BHH Youth Hunters Academy — hunting safety missions for kids 5–17. Every $10 in our shop earns a FREE seat (up to 5), use it or share itFREE Security Cable with every StopBox purchase — Authorized StopBox USA DealerNEW: Call Wall — learn turkey, duck, elk & deer calls from real callers, step by stepNEW: Off-Road Trails — ATV & UTV riding areas and forest trail maps nationwideNEW: Wild Game Recipes — member-tested venison, waterfowl & fish recipesNEW: Reels — swipe through the latest hunting & fishing videos from membersNEW: Video Tutorials — map tools, gear care, scouting, field dressing & moreNEW: Western Hunting — elk rut forecast, unit profiles, glassing & pack-out plannersWaterfowl Migration Report & Forecast — see what's moving down each flywayBlood Trail Search Grid — split the search into sections and see where your crew has already lookedOffline Maps — save your hunting area and keep your maps and pins with no cell signalPublic Land layers — see WMAs, state & national forest hunting ground on the mapImport from onX, GPX & KML — bring your pins and boundaries over in one tapFood Plot Planner — draw your plot, log soil tests, get a seed mix & frost datesThe BHH Magazine — flip through the latest issue, or listen to it read aloudMakers Marketplace — handmade calls, knives & gear from hunters across the U.S.BHH Apparel — original hunting & fishing designs, plus design your own shirtBecome a BHH Ambassador — earn points, store credit & commissionMember Giveaway — stay active on the Hub to earn entriesTrail Cam AI — upload a photo, get species, sex, rack estimate & behavior instantlyHunt Prediction & Pressure Map — hourly deer activity and live public-land crowd check-insHunt Crews — roster, trip plans, gear checklists & license reminders for your whole groupHarvest Tags — heirloom-quality, state-specific tags, shop your stateNew on the hunting blog: StopBox Security Cable Review: Is It Worth the Upgrade?New on the fishing blog: Inshore Redfish: Reading the Flats on a Falling TideFeatured partner: D & A Armory2026-27 season dates & regulation updates by stateBHH Youth Hunters Academy — hunting safety missions for kids 5–17. Every $10 in our shop earns a FREE seat (up to 5), use it or share itFREE Security Cable with every StopBox purchase — Authorized StopBox USA DealerNEW: Call Wall — learn turkey, duck, elk & deer calls from real callers, step by stepNEW: Off-Road Trails — ATV & UTV riding areas and forest trail maps nationwideNEW: Wild Game Recipes — member-tested venison, waterfowl & fish recipesNEW: Reels — swipe through the latest hunting & fishing videos from membersNEW: Video Tutorials — map tools, gear care, scouting, field dressing & moreNEW: Western Hunting — elk rut forecast, unit profiles, glassing & pack-out plannersWaterfowl Migration Report & Forecast — see what's moving down each flywayBlood Trail Search Grid — split the search into sections and see where your crew has already lookedOffline Maps — save your hunting area and keep your maps and pins with no cell signalPublic Land layers — see WMAs, state & national forest hunting ground on the mapImport from onX, GPX & KML — bring your pins and boundaries over in one tapFood Plot Planner — draw your plot, log soil tests, get a seed mix & frost datesThe BHH Magazine — flip through the latest issue, or listen to it read aloudMakers Marketplace — handmade calls, knives & gear from hunters across the U.S.BHH Apparel — original hunting & fishing designs, plus design your own shirtBecome a BHH Ambassador — earn points, store credit & commissionMember Giveaway — stay active on the Hub to earn entriesTrail Cam AI — upload a photo, get species, sex, rack estimate & behavior instantlyHunt Prediction & Pressure Map — hourly deer activity and live public-land crowd check-insHunt Crews — roster, trip plans, gear checklists & license reminders for your whole groupHarvest Tags — heirloom-quality, state-specific tags, shop your stateNew on the hunting blog: StopBox Security Cable Review: Is It Worth the Upgrade?New on the fishing blog: Inshore Redfish: Reading the Flats on a Falling TideFeatured partner: D & A Armory2026-27 season dates & regulation updates by state
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How to tie the Tip-Up Rig (Ice Fishing)

Tip-Up Rig (Ice Fishing)

The ultimate ice-fishing ambush setup that lets live bait patrol the strike zone hands-free while you wait for the flag to fly.

Knot

Improved Clinch Knot

Target Depth

1-50 ft

Target Species

Northern PikeWalleyeLake TroutLargemouth Bass

Where To Use It

LakePondReservoir

How To Tie / Assemble

  1. 1Spool the tip-up reel with 30-50lb braided tip-up line.
  2. 2Tie a barrel swivel to the end of the braided main line.
  3. 3Attach a 3-6 foot leader of 10-20lb fluorocarbon line to the other end of the swivel.
  4. 4Attach a small split-shot sinker 12-18 inches above the hook to keep the bait pinned in the strike zone.
  5. 5Tie your chosen hook to the end of the fluorocarbon leader.
  6. 6Hook your live minnow through the back or lips and lower it to the desired depth.

Recommended Baits

Large Golden Shiner

The gold scales provide high visibility for Northern Pike and provide a strong, erratic struggle that signals distress.

Live Cisco or Tullibee

A primary forage species for Lake Trout; using a live bait of 6-8 inches is often the best way to tempt trophy-sized fish.

Medium Fathead Minnow

Ideal for Walleye; their hardy nature allows them to stay active on the hook longer in cold water without needing frequent checks.

Large Sucker Minnow

A versatile choice for Largemouth Bass and Pike; these are very durable and maintain a steady swimming motion under the ice.

How To Use It

Set the tip-up over a hole and drop your live bait to your target depth; adjust the trip mechanism sensitivity based on bait size so the flag triggers only when a fish takes the bait and swims away, then wait for the flag to trip, approach quietly, and give the fish a moment to turn the bait before setting the hook.

Why the Improved Clinch Knot

Simple, reliable, and maintains high knot strength when connecting the fluorocarbon leader to the hook, which is critical when a large pike or walleye makes a sudden run.

Gear & Setup

30-50lb braided Dacron or Nylon tip-up line, 10-20lb fluorocarbon leader, size 2-6 treble hook or size 1/0 circle hook, and a small removable split-shot weight.

Best Conditions

Winter season through ice cover; works best in low-light morning or evening periods, particularly in clear water where fluorocarbon leader is essential for stealth.

Species You'll Catch On This Rig

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass

The ultimate American freshwater predator, the Largemouth Bass is the king of shallow-water structure and aggressive strikes.

Northern Pike

Northern Pike

The apex freshwater ambush predator known for its explosive strikes and brutal, line-peeling fights.

Walleye

Walleye

The ultimate ghost of the freshwater depths, walleye are prized for their keen low-light vision and world-class table fare.

Lake Trout

Lake Trout

The apex cold-water predator of the deep, renowned for its stubborn, drag-screaming endurance in the northern depths.

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