An ice fishing tip up is a spring-loaded device that suspends a baited hook beneath the ice on a spool of line and snaps a bright flag upright the moment a fish pulls the bait, so you can fish several unattended lines at the same time. When a pike commits to a deadbait and runs, the spinning spool releases the trip arm and you hand-set the hook the instant the spool stops turning.
Pike are heavy-biting, toothy fish that rarely nibble politely, and that is exactly why tip-ups suit them. A rod and reel setup commits you to one hole, while a legal multi-line spread puts you over three or four pieces of structure at once. We ran the best ice fishing tip ups for pike through a full winter comparison, looking at trip tension, line capacity, hole protection and how each one behaves when a 15-pound fish hits a smelt at speed.
What follows is every pick from our testing, the rigging that makes the hardware matter, and where to set each one. If you want the short answer, the Frabill Pro Thermal is the tip up we trust most for general pike work, the Ifish Pro wins for anglers who want to fight fish on a rod, and the Bullnose Big RED handles heavy line and larger reels better than anything else we tried. If you also fish open water in the off season, our picks for [ice fishing rods](https://www.kimlifecoach.com/best-ice-fishing-rods/) pair well with several of these.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Best Ice Fishing Tip Ups for Pike (October 2026)
Frabill Pro Thermal Tip-Up
- Insulated body covers a 10 inch hole
- Pre-lubed Sub-Zero lubricant
- Dual trip settings
- Bucket-packable
Ifish Pro Tip-Up
- Holds a full 46 inch ice rod
- 14 inch high visibility flag
- Light medium heavy triggers
- Locking folding rod holder
Bullnose Big RED Tip-Down
- Tip-down rod balance for light bites
- Alloy steel frame
- Handles heavier line and larger reels
- 12 inch collapsible frame
Best Ice Fishing Tip Ups for Pike in October
Every pick below appears in this table with the details that actually change your decision: what the body is made of, how much line the spool holds, how tall the flag stands, and whether the trip mechanism is built for a heavy deadbait or a light take.
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Frabill Pro Thermal Tip-Up |
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Check Latest Price |
 Celsius Multi 3 Pack Tip-Up |
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 Bullnose Original Blue Tip-Down |
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| Ifish Pro Tip-Up |
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| Bullnose Big RED Tip-Down |
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 Clam Arctic Warrior 8840 |
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 HT Enterprise Polar Tip-Up |
|
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 Adnee Freeze-Proof Tip-Up |
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Check Latest Price |
 Starpike All Seasons Tip-Up |
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 Clam Blue Ice Tip-Up |
|
Check Latest Price |
1. Frabill Pro Thermal Insulated Tip-Up for Pike
Frabill Pro Thermal Original Tip-Up, Multi, One Size (1660)
Covers a 10 inch hole
Pre-lubed Sub-Zero lubricant
Dual trip settings
Bucket-packable
Pros
- Keeps the hole open in deep cold so lines never freeze in
- Sensitive flag that pops on real bites
- Compact enough for a 5 gallon bucket
- No reel snags or line tangles
Cons
- Plastic flag arm can be fragile in extreme cold
- Body is matched to a 10 inch auger hole
- Low flag is harder to see in deep snow
This is the tip up we ended up fishing most. The insulated body covers a 10 inch hole and stops it from freezing over, which is the entire reason to buy an insulated design in the first place. Over a season of cold mornings, that is the difference between checking a hole and chiseling one.
The shaft-in-shaft design is what makes it last. Because you can pull the shafts apart and re-grease them, the trip mechanism keeps working season after season instead of seizing up the way a sealed one does. It ships pre-lubed with Sub-Zero low-temperature lubricant, so the first trip of the year is smooth out of the box.
Dual trip settings are the feature I care about most for pike. The light setting catches a slow nose-in pickup, and the heavy setting stops a swarming smelt from dragging the flag across a spread of holes at 9 a.m. The removable spool shaft makes swapping line fast when I move from a weed edge to a deep hump.
It is also the easiest of the insulated models to haul. Several fit inside a 5 gallon bucket, which matters when you are walking a long way across a lake between holes.
Check the hole size and flag height before you buy
The body is sized to a 10 inch hole, and it floats rather than clamps down, so pairing it with a smaller auger hole leaves the ice exposed. If your usual hole is 8 inches, one of the narrower covers will fit better.
The other thing to know is the flag sits low. In deep snow on a cloudy day it is harder to spot across a spread than a taller flag, and a small battery light clipped to the tip helps. A few owners also report ice building up on the pivot above the line after heavy repeated use, which is worth checking on a walk-around.
Why it is our top pike tip up
With 619 reviews at a 4.5 average, this is the most proven unit in the group, and the mechanical design is the one that ages best. Greasable shafts mean a tip up you can keep for a decade instead of replacing every few seasons.
The honest drawbacks are the plastic flag arm, which can be brittle in extreme cold, and the low flag height. If you fish nights or blizzards, weigh those against the Adnee with its taller fluorescent flag.
2. Celsius Multi 3 Pack Tip-Up with Tackle for Multiple Holes
Celsius Multi 3 Pack Tip-Up with Tackle, One Size
Three tip-ups per pack
Tackle included
Compact plastic body
One size fits all
Pros
- Three tips in one pack spreads a legal limit easily
- Tackle is included in the box
- Compact body is easy to carry
- Budget friendly way to fish several holes
Cons
- Mixed feedback on how steadily the flag trips in wind
- All-plastic build is less rigid than metal frames
- Lower overall satisfaction than insulated models
Most states cap you at two to four lines, and this pack hands you three tips with tackle in the box so you can spread legally on the first trip. For an angler who owns one good thermal tip up and wants two extra holes, that is a sensible way to fill a spread without buying three full sets.
The body is compact at 25 by 6 by 3 inches for the whole pack, so it disappears into a bucket or a sled. Setup is immediate because the tackle is already in the box, which matters when you are standing in the cold with a rod in one hand.
Where wind is your main problem
Trip consistency in wind is the mixed part. The mechanism is simple all-plastic, and some users report flags that do not trip as steadily when wind and wave action under the ice are working the line. On a calm sheltered lake that is a non-issue, and on an exposed windblown flat it is the first thing you will notice.
The plastic frame also flexes more than alloy steel, which is a real consideration if a big pike hits hard enough to move the whole tip up rather than just spin the spool.
Who this pack suits
This is the pick for beginners and for anyone running a beginner multi-line spread who wants three holes working without a big outlay. It also works well as a backup pair in a sled alongside a premium tip up.
Skip it if you are targeting structure in hard cold with a heavy deadbait. There is no insulation here, so the hole will ice up and you will spend your afternoon with a chisel.
3. Bullnose Original Blue Tip-Down Tip-Up for Light Bites
Bullnose Products Original Blue Ice Fishing Tip Down-Tip Up- Sensitive to The Slightest Fish Bites- Fits Most Spinning Reels and Some Smaller Straight-Line Reels.
Rod tip at hole level
Steel frame with rod clip
Collapses flat
Rod not included
Pros
- Very sensitive to subtle takes because the rod tip sits at the ice
- Steel frame feels heavy duty and stable
- Collapses flat between holes
- Keeps line off the ice in wind
Cons
- Fits most spinning reels but only smaller straight-line reels
- Fishing rod is not included
- Needs a long rod and practice to balance
This is a completely different idea from a spool tip up. You clamp your rod into the frame with the tip resting at hole level, and the balance of the rod becomes the trip mechanism. When something takes, the rod rocks and you feel it or see the dip.
Because the rod tip sits right at the ice, sensitivity is the best in this roundup. A slow pick-up of a dead shiner halfway through the water column registers clearly, which is exactly the take that a flag-only tip up can miss.
Keeping the line off the ice is a genuine benefit for pike. Ice road runners can leave rough hole edges that cut leaders, and a frame that suspends the line above the surface removes that risk entirely. The 9 by 4.5 by 8 inch frame collapses flat for carrying to the next hole.
Know what you have to bring
The rod is not included, and this fits most spinning reels plus only smaller straight-line reels. If your pike setup runs a baitcaster with a heavier line, step up to the Big RED version instead, which handles larger reels and heavier line.
Balancing takes practice the first time. Follow the weight of the rod and reel against the clip until the tip dips and the frame reacts at the lightest possible touch, and expect to adjust it once when you change rods.
Best moment to use it
This is the one to grab on a mild, sheltered day when you want to sit and feel the water rather than walk a spread. Anglers who prefer hooking fish on a rod generally find the transition easy.
It is the wrong tool for hard cold and long walks, because there is no insulated body and nothing to stop snow filling the hole.
4. Ifish Pro Tip-Up for Holding a Full Ice Rod
Ifish Pro Ice Fishing Tip-Up
Holds a 46 inch ice rod
14 inch bright flag
12 inch base
Three trigger settings
Pros
- Hands-free rod holding lets you fight fish on a real rod
- Three trigger settings to match bait strength
- Large flag is easy to spot at distance
- Folding rod holder locks compact for transport
Cons
- Rod-holding arm flexes relative to the build
- Some setups report the flag not tripping
- Heavier and bulkier than spool tip ups
The Ifish Pro is built around the idea that you should fight a pike on a rod, not on a hand-wrap. It holds a full 46 inch ice rod hands free, so the trip mechanism sets the hook and the rod is what plays the fish.
Three trigger settings, light, medium and heavy, let you match the trip to the bait. A frozen smelt on a quick strike rig and a heavy dead cisco do not pull with the same force, and being able to dial the sensitivity is what stops you from constantly resetting flags on a windy afternoon.
Flag visibility and the rod arm
The 14 inch flag on a 12 inch base is the tallest in this group, and that is not a small detail when you are checking a spread after dark or in falling snow. Many pike anglers rate the construction and visibility highly, especially for heavy-bait setups.
The recurring complaint is flex in the rod-holding arm. It is not a failure, but on a hard wind day you can see the arm move, and one detailed review reports the flag not tripping even when fish were moving on the line. Test the trigger on a rod and reel you actually plan to fish before you trust it on a spread.
Why it earns a premium pick
If your priority is feeling a pike head shake through a blank, this is the tip up that delivers it. The rod holder folds in place and locks so it does not swing in the sled.
It is bulkier than a simple spool tip up, and the learning curve is real, so budget an afternoon to dial it in before a multi-day trip.
5. Bullnose Big RED Tip-Down Tip-Up for Heavy Line and Big Pike
Bullnose Products Big RED Ice Fishing Tip Down-Tip Up- Sensitive to The Slightest Fish Bites- Used for Both Larger Reels and Heavier Line as Well as Smaller Reels and Lighter Line.
12 in open frame
Alloy steel build
Heavier line and larger reels
Rocking rod balance
Pros
- Taller frame clears deeper slush and larger pike setups
- Handles heavier line and bigger reels than the Original Blue
- Sensitive without reported wind false triggers
- Rigid alloy steel frame on windy open ice
Cons
- Fishing rod is not included
- Taller frame is bulkier to carry
- Reel and rod balance must be dialed in first
The Big RED is the taller, heavier sibling of the Original Blue, and it is the version built for big pike. The open frame measures 12 inches long, 4.5 inches wide and 10.5 inches high, and that extra height is what lets it clear deeper slush and a fatter spool.
It accepts larger reels and heavier line as well as smaller setups, which matters when you spool 50 pound fluorocarbon or braid directly onto a rod rather than a thin wire spool. For an angler who wants to feel a big fish instead of watching a flag, the sensitivity is the highest we tested.
Built for open, windy ice
Reviewers credit the rigid alloy steel and plastic construction for holding up on exposed ice, and sensitivity came without the wind false triggers some other frames produce. The rod clip fits a standard 3/4 inch handle and the frame collapses for transport.
Balance is the learning curve here. Set the rod and reel weight so the tip dips at a light take, and re-check it when you switch to a heavier bait, because a rig set for a smelt may not trip for a big deadbait.
Which one to choose
Choose the Big RED when you run heavy line, a larger reel, or target pike big enough to test a job. It carries a 4.6 average across 105 reviews, the highest-rated frame in the group.
Choose the Original Blue instead if you use a spinning outfit and want less bulk in the sled. Both skip the insulated body, so neither solves hole freezing.
6. Clam Arctic Warrior Tip-Up 8840 for a Metal Rod Holder
Clam Arctic Warrior Ice Fishing Tip-Up Rod Holder 8840
Metal rod holder
Automatic strike releases rod
One year warranty
Tool-free fold-out
Pros
- Metal construction resists wind better than plastic tip ups
- Fish directly on the rod
- Fold-out setup needs no tools
- Baitcasters with slight spool resistance trigger reliably
Cons
- Velcro rod straps can let the rod slip or rotate
- Needs rod and reel balance for reliable trips
- Occasional rust reports and confusing instructions
The Arctic Warrior is a rod holder with an automatic strike mechanism, and the metal construction is what separates it from the plastic frames. Metal is heavier, but on an exposed lake that weight is a benefit, not a nuisance.
Automatic strike activation releases the rod on a take, so you pick it up and set the hook yourself. Long-time owners report that once they started using one, they stopped carrying traditional tip ups at all, which tells you how completely the rod-fishing approach replaces the flag approach.
Straps and balance are the two things to test
The Velcro rod straps can let the rod slip or rotate on some setups, which is worth a careful check every time you set it down. Rod and reel balance has to be dialed in for the flag to trip reliably, and that adjustment is the price of the rod-fishing approach.
There are also a few reports of rust on metal parts and owners who found the instructions confusing. The build is rated for sub-zero conditions and carries a one year warranty.
Where it earns its place
Pick it if you fight pike on a rod, fish windy exposed ice, or want one device that does both jobs. Baitcaster reels with slight spool resistance reportedly trigger more reliably than others, so match your reel to the unit.
It is a heavier carry than a plastic spool tip up, and the same cordage warning applies. Wipe the metal down and dry it before you pack it away for the summer.
7. HT Enterprise Polar Tip-Up with a Pre-Spooled 200 Foot Spool
HT Enterprise Polar Tip-Up with 200 Yard Spool
Pre-spooled with 200 feet
Spool handle and ruler
Wind-free trip wire
Sub-zero trip shaft
Pros
- Spooled with 200 feet so you can fish immediately
- Spool handle and ruler simplify depth setting
- Wind-resistant trip wire gives clean flags
- Holds up in deep cold without freezing
Cons
- Short flag is hard to see in deep snow
- Wire line and older design feel dated
- No insulated body over the hole
The Polar arrives ready to fish. It comes pre-spooled with 200 feet of line, and the spool handle plus a depth ruler are in the box, so you can set a drop depth without guessing or counting by hand. That is a bigger convenience than it sounds when your hands are cold.
The wind-free trip wire is the feature that matters most for pike on an open lake. It reduces the false triggers that wave action under the ice causes, which otherwise leave you walking a spread resetting flags that no fish set.
Line capacity and cold performance
Two hundred feet of line is the working capacity here, and it is the reason this one suits structure rather than open flats. You can set a bait a foot off the bottom on a drop-off and still have room to run a pike before you are out of spool.
Reviewers confirm it keeps working in sub-zero temperatures without freezing up, thanks to a multiple-design trip shaft rated for the cold. The rating is a 4.6 across 48 reviews.
The trade-off you accept
The flag is short, and in deep snow it is genuinely hard to see, so budget a small light if you fish after dark. The wire line and older design also feel dated next to a modern rod-holder tip up.
For a beginner who wants zero setup and reliable trips in wind, this is still one of the easier wins available.
8. Adnee Freeze-Proof Tip-Up for Night Fishing and Snow
Ice Fishing Tip-Up, Freeze-Proof Ice Fishing Accessories Covers 10″ Hole
Covers a 10.5 inch hole
9.3 inch fluorescent flag
Stainless steel tube and shaft
Lid compartment
Pros
- Insulated body blocks snow and light in sub-zero weather
- Fluorescent finish and tall flag are easy to spot at night
- Collapses flat and stacks in a bucket
- Metal shaft and spring hold up in hard cold
Cons
- Newer listing with a smaller review base than the classic brands
- Fits a 10.5 inch hole so smaller holes are out
- No rod holder option
The Adnee is the newest insulated design here and the one we would pick for night sessions. The antifreeze nylon body with a 304 stainless steel tube and inner shaft keeps the mechanism moving in hard cold, and the engineering PP flag disc stands 9.3 inches when the spring releases.
That flag carries a fluorescent finish, and combined with the insulated body blocking blowing snow and light, it is the easiest hole on the spread to identify after dark. If you are running pike tips at 2 a.m. in a snowstorm, that combination is worth more than most spec sheet features.
Sizing and storage
The body covers a 10.5 inch hole, so if your usual auger is smaller you will need a different model. When it does fit, it blocks the snow that fills a bare hole and slows the refreezing that strands your line.
It collapses to roughly 10.5 by 1.2 inches and stacks several in a 5 or 6 gallon bucket. There is also a small lid compartment that holds the included whistle, which is the kind of detail that matters more than it sounds on a solo trip.
What the shorter history means
This is a recent release, so the review base of 38 is small next to the Frabill, and long-term owner feedback is limited. The 4.6 average and the highest share of five-star ratings in this group are encouraging but not yet proven over multiple seasons.
Pick it for night and snow visibility. Stick with the Frabill if you want a mechanism with a two-decade track record behind it.
9. Starpike All Seasons Foam Tip-Up for Ice and Open Water
Starpike Fishing Tip-Up All Seasons
Foam-insulated core
Floats on open water
450 feet of 36 lb line
Reflective flag
Pros
- Works on ice and floats on open water
- All-plastic build will not rust
- Compact enough for several in a bucket
- Keeps the hole thawed and the unit from bonding to ice
Cons
- Flag wheel is small and pops on light nibbles
- No hook storage inside the body
- Some units arrived with a cracked flag
- Box mentions hooks and line that were not always included
The Starpike is the only metal-free design in this roundup, and that changes where you can use it. The all-plastic body will not rust, and the foam-insulated polystyrene core floats on open water while resisting sinking on ice, so the same unit works for pike on a summer shallow flat and through the ice in January.
It also has the highest line capacity we saw, with a reel that holds up to 450 feet of 36 pound test line. On a deep basin hole where you are setting a bait 40 feet down and still want run room, that capacity is a real advantage.
Where the low rating comes from
The 4.2 average reflects three specific problems. The flag wheel is small and can pop up on light nibbles, there is no hook storage so the hook can be awkward to fish out of the opening, and some units arrived with a cracked flag at the release point. Boxes also mention hooks and line that were not always inside.
The reflective tape on the flag helps for night visibility, which is a genuine plus given the small flag size.
Who should buy it
Buy it if you fish the same gear in summer and winter, or if you fish water with iron-rich water and every metal frame you own is eventually going to rust. The 450 feet of capacity suits deep water more than any other pick here.
Skip it for structure fishing with a heavy deadbait, where you want a firm trip on a hard pull and the small flag wheel is not the place to be cheap.
10. Clam Blue Ice Tip-Up for First-Time Anglers
Clam Blue Ice Tip-Up Ice Fishing Tip-Up
14 inch flag shaft
Pre-spooled with 25 yards braid
Dual trip settings
Low-temperature lubricant
Pros
- Tall red flag is easy to see from a distance
- Dual trip settings tune sensitivity to the bait
- Pre-spooled so it is ready at the hole
- Simple and reliable to set up
Cons
- 25 yards is light for chasing fish or deep water
- Red flag arrived instead of the yellow shown
- Build quality feels basic
The Blue Ice is a straightforward pre-spooled tip up, and the 14 inch flag shaft with a high-visibility red flag is the best sight line in this group. If you are learning tip ups and want something simple that pops visibly, it does that job without fuss.
It arrives pre-spooled with 25 yards of 15 pound nylon braid, dual trip settings let you tune sensitivity to the bait, and low-temperature lubricant keeps the mechanism smooth. Setup is quick, which matters when you are standing on a windy lake in the cold.
Where the short spool becomes a problem
Twenty-five yards is the limiting spec. It is enough for a shallow weed edge or a nearby flat, but it runs out fast if a hooked pike runs across the lake or you are fishing deep basin structure. That is a bad match for a fish that runs hard the moment it is hooked.
Build quality also feels basic for what you pay, and a few buyers received a red flag when the listing showed yellow, so do not plan around the listing photo.
Best use for a beginner
It works well as a learning tool or a spare in a sled alongside a better insulated tip up. Simple mechanics mean fewer things to go wrong while you focus on reading structure and setting depth.
Move up to a unit with more spool and an insulated body before the weather turns cold.
Buying Guide: What Matters in a Pike Tip-Up
Trip tension is the first thing to set and the last thing most anglers tune. A light setting catches a slow pickup; a heavy setting stops a pike running with a bait from dragging the flag across the lake. Match the setting to the bait and to the weather, and expect to change it more than once a day.
Line capacity is the spec that decides whether a tip up works on your lake. Anything in the 25 yard range is a shallow-water or learning tool. For pike you want at least 200 feet, and more if you are working a deep basin hole, because a hooked pike decides how far you get to follow.
Insulation matters whenever the temperature drops. An insulated body keeps the hole open, blocks snow from filling it, and cuts the light that penetrates the water. Anglers who refuse to pay for a thermal tip up can push slush into the hole and add a carpet square or a foam plug, which is the same idea at almost no cost.
Flag height is a visibility decision, not a performance one. A short flag under 10 inches is hard to find in deep snow or darkness, so clip a small light to it if you fish nights.
Frame material is about durability. Plastic is light and rust-free but flexes; alloy steel is rigid and heavier but needs drying before storage. A rod holder gives you sensitivity and lets you feel the fish, at the cost of a balance adjustment and a bulkier carry.
Finally, maintenance. Take the unit apart at the end of the season, clean the shafts, and re-grease with a low-temperature lubricant. The test anglers on the Ice Fishing Forum use is simple: put the tip up tubes in the freezer overnight and see which grease stays fluid. If it stiffens, the flag will stop popping on a cold morning, and you will be chiseling holes instead of setting rigs.
Line Limits and Cold Weather Safety
Most states cap how many lines you can fish through the ice, and the rules vary widely. Minnesota allows two, Wisconsin and Michigan commonly allow three, and the Dakotas permit up to four. Border waters and some specific lakes carry their own limits, so check your state DNR before you drill.
Because limits change, treat a tip up pack as a way to run a legal spread efficiently rather than as permission to run every tip up you own. One Minnesota angler faced a real limit of two lines and used a three-pack for a second setup, which is exactly the kind of plan that keeps you legal.
Carry ice picks, a spud, a whistle, and a second layer of clothing, and never fish alone on unfamiliar ice. If you are new to drilling big holes, our [ice fishing rod picks](https://www.kimlifecoach.com/best-ice-fishing-rods/) cover the rods that pair with these tip ups when you want to fish by hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best tip-ups for ice fishing?
The best tip-ups for ice fishing fall into two groups. Insulated spool tip ups such as the Frabill Pro Thermal keep the hole from freezing and block snow and light, which matters in hard cold. Rod-holder tip ups such as the Ifish Pro and the Clam Arctic Warrior hold an ice rod at hole level and let you fight the fish on the rod. For pike, the insulated spool design is the more reliable all-around choice.
What is the best bait for ice fishing for pike?
Cisco and smelt are the most reliable baits for pike on tip ups, especially for overnight and multi-day trips because they hold up without freezing. Frozen store-bought smelt also works surprisingly well. Set the bait about a foot off the bottom near structure, and use a fluorocarbon leader with number 4 hooks so pike teeth cannot cut your line.
How deep should you set a tip up?
For pike, set the bait roughly a foot off the bottom so it stays clear of rocks but remains close to the structure where fish are holding. Use a depth finder weight above the swivel, clip the line, and lower until you feel bottom. A slip bobber or float above the weight helps you hold the bait off the bottom and gives you a second indication of a take.
Are tip ups better than jigging for pike?
Neither is better in every situation. Tip ups let you cover several pieces of structure at once and work through cold stretches of a trip, while jigging gives you constant feedback and lets you move a bait quickly over a ledge. Many anglers do both, jigging a spot and leaving two or three tip ups set nearby on the same weed edge.
What line should I use on a tip up for pike?
Use a dacron main line spooled onto the tip up because it stretches slightly before the trip fires, then tie a heavy fluorocarbon leader between the main line and the bait. Pike teeth cut through mono and braid quickly, so a 40 to 50 pound fluorocarbon leader is the piece of the rig you should not compromise on.
The Bottom Line
After a full winter of setting pike rigs on structure, the Frabill Pro Thermal is the best ice fishing tip up for pike for most people. The insulated body holds the hole open, the greasable shaft design keeps working season after season, and dual trip settings handle everything from a slow pick-up to a smelt being torn out of the water at speed.
Buy the Ifish Pro if you want to fight fish on a rod, the Bullnose Big RED if you run heavy line or large reels, and the Adnee if you fish at night in snow. Whatever you choose, pair it with a heavy fluorocarbon leader, set your baits a foot off the bottom on a weed edge or drop-off, and check your state line limits before you drill.