MAINELY OUTDOORS
by Bill Graves
Each winter it seems more and more sportsmen are taking up the pastime of ice fishing to help stay sane during week after week of snow and freezing temperatures. Although jigging a hand line with lures or cut bait works well for smelt, perch and the occasional small game fish, using live minnows on traps, also called tip-ups, is the most productive style of ice angling. Sports can drill holes, set out tip-ups and then retreat to a warm fish shanty, shoreline camp or even a nearby pick up truck to wait for a flag.
Contributed photo
ICE Fishing Season — Although line, leader and hooks are crucial to area ice fishermen, it’s tip ups that pull all the components together, so shop well and select carefully for durable, simple to operate models.
Other than lots of warm clothes, a top rate model of ice fishing trap is essential to quick, easy set out and pick up, as well as successfully playing good size game fish. Newcomers to ice angling, or even experienced fishermen who haven’t upgraded gear in awhile, will find quite a selection of tip-ups to choose from. Let me describe some desirable features to consider when shopping for new ice fishing traps.
I like a tall trap. As the winter progresses, snow cover builds up on the ice and it’s often necessary to shovel a hole to the ice surface before drilling. An 18 to 24 inch high tip up with at least a 12-inch flag arm will show up in the deepest snow, even out to 100 yards. Early in the season or for holes within 25 yards, 12 to 16 inch traps are acceptable, and they do fold up compactly for easy storage and transport.
Tip ups built of plastic or other synthetic materials stand up to water and snow exposure for years, but become brittle and crack or break if not handled with care under extremely frigid conditions. Wooden traps are very durable and moisture resistant when painted, stained or treated with a repellent such as linseed oil. Some traps are painted orange or black to show up in the snow to prevent being lost, left behind or run over by passing snowmobiles. Plastic does weigh a bit less than wood, but when backpacking only a dozen traps the difference is negligible.
Since ice drillers never know when they’ll set out the hook on a trophy fish, a strong dependable reel is crucial. Top quality reels should hold between one and two hundred yards of line and have a good-sized center arbor for faster retrieval of line. An adjustable drag with controls large enough to adjust with cold fingers or while wearing gloves is preferred. Metal reels outlast plastic, but are colder to handle.
Flag release mechanisms vary greatly, so experiment with several models of tip ups to see how easily they deploy a flag when a fish strikes. Also, consider how ice build up will affect the trip release and if the lever and arm can withstand the abuse of travel, banging around in a bucket or knapsack and being regularly pulled through ice that builds up in the fishing hole. Release and flag arm malfunctions lead to fish striking and killing or stealing bait with no flag, rendering the trap useless until checked.
Speaking of flags, black or dark green show up far better than red or orange colors against a white background. Larger flags, at least 3” X 3” aid visual sightings and heavy plastic or durable cloth flags stand up better to weather and transport abuse. Some newer models use light closed cell foam as a strike alert. Tip and Spin brand traps have a five-inch foam flag orange on one side and black on the opposite, that actually spins as a fish takes out line and the reel turns. Such direct drive tip ups allow an angler to see that a fish is still on and taking line as he makes his way to the trap.
Another new innovation is a trap that is round like a thick Frisbee and fits over the fishing hole to slow freeze up and keep blowing snow out of the opening. The reel and flag staff rotates flat for travel, and then lock vertical for fishing. There are even a couple of styles of tip ups that use counter weights and the slightest wind to give the line a continuous up and down perpetual jigging motion. Interesting options for those looking to experiment, but cost escalates and there are more mechanisms to malfunction on some of the high tech models.
Contrast and compare at least a half dozen models and styles of ice tip ups before making a final selection. Durability, visibility, and simplicity of operation are prime requisites of the perfect tip up. Don’t be cheap, the difference between a five dollar trap and a 15 dollar trap is very obvious and worth the extra money for longevity alone. Make a visit to one of the local rod and gun shops for a hands-on review of available tip-ups. Novice hard water anglers will be able to garner advice from experienced ice fishermen at each shop. Choose carefully and not only will your tip ups last for years, but your fish per flag ratio will be high and your frustration with malfunctioning tip ups low. Ice fishing season is open on some lakes now, while most other lakes open at the start of the New Year, so better begin doing a bit of shopping now if you’re in the market for new tip ups. Oh, and don’t forget a new 2012 fishing license!
