How to Setup an Ice Fishing Tip-Up

Ice fishing with tip-ups can be very rewarding. Ice fishermen using tip-ups take some of the largest fish caught every year. Fishing tip-ups is all about proper setup. With the right setup you have a much greater chance of catching fish.

Let's start with the basics of lining your tip-ups properly. The first thing that should be attached to your spool is your ice fishing line or backing. Do not use monofilament, you should choose a braided line. The braided line will much more durable and is very unlikely to break. After you rap enough of the backing to your spool, tie a swivel to the end of the backing. Next you will tie the leader to the other end of the swivel. The swivel will allow you to change leaders quickly if they become damaged or snap off. The leader is the monofilament fishing line we are all accustomed to using. Use between 5-10 feet of leader. The strength of the leader will depend on what you are planning to fish for. Heavier test line should be used if you are targeting larger fish. Finally attach a hook to the end of the leader. Hook size will also vary depending on the bait you will use and what type of fish you are targeting.

Now it's time to set up your tip-up. The whole in the ice has been drilled and cleaned and it's time to start fishing. This is the most crucial part of setting up a tip-up. Don't rush to throw your tip-up in the hole; you need to determine your fishing depth. You can use a fish finder to locate what depth fish are holding at or go by the standard of setting your line near the bottom. When fishing near the bottom you need to use a sounder to let out the proper amount of line. A sounder is a weight that attaches to your hook. Attach the sounder to your hook and lower it into the whole. Allow line to go out until it hits the bottom. You can tell when the sounder hits the bottom because your line will get slack. Lift your line up until you feel the weight of the sounder again. You have now determined where the bottom is. Reel your line up 2-5 feet and mark the location on your line. Some people use buttons or tie knots in the backing to mark line depth, just remember to set your mark on the outside of your line guide so it doesn't restrict your line from going out through the guide.

Now it's time to reel the line back up prepare to fish. Attach a split shot to the line to provide adequate weight to sink your bait. Bait your hook and lower the line to the marked location on your line. Make sure your line is run through the guide so it can trigger the flag. Set your flag down in the holder (different styles of tip-ups have different flag holders) and place the whole setup above the whole. You are now fishing. Wait for the flag to raise and when it does check your line immediately. If your flag doesn't rise over a long period of time check your bait and maybe change the depth of your line.

Fishing tip-ups is the easiest way to ice fish a frozen lake. Remember catching fish consistently comes from the proper setup of your tip-ups. Take the time to make sure everything is rigged correctly and your chances of catching fish will be greatly increased.