Every once in a while a project comes along that’s simply too fun and unique to pass up.
When Jay Siemens and his crew approached us about helping build what would become the World’s Biggest Tip-Up, we knew it was going to be an exciting challenge. Jay and his team are well known in the outdoor community for documenting their fishing adventures on the Jay Siemens YouTube channel, and this project was a perfect fit.
Tip-ups are a classic piece of ice fishing equipment, instantly recognizable to anglers across Canada and the northern United States. But building one at record-breaking scale? That takes some creative thinking.
Our team was brought in to assist with planning, prototype development, and supply of the flagpole, accessories, and of course a custom Catch and Cook flag that would bring the giant tip-up to life.
A Classic Ice Fishing Tool — Just Much Bigger
For anyone unfamiliar with ice fishing, a tip-up is a simple mechanical device used to signal when a fish takes the bait.
When a fish pulls the line, a mechanism releases and a bright flag pops up, alerting the angler that it’s time to check the line.
It’s a simple but effective system that has been used by ice anglers for generations.
The goal of this project was to take that familiar concept and scale it up into a giant working version, while still maintaining the recognizable look and functionality of a traditional tip-up.
Designing the Flag
One of the most recognizable features of any tip-up is the flag. Without it, the device simply wouldn’t work.
For the world’s biggest tip-up, the flag needed to be large, durable, and highly visible.
Working alongside Jay Siemens and his crew, we created a one-of-a-kind custom Catch and Cook flag in the bright orange colour used on their Original Fish & Game coating bags, featuring a bold white Catch and Cook logo in the centre.
The 3′ × 5′ flag was stitched and finished with grommets in our Winnipeg shop, making it the perfect fit for use with our Titan telescopic flagpole.
From Concept to Prototype
Projects like this rarely come together perfectly on the first try.
When Jay first approached us with the idea, we knew the design would require a flagpole that was lightweight enough to trigger easily, yet tall enough to truly earn the title of the world’s biggest tip-up. With the previous record holder measuring roughly 10 feet tall, we knew we had to go big.
Our Titan telescopic flagpoles turned out to be the perfect solution. Made from lightweight aluminum and weighing less than 25 pounds, these poles are available in 15′, 20′, and 25′ heights while collapsing down to under 7.5 feet for easy transport.
That combination of height, strength, and portability made them ideal for bringing the giant tip-up concept to life.
We choose the 25′ version for maximum impact. Scaling up a mechanical design introduces new challenges, especially when the goal is to preserve the original function of the device. To achieve a trigger system that remained sensitive enough to work properly at this scale, the team developed a design inspired by trebuchet-style mechanics.
The result was a trigger system that behaved just like a traditional tip-up — only much bigger and far more dramatic.
Bringing the Giant Tip-Up to Life
Once everything was finalized, the full-scale build came together.
Watching the finished structure in action was incredibly rewarding. The moment the giant flag pops up captures the exact experience every ice angler knows well — that exciting signal that something might be on the line.
It’s a fun and creative tribute to a piece of equipment that has been part of ice fishing culture for generations.
Watch the Build with Jay Siemens
Jay Siemens and his crew documented the entire process on his YouTube channel, capturing the creativity, challenges, and fun involved in bringing the project to life.
Watch the full build here:
A Collaboration Worth Remembering
Working alongside Jay Siemens and his team on the World’s Biggest Tip-Up was a unique and memorable experience. It’s always rewarding to collaborate with creative people who share a passion for the outdoors and enjoy pushing ideas beyond the ordinary.
From planning and prototype development to supplying the custom flagpole and oversized flag, we were proud to play a role in helping make the project a reality.
And for anglers everywhere, it’s a reminder that sometimes the best ideas start with a simple question:
“What if we made it bigger?”