Thorne Bros... Getting Ready for Ice!!!

[Matt Johnson]

Ice fishing is right around the corner, and I don't know about the rest of you, but I've been tinkering with my ice gear all summer waiting for the day when ice forms once again Now as we near the long awaited arrival of that first sheet of ice, it’s time to start focusing on a plan of attack and to make sure our gear is up to par and ready for another fun filled winter season. I always make a stop at Thorne Bros Custom Rod and Tackle in Fridley, Minnesota to help me prepare for the up-coming ice fishing season.

Thorne Bros, as well as know, offers an excellent assortment of custom-made ice fishing rods, ranging everything from extreme finesse fishing for pannies, all the way to heavy hard-jerkin rods for lakers and muskie, and literally everything in between. Panfish, perch, walleye, bass, pike, catfish, lake trout, muskies… Thorne Bros makes a rod for the situation.

I’m very fond of their panfish line of rods (probably has something to do with myself being a panfish geek ) and I truly feel they are in a class of their own. Whether you’re sitting over a tightlipped pod of bluegills with the Finesse Plus and a spring bobber, or an insane school crappies with the Panfish Sweet Heart, Thorne Bros offers a rod for any panfish situation. Some of my favorites are the Sweet Thing Plus, Power Noodle, Finesse Plus and the ever popular Sweet Heart Plus.

Moving on from Panfish to Perch, Thorne Bros offers a few perch options that cater to the needs of both the aggressive and finesse style perch angler. Labeled as the Perch Sweet Heart, they present options for inside and outside jigging rods. By inside and outside I mean your location in or out of a portable fish house. The inside rod provides a shorter handle and the choice of a slightly shorter rod. The inside rod comes in a 28 or 32 inch version. The outside rod provides a longer handle (for better grip/control with gloves on) as well as oversized fuji alconite eyelets to help reduce ice-up. The outside rod comes in a 32 inch version.

While the perch rods can be used for panfish, walleye and bass as well, Thorne Bros makes several options that are designed specifically for walleye and larger gamefish. The Walleye Sweet Heart Plus is one of Thorne Bros most popular rods. The Walleye Sweet Heart is also offered in an inside and outside version. Whether you’re targeting walleye with a jig and minnow, or a jigging spoon or swimming lure, there is an action/feel that will suit your needs. Choose from 9 options that range in actions from medium to medium-heavy, and lengths from 28 – 32 inches. These options allow the ice angler to effectively target walleye throughout any winter conditions.

A line of rods that really caught my eye in recent years was the Professional Plus and Laker Breaker line of Thorne Bros Ice Rods. Maybe this is mostly due to that fact that I’ve been trying to pursue more species, but nonetheless, these more powerful, yet fast, style of rods have really become a part of my arsenal. Choose for a rod that ranges anywhere from 32 to 45 inches, with actions allowing you to accommodate any big game situation. I like working a 36 inch Professional Plus for catfish and pike. Couple these rods with your favorite open-water reel and you have yourself a very comfortable, balanced system.

One last series of rods that I would like to mention are Thorne Bros Dead Stick line. I save these for last because I feel these are Thorne Bros most unique line of ice rods that really offer something that no one else does. As stated on Thorne Bros website, “A requested custom rod from Doug Stange. Designed as a minnow rod without the hassle of bobber stops or set floats. Limber tip allows angler a visual check of minnow action and detects the lightest of strikes while producing very little resistance to fish. This rod really shines as a stationary rod while you jig with another rod. This solid glass rod features oversized guides for minimal ice build up when fishing outside.” Dead sticking has become more and more popular in recent years, and this rod from Thorne Bros, is in my mind, the epitome of dead stick rods. For anyone who has used one of these, they can vouch for their performance for being in a class of their own. Dead sticking is a technique that has helped me become a more productive ice angler, and for a variety of species and conditions. The Thorne Bros Dead Stick line of ice rods has really assisted me in that productivity.

For more info on Thorne Bros Custom Ice Rods – Click Here

Outside of Thorne Bros many options of custom ice rods; they also offer a store full of tackle and fishing equipment. With several brands and options to choose from, Thorne Bros is packed full of ice fishing goodies, not to mention their staff is some of the more knowledgeable anglers in the area who provide some outstanding insight and info for anyone who stops in willing to learn a thing or two. My stops at Thorne Bros are usually not too short

See everything that Thorne Bros has to offer by checking out there website… www.ThorneBros.com

Or visit their store in Fridley, Minnesota.

Ice fishing will be here before we know it, and I’m looking forward to another exciting year!!

[Jim Hudson]

Gotta love them Thorne Bros Rods!!!

[Random guy]

I have a couple of Thorne ice rods that I use for sunnies. I like a super soft rod that still has some feel to it. Yes with the Thorne Rods you can have your cake and eat it to! I went in and told them what I was looking for and the staff asked me a few questions, next thing you know I have a couple of pefect sunnie rods. I just wish those rods got used more.

[Matt Johnson]

Well Jon, it looks like we'll have to hit the ice this winter and put those rods to use

[Pete Riola]

I can vouch for the Thorne Bros rods. I have a few custom ice rods too. I had Bill make me longer handles that fit my style of fishing...nice for going light for big fish.

[iffwalleyes]

Thorne Bros rods are my go to rods. The past couple years I have been building my collection of these. I love the walleye sweet heart rod. The dead stick is awesome. I like these two rod so much that I have two of each. I also have a sweet heart perch that is a nice light rod that has enough to work for walleyes but always you to go light if you need to. All and all I have 7 of there rods now and plan to add more over the course of the year.

[Captain B.R.K]

I didn't know you liked Thorne Bros. rods Matt

Ever since I got my first rod from them, I've been going back to their store year after year. 3 years in all now and I have 5 rods from them--> Deadstick, Professional Plus, Walleye SweetHeart, Perch SweetHeart and their Panfish Sweeheart! I think those are the names of em.

I fish every with one of em' and those are the rods I reach for in my rod bag time and time again. Yes, I have about as many other rod combo's as well

Don't read and ponder any further, Get out and get yourself one of Thorne Broscustom made rods for this winter!!

[Matt Johnson]

Brandon, you sly dog I can still remember when you met me at Thorne Bros that one night and you ended up walking out with a few new rods. Now look at you... a Thorne Bros addict

Make sure you look me up when you're in my area and we'll chase down some pannies...

[Captain B.R.K]

I remember that day too just like it was yesterday

I'll definately take you up on that offer!

[Matt Johnson]

Thorne Bros will also customize any ice rod you want. If you would like a different handle, a longer/shorter blank, more eyelets, etc, it can be done. Another option I like is the ability to choose which color eyelet wrapping you want, a lot of colors to pick from, and you can mix and match too. They can also put your name on an ice rod as well, giving it a truly personalized feel.

It's pretty much a case where you think of it, and they'll help to put your vision in the form of a custom ice rod...

[jig n' jerk]

I like the fact that you can get them custom made, but if you buy the premade ones right off the shelf they are still hard to beat!!Just my $.02.

[Matt Johnson]

I guess I should use the term "custom" lightly, since all Thorne Bros rods are essentially custom made. Every rod is hand-made in the Thorne Bros rod shop to ensure top-quality.

The rod quality is the same whether you have them "customize" a rod for you or whether you buy one pre-made on the shelf. Getting one customized will allow you to change the handle, change the rod length, pick a certain color of guide wrapping, have your name written on the rod, etc.. but the quality will not change.

You get the same Thorne Bros quality whether you buy one pre-made at their store (or online) or have it customized to your liking.

I have Thorne Bros rods that are right from the shelf, and others that have been customized to my liking, all of which are outstanding rods and you really can't go wrong either way...

Some people just prefer a longer handle, while other people prefer a couple extra inches of rod blank for certain fishing conditions and techniques... these are just couple of the reasons where customizing a rod comes into play...

[Random guy]

I would have to say that Thorne Bros definetly puts care into the handmade or custom rods. I have been using them for a long time and have never had an eye come loose, cork come apart or any lack in workmanship at all. This says alot for anything that can stand up to the abuse I put my gear through.

[iffwalleyes]

I managed to make it to the cities over my thanksgiving holiday weekend from ND. So one of my main stops I wanted to make was at Thorne Bros. after ordering several of their rods from the HSOforum and over the phone over the past couple years. I was not disappointed at all. I managed to find a couple new rods that I felt I couldn't live without. It was nice to be able to look over their selection in person and to be able to hold and work the different models over. Their HSOforum does a great job and I have yet to be disappointed but it sure was nice to finally be able to get there to check things out. So my Thorne selection of rods continues to grow I decided to buy another Stone Legacy Revolution to hold all of them.

[Matt Johnson]

I just had a Walleye Sweet Heart Outside rod made up a couple weeks ago and I picked it up over Thanksgiving. I had them wrap it in yellow and blue as well as put my name on it. Turned out great! Their line of outside rods are very nice, and I'll be adding the Panfish Sweet Heart Outside rod to my arsenal in the next couple weeks!

Again, if you're hole hopping outside during cold conditions, the outside rods are the way to go. Those slightly larger alconite guides freeze-up a whole lot less than most guides, which really limits frustration some days. For those who chase URL crappies often, then the 32-inch Panfish Sweet Heart Outside rod is the way to go in my opinion. A little longer rod with more backbone and power, yet the tip is still very fast. It's also very sensitive if you want to finesse those slabs as well...

[ChuckN]

I made it to the Thorne Bros. store for the first time after turkey day in search for a new rod bag. I had a couple different units in mind until I saw Thorne's own rod bag. I looked it over, compared it with others, and I bought it. The price was very attractive too, especially with the "crazy" Thorne pricing sale over the weekend. I will be back if I make it that way again.

[iffwalleyes]

Ya Matt those outside 32" sweethearts are awesome that is one of the rods that I got. It was a tough decision between that one and a 32" pro graphite also a very nice rod. I also got a 32" deadstick. I have 2 of each of these models in the 28" but I really like the feel of the longer rod. I am sure they will ice several fish for me.

[Matt Johnson]

iffwalleyes,

You'll have to let me know what you think of the 32-inch Panfish Sweet Heart Outside rod after you get a chance to use it. I'm going to try and get one made in a 29-inch version if possible. I'll have to see how it tapers out and what the action is like first though. The 32-inch is tough to beat, but I think I might like a little shorter rod for finessing finicky fish.

I have the 36-inch Professional Plus and I like that rod a lot. It's a great cat and pike rod. I suppose you could also use it for lakers too, but I'd say it's a tad on the light side for that. The 32-inch version is nice, but I liked the feel of the 36-inch a little more...

I think these new outside rods are going to be some of my favorites this winter when the pannies are on the move and I'm hole hopping outside of a portable. I know the 32-inch Walleye Sweet Heart Outside rod I picked up is going to get a workout this winter. Gonna use that one for walleye, cats and smallies...

[iffwalleyes]

I got the Sweetheart Walleye Outside. Not the panfish one I didn't really say that in my previous post. But I agree with you 100% they are going to be good fairly universal for larger species. Hopefully I can get to Selkirk and get one of those greenbacks on the end of the line.

[Matt Johnson]

Oops, my bad. Either way though, I'd like to hear how you like the outside version of the Thorne rods. So far I'm very impressed...

You're going to put that rod to the ultimate test aren't you... a nice 15 pound greenback!