Rigging Tip-ups

[Fishinut]

I thread a button on my main tip-up line and use it as a depth marker. Hold the button while you send the dipsy depth finder down to find your depth. When the depth finder stops adjust your button  down the line according to how far you want your bait to be sospended off the bottom. Remeber that the reel is also under water to add another 3 or so inches when you slide the button down the line. The button will help maintain the depth when rebaiting and will also detect if you have a wind flag or a fish by watching if the button it moving or not under water.

[blazen36]

Twenty years ago some old timers who I sure learned a lot from gave me a great way to keep track of your depth.The lakes where I fish or not very deep so it works real well for me. If you fish deep water it probably would be a pain. They gave me a 12 " piece of plastic flexiable tubing that was orange in color. I've seen clear stuff like it  used in aquariums. I cut it in 1" sections and used a needle to punch a hole near one end.I run the line through the hole I made and out the end of the tube.It moves up and down the line easily when you pull it but it stays in place where you put it.I still have the oringinal tubes on all my tip ups.They wind up on Beaver Dams very nice , not like the  marker bobbers that are very popular. If I have some hot holes I just put the same tip ups in the next day and never have to recheck the depth.

[Bob_D]

I use the Mini-bobbers that HT markets for line markers. 6 for $0.99 and very easy to deal with.

[MNwalleyeGUY]

I set my depth with a small sinker.  I also use a very small jig or plain hook.  I guess
I don't know why I have never tried anything else besides circle(kahle) hooks.  

[holeinhide]

i use a small split shot to mark the line depth  just crimp on and you are good to go all day. 

[Fish247]

The single best thing I have found to mark the depth on my tip-ups is....... plain old bright yellow(or whatever color may tickle your pickle) thill bobber stops. Boy do they wind up nice on the ol' tip-up spool!   I leave about half of the tag ends in case they need to be tightened and I'm ready to go!

Eric

[wkules]

You folks may find this strange but I find that a simple 1" piece of rubber band works great as a tip up depth marker. I simply knot it around the line and pull the knot kind of tight leaving the 1/2" ends free to be tightened if/when necessary (also quite visible.) I buy thin bright orange ones (at any stationary store) They wind up into any style tip up nicely, they are quite inexpensive, they slide easily by pinching the knot and pulling it up/down the line. A couple wound around each tip up (of course this needs to be somewhere it will not interfere with the tip ups operation!) and I'm good for the day. Sliding them up/sown the line tends to cut the rubber band if the knot is too tight so a couple of spares is a good idea if you plan to move around a lot. You can also use the spares to keep the tip up together (folded) while traveling.  Keep 'em flying!

[Flash_King]

1) Find my Depth
2) Set my depth by making a slip/knot in line
3) Place match in slip/knot and tighten
4) End of day remove match, wind line on spool
5) changing depth-repeat1-3, Remove old match
Been using this method for 40 years  Hard to teach an old dog
new tricks?
Good luck-Good Fishing

[Tacklenut]

Thread a bobber stop on your main line or use the smallest split shot you can find. Personally I`ve gone from the split shot to the bobber stops becuase once there on your line they never come off.I`ve lost my depth settings a couple times due to the split shot falling off while landing fish.Plus the stops lay better on the spool at the end of the day.

[worm_waster]

I got away from using barrel swivels betwwen my dacron mainline and mono leader because the swivel alwasy seems to catch on the ice when im landing a fish in shallow water.   Now i just tie a loop in the leader and tie the dacron to it.  I don't think superline would be that good on tipups because it is so thin it would cut your fingers.  Dacron has always worked well for me.

[Hoppes]

   This works for me:
I use about three feet of mono, attached, via a quality barrel swivel, to braided line.  Pound test your preference, I use 25 pound test. (Some friends go longer on the leader, I don't see a difference in hookups)   I also like to use lighter colored line vice the dark color, although some of my traps have dark line before I discovered how difficult it is to see dark line down a hole.  You can see the direction fish are taking the line and position the trap accordingly.  (I like to wait to the fish has stopped running and turned the bait around in it's mouth)  I usually use Eagle Claw #6  snelled hooks, easy to cut off if the fish has swallowed the bait and it would be difficult to remove the hook without injuring the fish.  I put a small split shot 18" or so above the bait to keep the smelt down where he belongs.  You can hook the bait just behind the dorsel fin or in the lips.  Either way seems to work well, I usually go with the dorsel fin, smelt seem to live a bit longer and remain a bit more lively, have experimented with both methods.  Like I said, this works for me, I also use a red button on my traps for depth indicator but saw some ideas above that I may try.  Good luck!
Hoppes  

[MUSKY 2004]

THE EASIEST WAY TO SET DEPTH,IS WITH A BUTTON ON YOUR LINE.THEY NEVER COME OFF,THEY ARE EASY TO ADJUST,AND THEY LAST FOR EVER.

[bullheadbasher]

Every idea in the world just got thrown out there.  Thanks for the ideas guys.

[pikelane]

whatever happened to hooking your sucker, let him fall with a slip shot to the bottom and bring him up a bit?  what's with the rocket science?

[reelcharacter]

I like the rubber band idea, have heard of yarn also being used as an effective line marker as well. Split shot works well also, but can fray or nick the line, reducing line strength.

What I want to know is how to deal with the hooks on the ends of my ice fishing tip ups. I directly tie the line to some treble and regular hooks depending on the size bait I intend to place under the Tipup). The hooks often bury themselves into the line when not in use. Not a pretty picture to get them ready while on the ice.

I have tried the heavy duty rubberbands (used by the US Postal Service to bundle letters) with some luck. Have read of film canisters, but they are bulky and big, compared to my hook and reel sizes. Have also thought about trying some sort of velcro. Have also thought a tiny strip of velcro could be used as a line marker.

Any other ideas out there?

Thanks,
-Reelcharacter

-reelcharacter

[Jack Ryan]

THE EASIEST WAY TO SET DEPTH,IS WITH A BUTTON ON YOUR LINE.THEY NEVER COME OFF,THEY ARE EASY TO ADJUST,AND THEY LAST FOR EVER.

I use the buttons too.



I don't see how you could beat it.

[pooley]

i used to use buttons, until i was fishing in 60ft. for lakers. when the button got to the hole, it got cuaght on the edge of the hole, and slid down the line. small bobbers don't move as easy, and leave a small bend in the dacron, so you can find your depth again easily. 

[jacksmelt71]

i too had the same problem w/ buttons and lakers. i now find my depth and mark it w/ a loose loop. i then pick it out at the end of the day. even if its cinched from a good fish i can get it out easily w/ my teeth. of course i use 36lb. dacron on mine so its easy to get a knot out.

[ChillerThriller]

slip bobber stop on steroids. I make my own out of 200 lb planer board line and they dont really freeze to the line and are easy to move and dont come off easy.

[Doubles Shooter]

I like buttons for depth marking and Quick Strike rigs for Pike.

[Bugman1964]

whatever happened to hooking your sucker, let him fall with a slip shot to the bottom and bring him up a bit?  what's with the rocket science?

Nothing happened to it. I use this method myself when fishing deep water for lakers.

[lostfishy]

I have to agree with WKULES. A rubber band works best. Buttons slide when they hit the bottom of the hole as you bring in a fish. Then you have to either re-sound and set the button or guess at what depth you were at or if you didn't realize the button moved, you may be fishing off your mark for the rest of the day. All those bobber stops seem bulky and unnecessary and have the potential to float up and foul your line on the spool. Rubber bands are cheap, disposable and very effective.

[esox13]

I use HTs mini bobber - used to use a bitton, but the bobber seems to work best for me.

[burndoubt]

I use the HT bobbers too. It really doesn't get any easier. Buttons work well, but the bobbers are even easier.

[FISHING FRED]

I've always carried a supply of rubber bands no matter type of fishing I'm doing.
You'll be amazed how different uses you can find for them, from depth markers to storing the hook on the reel, to holding mushy bait the hook while fishing, to adding more action on a jig when nothing else is working, to making a sling shot when things are really slow, to......

Even if you have prefered marker method, throw some in your pack anyway, soon or later you'll be glad they are there.

[walleye tattoo]

Buttons on all tipups nine of them is what I can think of the piece of small diameter rubber tube sounds interesting.

[Oldfart]

 

THE EASIEST WAY TO SET DEPTH,IS WITH A BUTTON ON YOUR LINE.THEY NEVER COME OFF,THEY ARE EASY TO ADJUST,AND THEY LAST FOR EVER.

I agree. I've had the same buttons on my gear for 18 years.  
 And if you have to re-set the depth of the button after catching it on the edge of a hole while pulling in a 20-30 lb Laker.......small price to pay. I should have such problems.

[tunakiller21]

 Take a one inch by one inch piece of tinfoil and roll/twist it on the line. When you twist the foil it is really hard to move. To change depth untwist a little and slide. Works great for me.

[scrounger]

buttons are used here and by friends too

[Tainterslayer]

I use the little red and white bobbers. The HT one's are okay.. but I like the use the size up, they have a lot more holding power and they are easier to put on thicker line.