Abstract: An ice fishing support assembly for a fishing rod which carries a fishing line. The support assembly includes a pivotally mounted fishing rod holder having a spring connected thereto to bias the holder to an angular position relative to the horizontal, and a latching rod connected to the holder for retaining the fishing rod in a cocked position. The latching rod is pivotally mounted to a base member intermediate the ends of the latching rod wherein one of the ends of the latching rod projects over the fishing rod and where the other end of the latching rod includes an open ended eyelet for engaging a stretch of the fishing line so that tension on the line produces rotation of the latching rod.