Tip-Up Tactics

Tip-Ups provide an effective way to catch a variety of fish. Here are some handy guidelines for their use and proper maintenance.

Spooling Up: Spool tip-up with braided line or designated tip-up line in 27-45lb. tests. Tie line directly to spool arbor using standard slipknot. Use small crank knob on spool to wind line onto spool in a counter clockwise direction. Apply moderate tension to line and fill spool evenly to within 1/8″ of the spool rim. Thread end of line through wire line guide.

The Leader: For Walleye/Panfish use a monofilament leader. Tie a small barrel swivel to end of braided main line. Tie a 3’ section of 6-8lb. mono to opposite end of swivel. For Northern Pike use a “quick-strike” style wire leader to prevent bite-offs. Available pre-rigged in different lengths and hook styles these rigs allow instant hook-sets with less chance of deep hooking and injuring fish that may be released.

Hooks: For Walleye/Panfish use smaller #8-10 size fine wire treble or single style hook. This provides a more natural presentation of live bait.
Sinkers: Use just enough weight to keep bait in the strike zone. Use split shot or twist on rubber core sinkers. Winter fish are not overly aggressive. Attach weight close to the bait, usually 6″ to 8″ to keep bait from swimming up and away from the fish.

Setting Depth & Flag Trip: Pull line from spool and lower bait to within a foot of bottom or above the top of weeds. Experiment with different depths until a consistent preference is found. Hold flag trip mechanism on top of spool shaft to hold that depth. Flag trip mechanism offers two trip settings, light or heavy. Shallow slot is for light biting fish (Walleye/Panfish), deeper slot for larger baits and fish. (Note: Model 1668 Big Foot Classic features an extendable flag shaft. Shaft must be fully extended for proper operation. To extend flag shaft, slide top shaft extension up to red plastic stop. To stow flag shaft slide upper extension downward until lower shaft plugs into red plastic sleeve.) Bend flag shaft over and place angled flag-wire under appropriate slot of trip mechanism. Once flag is set, place tip-up in center of the hole. Bank snow or ice chips around edges and ends of tip-up to eliminate wobble in high winds and to eliminate movement of base when flag deploys. When fish strike, flag will pop up. Watch the trip mechanism. If revolving, this signals a fish is running with the bait and you can set the hook.

Tip-Up Tactics: Locate drop-offs and weed edges adjacent to deeper water. These are natural migration routes for game fish and will give you a better chance in locating active fish. Spread tip-ups along these edges. Once an active area is found you can concentrate your spread. Check tip-ups regularly. Make sure tip-ups are readily accessible and not too great a distance away. Many times fish will strike and move off with the bait only to run a short distance and drop it. Being close to your tip-ups improves your hook-up percentage and reduces critically injured fish.

Keep Your Tip-Up Running Extra Smooth! Frabill recommends lubricating all moving parts on a tip-up at least once a season with Sub-ZeroTM low temp lubricant. Sub-ZeroTM keeps tip-ups and ice-fishing reels running liquid smooth no matter what the temperature. Your Frabill tip-up features a removable spool shaft that makes cleaning and re-lubing as easy as 1-2-3.

Remove red plastic cap at top of spool shaft. Remove trip mechanism and small hex nut by twisting in counter-clockwise direction. Slide spring and small spacer washer off the spool shaft.

Grip the spool and pull spool shaft out of shaft tube. Wipe off any old lubricant and apply Sub-Zero™ lubricant to inside of shaft tube by inserting end of applicator nozzle into both ends of shaft tube and squeezing lubricant into tube. Apply extra lubricant to the entire length of the spool shaft.

Re-insert the spool shaft into the shaft tube and slide spool shaft back and forth to help spread lubricant inside the shaft tube. Once the tube and spool shaft appear coated with lubricant re-assemble all parts in reverse order as in step 1.