I just put a tip on copying St. Croix's tip. I posted a picture in the photo section. I think it will work well. I got the grommet to insert the spring from a local hardware store, and used a size 3 single foot fly guide. The grommet fits that perfectly. The tip is a fuji sz 10 single foot spinning. I wrapped the tip guide first, cleared it with five minute, and then wrapped the fly guide/grommet in place.. the finished product has a little overbuild of epoxy, but thats just because i used the five minute epoxy and let the underwrap's coat build up a bit too much. I think it'll work! I'll do another one soon, when i get a little time, with the grommet canted off 90 degrees to the tip eye. Because of the size of the grommet, and thinness of the fly guide, it won't stand perpendicular to the blank. (If I had bent the guide a little before wrapping it this would have been solved)So, the spring points down, instead of being horizontal. By canting it to one side or the other, the spring will be right back in line with the tip top. Also, looking down the rod, the grommet really draws my eye, making it a hair tough to focus on the bobber. With it to one side, it should be easier to watch the bobber. Hope this helps any of you guys out there scratching your head trying to use this beautiful little spring bobber.

Steve,
I think you've got it. That looks great. May I ask where you got the spring?

Steve, that is a slick little spring bobber. i will have to get my hands on some of those. I am always building ice rods, have way too many. Looks like you could flip the line off the spring if you hooked into a bigger fish, would cut down on all the rods i haul out on the ice. What is your take on the graphite tenn. type handles st. croix is using on their high end ice rods, just built two and have not had a chance to try them out yet. Keep warm. John

I am still monkeying with the design on this tip a little. If you use high standing single foot fly guides, it will straighten out the spring, putting it back parallel to the blank. These guides have a long foot, which I would file way back, as this is not a real load bearing guide.

Chris, the springs are available through St. Croix, or any sponsor's who deal with St. Croix. John, the spring doesn't allow for line release: you will still have the line passing through the bobber. However, with this design, you should have less interference from the bobber than with the traditional flat spring bobber. I haven't fished it yet, to see what issues I might run into with it that are yet unseen: I'll post when I find out! It will probably be after Christmas: I have some higher priority projects I have to plow through first.