Okay, so I finally got around to messing with those Firehouse tip-ups I’ve had sitting in the garage. I’ve heard good things, and honestly, I was kinda itching to get them out on the ice. First thing I did was grab them all and untangle the mess. It’s always like a bird’s nest when you first pull them out, right?
After spending a good twenty minutes sorting through the lines, I started to check them over. I made sure the reels spun freely and that there wasn’t any major damage to the frames. Couple of them needed a little oil, nothing major. Just a drop or two on the moving parts and they were spinning like new.
Setting them Up
Next, I spooled them up with some fresh line. I went with a basic monofilament, something like 6-pound test. Nothing fancy, just wanted something reliable. It’s pretty straightforward: tie the line onto the spool, wind it on, keeping some tension so it goes on evenly. Don’t overfill it, though! Leave a little space on the spool.
Then came the fun part: rigging them up. I usually keep it simple – a small hook, a split shot or two for weight, and that’s about it. For bait, I was using minnows, so I hooked them through the lips. You gotta make sure the bait is lively, otherwise, what’s the point, you know?
Once they were all rigged and ready, I loaded them up into my sled. Getting everything organized is half the battle. I hate getting out on the ice and realizing I forgot something.
Out on the Ice
Out on the lake, I found a spot with some decent weed cover, that’s where the fish like to hang out. I drilled my holes, making sure they were spaced out enough so the tip-ups wouldn’t interfere with each other. Once the holes were drilled, I got the tip-ups set.
Setting the Firehouse tip-ups is pretty easy. You just lower the bait down to the depth you want, then set the flag. The Firehouse ones have a little trigger mechanism that’s pretty sensitive, which is good. You want that flag to pop up at the slightest nibble.
- Drill holes.
- Set tip-ups over holes.
- Lower bait to desired depth.
- Engage the trigger.
- Wait for the flag!
Then, it was just a matter of waiting. It’s always a bit of a waiting game, isn’t it? But that’s part of the fun. Finally, I saw a flag go up! I rushed over, carefully pulled up the line, and felt the tug of a fish. It wasn’t a monster, but it was a nice little perch. Success!
I ended up catching a few more throughout the day. Nothing huge, but enough to make it a worthwhile trip. The Firehouse tip-ups worked great – no issues at all. Definitely going to be using them again.
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