Jack Traps are the best ice fishing traps on the market or the ice. They are fool proof, made from the highest quality materials, and never fail. Ice fishing is not an easy sport, fighting the weather conditions and the fish is enough of a battle that you need not battle your equipment too. I learned many years ago that spending a little more money up front will save more money and headaches down the road.


-------------------Why Buy the Big Bob?-------------------------

Deep Snow :
I have fished in some very deep snow before. Sometimes the snow gets so deep in Maine and Canada that the reel doesn’t even reach the water unless the snow is dug down to the ice level. When you do this the trap is no longer visible so you have to make a decision. High or low. With the Big Bob you don’t have to make that decision. At 43 inches it stands tall above the hole and reaches down to the ice level. This trap is a monster. Even when the snow isn’t deep it stands tall above the snow and reaches down the hole. Sometimes it reaches low enough to get the reel below ice level which is nice when it completely free spools and allows the line no resistence on the edge of the hole. The only problems I have had with this things enormity is packing and transporting it can be a little more difficult than the smaller standard size traps which can be expected and when I am fishing shallow water for brookies the reel could touch the bottom if I don’t prop up the trap. I usually do this with snow or a couple of logs.

More Visible
I hate wondering whether or not my flag is up or not. I like to move my traps around, I like to spread them all over the lake and sometimes get them a good distance away from the commotion of the base camp. The Big Bob is incredibly visible and when the flag is up it is just about Five Feet High! This trap is especially visible to snowmobilers who whip up and down the lake usually with no regard for ice fishing traps. After they hit one the excuse is always, “I didn’t see it”. This doesn’t happen with the Big Bob. If they hit that they are going to cause damage to their machine or person so they tend to steer around them.




-------------------Materials:-------------------------

Jack Traps are made with the highest quality materials and workmanship. They are made to last at least one lifetime and to function properly even in the roughest conditions. There is not a whole lot of parts to an ice trap so why not make the trap with quality parts. That is the Maine way of thinking when making products, Make it to last, Make it to work, and Make it the best! This is what it is made from:

FeltThe flag is made from a nice soft colored felt. It doesn’t rip and shows up nicely in contrast to the snow and ice surface. It is made in green, three different blues, an orange, and red. The only problem I have had with the flag is that it soaks up water when it is rainy or set down on wet ice and it won’t stand up tall like when it is dry. It is important to keep it dry because when it gets wet it usually freezes and it won’t blow in the wind. You can ring it out by hand and it usually dries over night above the wood stove back at camp.

Stainless Steel: The tripper rod is the part that runs from the reel to the flag. It is fastened to the upright wooden piece. It is placed underwater on the bottom and above the snow and ice on the top so it is subject to all of the harshest weather. It is made from stainless steel. The tripper rod will not rust, bend, or break and is a no-nonsense part.
The tripper holder is packed with white lithium grease to prevent freeze up and to keep the trap working very smoothly. It can be re-packed if needed. Some guys like to oil the tripper rod but it is not necessary.

Heavy Gauge Aluminum: One of the most important parts of the complete unit is the Reel. This one is made from heavy gauge aluminum providing strength and light weight at the same time. Most companies are using a cheaper plastic material that can crack or chip in the extreme cold temperatures and who the heck wants to use plastic anyway, I prefer metal and wood.

The Flag Holder is also made from Heavy Gauge Material. The flag holder is the part that the flag gets locked into when in the set position. It encases the flag tripper when it connects to the flag stick. It protrudes from the side of the upright.


Hardwood: This is the best feature of Jack Traps. The Big Bob is made from two different hard woods depending on which you prefer, Ash and Oak. You can also choose the center cuts if you want a prettier looking wood for your trap at an extra $1.50. Ice fishing traps can take a beating over the course of the year bouncing around in tote sleds or pick-up trucks, exposed to very nasty weather, being shoved into pack baskets. It is important to have a trap that is made from hard wood so they don’t chip, crack, or break.



------------------------Wind Proof:-----------------------------

For those of you who have ice fished before you know that wind flags can be a real pain in the but, for those who haven’t buy a trap like the Big Bob Jack Trap, Standard Jack Trap or Heritage Laker and you won’t have to find out the hard way. While out on the frozen lakes, most of the time the wind is blowing and it doesn’t take much of a breeze to turn into a gust on the vast expanse of frozen ice and snow. I have seen so many fishermen with inferior traps chasing wind flags on windy days. The wind trips the flag from the tripper hook and the reel never moves. It really gets your hopes up when the flag goes up and you run over and nothing is there. I have never had a wind flag with the Jack traps. The Big Bob has the same design as the Standard Jack Trap and I have a great story to testify to this. One day, while fishing on Moosehead lake the wind was blowing so hard and raw that out of the group of 15 of us, I was the only one crazy or dumb enough to fish. I ended up setting my traps right in front of the lodge so I could see them from the card table inside where it was warm and out of the wind. The wind blew so hard that it actually picked my traps right out of the hole and blew them across the surface of the ice. When I finally chased them down the flags were still set on the ones that the hook didn’t fetch onto something and trip the flag. Now that is windproof!

------------------Customize It:-------------------------

The Big Bob can be made to several specifications depending on your preferences. Some people have a hard time seeing certain colors and there are several to choose from. You can even choose 5 different colors to color code your traps and see which one out performs the rest or if the fishing gets slow you can bet on a certain color against your buddies.

Flag Color:
Red
Hunter Green
Navy
Royal Blue
Burgandy
Orange

Wood:
Ash
Oak
Dark Centers

------------------Ready to Fish:-------------------------

The Big Bob can be set up directly from the Jack Trap company with the color of nylon line, leader, and even hooks and swivel upon request. All you have to do is bait the hook and set the trap and it is ready to fish.

---------------------------- Summerizing:-----------------------------------

I like to call it summerizing when I get my traps ready to store for the off-season. This is funny because it is just like winterizing something like a boat, sports car, or anything else that gets put away in the winter, except these get put away for the summer. I like to take the hooks off of mine and change the monofilament. I usually lightly oil the joints and the wingnuts. Make sure the flag is in the loose position so there is no tension and it remains springy and strong. The nylon line will last for decades. If they get a lot of use I throw on another coat of Poly when I get a chance. This is the best season to do this task as they dry quicker and don’t need to be out on the water the next day.


-------------------------- Price and Availability ----------------------------

L.L. Beans carries this trap and they sell for $55 each. It is a large investment if you have to buy a set of five but they will last forever. The nice thing about L.L. Bean is they have a no questions asked policy with returns or exchanges. I am sure the Jack Trap company will stand behind their products too.

Want to see some other ice traps:
Standard Jack Trap
Heritage Laker ice fishing trap


Line it up with Trilene Ice Fishing Line
Frabill Vinyl-Coated Minnow Trap
Frabill Sit-N-Fish Bait Container

©smallmouth 2007

Recommended: Yes