Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What kind of rod should I use with my Slammer Tip-Up??

A: For ice-fishing we recommend a 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 foot long (preferably 2-piece) lite to ultra-lite action SPINNING rod (with single-footed guides) that has an even bend throughout the rod. For STANDING UP on the ice, this length of rod works GREAT!

Other shorter and longer SPINNING rods WILL WORK - Slammer Tip-Ups ARE ADJUSTABLE and can be cut down to accomodate many traditional ice-fishing rods. Extensions are also easily made. Longest rod I've put in a Slammer is 11 1/2'

Q: Some guy I know looked at your pictures and built his own "slammer". Why shouldn't I just do that??

A: Time and money - it takes about an hour to build a Slammer Tip-Up from the Kit with a hand drill and a couple of common size drill bits, screwdriver, hand saw, tape measure, and pencil. ALL of the hardware you'll need plus the flags and most important - the Slamco rod-holder DESIGNED for ice-fishing with Slammer Tip-Ups are included with Slammer Tip-Up Kits - you just need to provide the wood.

It takes about 15 minutes to read through the DIRECTIONS and adjust your complete Slammer Tip-Up the RIGHT WAY.

Ask your buddy who made a "contraption" - how many trips to the hardware store he made? ... how many fishing rods did he break? ... how much time did he spend TRYING to figure out how to make it "work"? ... why does it behave differently every trip out?... how come his rod keeps freezing in the holder? ...

Q: Does the strength of the rod tip effect the setting action of the tip up? Most of my poles are light action and 30" long.

A: Not really - Slammer Tip-Ups are adjustable for different actions. You'll possibly have to cut your Slammer Tip-Up down to accomodate that short of a rod. Directions on how to do that are included with complete Slammer Tip-Ups and Kits. There's also good info in the Customers Only section of this website.

Q: The Slammer Tip-Up sits on the ice and the line goes into the hole. What if the hole freezes?? Will the Slammer Tip-Up go off??

A: When using MONOFILAMENT, the water will "wick" up the line and will pull FREELY through up to 3/4" thick of ice. You should CHECK your Slammer Tip-Up OFTEN and skim the ice from the hole to avoid this. A few drops of mineral oil on your line and using a Slammer Tip-Up Hole Cover will prolong your hole from freezing.

Q: I just read the 2009 IN-Fisherman Ice Fishing Guide. It says "the Automatic Fisherman is a smaller, plastic version of the larger, heavier Slammer". Is this true??

A: NO!! The Automatic Fisherman is more closely related to the homemade and antiquated Whip-Up and Tripper devices (see Slammer Tip-Up Story) that were custom built to fit a particular rod. They compress your rod (pushing the rod butt back into the rod holder) and have a pivoting trigger mechanism that holds your tip.

Standard Slammer Tip-Ups are designed for longer (4 1/2 - 5 1/2 ft) ice fishing rods which are more effective when used while standing up on the ice. The rod is put into the rod holder, the line is pulled, and the Slammer is adjusted to the natural bend of your rod. Slammer Tip-Ups are adjustable and can be used with shorter ice fishing rods also.

Q: Are Slammer Tip-Ups legal to use in the state of Minnesota??

A: Yes!! You must leave your bail open and/or line spool in freespool mode. You can not use your Slammer Tip-Up in the conventional way according to the "directors" of the Minnesota DNR.

We have yet to hear of ANYONE IN MINNESOTA receiving a ticket or going to court over the use of a Slammer Tip-Up. We have heard that Conservation Officers are telling people that they can't use them.

The State of Minnesota has a rule that makes "spring devices that impale, hook, or capture fish" illegal to use for fishing and has classified the fishing rod held under compression and used in conjuction with a Slammer Tip-Up - a spring. Wouldn't this make downriggers and possibly ALL FISHING POLES illegal to use also?

97C.325 RESTRICTIONS ON TAKING FISH.(a) Except as specifically authorized, a person may not take fish with:(4) spring devices that impale, hook, or capture fish.

(c) The commissioner may, by rule, allow the use of a nonmotorized device with a recoil mechanism to take fish through the ice.

Unfortunately, there is no "commissioner" anymore and there is instead a group of "directors".

Q: Are Slammer Tip-Ups classified as "tip-ups" or "fishing rods" by the State of New York??

A: Attached Message
From:     Robert Lucas
To:     info@slammertipup.com
Subject:     "Slammer" question
Date:     Mon, 26 Sep 2005 18:03:33 -0400

Hi Fisherman,

We have had numerous questions similar to yours over the years as different
tip-up types and modifications have appeared. Here's my take on this subject,
and I acknowledge up front that I am biased in favor of the fisherman, both
because I fish and because I think the sportsman should be given every
opportunity and every consideration when we can allow a new technique, tool or
method. My take on the Slammer: it is clearly designed to be used without
constant tending or handling by the angler. It is designed to operate in the
same fashion as a tip-up, in that it just sits there until a fish takes the bait
and trips the device to signal the angler that there has been fish activity.
After the device has been tripped the fisherman comes over and pulls the fish
out through the ice. We must remember that there is no definition of tip-up or
fishing rod. The law ( 11-0103-12(b) ) states that each fisherman is allowed to
use two lines, with or without rod. Regulations (NYCRR 10.4) allow a fisherman,
when fishing through the ice to use five tip-ups in addition to two hand lines.
However neither the law or rules and regs provide a definition of what a tip-up
is or is not. As you know, tip-ups now come in all kinds of different shapes,
configurations, styles and operational methods. There are even "tip-downs" that
we have allowed fisherman to use over the years. Because there is such a wide
range of types I think that we would have a very difficult time in court trying
to articulate what a tip-up is or that the "Slammer" is not. And the bottom line
is why do we want to restrict what fisherman can classify as a tip-up? What
benefit do we or the resource gain? In this instance I think we can hang our hat
on the fact that this is a device that is set up and then activated by the fish
biting the bait and causing the device to signal such bite to the fisherman -
just like every other tip-up out there on the ice. The "Slammer" is not designed
to be held in the hand or used like a traditional fishing or jigging rod.
Therefore it is a tip-up.

If you have any further questions please let me know.

--Director Bob Lucas

Director Robert T. Lucas
NYSDEC Division of Law Enforcement
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-2500
Office (518) 402-8829
Fax (518) 402-8830
e-mail: rtlucas@gw.dec.state.ny.us

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