Tip Down Freeze up prevention.

I've been using my DYI tip downs, but only when temps are warm enough. How do you guys prevent the holes from freezing in / on your line when below freezing temps?

 Thanks in advance for some suggestions & sharing experiences!

Just clean the holes, I have found that I catch a good percentage of my fish after cleaning the hole.

I always tip the pole down, then clean the hole and tip the pole back up.  The movement of the minnow gets a lot of fish that are just looking at the minnow to bite.

Thanks for all the comments / input guys. I had a chance to use my tip downs below 32 yesterday & caught a (1) keeper crappie on that pole.  I used my old Frabill ( minnow bucket) aerator that uses 2 D cell batteries. It worked great for an hour +1/2. Then the batteries started to die, slowing the volume of bubbles. The hole never froze over, but I think it would have if I had stayed much longer. 2 hours out of a pair of batteries isn't going to make it on my average outing. Perhaps the newer units (w/ AAs ) are more efficient, battery friendly and last a whole day. 

I don't like the idea of having a "bobber" ( same w/ planer boards in open water) in between my bait/hook & hand, but it may be the way to go. Going to try a slip bobber and inject some veggie oil in the tube to see if that works. Thanks again for your ideas ( outside of "duh" skim more often).

Got it, thanks cruiser. 

you would make the most of your knowledge with the durable post if you considered it.
https://advicebeast.com/best-curved-monitor-under-300/

LOJ the line and the pressure from the water when it's floating.  

Tip up cover until its too cold. Then tiny bubble aerators. They hold 2 D batteries and have lasted for years. Work perfect. Think you can get them for around $ 10. Dont buy the frabill ones, Ive had nothing but problems with them in the past. You wont be disappointed.

Whether it’s tip downs or tip ups I always think the less foot traffic the better the bite so not having to walk over and scoop has less to do with laziness than stealth. 

I have two legs that work just fine. I also have a brain that works. Obviously you never heard the term “work smarter, not harder”.

You didn’t strike a nerve with me, but your comments proved the point that I made earlier.

I sure wish I owned one, but I'm too uneducated and poor  ;) 

Thank god I still have 2 legs though! IDK what I would do if I couldn't check the holes myself...Probably make a DIY copy of something already on the market and post on LL about how much better it is because I saved so much money!   

Tight lines bud, sorry I hit a nerve!

We've been making homemade tip up covers for years out of old sheet insulation like the pink corning. Cut a square about 14x14 or whatever size you want, mark the center and cut a slit for the shaft. We then cover the whole thing with duct tape. I have some that are 20 years old and are as good as the day I made them. They are way more durable than store bought hole covers and really reliable. We often fish over night. When it gets really cold because we make the hole covers oversized you can cover them with snow for more insulation. I have fished in 20 below zero weather and only had a skim of ice on the holes in the morning.

Junkie - there’s a big difference between wasting money and spending it wisely. Those that don’t have the ingenuity pay. Those that do use it to their advantage. If you felt the need to spend that type money on a simple concept, then I guess you probably should have. 

Thanks Z.

Convenience comes at a cost. Wasn't meant to offend ya, but with such a heavy emphasis on cost, my solution seems to be the best of all worlds. 100% success rate and $0 cost. 

Junkie - That’s a pretty uneducated comment. 

If cost is the biggest concern, I'd say the best option is to get your @$$ up and check your holes more often   

Cruiser- what keeps the solution from running out of the ice stopper bobber?