DIY iFishPro Style Tip-up Build (Quick, Cheap and Easy Homemade Tip Up)

One staple that most ice fisherman carry is the Tip Up. It's a really cool device that alerts you when you have a fish and allows you to fight the fish on your rod. These tip ups use a simple mechanism that can be easily replicated. Here I show you my version of a cheap and easy DIY tip up build. I'll walk you through everything you need to complete the project in under 30 mins. Stay tuned to future videos when I will give these tip ups a test run.
Videos to check out:
Easy Ice Fishing Rod Build Video: • DIY Ice Fishing Rod Bu...
Last Ice Huge Bluegill Fishing Video: • Last Ice Huge Bluegill...
Equipment:
Victor Mouse Trap: amzn.to/2YZ8soe
Door Stops: amzn.to/2LZJwdp
I buy my live wax worms by mail: amzn.to/36YLqSB
GoPro Hero7 Black: amzn.to/3cWjF11
Deeper Ice Fishing Sonar: amzn.to/2LCuCcT
Landscaping Flags: amzn.to/2OplQ2X
/ backroadsangling_youtube

[@BackroadsAngling]

Hey everybody, after you watch this you might want to check out my new Hooksetter/IFishPro All-in-one device. It is linked here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZWvlJyfqa6lj7s

[@cliffordmetheral8855]

I like what I saw so built one. The only change I made was to put a eye from hook & eye set instead of the trap trigger. I took my grinder & cut out one side & smoothed it off. I always liked using my rod & this lets me. It worked great & gave me plenty of time to free the rod from the holder & move it to the side. What a great idea. Thanks so much.

[@Chubbs-ui7wp]

Can you elaborate or try to describe this another way please? I made one and this sounds like something I may want to try, but I don't exactly understand what you did ha

[@jtothefx]

This is great! I might build one. Great little project. Thank you

[@BackroadsAngling]

Cool! I hope you catch a monster with it!

[@matternsberger7827]

This is awesome!! Thanks for sharing!

[@BackroadsAngling]

Glad you like it! Catch a big one!

[@bobbyg6662]

This is a great little DIY project...nicely done

[@BackroadsAngling]

Thanks! I really appreciate the support!

[@tededwards1592]

Subbed cuz I wanna see em in action! Real simple and easy!

[@BackroadsAngling]

Yes sir, coming soon. Thanks for the support!

[@FowlersMakeryandMischief]

very cool !!

[@BackroadsAngling]

Coming from you that's a huge compliment! Thanks!

[@craigwright3112]

Excellent Vid!

[@BackroadsAngling]

Thanks!

[@generees7752]

We used to make tip ups out of beer cans and banding straps, caught some really nice fish on those.

[@BackroadsAngling]

Wow, sounds like fun!

[@ryanhansberry5020]

Great design. Two things to think about... 1 That narrow slit/saw cut will definitely freeze shut. I’d make it at least 3/4” wide. 2 your flag could easily come out of the door stop so if you simply make a bend in the shape of a “V” in the end of the wire of the flag after you push it through the plastic cap it will stay in. I’ll be making a few of these but I’ll probably make them out of circles of plywood with foam insulation and a pivoting arm that has a slot to adjust for the length needed for the rod. This is the first video of yours that I’ve come across and I’m definitely subscribing. Thank you.

[@BackroadsAngling]

I agree, the slit is too narrow. I widened mine out to about a 1 inch gap. The flag actually fits really snug into the door stop top. I don't think it will ever come out but it is a good idea to put a kink at the end to make sure. Everything you said here sounds good - Good Luck!

[@ghoumaanis5292]

This is I good product I like it a lot and it is very sturdy

[@BackroadsAngling]

Thanks!

[@hankparkette2679]

I would make the side cut as wide as the hole. Why play around trying to get your line thru that saw kerf?

[@BackroadsAngling]

Yes, I think that is a good suggestion. It wouldn't hurt to have the slit wider.

[@iwazzabadboy1982]

Sweet

[@BackroadsAngling]

Thanks!

[@arctictimberwolf]

I Like it, Well Done Bud. FYI, If ya get adhesive back sandpaper you can put a piece on the outside of the Saw Hole Drill Bit and that will make Sanding the inside of the Hole walls Way easier. Thanks for the Video Tip

[@BackroadsAngling]

Thanks! Adhesive backed sand paper is a great idea. I'll grab some next time I'm at the hardware store.

[@jonymatvei4468]

research laboratory !!! very nice :)

[@BackroadsAngling]

Yes, a cutting edge laboratory haha.

[@PRN-Life]

Now thats an Idea . Main concern would be the rust that will apear . There must be some sort of plastics that can be used in some way (been thinkin about building something similar but hmm )

[@BackroadsAngling]

Yes after using my all last winter I do have a little rust. Everything still works fine the trap just doesn't look as good as it used to. I think I am just going to plan to switch out my mouse traps every year to keep everything running smoothly. They only cost $1 each so it is worth it to rotate them on occasion.

[@rebelgeneral01helmet23]

For. Rod holder i used the flag holder you put on the side of your house has a nice square base to it

[@BackroadsAngling]

That sounds like a good idea.

[@johnhawley1056]

For ease of use i would open the "slot" to get your line out

[@BackroadsAngling]

Agreed. I have actually widened mine to about a 1 inch gap. I will try to update that in one of my videos so everyone knows about this. Thanks!

[@IntuitiveUniversity]

I had a similar idea except attach a flag to the mouse trap and a stop so the mouse trap stops at 90 degrees instead of going all the way.

[@Ironcurtain2012]

Do the rod spools freeze using set ups like this?

[@BackroadsAngling]

If a fish spools you down the hole and then you reset everything your line might freeze up after it gets wet. Its a good idea to check your tip ups often to get any ice off from the line, the hole or the mechanism of the trap.

[@Jstock1992]

What if yoy are useing live shiners i feel like then would set it off

[@BackroadsAngling]

I have been using some larger size lively minnows and I don't feel like they are close to setting it off. Big shiners, I'm not sure yet. However, there are several ways you can play with the sensitivity. 1) There is a little bend that forms the groove that the trigger fits into. You can use some pliers or forceps to make this bend larger (or smaller if you want more sensitivity). The trap becomes a lot less sensitive this way. 2) The landscaping flag pushes up on the trigger bar and that is what holds the line. The harder the landscaping flag pushes up the harder it is for the trap to go off. The easiest way to increase the force on the trigger bar is to extend the flag out further. The more the flag extends past the trigger bar the more force it pushes up with when the trap is set. I have mine so it goes about 1 inch past the trigger bar when set. If I increase it to 2-3 inches it is harder to release the trigger. You can also use a stronger flag with less give than the flimsy landscaping flags such as a wooden dowel flag. This got long. Good luck!

[@dustysmith7333]

Looks great, only question i have is, how sensitive is it, will bluegill and crappie set it off?

[@BackroadsAngling]

It is actually pretty sensitive. I think it will work well for crappie and bluegill. I have to make sure it's not too sensitive under certain circumstances. I need to test it out with a large over-active minnow to make sure I don't get false flags. If so there are some adjustments I can make so the trigger sticks more.

[@buyme6896]

We have all be trapped by a mouse trap when setting it...pretty sensitive I’d imagine!

[@Chubbs-ui7wp]

I made one and you can adjust the sensitivity by either slightly bending the metal trigger piece (so the bar with the line wrapped around it has to be pulled harder to set off the trigger), or you can also adjust it by moving the flag closer to and farther away from the mouse trap. This either increases or decreases the tension the flag puts on the bar and therefore alters the amount of force needed to trigger the flag. I'm actually thinking of just drilling in 3-5 of those base plates that hold the door stop at different lengths on the board, and that way you can have a choice of sensitivity and just need to screw the door stop into whatever one is needed. Great idea and video @Backroads Angling

[@hunt_trap_fish]

Have you used this with bigger baits like shiners? Do they have enough power to trip the flag?

[@BackroadsAngling]

I've tried it with very large and active minnows and it held but I think you could get some false flags if you have really large shiners. I made some updates to this build in which I use a toothbrush to hold the trigger bar and that allows for different sensitivity settings. I pinned that video in the comments if you want to check it out.

[@sboss20001]

I take the metal part out of the old wipers. Great for the flag

[@richherminghaus4913]

If the end of the mouse trap trigger bends upward how does a fish pulling down release it?

[@richherminghaus4913]

oh it pulls it sideways...never mind gents...lol I like the PVC style jaw jacker style cause the tension in the rod sets the hook

[@BackroadsAngling]

Yes, you are right. The trigger releases down and to the side so any pressure from the fish trips the trigger. The iFishPro and Jaw jackers are 2 different style tip ups that both have their ideal applications. The iFishPro is best for fish that take awhile to eat the bait (Pike, Lake Trout, Catfish, sometimes Walleye, etc.). The Jaw jacker is better for fish that pick up the bait but quickly drop it (Trout, Panfish, sometimes Bass, etc.).

[@richherminghaus4913]

You are exactly right an immediate set would probably cost you pike

[@SEMIfishing]

This thing is legit. Have you had success with them?

[@BackroadsAngling]

I haven't tried them out yet. The ice in my area isn't quite safe yet (1-2 in). I plan to use them throughout the season so stay tuned for future videos when I give updates. I am confident they are going to work.

[@dennisneuhaus2607]

Where is the fishing pole build?

[@naugrim316]

2 things! 1: i have a new project! 2: i kno that pond well! The other spots you fish too! Tight Lines!

[@BackroadsAngling]

Cool, I hope it works well for you! Maybe I will see you out on the water!

[@sjklahn]

I've been trying this exact idea all night. Completely failed. The line keeps going around the mouse trap trigger. You using mono or braid?

[@BackroadsAngling]

I was using mono but I think braid will work also. When setting it wrap the line as close to the end of the trigger as you can so it gets a clean release. If you still have problems you can use an IFishPro slip stop which will keep you from having to wrap your line around the trigger to set it.

[@Chubbs-ui7wp]

I had this issue, and realized I had my flag extending out past the trap too far. So when it released, the excess flag would get caught up in the line and bar it's wrapped around. Need to put as little of the flag under the bar as possible. I also bent the last portion of the bar (that's already bent to catch on the trigger) down, so that the lines slides of easier as it's travelling up

[@nickb8618]

I hat how flimsy the rod holder is on the I fish pro I think this is a better setup

[@BackroadsAngling]

I agree that is something they could really improve on the iFishPro. Maybe the 3.0 version will address that. Thanks for watching!

[@TW14137]

When the trap goes off it will jerk the line, telegraph to the fish, and it will spit the bait. I think you will lose a high percentage of the strikes.

[@BackroadsAngling]

If it's rigged properly the line releases cleanly in the same way an iFishPro does. There is no line jerk because the slightest pull detaches the line from the trigger. If you're worried about wrapping the line a slip stop connecting the line to the trigger works the best.

[@dylanmounsey7515]

I’m gonna make a joke How you gonna pull a fish through that little hole man ????🤣

[@BackroadsAngling]

I don't catch any fish bigger than that so I'm good!

[@curtsweet2581]

Open that line Notch up toabout 1/2 inch

[@BackroadsAngling]

I agree! The notch needs to be bigger.

[@tomfarrington8485]

What happens when the mouse trap is covered on snow and slush frozen.

[@BackroadsAngling]

Ya, I think it's a good idea to keep the mechanism as free of snow and slush as possible. I like to clean off my tip ups regularly during a snow storm to make sure they don't freeze up and to make sure my hole stays ice free.

[@Whitetail414]

That means you should not be using the set up and using a regular tip up… I think these probably will work best on bluebird or overcast days.

[@bpow1983]

Why not attach a flag on the end of the rod an inch or two back from the tip. Use whatever material will get your attention when tripped

[@glennkrzeminski7539]

Bc this does not automatically set the hook the rod is always up. You are thinking of a jaw hacker type trap

[@Mr880881]

Your line slot is to narrow. Cut it like a horse shoe. Will not make the base any weaker because its already cut.

[@BackroadsAngling]

I agree. I have since cut mine about 1-1 1/2 inch bigger.

[@TimBeitz-vp2fw]

Made mine in 45 minutes no mouse trap

[@julianfed2527]

what did you use instead?

[@buyme6896]

I did the same thing. I used a a screw that I bent over 90 degrees and a longer piece of copper perpendicular to it. The deeper into the screw the less sensitive.