No ice still where I'm so while I can not fish - I do another fishing-related activity - I make homemade fishing tackle. Here is a video about how I make very simple strike indicators:
Ice Fishing
Ice rod strike indicators
This sure brings back a lot of old memories ... Believe it or not strike indicators have been around a long time. Back in the 60's we would take braided wire leaders, cut off about 4" and the barrel swivel swivel attached to the loop. You could get 2 indicators out of one leader. We simply taped it on the rod end and ran the line thru the existing loop. I'm thinkin 30# wire braid worked out the best for panfish.
Thank you, AWichman. You probably have a nice rod with a sensitive tip.
I started ice fishing two years ago. I had used my relatives' gear until the last winter. Then, the last winter, still without knowing much about ice fishing, bought a rod.
But it was too stiff for panfish we usually catch. My relative gave me a storebought spring indicator but ice would accumulate inside the spring to the point the line didn't move without pulling (it was a very cold winter). I didn't like using it. So I made a temporary solution that eliminates the problem, just for the next day. And as is well known, there is no anything more permanent than a temporary solution.
I liked the indicator so I made a bunch of them and used the whole winter.