Home made tipup

[windmill]

  Had some spare parts, and I wanted a tipup I could use for perch, panfish, and walleye. Hope to try it out soon.

[volume4130]

Looks good, Let us know how it works!

I was thinking of making my own also, what did you use for the metal piece that holds the flag down?

[Skidda]

Looks good, Let us know how it works!

I was thinking of making my own also, what did you use for the metal piece that holds the flag down?

That looks great! How tall is it overall?

[windmill]

  Hi, the metal piece is a piece of light gauge stainless steel. Just used a wood block as a straight edge to bend it. The spool is 8" off the ice, and the overall height is 13". There is a piece of 1/4" propylene behind the metal piece that I notched out, to go over the trigger mechanism guide to help secure it. I used a tie wrap for the strike indicator, because there isn't too much resistance when it trips. I can easily substitute something else if it's too flimsy. I wanted to get away from the typical spring wire, just seems it takes too much tension to trigger it. Any energy stored there, is transferred to the spool.

[waterwolf42]

It looks great.  Do you think there will be any problem with the spool freezing up in harsh conditions, since it is out of the water? 

[windmill]

Hi waterwolf, that's a good question, and I had given that some thought. I used some liquid teflon on the spool and axle. I could make a canopy to shield the spool, but I think unless it's a freezing rain hitting it, it's not likely to freeze. I plan on trying it out Tuesday, weekend is busy.
  I dont think this is the ultimate tipup by any means, I'm just tinkering, and trying to come up with a more sensitive release mechanism.

[waterwolf42]

Well let me know how it works!  I like to tinker around with stuff like that also, so any new gizmo gets my attention.  There is nothing more satisfying than catching something on something you made.

[windmill]

keep you posted. Got more ideas on some tip up mods. One step at a time.

[windmill]

  Hey waterwolf42, got on the ice yesterday. Finally had a flag up on the homemade tipup in the afternoon. I went over to check it and there was a glitch, I put the line bobber by the spool when I initially set the tipup in place, and the bobber was sitting on top of some skim ice. I have 2 fixes, obviously, I'll put the line marker in the water from now on, and the other fix is installing a plastic tube, roughly 3/8" diameter on the cross bar on the tipup. Half the tube will go in the water, half above the water. The line will pass thru the tube.
  On the positive side of things, the tie wrap - spring combo seems to work flawlessly. The spring at the base helps in cold weather. Going back out as soon as I can. Also, the spool rotated fine in the cold weather, it was 3 degrees, and snowing, that seems like a good test.

[windmill]

  Here is a mod. I made, should fly now.

[waterwolf42]

  Hey waterwolf42, got on the ice yesterday. Finally had a flag up on the homemade tipup in the afternoon. I went over to check it and there was a glitch, I put the line bobber by the spool when I initially set the tipup in place, and the bobber was sitting on top of some skim ice. I have 2 fixes, obviously, I'll put the line marker in the water from now on, and the other fix is installing a plastic tube, roughly 3/8" diameter on the cross bar on the tipup. Half the tube will go in the water, half above the water. The line will pass thru the tube.
  On the positive side of things, the tie wrap - spring combo seems to work flawlessly. The spring at the base helps in cold weather. Going back out as soon as I can. Also, the spool rotated fine in the cold weather, it was 3 degrees, and snowing, that seems like a good test.

Thanks for the update.  The tube should work great for ya, and prevent any other problems with the skim ice that forms on the hole during the cold days.  I always have had good luck with a tiny split shot as a line marker instead of the bobber, but that is just personal preference.  Anyway, take a camera on the ice with ya and snap a pic. of the first fish it takes!

[IceBalls]

There's an important reason that most tipup spools are BELOW THE WATER.  Once the line gets wet, and you wind it back up on the spool, if it's above water in the cold air, the line itself will freeze to itself ON THE SPOOL, preventing a fish from pulling line off the spool.  I have had this happen many times just while re-winding line on the spool after catching a fish.  Fortunately, once the spool is back under water, the line will un-freeze itself.
It's a common problem with tip-downs if using braided fabric lines instead of mono.

[windmill]

  Very true, Thanks for you're input. I'll add a fair length of mono before my next trip out. I like the zero drag with the spool out of the water. This tipup is primarily for panfish, which typically dont peel out a huge amount of line. If I wanted to use this tipup for walleye, I could have a couple extras handy, just plunk in a fresh tipup, it's worth it.
  My next mod. is a light attachment for evening fishing. I want to mount the light on below the spool, and have a string attached to the flag, so when it raises, it will activate the light. Need to make a Radio Shack run.
  Got another idea for a trigger mechanism using a compression spring, washers, and spade connectors. It will enable me to dial in the sensitivity setting more. This should be interesting.

[Tainterslayer]

If its cold, pull out the line and allow it to freeze, then spool it back up.

[KeepaCatcha]

thats a pretty cool lookin tip up!.....your reel wont freeze cause it wont get wet in the first place!.....smart idea!...let us know how it works

[beeverfishing]

There's an important reason that most tipup spools are BELOW THE WATER.  Once the line gets wet, and you wind it back up on the spool, if it's above water in the cold air, the line itself will freeze to itself ON THE SPOOL, preventing a fish from pulling line off the spool.  I have had this happen many times just while re-winding line on the spool after catching a fish.  Fortunately, once the spool is back under water, the line will un-freeze itself.
It's a common problem with tip-downs if using braided fabric lines instead of mono.

I agree... It will work good the first time, but once the line gets wet it will freeze to itself.  And.. I'd be afraid of the water in the plastic tube freezing up and preventing the line from moving.  Obviously not a problem if your only fishing when the temps are in the 30's.. But once it gets down to the teens..or lower, it's going to be really hard to keep the water from freezing in the tube.   

[windmill]

  I've used the tipup a couple times so far. Today I got a bass on it, back in the drink it went. Another cold day test today. What I do like is the zero drag. I want to add a spring and nylon washers on the spool, so I do't get a backlash, when the line peels out fast. Also, even though the there is ice forming again in the hole, it's easy to remove the tipup without doing any chopping, then punch the ice with the heel of your boot. Tube hasn't froze yet. Another cold weather test, and I wont fuss with the tipup unless a fish is on. I did put a good length of mono line on, and that seemed to do the trick. Again, I figure if this tipup is rigged for targeting walley at night, in my honest opinion, it's O.K. if the dacron line gets wet. If I get a walleye on the ice, that's a good trade. Going to start on the LED next.

[windmill]

  Here is another tipup I made. I incorporated a speed tensioner on the spool. I lengthened the tube for the line, and it is adjustable. Also, I want to put a funnel shaped attachment on each end of the tube. It will guide the line better on the top, and the bottom of the tube will just barely be in the water. This way, whatever freezes in the tube, it will be easily detached due to the flare shape.