Thorne brothers rods.

[Esox_Magnum]

A rod is a tool, just like in my line of work. Sure a $15 Stanley hammer will get the job done but the $200 Stilleto makes the work much easier and enjoyable...

[fisherman-andy]

I think what needs to be addressed is the type of rod that Agronomist_at_IA has purchased before forming an opinion.

As I said before it appears he has purchased a Thorne Bros Perch Sweetheart with likely alconite guides; price $50-$60. While the rod blank quality may be superior to the retail shelf brand the performance difference may be minimal. This is the reason why Agronomist_at_IA has made his opinion base off of.

Thorne Bros makes many different rods for many different applications, Finesse, Panfish SW, Perch SH, Walleye SH, Tripwire, Professional Plus, the crowd favorite Power Noodle, & of course my favorite the Quiverstick Stealth. Im pretty sure one can find a rod to be catered and customed to your own liking. Do not compare the way a rod looks to performance, this would be a poor assessement; in the case of (Adam Bricker custom rods) phew he sure makes pretty rods that I wouldnt mind owning one myself.

The lengths of the rods will affect the performance of the rod, typically longer rods are better and allow quicker hook sets. The type of cork or handle used will also affect the way you hold and feel the rod. And lastly having Recoil guides is a must for weight & durability as well as sensitivity. Light panfish rods will shine with Recoil guides. I believe without them you have what Agronomist_at_IA calls a rod comparable to $20 retail shelf rod.

With this in mind I like to ask or know if Agronomist_at_IA anyone else has ever used a rod or ice rod that have Recoil type guides? And if so how does that compare to their non-recoil guide type rod? This would help some of you understand Agronomist_at_IA and the reason why he gave his review as is.

Now on the part if a nice custom rod will help you catch more fish? Well that really depends on the situation. One can make an argument both ways. But I do feel a superior custom rod will outshine a cheaper retail shelf version as far as feel and performance. Its not always about how many fish you will catch but how you can catch them.

[CaptainMusky]

I have a custom noodle rod made from a DH blank with recoil guides and its nothing short of amazing. Sensitivity at the tip like a spring bobber but backbone to fight big fish.

They are delicate though because of the tapered tip so make sure to be careful with them.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

I think what needs to be addressed is the type of rod that Agronomist_at_IA has purchased before forming an opinion.

As I said before it appears he has purchased a Thorne Bros Perch Sweetheart with likely alconite guides; price $50-$60. While the rod blank quality may be superior to the retail shelf brand the performance difference may be minimal. This is the reason why Agronomist_at_IA has made his opinion base off of.

Thorne Bros makes many different rods for many different applications, Finesse, Panfish SW, Perch SH, Walleye SH, Tripwire, Professional Plus, the crowd favorite Power Noodle, & of course my favorite the Quiverstick Stealth. Im pretty sure one can find a rod to be catered and customed to your own liking. Do not compare the way a rod looks to performance, this would be a poor assessement; in the case of (Adam Bricker custom rods) phew he sure makes pretty rods that I wouldnt mind owning one myself.

The lengths of the rods will affect the performance of the rod, typically longer rods are better and allow quicker hook sets. The type of cork or handle used will also affect the way you hold and feel the rod. And lastly having Recoil guides is a must for weight & durability as well as sensitivity. Light panfish rods will shine with Recoil guides. I believe without them you have what Agronomist_at_IA calls a rod comparable to $20 retail shelf rod.

With this in mind I like to ask or know if Agronomist_at_IA anyone else has ever used a rod or ice rod that have Recoil type guides? And if so how does that compare to their non-recoil guide type rod? This would help some of you understand Agronomist_at_IA and the reason why he gave his review as is.

Now on the part if a nice custom rod will help you catch more fish? Well that really depends on the situation. One can make an argument both ways. But I do feel a superior custom rod will outshine a cheaper retail shelf version as far as feel and performance. Its not always about how many fish you will catch but how you can catch them.

I purchased the $64 perch sweetheart outside 28in. Length. off the HSOforum.

Regardless, I asked what they hype was about them. Never said it was [PoorWordUsage], so please either post about what the hype is or quit posting.

[Esox_Magnum]

Yes recoil guides make a huge difference, I have them on my Tripwire and my older Panfish Sweetheart does not and there a big difference between the 2...Both are great though....

[CaptainMusky]

If you can't figure out what separates it from a $20 rod, return it or sell it to someone else because you obviously won't be satisfied. The difference should be obvious.

[fisherman-andy]

I think what needs to be addressed is the type of rod that Agronomist_at_IA has purchased before forming an opinion.

As I said before it appears he has purchased a Thorne Bros Perch Sweetheart with likely alconite guides; price $50-$60. While the rod blank quality may be superior to the retail shelf brand the performance difference may be minimal. This is the reason why Agronomist_at_IA has made his opinion base off of.

Thorne Bros makes many different rods for many different applications, Finesse, Panfish SW, Perch SH, Walleye SH, Tripwire, Professional Plus, the crowd favorite Power Noodle, & of course my favorite the Quiverstick Stealth. Im pretty sure one can find a rod to be catered and customed to your own liking. Do not compare the way a rod looks to performance, this would be a poor assessement; in the case of (Adam Bricker custom rods) phew he sure makes pretty rods that I wouldnt mind owning one myself.

The lengths of the rods will affect the performance of the rod, typically longer rods are better and allow quicker hook sets. The type of cork or handle used will also affect the way you hold and feel the rod. And lastly having Recoil guides is a must for weight & durability as well as sensitivity. Light panfish rods will shine with Recoil guides. I believe without them you have what Agronomist_at_IA calls a rod comparable to $20 retail shelf rod.

With this in mind I like to ask or know if Agronomist_at_IA anyone else has ever used a rod or ice rod that have Recoil type guides? And if so how does that compare to their non-recoil guide type rod? This would help some of you understand Agronomist_at_IA and the reason why he gave his review as is.

Now on the part if a nice custom rod will help you catch more fish? Well that really depends on the situation. One can make an argument both ways. But I do feel a superior custom rod will outshine a cheaper retail shelf version as far as feel and performance. Its not always about how many fish you will catch but how you can catch them.

[dfeste]

This has become entertaining.

[kapp]

from the information and opinions posted here, I summarize this:

if you are going to purchase a custom ice rod from Thornes it may not

be worth it unless you upgrade to the recoil guides.

i think i agree with this but only on panfish rods

don't get me wrong recoils on a walleye rod make the rod feel and fish much nicer, but i question that recoil guides improve catch rates on walleyes

[CaptainMusky]

Its not just the weight and sensitivity improvements by using recoil its also the less apt to freeze up. Plus they arepretty much indestructible.

[FisH_SLaYer24]

Would anybody like some popcorn?

[amateurfishing]

i started off 4 years ago with a 5 gallon bucket, 3 used crappy combos, & a 6 inch hand auger, bobber fished with zero knowledge of lake or hard ice fishing, may have gotten lucky & caught 2 fish entire season

2nd year I upgraded to a used gas auger and on sale showdown troller for speed and fish finder and 1 person shelter, still did not have lake "knowledge" but with fish finder could move quicker from "dead" spots and at least know where fish were, maybe caught a handful this season

3rd year I learned a lot on here, "tried" to read lake contours, understand my troller more and started using spring bobber extensions on my old equipment but soon discovered they froze up easily and had line "wrapped around them" half the time, easier to detect bites but difficult to use outside, easier to detect bites with add on spring bobbers but difficult to use, so I know I was learning where fish were and detecting bites better but still having difficulty with numbers.

4th year learned bout spring bobber rods & bought first, found great HB 597 on sale, sold 1 man portable and bought an old used 2 man portable & modified it, sold troller, and after 2 broken spring bobber rods took the leap to a TB power noodle. I also learned the importance of crappie minnows as bait instead of going whole ice season with waxies. I learned a lot with spring bobber bites, lake contours with gps on finder, and the difference in a quality rod (IMO) over shelf retail. all around my fishing changed exponentially this year with super rod tip sensitivity & strong backbone, understanding my fish finder/gps better, & having the right bait, along with changing to in line reels for ridding line twist.

Point of story is yes I could get lucky and catch fish with bare minimum though calling it successful would be a very big stretch. Each year I exponentially learned more about the sport and the possibility (of importance) of upgraded some hard water components. 2 or 3 things I personally wont sacrifice on now, 1) is my fish finder, it tells me so much info, I don't need a bigger/better one, but would never go backwards either with options. 2) I started with used combos, I have no idea how old they are, but no matter what I added/changed to try and detect bites more or make them more user friendly, they just were "hard" to work with or use for me. the spring bobber rods I bout were much better for detecting bites but 3 broken rods in a year left me looking for something more durable. I did take a chance on TB product after many accolades on here (I did not do any of my own research and know basically nothing bout rod building) and am extremely happy with the 2 that I have. I do not have any experience with any other brands but have seen HT & others in stores and have not like the flimsiness or feel of them off the shelf.

I don't know (as you have not specifically stated) if you have actual experience on the ice with your sweetheart rod yet, if not then plz reserve your judgement for after an outing, if you do have actual experience, you can state your beef and im sure you would have no problem getting rid of it or call TB back and see what they say. But to hold 2 rods in your hand and just compare then like that would be foolish. No one goes vehicle shopping by opening the door in the showroom and just turns the key, everyone goes for a test drive & you should as well with your new combo. also as others have stated, im sure there is a big difference between TB shelf rod and one custom made for you. maybe there was mis communication as to your expectations with one off the shelf or custom made for you, maybe a misunderstanding? or maybe you just wanted to attempt to get the best while trying to save a few bucks at the same time and the difference is in the guides?

Anyhow live and learn, but to call others out about "hype" is a little mis guided if you are not comparing apples to apples, in other words a rod with all of the exact same components.

Good luck

[CaptainMusky]

Nice honest post.

[amateurfishing]

sorry, 2 points to my rant and im done

1. to label others opinions as "hype" you will pretty much get a fight cause everyone thinks their opinion is the right one...

and 2. instead of "bashing" a product on here (and don't say you did not cause "not living up to the hype" is pretty much bashing something) maybe next time contact the retailer/seller and see if your expectations or needs can be met through honest communication instead of hurt/bad feelings. I have had issues in the past with them as well and they have made it right every time.

good luck & hope you are made happy

[OnIce]

In addition to some of the above comments, I would like to add that for me one of the benefits of premium equipment is reliability.

I do not want the day to come where I have the best fish of my life on the other end of the line, and my rod snaps or my line breaks because of the drag on a crappy reel.

Will expensive equipment catch more fish? Not necessarily, but it might give me slightly better odds at landing a trophy.

[morepower02]

With almost all outdoor products you will find product reviews on forums like this that Pro staff make about a sponsored product. Most Pro Staff are very honest but some maybe not so much do to the fact they get thier products need them or is it a I have one of those items deals??

Kind of like the ice team forum?? Might as well call it the Clam forum. No wonder the viewership is low. Every thread is about clam stuff. "ice team" is no more than a marketing ploy.

[CaptainMusky]

^^^^+10000000000

[Agronomist_at_IA]

sorry, 2 points to my rant and im done

1. to label others opinions as "hype" you will pretty much get a fight cause everyone thinks their opinion is the right one...

and 2. instead of "bashing" a product on here (and don't say you did not cause "not living up to the hype" is pretty much bashing something) maybe next time contact the retailer/seller and see if your expectations or needs can be met through honest communication instead of hurt/bad feelings. I have had issues in the past with them as well and they have made it right every time.

good luck & hope you are made happy

1st there is and was a lot of hype/marketing about thorne brothers rods. Just like there is a lot of hype about chubby darters, which are a good product but many feel are over priced for what's on the market. And yes I do own a few chubby darters. Asking what all the hype about is not bashing a product. A product can be a very good product, but can be talked up by people to be way better then it is. Ever go to a movie that had really bad or good reviews to find out that it was just ok.

If you think bashing a product by asking what the hype was about, then you are either offended for no reason, or don't understand what marketing is or hype. I have no hurt feelings, or issues with Thorne Brothers. I think they made a very nice rod in the Perch Sweet Heart. I plan to use it, and will be fine using it. All I asked was why all the hype about them. I feel they made a quality rod, but think for what I can find on the market it wasn't anything special. Others feel a different way, and I have no issue with it.

I work in sales/marketing/product development with Agricultural products. I see people react just like you and captain have all the time when talking about Ag products. Marketing departments hype up companies and products all the time & consumers pay double to triple even more than that for what a products true worth is because of it. The marketing creates a demand for a specific product brand. It also crates loyalist to the brand. The worst nightmare to a marketing department is an analytical person that actually digs into stuff to determine true "value" of a product.

Now, I think thorne brothers produced a good quality rod, and I will enjoy using it. However, I do believe that I fell into the hype/marketing ploy and bought a good quality rod yet I paid more then what I needed to with the other options that are available.

I'm sorry if that upsets you and captain, that I believe this. However, contrary to your beliefs, I have no issues with the rod or thorne brothers.

If you look at a few post, some people seem to agree with this, others are offended by this. Typically those that get offend are the ones that feel their is extra value to a product due to marketing.

[CaptainMusky]

Argonomist I guess you forgot the part where I DO NOT OWN A TB ROD. Why would I buy into "hype" about a product if I don't own one? It would be like me hyping Northrup king if I'm not a farmer!

I could honestly care less what you use but the mere tone and topic in itself is awful smelly of trolling.

I know many people who us TB rods and they are very nice and to say they are equivalent to a $20 off the shelf rod is ridiculous and if you cannot see it or feel it do everyone a favor or return it and revert back to whatever else you use.

[hnd]

wait..when did you get this rod? have you even used it? you are just eyeballing that its "just like a 20 dollar rod" ???

[holmsvc]

from the information and opinions posted here, I summarize this:

if you are going to purchase a custom ice rod from Thornes it may not

be worth it unless you upgrade to the recoil guides.

i think i agree with this but only on panfish rods

don't get me wrong recoils on a walleye rod make the rod feel and fish much nicer, but i question that recoil guides improve catch rates on walleyes

I agree with what you are saying on the Walleye rod. I have a 32 inch TB walleye rod that I bought used for a good price that doesn't have the recoil guides. I don't think it's a big deal because that rod is only used for fishing darters or 1/4oz and up spoons. Generally when fish are hitting the big lures they are crushing them so sensitivity wasn't a huge concern.

[castmaster]

One other thing to consider when referring to TB rods and "hype"...Its NOT any kind of marketing ploy etc for there is no marketing of TB rods. You wont see TB ads in any magazines singing the praises of their rods, no tv commercials etc. The "hype" is from the MANY satisfied customers over many years of building custom rods.

[fisherman-andy]

from the information and opinions posted here, I summarize this:

if you are going to purchase a custom ice rod from Thornes it may not

be worth it unless you upgrade to the recoil guides.

i think i agree with this but only on panfish rods

don't get me wrong recoils on a walleye rod make the rod feel and fish much nicer, but i question that recoil guides improve catch rates on walleyes

[fisherman-andy]

One other thing to consider when referring to TB rods and "hype"...Its NOT any kind of marketing ploy etc for there is no marketing of TB rods. You wont see TB ads in any magazines singing the praises of their rods, no tv commercials etc. The "hype" is from the MANY satisfied customers over many years of building custom rods.

Well said...

[amateurfishing]

^^^^^^^^^^ is what I was referring to when I stated he was mis interpreting "opinions" for "hype

If you think bashing a product by asking what the hype was about, then you are either offended for no reason, or don't understand what marketing is or hype. I have no hurt feelings, or issues with Thorne Brothers. I think they made a very nice rod in the Perch Sweet Heart. I plan to use it, and will be fine using it. All I asked was why all the hype about them. I feel they made a quality rod, but think for what I can find on the market it wasn't anything special. Others feel a different way, and I have no issue with it.

"

I am not offended what so ever, I could care less what your opinion is, but clearly you have a bone to pick with the terms "marketing & hype" with TB as that is what you keep stating over and over but TB does neither (that I am aware of).