We used a 6 foot long , slender , whippy , straight willow branch or shoot stuck in a mound of snow near the ice fishing hole and leaning over the hole . Right above the hole we cut a slice into the bark(at about the four foot mark) , into which the line was positioned(after the bait was lowered to the desired depth) . A red flag was tied to the line just under the pole .The excess line (30 yards or so)was wrapped on a notched stick (both ends) , approx. 1/8" thick x1 1/2" wide x 12" long.
A fish mouthing the bait would send the tip of the pole bobbing up and down , plus move the flag down .
A fish could run with the bait(not much resistance) but the waving of the pole and the clattering of the line wrapped stick would certainly get our attention .
Hope this helps a bit.
The pole was positioned so that it would fall across the hole instead of down it ....if the bait was hit by a large fish .