Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If you want access to members only forums on HSO, you will gain access only when you Sign-in or Sign-Up .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member. ?

Thorne Bros panfish ice fishing rods


Iceman12

Recommended Posts

I bought the Sweet Thing Plus because I wanted a shorter rod otherwise the other 28 inch pannie rod would also work nice.I also have a Midwestrodandreel rod that is just as nice.Both very well built and sensitive rods.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One Thorne Rod for pannies... hmmmm....

The best all-purpose panfish rod Thorne Bros makes (in my opinion) is the Sweet Thing Plus. It's a 24 inch rod, but you can use it for a wide-variety of panfish conditions. Jigging, float fishing, finessing with a spring bobber, etc. Both deep and shallow too. Now, you said you're looking for the best all-purpose panfish rod, not necessarily the best for a certain style of fishing, and in that case, it would be the Sweet Thing Plus if it was me.

There are a lot of options for a panfish rod by Thorne Bros though. Here are a few other scenarios...

The Sweat Heart Plus

This is a 28 inch rod with a little more load and play. I really like this rod when jigging up deeper water crappies and when running and gunning outside of my portable. It would be my second choice for an all-purpose panfish rod from Thorne Bros.

The Finesse Plus

This rod is a 19 inch rod and it does just what it's title intends for it to do. It's a finesse rod, but it still allows you to free-jig as well. A great option for sight fishing, spring bobber fishing or working over panfish in moderately deep water.

The Sweet Pea

This is a 16 inch rod, designed especially for finesse fishing where you want to be close to the hole, working over weary pannies. Another great option for sight fishing.

The Power Noodle

A 24 inch rod designed for both jigging and deadsticking. The tip is very quick and sensitive. It almost acts like a built-in spring bobber, yet it still allows you to effectively jig with lures that are smaller/lighter in scale.

A few options from Thorne Bros for the panfish anglers. I'll also incorporate these rods for perch and even bass on certain occassions. The 28 inch Sweet Heart and 24 inch Sweet Thing will both handle bass just fine. Walleyes too. A little on the light side, but equip it with a good reel with a good drag system and you'll be fine.

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

Link to comment
Share on other sites

All you did there Matt was confuse me with more options...ha,ha,ha,ha grin.gif Boy do I like Thorne Brother's rods!

I had this same dilema last year and went right to Matt to help sort out my troubles......he steered me to the Sweet Thing Plus and I am REAL happy with it! I got my rod set up with a spring bobber made exclusively by TB for their rods and am super impressed by the sensitivity in the whole set up. Got it rigged with a good old JR TACKLE 5 ball bearing spinning reel too!

What a set-up................thanks Matt cool.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I got my rod just before the Lake Minnetonka I.C.E Series get together and had a blast catching those pannies through the ice! Even got to play with some big bucket mouths towards late ice as well..............You'll love that rod no doubt about it!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sweet Thing Plus is a great rod. I love mine. I have a Diawa Caprice 500 on it. I like my Sweet Pea better, honestly. I sight fish a lot and its works a little better but even fishing with a flasher it works great. One thing I like about the short rod is you have to sit right on top of the hole, and are able to grab fish easier when they flip off or wrap the flasher cable.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I still remember that day at Thorne Bros Brandon smile.gif

Yeah, Thorne Bros definitely makes an outstanding ice rod. An ice angler can really hit the ice prepared for whatever condition presents itself.

Here's what I'll have rigged up for pannies this winter...

Rod Combo 1

- Thorne Bros Sweet Thing Plus with TB Spring Bobber

- Tica Cetus SS500

- 2 Pound Test P-Line Floroice

Rod Combo 2

- Thorne Bros Power Noodle

- Tica Cetus LF500

- 2 Pound Test Floroice

Rod Combo 3

- Thorne Bros Sweet Heart Plus

- Tica Cetus SS500

- 3 Pound Test Floroice

Rod Combo 4

- St. Croix Legend Ice Ultra-Lite

- Tica Cetus LF500

- 2 Pound Test Floroice

Rod Combo 5

- St. Croix Legend Ice Light Action

- Tica Cetus SS500

- 3 Pound Test Floroice

The St. Croix Legend Ice rods are very nice too, and the spring bobber system they incorporate is incredible to say the least! A must have system for a diehard finesse winter panfish angler in my book.

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Thorne Bros rods with a Tica reel is a awesome setup. I have bought several of these the last few years. Personally I don't think it will matter to much which you get you love any of them. Thorne Bros has great customer service as well. I had one of their deadstick that was over a year old and I broke the tip off of it. I sent it in to them to have them fix it when it came back it was a brand new rod at no charge to me, that sold me for life. I doubt very much that I personally will every used another brand.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My vote is for the power noodle.

In my opinion there are many manufactures that make a good ice rod that can compete with most rods thorne makes EXCEPT the Power Noodle. The noodle is in a class all by itself, nobody can touch it. If I were to only buy one thorne rod, it would be the Power noodle.

All their rods are great, but that noodle sets the bar way high in my opinon. grin.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree with Gus. Affectionetly known as the "P.N.", the power noodle is in a class all by itself. It's a true display of fiberglass vs. graphite, where one material excels by leaps and bounds over the other in this situation.

Think about it. Most graphite rods are great but are judged with some add on that makes them excellent, whether it's a floating bobbler or spring bobbler, I have yet to see a graphite rod -- even thorne's rods -- have the sensitivity that the P.N. has. Fishing a PN with a bobbler would only decrease it's sensitivity.

Depending on what type of fishing you are looking for -- either bobbler or rod-holder based fishing where the rod is more of a tool to help land the fish, or actively deadsticking finicky or feisty pannies where the rod is used in detecting fish strikes -- clearly there is a situation where the PN has no competition.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Power Noodle is definitely in a class of it's own. Thorne Bros has really developed a unique rod in the PN. Like Trouthunter said, the tip of the PN is like no other. I have used the PN for jigging, as well as for deadsticking. It works well in both situations, but I'd personally prefer the Sweet Thing or Finesse Plus with a spring bobber if I was finesse jigging a pod of gills or crappies. The St. Croix Legend Ice rods work well for this too.

One of the first panfish rods I got from Thorne Bros was the Power Noodle. Bob Horn and I hit the ice last winter and he got to see it in action, I also let CrappieTom use it when out on Minnetonka for the ICE Series last year. Maybe they can comment on it as well (when Tom eventually gets back in town smile.gif)...

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I second the choice for Tica reels. I use the Croix Legend rods. I have for the last 4 season before Croix picked them up. I have used the Thorne Bros rods ( when matt wasn`t looking) and indeed they are good rods. You will not go wrong with either rod. You will need to pick a rod that is right for YOU. I like the spring on the Croix but that might not work for you so get what will work and enjoy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bob Horn in action...

bobwalleye.JPG

Mille Lacs Walleye

BobHorngill-171x148.jpg

Metro Area Sunfish

BobHorncrappie-181x173.jpg

Metro Area Crappie

Quite the adventure traveling from Illinois to MN for a little ice fishing. Always a pleasure hitting the ice with Bob. Those St. Croix Legend Ice rods have been his little magic wands out on the ice. Great ice rod that's for sure!

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Have you guys had the Tica reels die on you? I have had 3 but one lasted two seasons and then was done, I mean D-U-N. I have Pinnacles that are 10 yrs old. I have Diawas that are older than 2 yrs and still great. My buddy had one Yica die after only one season.

The Ticas are the smoothest reel when you first string them up tho.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would have to go along with BHorn on the Legends. I saw him work his little magic fishing wand last winter also. It seems to catch fish that's for sure!

I have only had a couple TICA's for a year and haven't had any problems yet.

Hope to get a chance to try out a Thorne Bros rod sometime as well. What about the JR line of combos? I have heard many good things about those too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

ivegottabite-

Be careful when you finally try out a TB rod, it starts a dangerous chain of events. I currently feal undergunned with 5 different Thorne rods. I've got 2 or 3 more I'm going to pick up for this winter- probably a couple pannie rods, another walleye sweetheart, and probably a Professional Plus for outside fishing pike & lakers. Ooops, thats 4 rods. grin.gif

They will probably all get Tica reels also. I have been pleasantly surprised with my Ticas I bought last winter. I only have 1 good winter of use on them with no complaints or problems. Mine are the gold colored SS500s (I think). Gander had a great price on them later season also.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have only had a short bit of experience with a Thorne rod as Matt has mentioned. It performed as one would expect for a spendier piece of equipment. The rod was able to "show" hits very well and often times when the wind was messing with that ability the hit was felt.

The St.Croix is one that I have seen in action, but like the Thorne rods, my exposure is quite limited. What I have seen of the St.Croix rods is that the spring feature makes them exceptional at detecting hits that would otherwise go un-noticed. And as with the Thorne, the Croixs are very spendy.

As with any piece of tackle, I really do not like to say much unless I have had the winter (or summer) to really put it to test the way I fish. While I have been around these units and have seen others doing well with them, my own involvement has been, at best, minimal. I'd jump all over the opportunity to try these more but I sure as heck cannot afford them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been running Tica reels for the past few winters and I've never had a problem. Everything from the LF500 to the SS500. I usually hit the ice several times per week and I've been out in blistering cold weather and the reels have always performed for me. I use them for a variety of species as well. Countless hours on each one of my Tica's and they are still going strong. I even switch some of them over to my open water panfish rods without any problems...

Which Tica's have you been using where you've experienced problems? Sometimes you will get a bad reel, it happens with any brand. The bearings can wear out faster on occassion as well. The 2 ball bearing models can wear down in a couple seasons if they are left out. That goes with many reels.

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

Link to comment
Share on other sites

To bad you had a bad experience with them Seaguar. They have been great for me I have 3 LF500 and 3 SS500 the silver or platinum ones. I have not had one problem with any of them. I have had the LF for 2 years and I only have 1 year on the SS. But they have all worked flawlessly. I have gotten two friends converted they both got the SS500 gold one and they love them as well. So like Matt said there is a good chance you just got a lemon.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have been using Tica's for three years now, they are on four or five of my rods, I dont remember the model number but they were sold for 49.99 at Sportsmen's, another good reel I liked to run was the Pflueger President's, Abu Cardinals they are also really good choices to link up with.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I own 6 Tica reels and use them 3-4 times a week in the winter and 3 of them go on my ultralights in the summer and one went on a eye rod.I have not to this date had a problem with any of them.A+++++

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No wonder why you can't afford any gas Hanson, your to busy worrying about buying 2-3 more TB rods when you already have 5 of them! HOLY GUNS kid grin.gif

Folks, I think we have an addict here cool.gif

I have had great success with my tica's. After I'm done on the ice, I run my reels on my summer ultra lites and med. lites...no problems with bearing system. To bad you have had problems with them because I would recommend them to anybody I know!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • By The way that didn't work either!! Screw it I'll just use the cellular. 
    • It’s done automatically.  You might need an actual person to clear that log in stuff up.   Trash your laptop history if you haven’t tried that already.
    • 😂 yea pretty amazing how b o o b i e s gets flagged, but they can't respond or tell me why I  can't get logged in here on my laptop but I can on my cellular  😪
    • I grilled some brats yesterday, maybe next weekend will the next round...  
    • You got word censored cuz you said        B o o b ies….. haha.   Yeah, no… grilling is on hiatus for a bit.
    • Chicken mine,  melded in Mccormick poultry seasoning for 24 hours.  Grill will get a break till the frigid temps go away!
    • we had some nice weather yesterday and this conundrum was driving me crazy  so I drove up to the house to take another look. I got a bunch of goodies via ups yesterday (cables,  winch ratchet parts, handles, leaf springs etc).   I wanted to make sure the new leaf springs I got fit. I got everything laid out and ready to go. Will be busy this weekend with kids stuff and too cold to fish anyway, but I will try to get back up there again next weekend and get it done. I don't think it will be bad once I get it lifted up.    For anyone in the google verse, the leaf springs are 4 leafs and measure 25 1/4" eye  to eye per Yetti. I didnt want to pay their markup so just got something else comparable rated for the same weight.   I am a first time wheel house owner, this is all new to me. My house didn't come with any handles for the rear cables? I was told this week by someone in the industry that cordless drills do not have enough brake to lower it slow enough and it can damage the cables and the ratchets in the winches.  I put on a handle last night and it is 100% better than using a drill, unfortatenly I found out the hard way lol and will only use the ICNutz to raise the house now.
    • I haven’t done any leaf springs for a long time and I can’t completely see the connections in your pics BUT I I’d be rounding up: PB Blaster, torch, 3 lb hammer, chisel, cut off tool, breaker bar, Jack stands or blocks.   This kind of stuff usually isn’t the easiest.   I would think you would be able to get at what you need by keeping the house up with Jack stands and getting the pressure off that suspension, then attack the hardware.  But again, I don’t feel like I can see everything going on there.
  • Topics

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.