Going to give I've fishing a shot this year, my dad has some old tip ups but we need line for them. Is there a difference between ice line and regular mono? If so does anyone have any recommendations?

Pickup a spool or two of something like this for your base line.  Much easier to see and manage when it's laying on the ice and snow when you're pulling up those toothy critters. 

 

http://www.basspro.com/Woodstock-Nylon-TipUp-Ice-Line/product/10230379/

 

Then splice in a leader of 15-20lb fluorocarbon with your hook of choice.

Pickup a spool or two of something like this for your base line. Much easier to see and manage when it's laying on the ice and snow when you're pulling up those toothy critters.

http://www.basspro.com/Woodstock-Nylon-TipUp-Ice-Line/product/10230379/

Then splice in a leader of 15-20lb fluorocarbon with your hook of choice.

I have a spool of regular floro laying around, could I use that. And by splice do you mean use a leader knot?

I have a spool of regular floro laying around, could I use that. And by splice do you mean use a leader knot?

 

Any good quality fluorocarbon will work. 

 

As far as splicing the lines together, it's your choice of how you do it.  Most of the time, I use a swivel to connect them.  When I'm fishing deeper water, I'll put a small egg sinker on the main cord line to get and keep the bait down.  In shallow water I go without the sinker.  Either way, I find it is easier to replace the leader by tying it to the swivel when my fingers are half frozen!

 

BTW, remember to check the direction you're going when starting to spool the main line onto the tipup.  Wrap a dozen or so times on the spool, and then watch the flag tripping arm as you slowly pull line off the spool.  I can't tell you how many times I've seen guys who wrap the entire spool on backwards and only realize this when the flag won't fly.  And, I think I've been guilty once myself.

Thanks for all the information