Help with custom balance tipup!

Hey everyone, looking to build a couple balance tipups for whitefish/lakers.

Mainly looking to use them in the hut and when we stay out in bungalows. Although I questions how you fight a 5lb whitefish with just the stick? is it hard to let line off of it when the fish runs? If the fish hits aggressively does the stick just snap down and stay taught until you grab it?

Also found this thread that has many ideas too.

Can anyone help with pictures of theirs? or hints and tips?

Thanks!

When a whitefish picks up your bait your stick will go up and not down. The fight when you have one on is handlining.

I never let them run. lol Seriously it's way better off to try to keep their head pointed up. Usually when I set the hook the stick goes flying and line comes off and if you have a couple good pulls on him off the hop it should be enough. To your there question, Whitefish generally hit and take the bait upwards so the stick usually goes straight back and points up during a strike. Usually doesn't mean always. Those style of sticks should serve you well.

Or the flight when you have one is hand bombing.

AH yeah ok makes sense, never used one before so I didn't realize they hit 'up'!

Anyone have pics of their own? Or tips? Designs?

I use my rod as a tip up send me a email and I can send you a photo

When I am in the larger portable on simcoe I use one for whities and incidental lakers. Mine is a foot long so I could count how many feet down I was before I had electronics. Most hits it tipped back as the whitie lifted my three way spreader or meegs. I also had a small hook two feet up with a Jensen or minnow and it caught a few too. Just keep an eye on it and you shouldn't lose it. As was said, after the initial hook set and handline up fighting was fairly easy. It's a hell of a lot of fun doing it the old way! Good luck.

Dave.

No... lost a few in my days. This again was before electronics. Tip ups can easily flip off the holder and into the hole. You watch it swim away slowly and out of sight.

Whitefish does not hit up. If you use a spreader on bottom... your tip up cannot go down anymore as the line will slack. Whitefish will pick the bait up from the bottom causing the tip up to lift front end up. It will go downwards as well after the first initial upwards... But that will bring you back to the first question above just answered. That is when the fish is swimming away and your tip up may also swim away.

Wow nice fish! Was it hard to let line off the stick? Seems like that big girl with lots of power!

No... lost a few in my days. This again was before electronics. Tip ups can easily flip off the holder and into the hole. You watch it swim away slowly and out of sight.

Whitefish does not hit up. If you use a spreader on bottom... your tip up cannot go down anymore as the line will slack. Whitefish will pick the bait up from the bottom causing the tip up to lift front end up. It will go downwards as well after the first initial upwards... But that will bring you back to the first question above just answered. That is when the fish is swimming away and your tip up may also swim away.

Yeah, guess I'll worry about that once I actually get them built. Maybe a float or something, or a tie off for the base...looks like fun!

1 Watch how the line is lifted and placed
2.Watch how his feet never move ;-)
3. Watch how he keeps the line and fish under control and doesn't horse it in.

Handlining

Good luck!

ps...........hopefully your first time will be as lucky!

Wow nice fish! Was it hard to let line off the stick? Seems like that big girl with lots of power!

Once it tips up or down you set the hook and start hand lining. There has been no need for me to let out more line off the stick. They will run a bit or try to but I keep constant pressure on them it's usually at the hole it gets a little more tricky. I use 8 lb mono and it gives a bit of stretch for the fight. That one was about 5 lbs I'm guessing but was chubby. Was bleeding a lot so went home for fish cakes. I like the tip ups for the light bite days. They detect everything. Good luck. This whitie came on it as well.

Dave.

Great thread, lots of great information and some nice fish, time to fire up the bandsaw and make a couple of these to try for myself.

Yeah, I won't be able to get to mine for about a week, but keep me posted on your progress, might be able to help out a few people in the process!

Yeah, I won't be able to get to mine for about a week, but keep me posted on your progress, might be able to help out a few people in the process!

Will do so far I've am cutting a template, I don't draw well so it's not perfect but here is my template, does it seem like it is the right proportions. I have went with 11.5" as I will be using 1/2 in cedar for the sticks.