Original Tip-Up
4.7(1,680)4.7 out of 5 stars, 1,680 reviews, on Amazon at the time this was writtenThe wooden tip-up that has been catching Great Lakes pike since the 1940s, with a sealed underwater spool that does not freeze up at fifteen below.
Frabill
Frabill · Ice Fishing
Ice Safety Picks
4.6(2,900)4.6 out of 5 stars, 2,900 reviews, on Amazon at the time this was writtenTwo steel awls on a cord around your neck. The cheapest piece of gear that has ever saved a Great Lakes angler's life, and the most commonly skipped.
Check price on Amazon$13— Ice Safety PicksPrice shown was accurate on 2026-09-01. Amazon sets the live price.
What's good
- Retractable sheaths mean the points are covered until the instant you need them
- Wear on a cord under the coat collar so they are reachable with numb hands
- Thirteen dollars, which removes every excuse
What isn't
- The retractable sheaths can freeze shut if the picks get soaked and then sit in the cold — check them at the truck each trip
We list the drawbacks because a recommendation with no downside is a sales pitch. If a cheaper item does the job on your water, the write-up says so.
Also worth a look
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