It’s no secret: One of my favorite ways to spend time is tip-up fishing. I love the anticipation of setting a series of tip-ups along the edge of prime structures or scattering them across a productive flat searching for fish. Either way, to me, seeing a flag trip is positively one of fishing’s most exciting moments.
So when I was approached by several ice anglers at the St. Paul Ice show in December of 2012, each soundly requesting I tape an episode of Tom Gruenwald Outdoors (TGO) demonstrating proper use of HT’s Windlass wind tip-ups, I wasn’t hard to convince.“This doesn’t need to be another show where you’re catching giant pike from some remote 
Canadian lake or anything like that,” one of them suggested. “While not complicated, the Windlass is a different kind of tip-up, and if you can simply show how to set, rig and use them properly while catching a few fish of whatever species and size, this would eliminate confusion and people would at least be able to see how—and well—these tip-ups perform. They could then modify general usage for their own individual applications.”They’re right, and after reviewing the many advantages of using the Windlass system, I agree they have a good idea and promise. I’ll try my best to work it into a show for the coming season; after all, I enjoy fishing Windlass Tip-Ups. They comprise a unique, highly effective system, and it is true many anglers aren’t familiar with how they function and would be interested in seeing how they work.
On the drive home from St. Paul, I called Aron Kastern, a friend and HT pro staffer who operates Unlimited Trophy Outfitters Guide Service, more or less just to say hello and see how the ice is in his part of the world up in Ashland, Wisconsin. Coincidentally, as we’re visiting, he brings up how well one of his favorite tip-ups—HT’s Windlass–has been working on a northern Wisconsin lake.“We haven’t set the world on fire rocking any really big fish,” he admits, “but we’ve been catching good numbers of pike and a few walleyes, too. Man, I really love those Windlass Tip-Ups!”
“Hey, Aron,” I mumble, thinking out loud, “this is kind of strange, but I just spoke with a group of guys from northern Minnesota at the St. Paul Ice Show, and they really wanted me to try shooting an episode of TGO showing how to correctly set and use Windlass tip-ups. Would you be up for filming something like that with me?”
“Absolutely!” Aron answers, without any hesitation. “When are you thinking you’d like to shoot?”
“I’ll need to check with Sean Casper to see if he’s available to cover the camera, but I’d be willing to take a day next week if he’s free and you’re interested…” Aron assures me he is. We wrap up our conversation by bouncing a few ideas off each other regarding scheduling and lakes we could possibly try. Before hanging up, I let Aron know I’ll try contacting Sean right away to confirm.
A quick call to Sean is met with enthusiasm, and we decide to meet up with Aron the following week. The plan is to fish a system well known for producing good numbers of pike. Large fish are rare and occasionally caught, but not often. Since our prerogative here isn’t a quest for big fish, but rather to experience action and show how to properly set and use the Windlass tip-up, we all agree it’s a perfect situation.Sean and I pull into our hotel late the evening before we’re scheduled to film, unload our gear and begin the usual procedure of organizing, charging batteries and reviewing scripts. It’s well after midnight when I finally begin spooling and preparing to rig several Windlass tip-ups for the next day’s fishing. Thinking, I decide to mix things up a bit.
A few units are tied with standard light wire leaders and treble hooks. Others are set similarly, but with beads and or spinner blades added for extra attraction—and, in a special Windlass fashion; a couple more are rigged with jigging spoons. That’s right—spoons!
The biggest advantage of the Windlass tip-up is the fact that using the wind, it jigs your presentation. This movement unquestionably accounts for a greater number of strikes on most days—and furthermore, allows the opportunity to use specialty rigs incorporating lures such as spoons usually reserved for jigging.
I normally go with lightweight flutter spoons, but Aron mentioned he’d been doing equally well with smaller, standard spoons like Daredevils and Little Cleo’s, so I rig some up with those, too. Then, thoroughly exhausted, I finally get to bed a little after 2:00 a.m.The alarm sounds at 5:30. Turning on the weather channel, I’m not surprised to learn the prediction for the day still holds. Like most days this season when we’ve tried to film, we’re facing the onslaught of a strong, fresh cold front, expected to come later in the day, with skies brightening and temperatures falling briskly. Directly behind this front is a massive snowstorm, expected to hit Wisconsin with a strong blizzard bringing ample snow and harsh winds—none of which is conducive to quality fishing or filming.
If this was a weekend or vacation outing, I’d likely cancel or reschedule. However, this isn’t the case, and as it turns out, today is really the only opportunity where we have an opening in our calendar throughout the typical, schedule-packed winter, so game on. I sit on the end of the bed to eat some cereal and sip hot tea before stuffing two six gallon buckets with my Windlass tip-ups and start loading the truck.
Aron calls promptly at 6:00 to confirm where we’ll meet, and a half hour later we’re packing our sleds. A twenty minute walk leads to a large, shallow bay filled with cabbage weeds, and we spend time strategically drilling holes, using electronics to search for pockets, openings and edges where we can set our Windlass’, marking holes that look most productive, then doubling back through to skim each and set these specialty tip-ups.
THE WINDLASS TIP-UP IN REVIEW
Before continuing this story, now might be a good time to stop and review a few things. To start with, if you’re not familiar with the Windlass, unlike standard “stationery” tip-ups, these units actually harness the wind and use it to jig your bait, adding a highly effective dimension to any tip-up presentation. While many anglers look baffled when they see one, the design is really quite simple.A base supports a perpendicular frame that cradles a “rocker” arm balanced at the top. This arm features a metal wind flap at one end and a spool on the other; the flap is used to catch the wind to naturally, yet erratically bob the arm up and down, ultimately moving the line and providing a controlled jigging motion, using nothing but the wind.
RIGGING AND SETTING YOUR WINDLASS
Standard rigging doesn’t vary much from any other tip-up. Simply spool with your favorite braided tip-up line—always spun so the line comes off the top of the spool. Tip your backing with a ball bearing barrel swivel to attach a leader–usually low-visibility, light monofilament or fluorocarbon for smaller or wary fish; heavier monofilament for mid-sized game fish, and wire for larger, toothier species. Add a split shot and hook of the desired style and size, bait with a minnow and you’re ready to go.
Just bear in mind that with the Windlass, you also have a variety of presentation options not available with standard tip-ups. Thanks to its unique jigging action, you can effectively use in-line spinners in a variety of sizes, styles and colors, splice small, lightweight spoons into your leader for use as flashers, even use lures or swimming jigs tipped with minnows, grubs, power baits or plastics, making them a versatile addition to your winter fishing strategies!
When the conditions are right, there are a variety of ways you can rig a Windlass to your advantage, opening up an entirely new realm of possibilities. Using these units with lightweight jigging lures, for example, you can candidly jig clear water shallows while permitting minimal activity on the ice, present moving baits silently to spooky fish without casting shadows, even experiment with different lure styles, sizes, colors and tippers in a variety of primary locations and depths at the same time, so you can really cover water effectively with minimal disturbance around sensitive areas.
Of course, you must properly rig and set each unit, and there are some important things to understand when you do:
- When spooling your Windlass, be sure your tip-up line is wound onto the spool counter clockwise-meaning that once filled, line revolves off the top of the spool. I’ll explain why this is important momentarily.
- Next, feed your line through the grommet in the wind flap and down to the water. An adjustable drag tension feature allows control of how fast line can be peeled off the spool as fish run. Tighten or loosen as conditions dictate.
- Now find the tension bracket on the frame. You’ll notice a spring extending between this bracket and the underside of the rocker arm—this is used to control how high the arm will raise, and consequently, how much jigging motion will be attained.
For minimal action, adjust the spring tension so the rocker arm remains positioned approximately parallel to the ice. To create more aggressive motion, gradually increase tension by lowering the bracket. This will cause the arm to rise at an increasingly higher pitch. The greater the angle, the more wind the arm will catch, and the more pronounced the jigging motion becomes. You can also bend the wind flap up if you want it to catch even more wind.
When fishing gusty conditions or using large baits, a heavier spring (included) may be substituted to increase tension. When necessary, the light and heavy springs can be used together to create increasingly higher levels of tension–some savvy anglers even turn the adjustment bracket sideways to further stretch the springs and obtain additional tension!However set, the wind will blow the flap down, and the spring tension will provide counter force, pulling it back up whenever gusts let up, in turn generating the desired jigging action based on your adjusted setting.
Before you begin fishing, double check to be sure the tension bracket is adjusted to the desired setting, the rocker arm is moving freely and the drag on the spool is set correctly. If so, you’re ready to position your bait at the desired depth and place the tip-up so the wind properly catches and moves the arm.
Typically, the Windlass is positioned so the wind blows from behind the wind flap, meaning the wind will push the arm down, and the spring pulls it back up. In some situations, however, it may be beneficial to position the tip-up just the opposite way. By having the wind blow toward the flap from the underside, for instance, the wind will push the arm upward, therefore moving your bait up and away from cover such weeds or wood, rather than down into them where your presentation may foul up—an important component of a successful presentation when you’re fishing shallow cover.
Once properly positioned, weight down the frame with snow or slush to secure it in place, lower your presentation to the desired depth, and after making sure your line is positioned near the center of the hole, place the tip of the thin steel strip fitted with a hi-visibility orange flag against the spool. This will hold the bait in the proper location and place the flag in a downward “set” position. When a fish bites, the spool will rotate, in turn releasing the flag and signaling the strike. (This is why I’ve emphasized it’s critical for the line to be spooled on counter clockwise and feed off the top side of the spool: If turned the opposite direction, the flag won’t trip as line spins from the spool).
Provided conditions are mild, the Windlass will pretty much take care of itself. From this point, all you need to do is adjust the tip-up position and arm as wind direction and speed vary.
Otherwise, the primary challenge you’ll encounter is keeping your presentation moving freely—something that can be difficult in extreme temperatures due to the exposed spool and line. The exposed spool leaves wet line susceptible to freezing within the spool, and again at the point where your line enters the water. These limitations have historically been the biggest drawbacks to wind tip-up use.
But these problems are easily resolved. First, a light coating of non-stick spray, such as Reel Magic or cooking oil, helps shed water and keep line within the spool from freezing, because the water beads off the line rather than being absorbed.
Secondly, a system like the Ice Stopper is a great complementary item for preventing freeze-up at the water line. The Ice Stopper resembles a freeze-proof, environmentally friendly fluid filled slip bobber that slides over the line and floats within the hole, ensuring your line won’t freeze within the hole. Your line simply slides through the freeze proof Ice Stopper, eliminating freeze-up and keeping ice from gathering on your line. It’s easy to set-up, and once rigged, the Ice Stopper doesn’t need to be removed between uses.
I like to combine this system with a soft hole cover, such as HT’s thermal, and customize the cover by cutting a section in the center to accommodate the Ice Stopper. Immediately after drilling a fresh hole, pack slush around the outside of your cover to form a sealed fit over the hole, and place the Ice Stopper into position.
This results in an essentially freeze-proof system: The Ice Magic coats and protects line on the spool, the Ice Stopper eliminates freezing at the water line, and the hole cover prevents blowing snow from entering the hole and ice from forming around the Stopper. Now you’re set to go no matter what the conditions!
HOOKING AND LANDING A FISH
When a fish bites, the scene becomes exciting. The rocker arm will dip down as line begins spinning from the spool, tripping the flag. You’ll be able to see if the fish is running and how fast, simply by watching the rocker arm and spool as you approach.
Move in quietly. When you determine the time is right, grasp the line firmly just above the water (or when in use, the Ice Stopper) and give it a short, firm pull to set the hook. As with other tip-ups, fish are then hand-over-handed to the surface.
One last thing: When re-setting your Windlass after catching a fish, don’t just add fresh bait. Be sure to replace worn leaders, re-tie questionable knots, check hook sharpness–and always consider making presentation modifications to increase your versatility and better decipher patterns. Experiment with different presentation options, too, including various styles, designs, sizes and colors of beads, blades, jigs or spoons.
This can and will make a difference!
BACK TO OUR STORY
These things all fully considered I’m now ready to fish. I check the direction the wind is blowing and selecting a Windlass rigged with a simple wire leader, split shot and treble hook, add a lively shiner and lower it to the desired depth. Since the wind is relatively light, I bend the flap up slightly so the wind catches it a bit better, pack some slush around the base to secure it in place, and after checking to be sure the rocker arm has the desired free range of motion, move along to set the next tip-up.
We just finish setting the third Windlass when I notice the flag has popped on the first, and I shout out to Aron. I can see the rocker arm dipped and the spool spinning, but by the time we get there the fish has dropped the bait. No problem—it’s a good sign, and we continue with our set-up.
Just as we get the last tip-up settled, another flag trips in the distance, and this time we’re ready. Approaching quietly, we see the rocker arm bent down sharply and the spool spinning—fish on! Kneeling beside the hole, I carefully grasp the line, and after feeling for weight, set the hook and am rewarded with a solid set. Although it’s just a small pike, we smile. This is what fishing Windlass tip-ups is all about: The thrill of the flag.
With the weather beginning ideally–relatively mild temperatures allow our holes to remain open, requiring limited maintenance to keep lines working freely, plus just enough wind to work our presentations—we catch respectable numbers of smaller pike throughout the morning, and with no size minimum regulations, keep several, leaving Aron tickled to have plenty of pike for pickling.
Later in the day, with the weather changing dramatically and temperatures beginning to plummet as a cold front approaches; we move our Windlass set out toward a deep weed edge, hoping to intercept a larger pike or perhaps a migrating walleye moving from deeper water toward the shallow flats for an evening feeding foray. Although we don’t manage to hook any large pike, we are able to ice one respectable walleye before the front finally closes in and shuts things down.
Still, our mission has been accomplished: To demonstrate the effectiveness of the Windlass Tip-Up. Before Sean and I head out, we enjoy a quick dinner with Aron and Lacey, and manage to arrive home only a short time before what will transpire into the biggest blizzard of the year strikes Wisconsin!
Between countless shifts to the driveway trying to keep the snow cleared over the two days, I relive the trip, thankful I was approached at the St. Paul Ice Show about recording this episode. Although we didn’t catch anything record-setting, we achieved the main reason we ice fish in the first place. To relax and have fun!
So now, as I ponder the versatility of the Windlass—conjuring up entirely new strategies that had never really occurred to me that could be developed, bringing completely new dimensions of productivity to our winter ice fishing adventures–I start to fully realize the possibilities, and suddenly, I’m looking forward to getting back on the ice with my Windlass Tip-Ups rigged in even more unique ways.
But I’ll have to wait until after this storm subsides, because right now, it appears I’m not going anywhere–except, perhaps, back to the beginning of my driveway to start the process of clearing snow all over again.
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