Why do you need a rod case?

[CNY Tim]

Well it took a friend of mine about 30 mins. of pain and high blood pressure to figure this out personally. It's one of those situations that can be only appreciated by being there. Three of us got out on a good crappie lake and two of the guys I brought out were first timers to this body of water. Anyhow buddy #1 and I are setting up after putting in our LaDredge weedline in. We all have our MarCum's in place and we grab for the rods and get to work. The crappies are on the screen and buddy #1 yells out I got one coming up. Same on my MarCum two crappies below me and I drop down and bang and announce another one coming up. I shout over to buddy #2, "Are you seeing them?" He say's, "Yeah, but my 4 rods are all %$#@& tangled together and I have to cut all the %$#@& lines and re tie."

So here he is cussing at us and telling us to keep quiet as were whacking away at em. I smirk over at buddy #1 and were both trying hard to keep from chuckling as buddy #2 is frantically trying to put a jig on a rod then buddy #1 hook's into another, exciting play by play follows..

What would you do???

A. Rub it in when one your buddies is having equipment problems

B. Suggest a rod case it's a whole lot safer than a bucket

C. Both

We did C and gave him both barrels :^)

[MNmikew]

I have one of those "First Ice" bags and my rods used to get tangled in there all the time, even worse than a bucket. I took an emply paper towel tube and put it over the rods and bingo, no more tangles. Well, at least in the bag that is.

[Satchmo]

Definately C--He who comes unprepared, better be prepared to WATCH and LEARN!

[igotem]

Definately C and relentless at that because you now it will be you some day and I don't think your buddies will be taking it easy on you! It's what makes these outings fun!

[hanson]

"Why do you need a rod case?"

'Cause all my ice fishing combos cost me over $100 a piece! I've got nearly $500 of rods & reels in my Revolution right now and am looking at getting another one for some additional rods. You can call it fanatical but you have to treat that kind of equipment well.

[CNY Tim]

Chris - Fanatical? Were not even talking jigs

[hanson]

Quote:

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Chris - Fanatical? Were not even talking jigs

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I know.

All my tackle is organized and protected as well. Aluminum fly boxes, plastic fly boxes, Plano boxes full of tackle in tackle pouches, plano boxes full of finesse plastics. It would be easier to throw everything together but that makes me less efficient. I need to get my hands on Little Atom's Bug Luggage. That looks like the ticket for some of my smaller panfish tackle.

[Bobb-o]

I have several of the croxton ice rod sleeves and i think they work way better than a rod case, as the rods can still become tangled in the rod cases, but my rods never get tangled cuz they are kept separate from each other.

[gman2002]

hanson, i just got my bug luggage in the mail and it is sweet. might just get another one. still have the plano with the foam in it that i now use for bigger walleye jigs. while filling up my new bug luggage i kept asking myself why does a guy have to buy 4-5 of the same jigs ? must be a guy thing

[harvey lee]

I now have 4 rod cases as after breaking 2 tip-tops on rather spendy rods ,the price of a good bag is cheap.As Hanson said,at 100 for rod and reel and I have 6,very costly to break just one.

I would not throw my guns in the back of a pick up with out a case,not going to do my rods either.

[whitetips]

Its the latest must have to stay organized and not let others see whats tied on, rub it in till it bleeds, in fact I plan on picking one up a Cabelas on the way up to Red for a Kind brother, I myself like the fold out over the tube type because the rods are separated.

[JohnMickish]

I use the Beckman tubes $10 ea. from Thorne Bros) with 2 rod/reel combos in each with no hooks. Never had a tangle taking one out. I use the tiny speed clips for attaching my lures. I just pop the lure off and hook the clip to the hook keeper. Slick as a vaseline covered otter.

[The Grebe]

I was a "Pail Person" always complaing about tangled lines, broken tips on the rods, the usual general mess....until I went fishing with Dan Thiem from Zumbrota.

He had a JR rod case and once I seen it in use, I had to get one. I can carry everything I need and then some, in that case...it's pretty sweet.

Now my bucket has been regulated to the status of a portable seat, a fish carrier and minimal gear carrier, when I'm hole hopping....ya gotta have a bucket of some kind...at least I do!

My rods and reels didn't cost much, but I still don't care to find them broken, or tangled up when I go to use them.

[metrojoe]

The only broken rod I've had this year is the one I didn't take the time to put in the case.

[Captain B.R.K]

I hear ya Hanson on ice combo's being more than $100 a piece! I just won't tell the miss's that information next time I am on the ice

CNY, to bad to hear about your buddies failure to buy an ice rod. Even worse news to hear about Metrojoe not taking the time to put the rod away right....frustrating none-the-less.

I've heard many of those stories and with lots of money invested into my equipment (as I'm sure you have too), I'm not about to worry about having to replace a broken rod or line on mangled combo's.

I am happy to say that I own 3 of the ReadyRig's Ice Pro 34 and couldn't be happier. I typically run 2, at times 3 rod combo's in a case and yet to have a rod tip bust or have lines that ended up in birds nests.

For the deal that is available to FMer's, the time is now to buy them!

Don't wait to end up being "one of those guys"!

[nytelyter]

i have a stone legacy 4x4 long box and i used golf club sleeves cut in half and they fit 3x3 into it for a total of 9 ice rods i do not have reels on them and store them tip down into the sleeves my next purchase will be a s.l. revolution bag for my combos and they should be going on sale soon. you have to love the companies that think about ice fishing as well as open water. ..... paul

[tightlines]

I have been buddy # 2 one time and one time only. Missed out on half of a great bite and next day bought 2 croxton bags. Each holds 3 rods with reels attached. Like someone said, you wouldn't throw your gun in the back of a pickup without a gun case.