Historic Ice Fishing Tip-Ups

4 Tip-Ups are family heirlooms from West Central Wisconsin.

Ice fishing Tip-Ups (also called Traps) are devices that allow the semi-unattended fishing of ice holes. Most Tip-Ups feature a flag or other device that signals a fish has taken the bait.

E-Z WIND

FORT ATKINSON, WIS.

The Mystery Tip-Up

Having been fully disassembled, this Mystery Tip-Up features mass manufactured components, a chromed, flat reel seat, a Pflueger reel, but no other makings.

The author can only hypothesize about The Mystery Tip-Up’s operation.

Here The Mystery Tip-Up is shown rigged similar to the many designs by Leo R. Burg of West Bend, Wisconsin or Peter M. Joyal of Methuen, Mass. Both had many patents for reel style Tip-Ups, Tip-Downs and Traps which featured flat spring flags actuated by the crank knobs of reels.

The Mystery Tip-Up reel is marked:

Pflueger

TRUMP

TRADE MARK

NO.1943

MADE IN U.S.A

(E.A. Pflueger Company Akron Ohio)

The Arctic Fisherman

BEAVER DAM, WIS.

Shown is an Original, 1960’s (not a reproduction/reissue) Arctic Fisherman Tip-Up painted in Duck Boat Green.

Frankenstick: Mixed-up Rod and Reel Combos | Submit your Photos

 

There is a secret world of ice fishing poles; ugly, makeshift rigs that are hardly shown anymore.

Once the norm, homespun fishing poles seem lost in today’s abundance of glitzy, high-tech combos.  

These are the author’s only Ice Rods and include:

unknown, hollow fiberglass blanks, Lakco style ice fishing stick (handle), hockey tape, reflective tape, furniture leg tip, paracord, Shakespeare ALPHA 28/35 GRAPHITE reel (old), Lock-on rod stand, cocktail fork handles and an unmarked Schooley style ice reel.

Please send in photos of your Frankenstick, if you have one, for this ongoing, community anthology.