Ice Fishin Poles & Reels

[Yoby]

Up till this point, I have been just using combos that feel nice in the store. Have had pretty decent luck with one or 2 being back.

I am looking at getting some stuff I really like, but haven't paid much attention as I do with open water poles. Any suggestions on poles and reels?

I primarily fish for jumbos and walleye. So every once in a while I tangle into a northern or 2.

 

[FishReaper]

AUGGIE STICK!
Custom built rod by one of our members.

Reels depends on what depth you fish, Inline reels are really nice in fairly shallow water.

 

[Duckslayer100]

I have various reels, but the Pflueger President ones are my favorite. I believe the model size is 6920X...the smallest they make. Good drag. And at $50, a decent middle-of-the-road reel that works for ice fishing.

As for rods, I'm partial to Thorne Bros. I know Dirty Mike and others are all about Tuned Up Custom Rods. Really, it's what you're willing to pay and what you're looking for.

But if there's a dude on here churning out nice customs, I'd be all about giving him some business if I were in the market for another walter slayer!

 

[wildeyes]

I switched to inline reels on my 3 jigging poles and I like the non-twist of the line no slow spinning of lure at rest. My dead sticks i still use the spinning reels. Rods i like the 28" in a med action with backbone hate the wimpy ones.

 

[luvcatchingbass]

Depends on how much you want to spend I guess. I fish for a little bit of everything (bluegill, crappie, perch, walleye) and have quite a few different rods but find myself reaching for the same couple more and more lately. have had good luck with Scheels rods and the tournament Dead Sticks specifically are getting used more consistently, med power with a nice light action colored tip. Reels I have been liking the Pflueger Trion with I believe 4lb Flouro or Flouro Coated line.
One idea I have been kicking around is getting a spare spool for a couple reels and have one with 2-3lb for finesse bites and little panfish jigs and one with 4-6lb for more aggressive bites and bigger lures.

 

[Duckslayer100]

Depends on how much you want to spend I guess. I fish for a little bit of everything (bluegill, crappie, perch, walleye) and have quite a few different rods but find myself reaching for the same couple more and more lately. have had good luck with Scheels rods and the tournament Dead Sticks specifically are getting used more consistently, med power with a nice light action colored tip. Reels I have been liking the Pflueger Trion with I believe 4lb Flouro or Flouro Coated line.
One idea I have been kicking around is getting a spare spool for a couple reels and have one with 2-3lb for finesse bites and little panfish jigs and one with 4-6lb for more aggressive bites and bigger lures.

I tried that once. Got lazy. I got everything spooled up just so and then never used the spare spools. Just easier to have a panfish rod, walleye rod, etc., then get a versatile setup with the thought of swapping spools.

For what it's worth, the "perch" rod I use is an equal opportunity popper that is sensitive enough to feel soft-sucking perch but has plenty of backbone for walleyes. If I'm strictly after panfish, I switch to a noodle rod or spring bobber rod.

 

[luvcatchingbass]

reason I haven't done it is probably because I have so many rods already and I figured the LAZY part would set in on me as well. I always wondered if it was a good in theory thing. Thanks

 

[DirtyMike]

youre top three choices in no particular order

1. Thorne Bros
2. Tuned up customs
3. Auggie stix which can be made with a thorne bros blank.

 

[revolutionz]

Tica reels for ice fishing. That is all.

 

[DirtyMike]

Tica reels for ice fishing. That is all.

they're good but I don't think they're the end all for an ice reel.

 

[huffranger]

Wade at Dakota tackle hooked me up with the Pflueger Trion. Not sure of the model number but they are the small ones.

I have ran em hard and they are great little reels, I have at least 5 of them.

 

[tman]

Thorne bros best rods on market

 

[krhuntin]

really like my scheels tournament rod, kind of nice to exchange it when it breaks. Although it never breaks because of a fish, just me in a hurry. :;:deadhorse

 

[SerchforPerch]

Did a quick search and brought an old thread back to the surface..

Whats everyone using for custom rods these days? Ive fished with the Thornes, own TUCR's and DH Customs had no time to talk to a brother so thinking about buying a JT custom - the snare has caught my eye for another deadstick rod and curious if anyone has tried one or thoughts on customer service?

Are the Auggie stix still being made..

 

[NDSportsman]

My biggest pet peeve about ice rods is they put too small of guides on them and they freeze up too easy when fishing outside or scouting. Huge PITA! That's why I always look for rods with bigger guides. Other then that I'm not fussy as most of them are bobber rods anyway. Could be worse I guess we could still be using a stick with string wrapped around 2 nails!

 

[deleted_account]

youre top three choices in no particular order

1. Thorne Bros
2. Tuned up customs
3. Auggie stix which can be made with a thorne bros blank.

add JT custom rods. They are legit

 

[SerchforPerch]

add JT custom rods. They are legit

Which JT rod do you like and have you tested out their snare rod yet?

 

[deleted_account]

ive only been able to play with a few of them. Ive seen the panfish snare in action and its pretty cool. Id imagine the walleye snare would be as well. I will be picking up a 34" blackout tonight actually. That will be my go to jiggin rap/rippin rap rod. Eventually going to get the golddigger as well for more of an all around walleye rod.

- - - Updated - - -

they are slightly cheaper than tucr but have the same components and the actions are choice

 

[SerchforPerch]

Cool, yeah the snare looks pretty cool for deadstickin- I can see how eliminating the need for bobbers and stops when you want to get back down the hole quicker during a flurry of action....

Did you use the snare on perch??

 

[deleted_account]

Cool, yeah the snare looks pretty cool for deadstickin- I can see how eliminating the need for bobbers and stops when you want to get back down the hole quicker during a flurry of action....

Did you use the snare on perch??

crappies and walleyes