Am I the only ice fisherman left who...

[cavalierowner]

...uses a wood jig rod for panfish? I'm talking about the wood dowel-like handle that has 2 wood pegs for holding the line and with a short fiberglass rod with a single eye at the end. I get a fish on and hand-over-hand it, piling the line beside me on the floor. I just plan on 2 or 3 snarls every year. Maybe it's just my age (62) and what I grew up with. In fact, my mid-eighties parents in Alexandria still use the old fashioned jig stick too, so I guess I'm not the only one.

[wahoo]

sorry, but admit I use a rod and reel 80% of the time. However, still do use the type you describe now and again--all homemade and sort interesting to look at as I am NOT Mr. Carpenter--but my homemade ones work--or the line does.. But, fun to use, and fun to watch others as you dig out the occasional "knot". Also fun to catch a good size pike and play it, literally by hand using feel as a drag.

[slipperybob]

No idea what happend to my pegged dowel rod...

[gixxer01]

Buddy still uses them and continues to outfish me 2 to 1.

[IamZombie]

Buddy I go fishing with has a spinning reel, but still pulls the line out of the hole by hand.

[hookncook]

I use a swish rod... a close cousin to your dowel rod.

[Fergus Mor McErc]

I've got six of those dowel-type jiggle sticks in my basement. They've been retired for some time but could easily be pressed back into service with a line change. I caught a lot of fish with those rods including an eight pound walleye but I admit I prefer a rod and reel combo.

[redneckiceman18]

i still use my jigging stick from time to time for crappies and sunnies

[3pronghook]

oh yeah! the grandpa pole. still hand over hand em from 35 feet - two pound line and tiny hooks. IMO best way to fish panfish and a way more sensitive way to fish. even the 12 year old is finally showing interest and learning the technique. i just wish you could find the good quality ones that used to be available.

[dougger222]

A good friend of mine runs a "jiggle stick". He runs it with a spring bobber and always fishes with a Vex. Funny thing is he does VERY well... I'll offer him my $100+ ice combo's but he'll simply decline.

Even up on LOW he didn't want to deal with the rattle reels and insisted on the jiggle sticks, we were in 30ft of water!

[BehindtheHead]

i was on low with a old feller once. we were getting set up the first day and he discovered he only had 28 ft of line we were fishing in 30 fow. haha right. he just pulled a spool of 10 lb line out of his tackle box and tied it to the jig stick end. i thought for sure his knot would fail at some point but it didnt. he landed a 28" walleye that trip on that cobbled togethor mess that trip.

[Wanderer]

I haven't used mine for a long while but still have them. I still remember the rattle of dropping the sticks on the wood floors of our suitcase portables all night at the crappie hole. Among two or three houses and several guys we always knew about how good the other houses were doing just by listening.

[cavalierowner]

I have 6 sticks, total investment about $25!! I keep a spring bobber on 3 of them for sunnies and the other 3 are set up with a very small split shot & bare hook and a styro bobber whittled down so it just barely floats for crappies. I wouldn't trade these for anything for panfish!

I also have an Electra electric auger, what is it maybe 30 or 35 years old? I specifically remember that it was only the second year it had been on the market because I wanted to be sure they withstood at least a year of field testing. That sucker is slow, a gas auger can drill at least 3 or 4 holes to my one, but it starts every time, doesn't leak gas and I'm not in a big hurry.

I'm beginning to think it's an old age thing

[SpecialK]

Pretty sure my dad (77) still has one in the garage that will one day be mine I hope =) Not sure I will use it but will be added to the man cave when I build one.

[Rippinlip]

Still have one, but has not been used for many years.

Now that I am reminded of it I may have to break it out and give it a whirl for old time sakes.

Mark

[BartmanMN]

Can't beat those with the tiny styrofoam bobber held in place on the line with a piece of tooth pick.

Old school baby

[TyGuy02]

Can't beat the fancy rod holder on them too. I wish my rods now had the fancy metal spike on the end to stick into the ice! I have a few of them and will look great on the wall in my future mancave, right next to the old tip-ups

[harvey lee]

When my father passed, I recieved about 6 of them. I have not used them for quite some time.

[cavalierowner]

Can't beat the fancy rod holder on them too. I wish my rods now had the fancy metal spike on the end to stick into the ice! I have a few of them and will look great on the wall in my future mancave, right next to the old tip-ups

I used to make those for my friends and I when I was in my teens. Really easy and dirt cheap. All it is is a wood dowel with 2 smaller dowels on one side for holding line and a very small screw eye at the end. Drive a finishing nail into one end, cut off the head and sharpen it. I haven't used one of those in many years.

[Archerysniper]

I haven't used mine for a long while but still have them. I still remember the rattle of dropping the sticks on the wood floors of our suitcase portables all night at the crappie hole. Among two or three houses and several guys we always knew about how good the other houses were doing just by listening.

Ah that sound brings back lots of memories.

[Stick in Mud]

Yup, my dad and I still have a bunch of these, which we inherited from my grandpa when he became unable to get out ice fishing anymore. I don't fish panfish much anymore, but I put new line on them each year, so they do get out for a trip or two, usually on late ice.

[BLACKJACK]

I still have a few around but they never get used anymore. I do think that using them as I was growing up, outside, dealing with icing up, wind, tangles, has helped me in the long run, dealing with any kind of line hassles with my present rods and reels.

[varmithtr]

Still use mine jig stick every time out. I primarly walleye fish. I do have a rod and reel set up for a jigging spoon. For my other rig I use the jig stick with tip up line, spider wire leader with a jig o bit and sucker minnow. So far this year the jig stick has significantly out produced the fancy set up.

[marshmallow]

Too Many Ice Rods Have Too Small Of a Tip Eyelet .. Not Everyone Fishes " Strictly " By Watching The Sonar .. I Still Use Float Bobber Stop .. Unless Jigging For Walleyes .. But All My Poles Have Roomy Diameter Front Eyelets .. I Have Also Replaced Them With Some .. Smaller Diameter .. The More Chance Your Slip Knot // Bobber Stop Moves When The Drag Is " Smokin " ..

[HandGunner]

I made one out of a old carbon fiber arrow and a expo dry erase marker ha that was a while back for carps and giggles never finished it til i read this thread. Any idea of how i should use line? Might use a carp HT reel or try and use a empty line spool