How to Set Up Ice Fishing Tip-Ups

Discover how to set a tip-up before your next ice fishing trip.

Ice fishing is a great way to get outside and enjoy everything winter has to offer. As with any outdoor sport, you’ll need the right equipment and knowledge on how to use that equipment.

When it comes to ice fishing gear, a tip-up is a great place to start. A tip-up is a device that signals when a fish grabs onto your line. A flag springs, or “tips up,” when the fish bites.

There are different kinds of tip-ups to choose from: windlass, pro-thermal, and hardwood are popular choices. Once you have the tip-up of your choice, you’ll need to set it up.

Learn how to set up a tip-up with Blain’s Farm & Fleet.

Drilling Your Ice Fishing Hole

Before you set up your tip up, you’ll need to drill a hole in the ice. The easiest tool to use to drill your ice fishing hole is an auger.

There are gas-powered augers and hand-crank augers. No matter which kind you choose, your hole should not be more than 12 inches across.

Varying hole sizes can actually help you catch different fish. Smaller holes, about four to five inches, work well for bluegills, crappie, and perch.

Eight-inch holes work great for trout, northern pike, and walleye. It’s also the size commonly used for tip-ups.

Be sure to check with your state for ice fishing hole regulations.

Rigging the Tip-Up

Spooling the Line

Once you have a hole drilled that will fit your tip-up or tip-up cover, it’s time to rig the tip-up itself. For ice fishing, you’ll want a braided or Dacron ice fishing line. Spool the line onto the tip-up.

To get the tip-up flag to work, tie an arbor knot with the line around the tip-up reel. And wrap the tip-up line evenly in a clockwise direction.

Make sure the line can handle the weight of the fish you’re catching. 20 to 30 lb. test line works fine for bass, but you will need heavier test line for bigger fish like pike, lake trout, and salmon.

Attaching the Barrel Swivel & Leader

Next, attach a barrel swivel to the fishing line with an improved clinch knot (learn about different fishing knots here). A barrel swivel is perfect because it rotates, so the line won’t get twisted.

If your goal is to catch fish with sharp teeth, such as northern pike and large pickerel, tie a braided steel leader to your line. This will stop those fish from biting through your line.

For fish like walleye, bass, trout, perch, and crappie, you’ll need about three feet of fluorocarbon leader tied to your barrel swivel using a Trilene knot. This makes it hard for the fish to see the line.

Tying Hooks Onto the Leader

The type of hook and knot you use depend on what species of fish you plan on targeting. You can catch typical species, like crappie and bluegill, with a longer Aberdeen hook. This makes it easy to unhook the fish once you’ve caught them. For pike, use a treble hook.

It’s best to look into the species of fish you’re seeking and which hooks work best. The same goes for choosing the right live bait.

Attach Split Shot to the Leader

Finally, use split shot to keep your bait weighted down. Attach it to the leader, keeping it far enough from the bait to sink it, but not close enough to keep it from swimming.

From here, keep your tip up at a distance where the flag is still visible to you. Using a hi-vis colored flag is the best way to keep it visible against the winter weather.

For more tips on ice fishing techniques and gear, visit our Fishing Blog.