A rod tip of a spring-biased fishing rod pivoted from a pivot support bracket on the base of an ice-fishing tip-up is biased away from a through-hole in the base. Fishing line from the spool of a controllable-drag reel assembly, routed through an associated line guide, an eye portion of a trigger link, the rod tip, and the through-hole, is attached to a hook. The trigger link engages an intermediate portion of the fishing rod and retains the fishing rod in a cocked condition against the spring bias. A flexible cover provides for covering the associated ice hole and securing the tip-up in a folded condition with the associated spring disengaged. Tension in the fishing line when catching a fish causes the trigger link to release the fishing rod, which is rotationally accelerated sufficiently fast to prevent the fish from swallowing the hook.
