Legend Rods vs, Ice Buster bobbers

[Polar Bear]

OK...Maybe I'm just getting more "crotchety" as I age but ,for the life of me, I just don't get all the hype over the new Legend ice rods equiped with the adjustable spring bobber.

We've all used spring bobbers...they're OK I guess, but how could anything improve on a simple, CHEAP, system like an Ice Buster? If you trim your slip bobber to float about one eighth inch above the surface you have the most sensitive detection device on the ice.

I don't want to get too "preachy" but the facts are that a bait suspended under either the spring or the bobber is in a state of neutral bouyancy. Any movement of the bait will be telegraphed to the means of suspension (either bobber or spring) to to maintain equilibrium. This means if the fish takes the bait and moves up an inch the spring and the bobber will rise an inch. Same for a fish moving down.

As a matter of fact, a bobber fisherman who leaves a couple feet of slack line above his bobber will allow a light biting fish to travel far longer with almost no resistance than the spring equipped rod which offers only as much low resistance "slack" as the length of the spring allows. True, this is only important if you aren't holding the rod in your hands at the time of the bite, but most of my fishing is done with at least one rod, and often times both, laying on top of a bucket.

For me the best argument for the spring bobbers is how quickly you can get the bait back in the water after a catch without "feeding" line through the ice busters. That is a real advantage. However, for the $70 price tag of a new Legend...I can spend a couple more seconds feeding line through my bobbers.

[BDR]

First let me say that I love the ice buster and use quite afew. It definately has it's place. There are alot of time panfishing that the best trigger is a slow raising of the bait to get the chase and hit. No float will be a benifit once I raise the knot of the top. A easy to use and quality spring bobber will detect all the light hits and those that hit and continue upwards.

The two would be used for different situations.

[Dan Thiem]

You're not getting "crotchety". You make a good point.

When I'm fishing deeper water and don't want to "feed" line out I'll just unclip it. Then when the bait get down to the bobber stop I'll clip it back on. Way simple.

As far as using a float or bobber, in my opinion there isn't very many bobbers that can even hold a candle to an Ice Buster.

But, I have out fished others by using a spring bobber. Many times. Because I can fish at different depths without having to move the bobber stop. That's very handy.

I guess they both have their own place and time to use them.

Fishing with a extra active fathead can be frustraing to watch on a spring bobber. That's the nice thing about the Ledgend rod. The spring is adjustable for different levels of sensativity.

[Surface Tension]

Polar Bear, I agree if your not changing depths constantly the ice buster is hard to beat and I prefer them over dead sticking. I feel they offer a lot less resistance.

A spring bobber comes in handy if your after working the whole water column and changing depths quickly. A spring bobber also allows you to work fish. What I mean by that is you can get a looker to follow a bait as you take it away. If your using a bobber then your now relying on feel. I've been jigging for 30 years and I know I can detect the slightest nudge but theres times when finicky gills or crappies give little detection, in instances like that a spring bobber is nice. Ice Buster and spring bobbers both work well in certain circumstances, the spring bobber is just another tool.

[Surface Tension]

You guys type fast. I think we've made the same point.

[Bob Horn]

Polar Bear, could you tell me where you saw the rod for sale at $70? I have used these rods for the last few year before St. Croix picked them up from Greg. If you haven`t fished with these rods than I invite ( with me if possible) you to do so. You WILL catch more fish because you will see the bite. I don`t use these rods for a dead stick but I guess you can, just use a heavier spring. I have caught 21/2 in. fish to big pike on these rods. I was not targeting the pike but pike being pike it hit. Like I said earlier you Will catch more fish with this system!!! If you have anymore questions let us know. If you can`t see the bite you won`t set the hook, with this rod you WILL see the bite.

[Polar Bear]

Thanks for all the replies. Bob, Cabelas has the rod for 50 bucks on their HSOforum, my mistake saying 70 earlier.

[Northlander]

Gander in Duluth has them at $50 and 30% off. Only 3 left as of yesterday.

[Quackaddict9]

what is a spring bobber? I use Ice Buster bobbers and always do good with it but not the past 3 days, i have been skunked!

[Bob Horn]

No problem Polar Bear. I just wanted to make sure there wasn`t any price gauging going on. I know for a fact if you buy one you will be very happy you did. QA, a spring bobber is a device that is use to detect the bite of a fish. They are usually at the end of the rod. It`s the best tool in my opinion in detecting the bite.

[Quackaddict9]

oh yeah now i know what ya'll are talking about, ive seen them but i thought it looked foolish but i guess i should try one of these rods someday! thanks Bob

[ozzie]

Quack you can just buy the spring bobber seperate and attach it to any rod you like.. They come in diferent tensions. Cost around like $1-3 cheap

[CrappieJohn]

I aree with Ozzie. I took a pair of the ul rods I use and put some springs on them made by HT. The spring will slide up and down the rod tip between the tip and the first guide when not in use. While being used, the shrink tube will hold the spring in place firmly and allows every bit of the motion and sensitivity that the expensive rod offers. This system has upped my fishing percentage enormously this winter. I have seen the St.Croixs in use as well as the noodle rods and I have managed to achieve the same degree of finesse cability as those pieces of equipment. Cost? $2.13.

[Quackaddict9]

yeah i was hoping they sell them separately but it looks like they do. thanks

[Bob Horn]

St.Croix has 3 different spring of tension. You can use different jigs or spoons depending on what you want to fish with and still use the same rod.

[Matt Breuer]

Quote:

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I have managed to achieve the same degree of finesse cability as those pieces of equipment. Cost? $2.13.

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Tom, I love ya', and I've never really dissagreed with you...until that statement! Those HT Spring Bobbers are junk, and much less sensitive than the Croix Legend!

I have a few Thorne Bros. Spring Bobbers and love them, they're probably my second choice behind the Croix. They aren't as sensitive either however.

If you're fishing in a shack, most spring bobbers will suit your needs, but if you're outside hole hopping, the Legend is definitely the way to go!

[Dan Thiem]

So Matt, even when its windy outside the Legends spring bobber will be steady enough to watch for a finicky panfish bite?

[Bob Horn]

One other thing about the legend is if there is ice build up on the guides it`s comes off rather easy. I just usually touch the guides or heat the guides with my fingers or breath. Very nice when your fishing outside.

[CrappieJohn]

Matt....the springs I have found are very effective! No line freezing and very sensitive. Maybe I was in error over the maker, done that before, but these are nice.

Something to note here is that you are an ice fishing fanatic like the other Matt (lol) whereas I just tolerate it long enough to get me thru the winter. There is a big difference. Both of you guys do the sport for a living, so it behooves you to make that kind of investment. I'm not going to spend 60 bucks on something that a good movie might keep me from doing. To be honest, I have done darned good this winter using my rods with "junk" springs and my post was meant to reflect only what I have observed with regard to the St. Croix rods, noodle rods and a couple other makers of spring equipped custom rods after using each of them. I don't see enough difference to warrant the extra cost. If someone wants for me to see a definite difference between that rod and mine, they can send me one to use for next winter so I can make a side by side analysis. Maybe I am missing something, but it's not worth the extra 58.00 for me to find out.

[Northlander]

I really like St.Croix Rods! I just bought a new Avid today. 6'6" Med/Heavy fast. Perfect for my upcoming Rainy River trip! At 40% off I couldnt pass it up.

I looked at the new Legend ice rods with spring bobbers and I like them. For me I found them to be too short though. Maybe if I panfished more I would like a shorter rod or if I site fished more. They were also 40% off and there was 1 left. I almost bought it at that price and still may if its there next week. I dont doubt these are nice rods but I dont know if they will catch me that many more fish and at that price I can hold off for now. Maybe in the future if I get a chance to play with one I may change my mind. I know I have not been let down by St.Croix before and I would bet these are also quality rods. Are they worth the $? To the diehards and guides I would say yes. For the average icefisherman I just dont know if they can justify the pricetag.

[hip_hop_fisherman]

I messed around with spring bobbers for awhile earlier this winter, and didn't much care for them. I was also looking at the legend over in st cloud when looking to pick up a new rod and it just didn't impress me enough to pay that kind of money for them. As far as spring bobbers, I ended up taking it off after a couple of weeks of use because it was causing too many hassles for me to justify (icing, line twisting around it) maybe its just me, but I would rather just have an ultra-lite with a fast tip rather than dealing with the spring bobber, and I LOVE the ice busters and would take them over a spring bobber anyday. however as in most situations in fishing, its all personal preference, and what works for you may not work for the next guy.

[Bob Horn]

Hip Hop, the problems that you talked about don`t happen with the legend. It amazes me that everboby knows the St. Croix name but are second guessing them in there product. Do you really think that St. Croix would put anything on the market if it was better than anything else on the market. We all know St. Croix is known for quality so why is it so had to see that the legend rod is above average for price for the average joe. I would fish this rod without any electronics over tightlining and useing electronics. That`s how great this rod is!!! And I`ll put money on it to.

[fiskyknut]

Hey Bob I would maybe take you up on that bet!

I've got the 'magic' touch, lol!

fiskyknut

[Lynno62]

I bought the frabill panfish popper spring bobber rod, and like it. If the St.Croix is as good as everyone says I would love to try it. I have not seen it in my area, but next winter for sure and going to luck for it and try it. I used the frabill yesterday and nailed the sunnies i took the vex out of the hole it was a pain and in the way. If the legend works better than that I will be one happy camper. What is the price on a legend? Thanks Lynn

[jltimm]

Can you buy this spring bobber that attaches firmly to the rod tip or eye,and doesn't slide all around like all the others I've tried through the years?Does St. Croix sell their own spring bobbers individually?