Do you prefer 24" or 30 " for ice rods?

[MidCoast]

To be specific, I am looking at St Croix Legend Ice Rods with the Spring Bobber. I can't decide if I should get a 24" or 30". I am assuming 24" works better in the shack, but I am not always inside and like to hole hop. I am guessing 30" has a better backbone for hook sets?

Any recommendations?

[eyeguy 54]

I prefer 24 and 25. Don't even like my 28. Good sharp hooks.

[20lbSloughShark]

I've always been a fan of compact rods both open water and ice season. I find 24" to be nearly perfect. I think a longer rod only gets you more sensitivity, but that won't matter with a spring bobber. I have rods 18"-32". In a small shack, nothing beats the 18" UL. The fight on one is great too.

[Eric_Kruger]

I always go with the longest rod I can, 30" or longer is all I use anymore. Unless I am sight fishing, then its 10-12" homemade rods for that....

[Rost]

I like the 24" rods especially for jigging. Makes it easier to look down the hole while sight fishing. Also, if you fish out of a Fish trap style shelter, a 24" rod allows you to to tuck your jigging hole closer to you which will make more room for your heater, bait bucket etc..

[holmsvc]

Minimum rod length for me is 28, but prefer 32.

[Northlander]

I have never had a case where a 28-34" rod don't work in my house. For walleyes Im at least 32" and for pannies 28". I just prefer not be so close to the hole. Only time I go shorter is sight fishing which isn't often up here.

[Finns]

To be specific, I am looking at St Croix Legend Ice Rods with the Spring Bobber. I can't decide if I should get a 24" or 30". I am assuming 24" works better in the shack, but I am not always inside and like to hole hop. I am guessing 30" has a better backbone for hook sets?

Any recommendations?

Depends if I'm 24" or 30" from the hole.

Oh come on that was funny!

[leech~~]

I have never had a case where a 28-34" rod don't work in my house. For walleyes Im at least 32" and for pannies 28". I just prefer not be so close to the hole. Only time I go shorter is sight fishing which isn't often up here.

Ya, but when your over 6' feet tall you are further from the hole in the first place!

I'm a 28" in porty and 30" out on the ice.

[monstermoose78]

24 keeps it closer to you when outside to block the wind.

[harvey lee]

I would guess my average length of my ice rods is 28. Yes, some longer lake trout rods and some short sight fishing rods also.

[minky]

I had a 32 inch dead stick that I just never liked to use in a house. Now I ha ve a 28 and couldn't be happier.

[paceman]

I like the shorters ones.

[amateurfishing]

all my spring bobber rods are 24" for quick hook set, wind blocking, etc on the pannies where you don't need much backbone (though I have northern and bass with em also & they held up nicely), deadstick rod is 28" to offer a little stronger & longer backbone for bait, lures, & larger fish.

[aczr2k]

I have three 28" and one 30", I like the 28 inchers better.

[dan z]

I have 2 28" meat sticks 1 28" JM walleye. 2 24" meat sticks 1 scheels elite 24" utralight.

and 27" dead stick from south bend. All have there place.

[centralmnguy]

Like others said each rod has its place...I have a 32" tournament series rod from scheels I use for lakers & big pike & love it. I have a few 28" rods for eyes & like the lighter feel but my 32" rod is nice if you like to jig fast & rip your lures hard for more action especially when laker fishing & have heavier tackle on!

[Borch]

I have rods from 18 - 36 inches for panfish, lake trout, walleye etc. One of my favorites for hole hopping outside fishing spoons or larger plastics is a 36" thorne bros panfish sweetheart. In the portable I like shorter rods in the low to mid 20" range.

[Bob Hicks]

This thread reminds me a lot about the Chevy/Dodge/Ford discussions.

Because Utah isn't a professional ice fishing state like say Minnesota, we don't get to see a lot of the better ice fishing equipment in our stores; mostly the under $10 rods. I've probably got at least a dozen of those and they all worked for me at one point. But this year I decided to move up a little in quality (but not to the top by any means) and bought 2 26" light rods and 2 30" medium Rods - all of them are Ugly Stix. The short rods have a great sensitivity built into them to detect the very lightest pan fish nibble and gets used 95% of the time. I use the 30 inchers on my JawJackers because they have enough snap to get a good hook set on the trout that occasionally cruise by. Sorry I can't help you with the St Croix brand, but I'm very happy with the Ugly Stix.

[walleye44]

I like the short 24" one.

[southender]

28 to 36 inch rods work well inside my otter and not have any problem with the heater being to close.

[Valleye]

I like the 24". I have 4 legends, 3 24" and 1 at 17". The only thing that really makes a difference is how close to the hole you are and how much room you have in your portable. I sit on a bucket with my Marcum attached to the lip of the bucket and 6 inches from the hole. The shorter rod is great for that set up. If you are standing and hole hopping then going with a longer rod is better.