what is a DEADSTICK in ice fishing?

[robert aldrich]

i have a ENTICER 28" DEADSTICK COMBO

ROD FEATURES:

•Extra durable fiberglass blanks

•Fast tapered Micro-Flex ctions for finesse jigging and easy strike detection

•Sensitive blank through handle construction

•Comfortable cork handle (6708 and 6709 have EVA grips with fixed reel seats)

•Lightweight graphite slip ring reel seats

REEL FEATURES:

•2 ball-bearing reel

•Multi-disc, front load drag

•Chrome plates ABS spool

•Sub-ZeroTM lube fr smooth operation in coldest temperatures

•Tapered drag knob for reducing lie catch

•Ambidextrous handle

and my friend said that it won't be good for big fish is he right. PLUS i have a clam true blue medium action ice fishing pole

[leech~~]

i have a ENTICER 28" DEADSTICK COMBO

ROD FEATURES:

•Extra durable fiberglass blanks

•Fast tapered Micro-Flex ctions for finesse jigging and easy strike detection

•Sensitive blank through handle construction

•Comfortable cork handle (6708 and 6709 have EVA grips with fixed reel seats)

•Lightweight graphite slip ring reel seats

REEL FEATURES:

•2 ball-bearing reel

•Multi-disc, front load drag

•Chrome plates ABS spool

•Sub-ZeroTM lube fr smooth operation in coldest temperatures

•Tapered drag knob for reducing lie catch

•Ambidextrous handle

and my friend said that it won't be good for big fish is he right. PLUS i have a clam true blue medium action ice fishing pole

If you drill two holes and actively jig one of them with rod in hand and the other rod just sits there with a bobber in the other hole. That is the dead stick! Tell your buddy any rod will catch a big fish, with the right fisherman behind it!

[Zoob]

Tell your buddy any rod will catch a big fish, with the right fisherman behind it!

Exactly. Just go read up on the thread a few down where the guy landed the elusive Winter Carp on a cheapo combo.

[thehawk]

[quote name='leech

If you drill two holes and actively jig one of them with rod in hand and the other rod just sits there with a bobber in the other hole. That is the dead stick! Tell your buddy any rod will catch a big fish' date=' with the right fisherman behind it! [/quote']

I second that!!

[engfish]

A DEADSTICK is what seems to be in my hand every time I ice fish this winter!!

[leech~~]

A DEADSTICK is what seems to be in my hand every time I ice fish this winter!!

Oh, there is so many ways to go with this! But I'll drop it.

Robert A,

Er, uh, welcome to HSO

Leech~~

[thedeadsea]

I always thought a deadstick was a rod with no bobber, just suspending the bait and watching the rod tip. I guess either way the bait is sitting there suspended "dead" aka not being actively jigged.

[croixflats]

Originally Posted By: engfish

A DEADSTICK is what seems to be in my hand every time I ice fish this winter!!

Oh, there is so many ways to go with this! But I'll drop it.

Robert A,

Er, uh, welcome to HSO

Leech~~

Not to change the subject but man it would be great to compile all these hilarious one liners and set ups in one thread at the end of the season.

Saw some good ones tonight.

[engfish]

That's what happens when you get us old farts posting... Too funny!

[DeeJ]

A dead stick lets the bait sit "Dead" at one depth as opposed to being jigged up and down the water coumn.

When you're allowed to fish 2 lines, many guys will jig with one rod to make noise or create flash and let their "Deadstick" sit nearby to give the fish a choice between the more active bait that is being jigged and the one that is a little bit easier to catch (The Deadstick). Basically it's the same as bobber fishing in the summer without the drift.

As far as your rod goes, they make rods specific to this technique. It sounds like the rod you have is meant for deadsticking.

I owned a 30" DS (Deadstick) made by Frabill for 2 years before a friend showed me how to properly use it.

For fishing Walleyes, Sauger, etc. (Anything but Panfish), my advice is to let the fish take the bait until your deadstick is bent at a 40+ degree angle. Don't set the hook until the last possible second (You'll lose a few smaller ones this way but you won't be pulling the bait out of their mouth prematurely, either).

Some guys do deadstick for panfish, though I don't. I find it easiest to have a rod holder or deadstick holder as opposed to trying to balance the rod on my lap or some other nearby surface.

Good luck - It's a great, easy way to fish when used properly!

..And guys - Where are the funny 1-liners?

[leech~~]

A dead stick lets the bait sit "Dead" at one depth as opposed to being jigged up and down the water coumn.

When you're allowed to fish 2 lines, many guys will jig with one rod to make noise or create flash and let their "Deadstick" sit nearby to give the fish a choice between the more active bait that is being jigged and the one that is a little bit easier to catch (The Deadstick). Basically it's the same as bobber fishing in the summer without the drift.

As far as your rod goes, they make rods specific to this technique. It sounds like the rod you have is meant for deadsticking.

I owned a 30" DS (Deadstick) made by Frabill for 2 years before a friend showed me how to properly use it.

For fishing Walleyes, Sauger, etc. (Anything but Panfish), my advice is to let the fish take the bait until your deadstick is bent at a 40+ degree angle. Don't set the hook until the last possible second (You'll lose a few smaller ones this way but you won't be pulling the bait out of their mouth prematurely, either).

Some guys do deadstick for panfish, though I don't. I find it easiest to have a rod holder or deadstick holder as opposed to trying to balance the rod on my lap or some other nearby surface.

Good luck - It's a great, easy way to fish when used properly!

..And guys - Where are the funny 1-liners?

Two guys sign on to a forum, one guy says 10 words, the other writes a whole page, but they both say the samething!! How's that one deej? Loosen up man!

[michael morris]

I thought a deadstick was an old, dried up tree branch

[DeeJ]

Leech~~: I enjoyed that one. Thanks!

And always loose, just have high standards!

[leech~~]

I thought a deadstick was an old, dried up tree branch

B,B, Welcome to HSO!

Hey your not related to that guy in Washington with the same last name are you? If so, any good market tips?

[Supercrew]

Dead stick or did you say Schtick, cus thats what you get on this forum is Schtick, as in "Will engfish make the highlight reel"? Now thats funny right there "I don't care who you are"

[michael morris]

Originally Posted By: B.Bernanke

I thought a deadstick was an old, dried up tree branch

B,B, Welcome to HSO!

Hey your not related to that guy in Washington with the same last name are you? If so, any good market tips?

I've been advised not to give out the family recipe.

[Jim Uran]

I always thought a deadstick was a rod with no bobber, just suspending the bait and watching the rod tip. I guess either way the bait is sitting there suspended "dead" aka not being actively jigged.

I agree, If a rod is labeled as a deadstick most likely it is a rod with a soft tip/slow taper for easy bite detection with no float. lay the rod on top of a pail or in a rod holder and suspend the bait where you want it. I usually spend about half my fishing time between this technique and a float when deploying my second line.

[Swimbait2009]

Ok here's a related question...when would a bobber be a better choice than a deadstick? I prefer using the deadstick since there is no extra rigging that needs to occur. With the right DS rod, wouldn't it provide the same presentation?

[thedeadsea]

Ok here's a related question...when would a bobber be a better choice than a deadstick? I prefer using the deadstick since there is no extra rigging that needs to occur. With the right DS rod, wouldn't it provide the same presentation?

When you are more agressively working your primary rod or have kids in the house with you (or other distractions) and can't pay full attention to a small rod tip. Set the brightly colored bobber and wait for it to disappear, or put the kids in charge of watching it....

[Jim Uran]

I'm not completely sure on what the advantages are, but I know it's easier to drop down to fish with a deadstick because you don't have to adjust your float.

[wahoo]

This thread might be a match for the thread "Lubing my tip up".

[leech~~]

This thread might be a match for the thread "Lubing my tip up".

Huuum, i havn't even looked at that one yet, but I did notice it seemed to be going on a little longer then just adding a little WD-40 would take?

[fishwater]

I'm not completely sure on what the advantages are, but I know it's easier to drop down to fish with a deadstick because you don't have to adjust your float.

The biggest advantage I see to using a deadstick vs. a bobber is that you have a better indicator as to when exactly the fish has your bait (or at least part of it) in its mouth. Pretty much as long as you see your rod tip dropping, you are in a good position to set the hook right then. With a bobber when you go to set the hook, your bobber can be already on it's way back up, or stuck under the ice or whatever it is bobbers do down there...

[Swimbait2009]

I've preferred to use the deadstick setup so far, but haven't really played around with bobbers yet. Good to know I'm not missing out on anything obvious.

[Northlander]

What I call a "Deadstick" is a very soft tipped rod that I use without a bobber and set it to the desired depth, set in a holder and watch the tip for a fish to bend it down. I have a few different ones. My fav is a Thorne Bro 32" deadstick with a orange tip section. I like the length and backbone of this deadstick. I have caught walleyes up to 29" on it so far. Another rod I use for deadsticking is the Jason Mitchel Meatstick and that also works well but is a faster tip than the TB.

If I put a bobber on that line than I call it a bobber rod.

There are times the fish bite light and will only move the line to the side of the hole and not take the rod tip down. These are times I like the smallest bobber I can use and I watch it in the hole. If it goes to the side of the hole faster than the minnow should be takin it I pick up the rod and check for weight.