ole Polanski]

Hey Shippeevt..... cheaper than an extra set of tilts... how about two small buttons one at 100 for deep and one by the swivel for shallow!  Should save time and frozen fingers slidin up and down 100 ft no???   Merry Christmas!!   O.P.   

[river_scum]

i tie a slip bobber knot on the line with dacron.

[Big Burk]

Used to use small bobbers then tried just the string bobber stops, been using buttons for last few years and won't use anything else.

[Dakota-Lew]

Small bobbers, easy to use and move around with gloves on. Granted i only ever fish in 5-25 feet of water. 

[Fishking83]

I have tried just about everything over the years.  Try getting a loop knot out after fighting a large northern.  Buttons didn't work.  The best thing for me and the only thing I use now are those tiny 1/2" red and white bobbers.

2X.  I believe Frabill makes the small red/white bobbers.  I believe they come like 8-10 per pack and you can get them for under $2.  One pack will last years and years.

[Brendog9]

Small buttons for the win. They're easy to use and don't get in the way.

[stripernut]

I have had the little bobbers tangle the line off the spool (when they float up) and catch on the hole side, I like the ease of then and that is why I use the Electrical Mini Hook Clips... Same ease of use with out the floating, catching on anything and slowing down hook sets... But hey, to each his own!

[striperman]

I also like the ties that come on loafs of bread or garbage bags.They are very easy to wrap around and do not get in the way or move easy when you are fishing.just unwrap a couple twists and put where you need them.

[stripernut]

I also like the ties that come on loafs of bread or garbage bags.They are very easy to wrap around and do not get in the way or move easy when you are fishing.just unwrap a couple twists and put where you need them.

Tried them one time, they left a bunch of rust marks...

[kabswrangler]

I use TEFLON tape!!! Tied tight every 10'. Works good.

[conococheague]

I find this interesting and an idea came to mind.  I currently use a small split shot but I plan to use something I've used on the soft water and I don't know why it didn't occur to me before - Carolina Keepers.  They are a very stiff but flexibe elastomer in the shape of a cylinder about 1/4" diameter and 1/4" long.  There is a tiny slit lengthwise through them that will open when squeezed with pliers perpendicular to the slit.  While squeezing open with pliers you put your line through.  Relaxing the pliers causes the keeper to pinch your line.  They were designed to quickly change the leader length on a Carolina Rig when bass fishing and they work quite well.  I plan to put these on my tip up line and leave them on permanently.  For each depth just pinch with pliers and slide to the desired location.  If they don't slip while slinging heavy weight Carolina Rigs a country mile with a baitcaster, they should do well for this.

Conococheague

[diamond jig 86]

I have had the little bobbers tangle the line off the spool (when they float up) and catch on the hole side, I like the ease of then and that is why I use the Electrical Mini Hook Clips... Same ease of use with out the floating, catching on anything and slowing down hook sets... But hey, to each his own!

The bobbers that ht makes sink as fast as a sounder no floating problem with them I will say this though if u need 10 buy 20 because you always get a couple that don't work very well

[wreese3]

I thread my line through three holes of a small button... Slide it up/down the line to mark the depth... Easy to adjust and holds tight under water.

[mr tip up]

i use a bow knot  pull the single bow at the end of day or when you are resounding a new hole it comes right out

[mjgonehunting]

I use buttons in shallow water,but if it's much over 15 feet or so it's a pain to slide them,especially at the end of the day when you are cold,and picking up sets.
In deeper water I use rubber "0" rings around 1/2" or so. If I can find colored silicone rings all the better for visability . I put a simple loop through the ring and back over makes for easy removal,and I store them on the end of the main board on my Hi Flag tip ups so they also hold the bottom of the flag steel in place in my basket so they don't catch on stuff.
I used to use pop top rings but they are a thing of the past!
Most kids don't even know what they are!

[Knife2sharp]

One thing I did not see commented on this thread yet is the benefit of having a marker to show how close your fish is when you're hauling it in.  Sure, if you're in 10' ft of water you can set your line a wingspan apart, which should be several feet, but when the fish runs and you're bringing him him, you can slow your retrieve when you reach your marker to avoid catching the bottom of the hole. 

Or if you get a false trip from the wind or an over aggressive minnow, if you see your marker when you check it, more than likely a fish didn't grab it.

[Raynestorm]

I have tried everything, and ended up sticking with the little red/white bobbers.  Not sure how anyone has them float up, as the ones I use wouldn't be able to barely float an ice fly, let alone a split shot and an angry shiner minnow!

I would absolutely hate to use my vexilar to set my traps after every flag... I am usually jigging in my shack, and would hate to pack up minnows and vex to every flag.  Not to mention it IS a lot slower resetting while using a vex.  I catch fish, reel line back up to bobber, rebait, and drop down hole.  No one can do that faster with a vex, no one!

If I can find some bright colored Dacron in thicker diameter, I want to try that, as I once tried thin diameter, and it was harder to move several feet at once.

[Knife2sharp]

I don't think the person who posted about the Vexilar is using it everytime he resets his tipup, unless he's on a floating sheet of ice or has a very poor memory. 

[prospector]

What do you guys think about alligator clips? Quick, easy and will not float.

[Kevin23]

So far I have heard people say they don't like to use bobbers because they will float up and tangle the spool. And some don't like split shots because they are hard to see and easy dropped to never be seen again. Others use bobber stops, which is a very good alternative but they can be hard to move on tip-up line if they get over tightened. Well, this fixes all of the problems. It does not float unless you put fly floatant on it. Its pretty much neutral, absolutely won't float tip-up line. Its easy to see, its easy to attach and un-attach, and best of all its easily obtainable if you tie flies.



To install-

1. Double over your line where you want the indicator to be and pass it through the ring.


2. Pass the indicator through the big loop.


3. Pull tight, it doesn't have to be super tight... it won't move.


To uninstall, simply reverse the steps.