Ice Fishing Rods: Going Beyond Species Specific

[Charlie Mason]

In the early days of what was labeled the “Ice Fishing Revolution” companies offered anglers a series of rods that were species specific. The rule was that ultra lights were for bluegill and crappie, light action rods were for perch fishing, walleye fishing meant medium rods, and anything heavier were pike and lake trout rods.

For the first couple of years of running across the ice belt doing tournaments I bought into that philosophy too. I had multiple ultra light rods rigged and ready to go, but they were the same brand and had them simply to save precious time instead of constantly retying jigs. That train thought was about to change though, and the source of the inspiration came from an unlikey source.

The bass fishing realm is about as foreign to me as the sport of soccer is. I love targeting bluegill and crappie through the ice, and catching big walleyes on Lake Erie. Throw in a couple of weeks of pike and muskie fishing, and filling the freezer with perch in September, and that is what I know best. My bass fishing skills consisted of tossing Jitterbugs, but I enjoy learning, even if it means watching television shows.

About the same time period, bass legend Larry Nixon had his own TV show. I enjoyed the show, Mr. Nixon was not the flashy in your face type, he didn’t shove product down your throat, and he really got into the specifics. What I learned was that for each tactic he used to catch this one type of fish, there was a specific rod that would fit that the method he was employing. This really was not something new in the bass world, but I could relate to Larry, even though I did not grow up in Arkansas.

I borrowed that philosophy and made it my own while applying it to ice fishing. Much like the BASF commercials, I didn’t invent it, I just made it better. I realized that just because a rod is called an ultra light, not all are created equal or with the same properties. Other guys on the tourney trail started looking at me funny when I carried six rods for bluegill and another six rods for crappie. They really started to stare when I would bring as many as 30 rods to each event, and have as many as 20 rods on the ice at any one given time.

While saving time by not having to rety jigs still remains a factor, it dropped down on the list of reasons to carry multiple rods. Using bluegill and crappie as an example, I made of list of different ways to approach putting more fish on the ice by the end of the day. Some ultra lights were stiffer rods, those were dedicated to using small spoons or bigger jigs like a 5mm or 6mm in deeper water. For really finicky bites the rods were outfitted with the softest of spring bobbers to use with tiny tungsten jigs. When the bite is really hot, that fast and furious type frenzy we all dream about, its time to break out the rods with a little back bone and noodle type tip. Finally there are rods dedicated to hole hop with, when the angler is in search mode and trying to find aggressive fish. Those rods are rigged with a moderate spring that works well with a 4mm or size 12 jig.

An angler can take that same approach with walleye fishing through the ice. Although light action rods are considered perch rods, some make good deadstick rods. Not all medium lights are created equal, some can be used as finesse rods with small jigs, while others handle small spoons better. Shorter medium action rods are excellent in conjunction with the use of jigs for tighter control, while longer ones work best with flutter spoons where a flick of the wrist produces the best action. Medium heavy rods were once thought of as big game rods only, but some work well with jigging minnow baits and heavier spoons.

In order to gear up with this approach in mind, anglers need to know what application they are going to use each rod for. The next step is the fun part, its time to go shopping for the rods that will fit your strategy. You might find everything you need at the local “mom and pop” bait shop, or it will take going to the big chain stores to get the largest variety to sample from to find the right rods. The key is to look at as many as you can to see what fits the best.

Once you do that, you have gone beyond species specific.

Copyright, 2012

[anderson_dc]

Great write up Charlie and thanks for sharing

[Charlie Mason]

Thanks Mark, I really should have gone more in depth on the springs, because they can change the characteristics of any rod as well, but the key there, as it was in rod selection when going beyond species specific, is to find the right harmony between, rod, spring and the tactic you are employing

[Eric_Kruger]

As a long time follower of your blog, I like reading your articles! Good read Chuck!

[Charlie Mason]

Thanks Eric, appreciate it. Looking back, I took that same approach Nixon did in his old show, and try to pass some of the knowledge and experiences on.

I could have gone into pounding a jig on the bottom to create that silt cloud that can trigger a bite, and how using a spring with this technigue can be tough, but then again it works well when you slowing lift the jig off the bottom and a gill or perch will come and nail it right off the bat. Too many factors that really should be left to the individual's unique tastes. What I like in a rod doesn't exactly become an universal truth to the guy fishing 20 yds away from me. Thats why I said go out and find the rods that fit you

[muc33]

Charlie, very well written, I agree with your words quite a bit.... Now if I could just get my wife to agree with my 4-6 new rod purchases a year!! Ha!

[Charlie Mason]

thats a whole 'nother article lol