Tip-Ups, What to buy?

I have owned and fished Beaver Dam tip ups since the day they hit the market and swore then I’d never use anything else. I have maintained my own for years but now I am finding it to b e a pain in the rear.

After hitting a few stores the other day looking over the ice gear on the shelves I started to find myself checking over the Frabill Classic Wood Tip-Up.

I really like the idea of the removable spool shaft without heat or soldering back together. The other thing that really tripped my trigger was the price for a decent looking wood tip-up. To me, Beaver Dam is pricing themselves out of my pocket book

The Classic’s look durable and the spool spins as easy as the beaver Dams. Plus they still have the dual flag settings which I like. The added adjustment lets a person set his trip very light when fishing the smallest of minnows or heavier when fishing larger suckers.

Anyone have experience with the Frabill Classic’s

I have a few of them and actually I don’t like them as much as my cheaper HT wood tip ups. The HT’s seem to spin very freely and have worked great for me in the coldest weather. The Frabills I have seem to bind up in the cold weather. As for the Beaver Dam tip up, I wouldn’t ever spend that much on a tip up. I think that money can be spent in a much better way

Bret, I have both. I have 2 Beaver Dam and 1 Frabill. The Beaver are prettier and less bulky. I do believe they also spin better/easier. The Beavers also have clearcoat on them and are easier to get out of frozen ice…. that said, the round plastic hole cover type, win hands down when it’s 10’f or colder out…

Edit.. it looks like the Frabill’s now come with some kind of finish on them… mine is at least 12 years old…

The plastic HT’s have never failed me…just gotta make sure to lube them up before each season…cheap too-gotta have money for shiners!!!

I bought the frabill plastic green tip ups last year and I really like them

Bret,

I’d probably take your old BDs if you don’t want them anymore…

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The plastic HT’s have never failed me…just gotta make sure to lube them up before each season…cheap too-gotta have money for shiners!!!

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Same for me. I’ve never had a problem with them.

Bret–Where I live here in the Keweenaw, the flat board tip-ups (Beaver Dams, HTs, Frabills, etc.) simply do not handle the snow as well as Jack Traps (my favorite), Heritage Lakers or even the new Indian Hills. Most of these are East Coast/Maine in origin. Sure you can get flag extensions for the board types to overcome depth, but when set, they can get buried in blowing snow without too much weather. On bare ice they would probably be fine. But, if you’re looking for a tip-up that you’ll never have to replace, doesn’t suffer wind flags and simply looks gorgeous, I would suggest you take a look at Jack Traps if you’re not familiar with them already. However, be forewarned, the price can be a bit of an eye-opener at first.

Beaver Dam (Period). This isn’t an IDO sponser thing is it? Never ever heard anyone go back to anything but a BD once they have used them. I myself owned one of those Frabil wood tip-ups, was dissapointed with the smoothness and just not built up to par with the BD’s. I will take all your old ones ASAP!! Frabil has a nice snow jacket I guess?!

I’ve never really understood expensive tip ups. As long as the flag goes up and the spool spins, they work. Since you’re essentially hand lining everything, I think the line connecting your hands to the hook are the more important part of tip ups.

Granted, I usually set one out while I’m jigging if I don’t have a deadstick inthe water. Maybe it’s just don’t use them enough to see that much wear and tear.

If you tip-up for Pike any old tip-up will do. If you are targeting Walleye then a smooth tip-up is where the numbers (of fish) will be.

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Beaver Dam (Period). This isn’t an IDO sponser thing is it? Never ever heard anyone go back to anything but a BD once they have used them. I myself owned one of those Frabil wood tip-ups, was dissapointed with the smoothness and just not built up to par with the BD’s. I will take all your old ones ASAP!! Frabil has a nice snow jacket I guess?!

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not a sponsor push all though I appreciate every one of them that help keep the lights on here with IDO.

Never had them and I am asking for feed back from those that have used them. I think BD has went over board with there pricing. I have had plenty of them apart (getting tired of that) and don’t see were they justify that kind of money for a tip-up. This is just my opinion!

As far as having problems with the Frabill, have people had trouble with them right out of the box or is it neglecting to re-lube the spindle now and then?

I have had good luck with the HT wood tip ups. I have used them for the last two years and have had good success with them provided that you lubricate the spindle occasionally. Plus their price tag is a lot more wallet-friendly than the BD tip ups

i prefer Beaver Dams, although i have used just about every other tip up out there i always go back to Beaver Dams. i find that they are the most reliable, always work and never freeze up. i have had good luck with polars and i have a frabill wood one that has worked good but its not as well put together as BD.

What about the pop up styles? Anyone use those?

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Beaver Dam (Period). This isn’t an IDO sponser thing is it? Never ever heard anyone go back to anything but a BD once they have used them. I myself owned one of those Frabil wood tip-ups, was dissapointed with the smoothness and just not built up to par with the BD’s. I will take all your old ones ASAP!! Frabil has a nice snow jacket I guess?!

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This is NOT a sponsor thing at all. I just see no reason to pay 3 to 4 times the price for a name. I have caught plenty of walleyes, crappies and perch on my HT tip ups. They simply work for me. Others can spend their money as they choose. I personally would rather spend it on a nice jig stick or spend it on gas getting up to Lake of the Woods.

As far as the Frabill goes Bret, the 2 I have just don’t spin as freely as the HT’s I have. I maintain them each the same at the beginning of the season. The other thing I dont like about mine is that you cannot set them as light as you can the HT’s the bent metal piece that you use to set the flag seems to pop off if it isn’t set just perfect. But really I could care less what tip up I have out. I like to sit in the shack have a drink and jig or drop the rattle reels. That way I don’t have to take my slippers off and put on my boots

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What about the pop up styles? Anyone use those?

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Pug, you talking about the round ones? I’ve heard them badmouthed a lot, but personally own 5 of them and so far they’ve been good to me. I’m not the expert, but I don’t have any complaints yet at least after using them all through last year. They still spin real free as of tonight anyway.
-Rev

I know exactly what you are saying. I like the BD’s, but no way can I justify that money on a tip up. They used to be 25-30 bucks. Now it they are 35-50 depending on model. I bought a ton of the wood Frabill’s for 8.99 each from Gander website. I relubed them w/ the full synthetic grease from BD and reset the tension on them. I like them enough to buy and recommend them, if properly tuned up.

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What about the pop up styles? Anyone use those?

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Pug, you talking about the round ones? I’ve heard them badmouthed a lot, but personally own 5 of them and so far they’ve been good to me. I’m not the expert, but I don’t have any complaints yet at least after using them all through last year. They still spin real free as of tonight anyway.
-Rev

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The ones with the magnets, as opposed to a spring loaded flag. Fish bites, it slides up to indicate a bite. I haven’t really researched them, because tip ups are and after thought for me. I usually just put one up with a sucker while jigging, just because I can.

I’ve fished almost every kind of tipup and I always go back to the beaver dams. They work best for my pagers. I do use a circular hole cover with them. I’ve managed to acquire 6 of them and found them all at garage sales. the most I paid for any of them was 5 bucks. The cheaper tipups have cruddy spools and weak springs. I’ve seen my beaver dams still work covered in snow.

We’ll be using the Frabill round insulated tip ups again this season. I’ve tried a variety of options and keep coming back to this set up. Insulated tip ups truly save me a lot of work in harsh conditions. Being outside the warm house spudding out a flag set means I’m not watching my jig stick. Spudding out everyones flags SUCKS!! Personally I have little use in a flag that is NOT insulated while sealing the hole from the elements we fish in. I need something that works all the time, and carrying a pile of aftermarket insulating options for a stick style unit is not in the cards for me. One more step to freeze off a digit in the set up or take down. Still I guess that is why there are so many different options. I’ve lost fish trying to Spud out a flag, and regardless of the company you choose…..THAT IS SIMPLY NOT COOL. Our flag sets are HOME RUN BALLS; We set them for big fish, and don’t like to run out in 20 below weather for 2lb pike. My last demand is compact storage; For us the Frabill insulated “rounds” store and transport great in just a simple 5 gallon pail. I like simple, efficient and inexpensive. They run me about $18.00 a pop. http://frabill.com/tipup-and-accessories/insulated-tip-ups/1660.html

It is always a good idea when you’ve got some snow on the ice to put a stick by your tip ups so sleds/trucks don’t run them down. Worse yet you get a blowing snow day and can’t find them yourself.

“Hey Mike…….Didn’t we set 4 Flags??”

We’ll have flags flying this weekend Boys!!

On a sidenote we’re going to be using the Big Tooth Tackle quick set rigs this season. I’m also going to experiment with Fluoro-Carbon set up to see if there is any noticeable difference in flag action between Fluoro and steel leader material. Last spring I switched to Fluoro leaders in a stickbait bite, and without question enjoyed far greater action. http://www.bigtoothtackle.com/Natural_Rig_Fluoro-Carbon_HD.html

GOOD LUCK OUT THERE MEN!! We’ll be flying flags this weekend!!

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I relubed them w/ the full synthetic grease from BD and reset the tension on them.

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How would a fella go about doing this?

How do you rig a tip-up for Walleyes ?

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How do you rig a tip-up for Walleyes ?

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I’m sure there are many good opinions here, and others will weigh in as well. I’ll go from my tip up line to a small swivel. I use a 8lb fluoro lead with a split shot and hook of choice. Of course free spinning tip ups are critical when it comes to a finicky walleye. I like to have my flags on a hair trigger. I refer to it as setting the mouse trap. Breath on it and it flies. You will get some false flags, but will also catch more finicky Walleyes.

Even more important is when you get that flag. IMHO keep the running for your football game when targeting walleyes. Often times a walleye will simly grab your bait and go to the bottom. When that bait simply went straight down and there is weight on the bottom you can be quite sure it is Marble eyes and not Freshwater Shark!! You rarely see the ridiculous helicopter spinning on big walleyes. So carefully bring your tip up our of the hole. Again you better hope your not froze in or this game is over before it starts. Now dump a little line to the fish so she doesn’t feel you. Slowly pick up the slack until you have weight and give a short but quick hook set. Remember YOU the drag and the fishing rod when free wheeling. Don’t break your lead, and play accordingly.

I appreciate all the input from you iceheads, thanks for sharing your experiences. I’m going to purchase the Frabill and an HT tip-up (2 for under the cost of a BD) and will report my findings at the end of the year. I hope to see some flags I’m not giving up on the BD I now own, but just looking for something a little less time consuming for maintenance.

With that said…..This rig/gadget has also peaked my interest and I was wondering if anyone has had the opportunity to give it a try. Is it just another gadget or does it work as advertised. I love catching pike on rod and reel

HT Ice Rigger

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With that said…..This rig/gadget has also peaked my interest and I was wondering if anyone has had the opportunity to give it a try. Is it just another gadget or does it work as advertised. I love catching pike on rod and reel

HT Ice Rigger

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I received 2 of these for Christmas last year (kinda by suggestion ).

I used them a few times for panfish as a deadstick and they worked pretty well…I will use them more this year for sure….I want to try them for pike also…sounds(and looks) like fun!

The only thing I had to modify a bit was the piece of PVC tube that fits into the PVC tube that is mounted to the base (this is to adjust to the handle length of the rod)…It’s too short for longer handles….

I ended up cutting various lengths off a golf club tube to make up the difference and switch them to match the rod handle….

Other than that I like them so far….

If’in you have any more questions give me a call

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On a sidenote we’re going to be using the Big Tooth Tackle quick set rigs this season. I’m also going to experiment with Fluoro-Carbon set up to see if there is any noticeable difference in flag action between Fluoro and steel leader material. Last spring I switched to Fluoro leaders in a stickbait bite, and without question enjoyed far greater action. http://www.bigtoothtackle.com/Natural_Rig_Fluoro-Carbon_HD.html

GOOD LUCK OUT THERE MEN!! We’ll be flying flags this weekend!!

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I like flouro leader for many reasons. More bites, and doesn’t seem to loop off the spool like a steel leader does.

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I appreciate all the input from you iceheads, thanks for sharing your experiences. I’m going to purchase the Frabill and an HT tip-up (2 for under the cost of a BD) and will report my findings at the end of the year. I hope to see some flags I’m not giving up on the BD I now own, but just looking for something a little less time consuming for maintenance.

With that said…..This rig/gadget has also peaked my interest and I was wondering if anyone has had the opportunity to give it a try. Is it just another gadget or does it work as advertised. I love catching pike on rod and reel

HT Ice Rigger

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This same theory can be achieved by placing your rod in a rod holder with a tiny bobber placed just below the tip of the rod. When you can’t see the bobber any more…go and get it!!!! My grandpa tought me that one… He’d keep the spool open, but one could also keep the drag set really light if they are far away from you.

I thought there was only one kind BEAVER DAM. I got a few that are over 25yrs old and I still use them ever year without a problem. My fishing buddie has some plastic ones that work, but I wouldn’t trade mine for anything even when its 10 deg out.

I have had my BD for over 25 years and have never had a problem with them .They don’t owe me a thing.Bought them both for $18.99. Jerry