The fishing tip-up has an upright support and a swinging arm pivotally mounted to the top of the support. A forward segment of the arm pivots downward and toward the support when the rear segment pivots upward The swinging arm is adapted to support a fishing line which extends downward into a fishing hole from the forward segment and to which a bait is attached for attracting a fish. When a fish strikes, the forward segment pivots downward when a force greater than a predetermined value is applied to the fishing line. The predetermined value is adjustable. A magnet is provided in the rear segment of the swinging arm and keeps a reed switch in the support open until a fish strikes. At that time, the rear segment swings up and away from the support with resulting separation of the magnet from the reed switch and concurrent closing of the switch. When the reed switch is closed, a light illuminates.
