Favorite rod and reel combo

[EatSleepFish]

whats yours? I'm sick and tired of buying new rod and reels every year just to have em' break in storage or while fishing. Especially looking for a good quality reel. Can you suggest me a good Ol' betsy?

[Ryan Berger]

Thorne Bros sweetheart plus,, and a tica 650

I have many rods this is the one I go to most,, all of my good rods have the tica/cetus reels on them , well worth the price,,in my mind there is no reason to spend more on gas going somewhere fishing than on the rod-reel you use

[redrocketangler]

my favorite.....hmm has to be a old south bend rod UL with a old shakespeare reel. call me crazy but ive bought new poles and reels and nothing has the same feel.

[fishercat]

If I'm out for crappie in warmer weather I use a

39" J.Higley custom Med.Lite rod w/ a Shimano Sahara 2000FA reel. Great rods and rugged reels ! Last year I pulled a 6 lbs. large mouth and a 17lbs northern in with it on 4lbs test ! Both these fish had crappie in their gullets ! Frozen Puppy Custom Rods make a nice shorter rod for inside the Fish Trap .

[slick814]

St. Croix Premier 28" ML rod with an old Shimano lightweight reel. TX something.. can't even remember the numbers.

Gotta love a set-up that was FREE.... got the rod as a throw-in on a deal I made for my portable, the reel was given to me by a friend. Works great, and the reel doubles as my panfish reel on the open water.

[harvey lee]

Midwest rod or a Thorne Bros rod both with Tica reels. The combination is great.I also use a St. Croix rod also with a Tica.

[DEADhead]

Quote:

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hmm has to be a old south bend rod UL

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I have an old south bend "black ice" IM7 ultralight that I love for the pannies. I think Santa is bringing me a new St. Croix for xmas, and that may take over...

[marine_man]

Definately a midwest or Thorne Brothers paired with a Tica Reel...

The only Thorne's rod I've got is a deadstick that is the best deadstick out there in my opinion... I paired that with a Tica reel and it's one of my favorite setups.. that's for sure...

marine_man

[Walterwontfalter]

Any rod that has a nice walleye on the end of it's line.

[Kodiak]

28" st.croix avid's ML with shimano reels..i used to use berkely mono, but i switched to vanish this year, i think i am going to go back to mono though...no impressed with the vanish seems i am having a ton of problems now with it...

[iffwalleyes]

Depends on what you a looking to spend. If you want the best it is a Thorne Rod. I really don't use anything else myself. I have 2 other rods in my rod bag besides Thornes one of them is a Mid West. I really haven't used the mid west yet but it seem nice. Back when I was in college I used the Genz Berkley Lighting rods and they were good for the money but know the just sit in the corner. Thornes and Ticas are the best in my opinion.

[hanson]

I've got a Thorne Bros. Perch Sweetheart (28" I believe) with a Tica SB500 and that is one heck of a little combo.

As far as I'm concerned, all my ice fishing rods could be that combo but I need heavier walleye rods and lighter panfish rods too. Nothing wrong with a little variety, eh?

While we're talking reels, Tica SB500 and a number of the Shimano reels in the $40-60 range are all going to be awesome ice fishing reels. I haven't found a suitable use for a Abu Ambassadeur 7000 on the ice yet so that one will stay at home.

[Northlander]

32" med/Lt Midwest spinning rod with a Sedona 500 reel on it.

My second would be my Spiral wrapped 46" heavy action Midwest Baitcaster with a Calcuta on it. I use it for deep Lakers on Chequamagon Bay and the Bayfield area.

I have 2 of last years Genz rods in a 28" light with Ticas that I like for Crappies.

[caseymcq]

That is a toughy, favorite rod... it is almost like telling me I can only have one. I like all of my ice fishing rods.

30" Medium Power Berkley Dave Genz Lightning Rod with a Shimano Sedona 500.

Most bang for the buck - 28" Light Gander Guide Series with a Silstar Tiny. I bought the combo last year towards the end of the season for $16!

[mymaro]

favorite rod is the yellow snoopy combo with a soup can.......just jokin

for pannys i use mostly the panfish popper from frabil absolutly love this rod the p10 reel could use a lil more work on the drag

for walleye/bass i have st.croix premier new this year (thanks reeds) this rod can also double as a panny rod because it has a touchy tip to feel the nicks but also has a good backbon for the walleye and bass. i like to keep a buckshoton it so when i see a bass on the cam i drop that downa

[brava-pesca]

I own 2 Tica reels I use for ice fishing and am not a big fan. They lack in the quality department and seem to be affected by real cold weather(reels in hard when fishing in the elements). The ultimate panfish combo is the St. Croix Legend Ice rod paired with a Daiwa Laguna 500. The pair will set you back around $120, however, if you want the best quality will have to pay.