Reviewed by: Capt. Mike Schoonveld
Thousands of fish are caught using tip-ups every ice fishing season. No doubt, they work. No doubt most of them feature technology not much different than the same gear ice-anglers were using 100 years ago. The line is basically “hand-lined” down to the level of the fish; once the fish bites and swims off the simple spool of line on the tip-up rotates and a spring-loaded flag pops up showing it’s time to bring in the fish. Grab the line, wait for the line to tighten, give it a jerk to set the hook and then hand-over-hand pulling the fish up to the surface.
There’s a certain “primitive” satisfaction to handlining a fish, but by and large, most anglers prefer to use a rod and reel. I’ve seen and used some tip-up designs that “MadGyvered” a standard tip-up to allow a modern rod and reel to be connected to it, but Jim Sullivan perfected a design that allows matching almost any rod and reel with his “Tip Down.”
The frame of the Tip Down is made from colorful PVC pipe (allowing it to be disassembled for transport). Once it’s assembled and positioned next to the hole, it’s ready. Just open the reel’s bail and lower the bait down the hole. Now, set the rod in the rod cradle on the Tip Down and adjust the cradle to balance the rod and reel so it’s positioned horizontal to the ice. Loosen the drag on the reel so it’s just tight enough to keep an active minnow from pulling line against the drag. The Tip Down is fishing.
When a fish inhales the bait and swims off, the rod tips down and the flag tips up signaling a bite. Grab the rod, tighten the drag as needed, set the hook and reel in the fish! On the first trip my Tip Downs were used they caught average sized perch and crappies as well as above average sized walleyes.
The Tip Downs are available at www.sullivantipdown.com in several colors. The website lists some add-ons to fit the Tip-Downs. One is an LED light that will light the Tip Down both to be able to detect bites after dark and also to light it up so snowmobilers can see them in the distance. Another allows attaching Tip Downs to the walls of portable or permanent shelters and wheel-houses. Check out the informational videos at this site as well.
FISHING TOYS 