need help with purchasing rod and reel

[walleyeguy019]

Hey everybody, hoping your all reeling some big ones in. I used to go ice fishing quite a bit a few years ago but now have been out of the game for a while now due to school and hoping to get back into it this year. So i need help with finding a good rod and reel. Money is not much of an object hear but i don't want to over do it-thinking of getting both for under 150 bucks. I will do some research on the internet but don't really know a whole lot about what the description is talking about i.e. fluidrive gear boosts and propulsion spools. Any information on rods and reels from you guys will be very helpful. Thanks to everyone and have a good season out on the lake this year.

[GrizzlyAdams]

I just picked up 4 st croix rods (legends i believe, the $50 ones in the tubes) and really like them so far. Still have to get them on the lake and use them yet though. They are well balanced and comfortable to hold so far.

For reels, i just picked up 4 of the sienna 500's and they are some of the smoothest reels you can find for ice fishing. The price point of $30 is an excellent price also. Heard of a lot of people selling their Ticas and replacing them with the sienna's. No need to spend an arm and a leg on a reel when a cheaper one will be just as good or better.

Good luck and hope this helps

[bobber_down_1979]

There is really no need to go to crazy. I would suggest the Frabill "bro" series. These rods are full featured, well built, and priced to sell. You should be able to find them for 30-40 per set-up. I don't want to assume that you need it, but for new fisherman, they actually have a picture of the fish type the rod was meant to catch right on the label. I honestly can't see you being dissapointed with this series.

[ozzie]

for me i go with a st croix ml legend and slap on a tica cetus ss or sb500 lined with 4 or 6 lb p-line flouro ice and you are golden!!

[Chris Barlage]

Get an Austin Custom Rod paired with a pflueger president 6720. Cant beat them.

[Koepper08]

I've had good luck with the Frabill series as well, fished with 'em for 3-4 yrs without a hitch. Awesome drag, never freezes up, and love the rods...I recently bought a Jason Mitchell Walleye Rod and teamed it up with a Frabill Reel...They are beasts...

[pulleye16]

Get an Austin Custom Rod paired with a pflueger president 6720. Cant beat them.

AGREED..same combo here, G Austin rod also comes with the St. Croix spring bobber adapter. Rods run about $50 and the reels the same. I'd also go with a st.croix rod.

[OnAFly]

I'd go with a TB Power Noodle with the Recoil guides and a Pflueger Pres.

[LipRipper!!]

I have the St.Croix lengend and a shimanno sienna 500 reel and love the combo (JMO). I went with the meadium heavy rod and bought a lighter spring for pannies... I have not tried a thorne bros. rod but have heard all good things about them...

[croixflats]

In the past I used the Fleet farm combo specials, not all that bad for $15. Last up graded to the cheaper St.Croix premier rod nice rod for jigging raps and spoons a bit stiff for pannies.

Yesterday I picked up the St.Croix Legend Medium. seems like a nice rod but its going to getting used to being 24 inch and thin. Tried to get JM meatstick but gander just not so good at stocking items.Ended up getting the 24 inch JM spring bobber rod. $50 , for the St.Croix ,is the most I will spend on a rod and that took some him-hawing to do so.

Oddly, I put the 24inch St.Croix next to the 24inch JM spring bobber the St.Croix is shorter. JM spring bobber may come off it its rod seems pretty stiff.

Reals aside from the combos is a teca cetus GV500 love it, dont know why anyone would trade them for something else.

Did find one that seems to be a great value at Fleet farm. HT accucast 6 bearing for $18 compared to the sienna 500, dont get me wrong the sienna is a nice reel, I didnt see the difference besides price. Well the reel neck was longer to accommodate wearing gloves and the bail and spool was angled down a bit features I rather like.

Also bought a gander bait caster one of those small ones hopefully this will prevent line twist.

[FATTY56]

Thorne Bros "Walley sweetheart" awsome rod!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sportland_Bait]

The best combo for your buck right now is the St Croix Premier combo. It runs about $40. Price does not change much in the ice rod line unless you go high end quality such as Throne Bros. rods. Here at the store we get to handle most models from different companies and it is hard to beat the value of the St Croix Premier.

Jason Erlandson

[icekid10]

I'd go with a TB Power Noodle with the Recoil guides and a Pflueger Pres.

For panfish I would agree with this, Or even a quiverstick from thorne, If your looking for a walleye rod go with a perch sweetheart. Other wise other panfish go with a panfish sweetheatrt and get the spring bobber thorne make. I love thorne rods they are a great product and they are hand crafted right in the shop. Put a sienna 500 and your good to go.

[10,000 Casts]

for walleyes, I really like my 24" St. Croix premier M with a Tica Cetus. the rod will handle anywhere from a 1/32 oz to 1/2 oz +, and I love fighting walleyes on it because a 15" feels like a 23"er. The Tica is a nice reel but the only down side it when maintaining it, I have NO idea what is going on in the gears so it is tough to lube up and put back together. If I had to buy another set up, it would cost me maybe $60.

Spend your extra $$$ on flashers/GPS and gear..

[croixflats]

Ive never taken my Cetis apart always thought they were greasless

[slurpie]

Depends on what your fishing for. Walleye rod is a Jason M Perch rod, really nice tip gives a little but enough backbone to set the hook. I only pimp/jig with this rod always first rod out when on lake. Paired with a Mitchell Avocett II 500 reel 25- 30 bones apiece. Also Glacier ridge cheaper reel but really good sold at Fleet farm for 20 bucks. Panfish rod is a St Croix legend Rod Paired with a fly reel, I use Cabelas but any would work. Good luck thers alot to choose from.

[slipperybob]

St. Croix Premiere combo or look at some store brand top of line combo. Gander Mountain or Cabelas.

[10,000 Casts]

Quote:

Ive never taken my Cetis apart always thought they were greasless

they must be but I don't know how any reel with moving parts could be greaseless tho. But it is pretty cool how they work, totaly different than any other reel..

[walleyeguy019]

Thanks for the info everybody and your right slurpie there is a lot to choose from, so with that being said i think i might just buy a few brands of rods and reels because lets face it everybody needs more than just one rod and reel. I will just have to try them out and see which one best suits my needs. Thanks again for all the info though, and have a good and safe season out there boys.

[croixflats]

Now you got my curiosity up. I always get in deep water when that happens.

[croixflats]

Quote:

Thanks for the info everybody and your right slurpie there is a lot to choose from, so with that being said i think i might just buy a few brands of rods and reels because lets face it everybody needs more than just one rod and reel. I will just have to try them out and see which one best suits my needs. Thanks again for all the info though, and have a good and safe season out there boys.

Good game plan.

Welcome to HSO/FM

[MNfan]

TB Walleye Sweetheart or JM either with Tica Cetus reels dont get much beter they are worth the little extra money.

[fishwater]

So i need help with finding a good rod and reel. Money is not much of an object hear but i don't want to over do it-thinking of getting both for under 150 bucks.

[icekid10]

As fishwater said they hold there value and they are the best rods I have fished with. If you call the guys there they will be more then happy to help you out. I currently am slowly making the switch over to Thorne rods. I have a powernoodle and a perch sweetheart and love them. They are really the only rods I use right out. Paired with a Tica or a Sienna 500 I think you will too.

[croixflats]

The best combo for your buck right now is the St Croix Premier combo. It runs about $40. Price does not change much in the ice rod line unless you go high end quality such as Throne Bros. rods. Here at the store we get to handle most models from different companies and it is hard to beat the value of the St Croix Premier.

Jason Erlandson

Sweet! Did some research Awesome value with performance!! and a go to! Add the spring bobber and you are set. Thanks Jason. I did my own set up and I will be ordering from you to support you and to prevent the headache to search and assemble..