Frabill Straight Line

[cps420us]

I can't really afford the Quiverstick combo, so I was thinking about trying one of these out this year. What do you guys use for backing and how much? Do you just tie your regular line with a uni knot to your backing? Also, how sensitive are the quick tips from frabill? Would I need to use a small split shot with a jig to have a little load on the tip?

[polarsusd81]

Just my opinion after handling them, skip it and go big. Get either the Quiverstick / fly reel combo, or get yourself a Power Noodle / fly reel combo. You will be much happier in the long run. If you want to try one, meet up with me on the ice this year and I will let you give it a whirl.

Frabill missed the hole on the "ice" fly reel they put out. The drag doesn't loosen up completely to essentailly freespool it. The counterbalance doesn't equal the weight of the handle so it is not balanced. They did do a nice job on the handle, rubberized and oversized to make it easy to grab with a glove. But the drag and small size along with not being counterbalanced properly are going to keep my 45 bucks in my pocket instead of a retailer's hand for the reel. I had considered picking up a couple to try out on the ice, but after handling them and inspecting them closer, its a definite no from me.

The rods are okay, but too spongy for my taste. They are nowhere near as crisp and responsive as a Power Noodle or Quiverstick. The old story of getting what you pay for.

[dairyman]

Good to know---------thanks

[dfeste]

Early last season I fished with a Frabil Quicktip. I liked that rod until, and this is a big until, I got my Power Noodle. The Power Noodle is not TBs most sensative rod but it is way more sensative than the Frabil rod. To be fair you have to compare apples to apples and putting that $30 Frabil rod up against a TB rod costing $70+ is not fair. I personally have not used one but I have read good things about the Jason Mitchel rods that are priced closer to the Frabil rods. Maybee someone else can chime in about them. Bottom line you have to set you own price point and do your research on rods that fall into it. Frabil rods are nothing like TB rods.

Dave