Most tip-ups are designed so that the line spool is underwater when the tip-up is set up. The water protects the spool and line from freezing in the cold air. Some tip-ups, however, use a windlass design that keeps the line spool and most of the tip-up above the water. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/4/48/Set-Up-an-Ice-Fishing-Tip-Up-Step-1Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Set-Up-an-Ice-Fishing-Tip-Up-Step-1Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/4/48/Set-Up-an-Ice-Fishing-Tip-Up-Step-1Bullet1. jpg/aid2103864-v4-728px-Set-Up-an-Ice-Fishing-Tip-Up-Step-1Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
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Having the rest of the rig be brightly colored as well can be helpful as well to keep you from accidentally stepping on it as you check all your rigs. If your tip-up isn’t brightly colored but is made of wood or metal, you can paint it so you can see it better. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/f/fe/Set-Up-an-Ice-Fishing-Tip-Up-Step-2Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Set-Up-an-Ice-Fishing-Tip-Up-Step-2Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/f/fe/Set-Up-an-Ice-Fishing-Tip-Up-Step-2Bullet1. jpg/aid2103864-v4-728px-Set-Up-an-Ice-Fishing-Tip-Up-Step-2Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
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Some tip-ups supplement the flag with an “action indicator” that shows the line movement when a fish has taken the bait and is swimming away with it. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/9/97/Set-Up-an-Ice-Fishing-Tip-Up-Step-3Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Set-Up-an-Ice-Fishing-Tip-Up-Step-3Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/9/97/Set-Up-an-Ice-Fishing-Tip-Up-Step-3Bullet1. jpg/aid2103864-v4-728px-Set-Up-an-Ice-Fishing-Tip-Up-Step-3Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
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<br />\n</p></div>"} Some tip-ups feature a round cover that fits over the hole being fished to keep it from being exposed to the air and thus freezing over. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/9/94/Set-Up-an-Ice-Fishing-Tip-Up-Step-3Bullet2. jpg/v4-460px-Set-Up-an-Ice-Fishing-Tip-Up-Step-3Bullet2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/9/94/Set-Up-an-Ice-Fishing-Tip-Up-Step-3Bullet2. jpg/aid2103864-v4-728px-Set-Up-an-Ice-Fishing-Tip-Up-Step-3Bullet2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
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If ice fishing for pike, substitute a braided steel leader for the monofilament.
For bluegill, crappie, perch, or other panfish, use a size 6 or size 8 single hook. For walleye, use a size 4 or size 6 single hook. For pike, use a size 2/0 to 6/0 single hook or a treble hook. Some hook rigs for pike feature a pair of treble hooks.
Using split shot with little projections at the end opposite the mouth of the split shot will let you change split shot weights as necessary without having to cut the leader to change the shot.
