Best ice rod?

[Guest]

I am looking for a new ice rod for crappie fishing and walleye fishing. About light action.
What brand do you prefer?
I am leaning towards Frabill but i haved never tried one and was wondering if there was a better brand out there?

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FISHSTUNNER

[vern]

I like the Thorne Brothers rods, but the Berkley Genz rods are nice for the price. I can't wait to check out the new St. Croix rods. Vern

[al jr]

cabela's came out with a new xml ice rod last year in many different actions now they have a combo that seems like a good deal. i bought one last year in grand forks for $15 less than in the catalog and was very impressed.

[Jim W]

If you can get one custom made I strongly recommend it. Rarely can you find a store purchased ice rod 30 inches or more.
Having a light and long rod can really help with crappie and walleye fishing for sensetivity, hook set and a good feel for what your jig or spoon is doing down below.

If you haven't tried a longer and light rod for ice fishing give it a try, pretty confident you'll like it.

Other wise, spend a little time checking out all of the rods and several locations. If in a hurry, you'll pay the price!

Keep the rods bendin'!!!!

Jim W

[metrojoe]

Have you ever looked at any of the HT Enterprise ice rods. I've got a couple of the Signature Series rods for crappie fishing. The top 4 to 6 inches of the rod is super sensitive for the light bite, but it's not flimsy at all. The rest of the rod has some back bone for great hook sets. The only draw back is they are more fragile than most rods.

joe

[Steve Foss]

I think metrojoe is on the right track. Action is more important than brand. If you want one rod for both species, it needs to have the backbone to handle a nice 'eye, but a sensitive tip. I'd avoid those noodly rods that easily bend all the way to the butt. I've got Berkley, HT, Bad Dog and a couple other brands. They're all good if the action's good.

[Guest]

Genz Rods by Berkely are my favorite. For the price you can't beat it. Graphite blanks, titanium guides, and solid cork handle. They come in various lengths and styles. I have three for crappie/gill fishing and two for walleye/pike. $30 a piece is a great deal. If I didn't go with the Genz Rod I'd go with Thorne Bros. A great rod but a little more expensive.

Good Fishin, Matt.

[metrojoe]

Hey Sport, err.. I mean Exudedude

You were the one that gave me the info about the A-frame. I haven't been up there since the last hard water season. As I recall we did pretty well. I threw out a few tip-ups and to my suprise we caught a few nice Large mouth. Speaking of Large mouth don't you fish the Team Bass Tournaments?. How'd you do this year?. I see your still making your own ice rods.

joe

[Deitz Dittrich]

MetroJoe,

yep fished team bass this year again, didn't take it as seriously, most of the lakes were a long drive and I just didn't put the time in to prefish much.. My partner and I won the tournament on Alexander with a little over 20 lbs on 6 fish, and I won 1 other tournament that was an open on WhiteBear Lake, other than that I didn't do to well, nothing worth bragging about at least!

Shoot me an e-mail sometime
[email protected]

[Deitz Dittrich]

I'm going to second the idea of Custom rods. I couldn't find one I liked, got a book from the library and decided to make myself ice rods. I use Loomis blanks, you can sometimes get them cheep becaus they are flawed near the handle area.. cut it off and make a great ice rod!

metrojoe- I beleve we used to chat in another ice fishing forum a few years ago... I used the user name Sport, somebody had already taken it, So now Exudedude! Didn't you come up and fish Chisago a few times?