This year has been the first year that I have seriously made use of tip ups. In prior years, I didn't have particularly good luck and (frankly) didn't know what I was doing. Thanks to the help of a couple of friends, especially Dave (a hearty thank you!) I have really started to get into and enjoy chasing flags. But after the first few times out I realized that with a big spread out it got to be a real pain in the behind to walk back and forth to get everything I needed at the hole to deal with a fish and/or reset the tip up. Being a bit of a gear head I thought about what I could do and came up with this set up.
I got a military style thigh bag that straps to your thigh. I figured that a bag like this would have less bounce if I needed to move quickly. It had a ton of pockets (way more than I need) and best of all- it was $7.25 on EBay with free shipping. The MultiCam camo was a bonus (so much better than that digital crap!). I modified it a bit by adding a carabiner to clip lanyards to and I am all set.
Here are all the things I have in it:
A- 30 lb Boga Grip. Dealing with a gator at the hole is a lot easier with a Boga. My buddy showed me how I can keep the fish in the water and under control with the Boga while unhooking so the fish wasn't damaging itself on the ice. The ice and snow does a lot of damage to the fish's eyes and the cold is no good for the gills. Works great! And I get a weight.
B- 30 lb fluorocarbon tippet. When I need to replace what is on my tip up.
C- I got a 1 1/4" FatMax chisel, drilled a hole in it for a lanyard, sewed up a sheath for it. Now when I get to a hole and need to punch through the ice I have a tool specifically for that. No more using pliers that will end up iced up!
D- 12" Hemostat/Cutters. I have had this tool for close to 20 years now. It rocks! The length lets me get in to get hooks out with little danger of slicing the crap out of my fingers. If I need to cut the hook off because it is too deep the serrated cutters do a fine job of that.
E- Long Nose Pliers. Sometimes the pliers get the job done when the hemos can't. They also cut the leader material really well. And there are those times you just need a second tool to help get that pesky treble out... or to help keep the jaws open.
F- Rigging Box. This box has all sorts of goodies in it to let me re-set tip ups. From hooks to beads and swivels, it is all there!
G- Small Curved Hemostats. I jig for panfish while I am watching the tip ups. Sometimes I need a smaller set of jaws to get the little jigs out of their mouths. How do they get the hook so deep so fast anyway?
H- Master Angler Tape. I gotta measure the fish to see if it is long enough, right? I keep looking at that 30" mark for the hybrid... gonna get it this year!
What I don't have in there yet but will by the weekend is a set of jaw spreaders. I typically round the ends of the jaws to cause less damage, but they are a great tool to have when dealing with toothy critters.
I also carry my bait slip in a pocket in the back of the bag.
What do you think guys? It has really helped out! Made dealing with this 37", 10 lb pike a pretty simple affair! That is my 4th Master Angler species this year... one more and I have my pin the earliest and all through the ice! Fingers crossed for a hybrid this weekend!
