Options, Add-ons, Line, Lights, Storage & More!

Tip-ups—in their simplest form a spool of line on a stick with a warning flag—remain top tools for presenting baits to catch fish. They work for pike, lake trout, stocked trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, hybrid stripers, white bass, perch, crappie, and ’gills. It’s no wonder HT Enterprises alone offers a line of over 30 different models that continues to expand and evolve. Let’s take a detailed look at tip-up designs, add-ons, lines, lubes, storage systems, and more.

Reliable Classics

The most dependable tip-ups have a metal tube filled with lubes that ensure the internal spindle turns smoothly, even in extremely cold weather. An underwater spool is attached to the lower end of the tube, with a horizontal trip bar attached to the other end.

Circle Thermals

Holes freeze in frigid weather—tip-ups and all. HT Polar Therm Extreme and Frabill Pro Thermal tip-ups combine a fluid-filled vertical tube with an insulated plastic circle frame that covers 6- to 10-inch holes. Pile snow or slush around the circular frame to help keep the hole free of ice and snow—possibly all day. The HT Polar Therm also features a telescopic flag for visibility, while the new Frabill Lighted Pro Thermal comes rigged with their bright Lil’ Shiner light. This tip-up style also conveniently stacks inside a 5-gallon bucket.

Motion Tip-up

Wind tip-ups, like the HT Windlass, are used to flutter deadbaits for pike and lake trout, but they also keep livebaits active. The spool is mounted to one end of a pivoting frame, with a metal fan mounted to the other end. The angle of the fan can be adjusted to change the amount of movement depending on the bait. The spool, however, rests above the surface so it’s more prone to freezing.

Maine Style

Tip-ups like the HT Maine Trap and Fisherman are simple and inexpensive tip-ups featuring a folding “X” wood or plastic frame that holds the tip-up over the hole, while a vertical stick and spool are beneath the surface. Loosening or tightening a wing nut on the side of the spool adjusts the tension. A spring-loaded flag wire rests in a notch on the vertical stick and is tripped when the spool begins to turn. Some styles, like the Jig-A-Whopper Mammoth tip-up, feature large reels that allow you to crank about 1 foot per turn.

Tubular Tripod

Tubular tripod styles work well for all fish and are exceptional for panfish. Two magnets—one on the line spool and another on the bottom of the spring-loaded strike-indicator flagstick—are the heart of the operation. The spring-loaded magnetic system holds the strike-indicator stick down inside the tube and the line spool in place until you get a strike. The adjustable tension spring can be set to trigger even when small panfish bite.