Good panfish rod's?

[slick2526]

Without stepping into the custom rod making area and price what brand do you think is the best commercially made panfish rod on the market?

Specifically I want a very sensitive tip to visually detect the bite and would like something that keeps the tip somewhat loaded to see upward bites. I have always been a fan of noodle rods but lately I have been on a bite that I feel I need the visual detection of the bite but also something with a decent back bone for a quick hook set. the fish are spitting the jig very quick. Noodle rods just dont have the stiffness for the hookset im looking for right now.

I have read a lot about the Jason Mitchell meatstick rods and thats at the top of my list right now. This rod will be used for very light weight jigs and plastics along with smaller jigging spoons for mainly sunnies and crappies but also sometimes perch. What action and length do you suggest? Also any other brands and models you suggest to look at that meet the specifications I am looking for?

[Esox_Magnum]

13 Wickeds get my vote, at the moment the only off the shelf rod I own

[JohnMickish]

For an off the shelf panfish rod there are lots of pretty good choices. The JM meatstick falls in there, as well as the Dave Genz Legacy rods. The Legacy rods are IMO built with better materials, and you also have the St. Croix Premier rods too. Those are the three "stock" that I have personal experience with. You will have to choose between a spring bobber rod or a soft tip like the meatstick. There are pros and cons to each and it will basically come down to what you are comfortable with.

Go to a store that has a good selection of rods and see which one feels right in your hand and that's probably the one you want.

[clayton08]

Dave genz legacy rods or 13 white out or white noise rods are my personal favorite for the price cant go wrong. Yeah they dont have the custom stuff but they do a really good job. My daily fishers are 13 rods tho. If your talking panfish get a 27" UL 13 rod you will love it guarantee it.

[slick2526]

the price is right on the 13 brand.

I agree I will have to check out the meat stick or one of the genz spring bobber rods.

[hamms-scooter]

I really enjoy the 27" and 32" quick tip rods by frabill. Great backbone and very sensitive tip. You can fight any size fish on them the rod has great action to it.

[Sherman]

HT Ice Blues...very sensitive, light, and affordable. Some people have bad experience with them because the tips can break very easy. I own mine for 5 yrs with no problem. I also slide the plastic (those that come on new car wiper blades) over my poles to keep them from breaking and bending. And talking about sensitive, I just got back from "THE SMELT HOLE" chasing those smelt using the pole as my deadstick. But with all the variety of poles out there, you get what you pay for.

[pushbutton]

Both the mentioned wicked and frabills are nice stock rods, and have been using both very effectively this year and last. Also, like mentioned above, great all around species rods as well. Not at the level of something like a TB tripwire for the ultimate finicky pannie bite detection, but very good bang for your buck…...

[harvey lee]

Mitchell Meatstick for me I can use it for gills and crappie as the tip is so sensitive. Great rod

[Lusid]

Cabela's Easy Touch - Search for my review on YT. I think I got each rod for 9.99

onza04+easy touch

[wbliceman]

One of the 13 Fishing rods I like the White out's. Other wise St. Croix legends with their spring bobber.

[slick2526]

seems a lot of people still like the spring bobbers. I thought they were a thing of the past with the new types light tip rods on the market.

Thanks for the suggestions on what to look at.

[wbliceman]

Spring bobbers will always have a place in Ice fishing. If you look at some of the custom rod makers they are trying to incorporate them in a different way IE Thorne Bros trip wire. I know DH custom rods makes one too. I know I have times when my noodle rods are not as sensitive as the springs are and you can see the bites that much better with a spring. I know the up bite on suspended crappies is a big one I prefer a spring for.

[DLD24]

27" UL 13 fishing wicked...Love those rods...last year I was using it catching smelt on grindstone in 40fow I believe, its got a great tip and looks sweet

[Scott O.]

I love the Clam Genz True Blue series panfish combos for around $40. The UL I use works very well. It's got a sensitive tip, but has a good backbone in case you run into a larger fish. If you would go with this combo, I would recommend looking at the one with the nitinol spring bobber already attached to it. It would work even better for those light biters.

[NCLaker]

If you really want to visually detect the lightest bites, St. Croix spring bobber rods get my vote. I have TB & TUC noodle rods, they are great but imho not as sensitive especially on up bites for lighter jigs.

If you want it to load up quicker, you can get a light or ML power version, but go with the UL spring bobber so you are not compromising bite detection sensitivity ... but depends on the weight of the jig you are using. Nice thing is you can switch our the spring bobber for a stiffer version if you are using tungsten jigs that are too heavy for the UL bobbers.

Personally my primary panfish rod is a 32" TUCR Noodle rod with split grip which I absolutely love. Also run with a 28" TB Noodle. Despite these, I still have a St Croix Legend spring bobber rod on hand if the bite is extremely lite and I am really downsizing my presentation.

[BoxMN]

I got into liking the JM rods. Have a couple spring bobbers and few meatsticks and a perch (havne't used the perch as much for whatever reaoson...) The 20" meatstick is nice in a tight shack.

Key thing for me, I like the big eyelets and durable spring of the JM Spring Bobber for fishing outside when it is colder/freezing. The little eyes of the meatstick are not as good with freezing temps and water on line, and a piece of ice stuck in the eyelet can break the tip - I know that

The Spring Bobber rods are pretty sensitive and they are durable. Meatstick are really sensitive and less durable. Haven't tried the other brands much, as these are about $19-28 on sale (depending on model) and work for me. Good luck.

[Northlander]

The TFO rods are great rods for about $40. They can be found cheaper on sale on line and in some stores. Marine General had them for $20 at the St. paul Ice Show so I got six.

[Valleye]

I have many a Rod that sits on a shelf that I use for parts or that I give to my kids for ice fishing. I use two rods and it depends on the bite and lure presentation. I have used the STX Legend with the Spring bobber. With that design I have found a buddy that custom makes them. I just have to provide him with the spring. The Spring Bobber with the STX Legends are the best in detecting light bites. The only problem I have is the line getting tangled on them on a windy day. If the bite is active then I switch to the Mitchell Meat Puppy. But I end up using the STX legends more often.

[no bait nate]

I am partial to customs but I have heard great things about the new Genz series rods. Meatsticks have also been a longtime favorite of my friends.

That said the only shelf rod I own is a 13 fishing...