Product reviews and Field testing...

[Corey Bechtold]

I thought I'd start a thread to go along with the "What's working now" thread.

There are so many products for us avid fisherpeople so I thought we could talk about what we use and why we like it. Let's keep it on the positive only because we don't need bashing of products.

Good fishing,

Corey Bechtold

[Scott M]

I'll get it started.

Corey, Good meeting you at Thorne's tonight. Wish I could be fishing but have too much studying tonight. Good luck on your bluegill trips. I'm sure you'll do well up near Rapids...lots of good lakes up that way. Looks like my second weekend in January is spoken for by the Mrs.

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I like (as well as many other FM members) the Tica Cetus line of spinning reels. Tonight I bought another LF500 Spinning Reel. 2 Ball Bearings, 6 ounces of weight, instant anti-reverse, I had 95 yards of 4 pound P-line FluoroIce (another great product BTW) added. I actually came to the store to get another reel but they didn't carry it and I really wanted to fish a new reelless rod tomorrow so I went with a product I've used and trusted.

Everything was pretty much ready to fish out of the box but I went home and added a little quantum hot sauce (another great product) to the reel and it's about as smooth a reel as you can get for under $30 and 2 ball bearings.

No bull, a great reel. Hopefully I can mention a few other products as the year goes on that have helped me ice a panny or two.

[Cletus]

I like the Tica Cetus line of reels as well. I have the 4 ball bearing cetus on my med-heavy St Croix Legend, and the 2 ball bearing cetus on my Lite St Croix Legend.

I use 6# Fireline Crystal ice on the med-heavy croix. And 2# P-Line flourocarbon on the lite. I use 1/8 or 1/16 spoons when jigging... Rattl'n Flyer spoon has been successful. for pannies, genz bug and genz worm tipped with larva or waxies.

Will have more to report as I get out on the ice a little more often.

[EatSleepFish]

I'll have to vouch for the Genz Stik series of rods.

I have owned a pair of these rods for a couple years now, and am very pleased with the sensitivity and cork handle that is necessary for fishing any light-biting panfish.

I personally go with the 23" rod since it is the perfect length and power that I mainly use.

Another product that can't go unmentioned (In my book at least) is a Vexilar. I can't imagine fishing without mine!

[Corey Bechtold]

I'll second the Vexilar thought. I am on my second year with my FL-20 and all I can say is this unit is awesome!!! I really like the flat screen, especially when it is snowing outside. It also is very easy to clean off the splashed up water from pulling fish out of the holes. Another feature that I really like is the Night View mode. This makes viewing at night easy on the eyes.

My friend also has the FL-12 and is very impressed. He rigged his on the Genz Blue Box with a Ram unit. He also put a Ram mount on the side for his Lowrance H20. Another good combination idea!

Good fishing,

Corey Bechtold

[Matt Johnson]

Gotta throw in a few props for some of the plastic options...

Little-Atom Nuggies and Micro Nuggies are hot hot hot! Been working very well on both crappies and gills. Also have to add the Lindy Tiny Tails in the Micro Minnow (yes, Corey, they are back with us and I'll get you some ). The purple is dynamite! Also can't look past the Berkley 2-inch Power Minnow as being one of the most deadly crappie slayers of all time through the ice! Tipped on a collarless jighead and you're ready to rock! And of course the Custom Jigs and Spins Ratso in size 6 or 4.

As far as rods go, tough to beat the new 36-inch Thorne Bros Panfish Sweetheart when running and gunning with plastics outside. Incredible power yet has a very quick and responsive tip. Very sensitive. Had a smile on my face all day while running around with that rod Put on a Tica Cetus SS500 and you're good to go!

I'm also excited to try out a few different options for panfish... going to try and wacky-rig a cut-down version of Senko for big crappies... I think that slow-falling action is going to be the ticket on those weary big slabs!

[Corey Bechtold]

I just picked up some Micro Nuggies and can't wait to try them out!

The Thorne Bros. line of Ice rods is simply amazing. I just picked up a 24" Power Noodle to go with my growing arsenal of their rods. So far their rods have blown my mind. They fish great, have excellent backbone, hook setting power and are light and responsive. My favorite rod so far has been the 32" Panfish Sweetheart Outside rod and the new 36"er I picked up this year. I used to think twice about spending a little more money for an Ice rod but after icing so many fish with their rods I think they were a good investment.

I'll let you know how the new Power Noodle works as I hope to bang some nice Bluegills with this rod soon!

Good luck,

Corey Bechtold

[Team Otter]

Yet another vote for Vexilar. I love my FL-20. What a unit! Besides what has already been mentioned, I love the 'low power' 20' mode for shallow water fishing too. The 6' and 12' Auto Zoom is tough to beat as well.

[Corey Bechtold]

I picked up a reel a few weeks ago and after using it once I decided to buy another. That reel is the Mitchell Avocet II G-500ULF. This is the "reel" deal! This reel sports 8 ball bearings and an oversized bail system which is easy to grab with cold fingers. The drag is very smooth as well. The best part is this reel weighs in at roughly $29 bucks! A great reel for the money.

Good fishing,

Corey Bechtold

[Kyle Sandberg]

I got the Lowarnce X67c this past fall and so far it is working awesome. The target seperation of it so very good and the interference in nowhere near as bad as some people make it sound.

I would also like to give my kudos to the Fireline Crystal Ice. So far it has proved itself a very strong line and has worked excelent so far. BTW, I caught a 5lb walleye on 2lb test.

[Cyberfish]

I have done good on bluegills with makiplastics in various shapes and colors. they also work good on crappie too!

[rockman]

I have to throw in a plug for the Abu Garcia Cardinal 300 series reels, of which I have several of the 300 UL's, and the 301's.I have used the 301's for open water use, and they worked fine for panfish and walleyes.I also have a couple of the Cardinal 100 series,specifically 101's.The 100's work well, with 5 ball bearings,but the 300's, with 7 ball bearings are smoother.I am looking forward to giving the 300's a workout on the ice.I know most retailers have the Cardinal 300's.The price is a bit less than the Tica reels,and comparable to the Mitchell Avocet.

[polarsusd81]

Quote:

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I'm also excited to try out a few different options for panfish... going to try and wacky-rig a cut-down version of Senko for big crappies... I think that slow-falling action is going to be the ticket on those weary big slabs!

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Matt,

Do you guys have the 2" baby senkos at Thorne? I ordered some of them from the Yamamoto HSOforum, they had overstock in a couple different colors for around 2 bucks a bag. This my friend is one of my favorite new ways to fish pannies. I rigged them up on a #6 Gamakatsu octopus hook on my 4'-6" ultra light for a little open water fishing on a recent trip to the south and had a lot of fun. Using that combo on 3 lb test was a blast, and I ended up catching a monster bass at 7 lbs even on it. Nothing like pulling a big bass out of timber on an ultra light. I also caught some large crappies and gills on them.

Don't underestimate the power of plastics.

Here is a pic of the bass.

[clamtrap]

the fl-20 is the real deal, great unit.

[Jim Hudson]

A few things for this year... For Panfish especially is some new stuff from Little Atom... The Micro Nuggie has proven to be a killer on bulls this season already and the new glow colors for the already popular line-up of plastics have been a big hit.. Especially the Atomic Glo Purple..

For fishing line, a new line I was introduced too, called Vicious.. Great Fluorocarbon from this company. Very limp and pliable in the cold.. Also, their co-polymer has been working good.. Have also used Triple Fish line, and that stuff is great as well, but man, it is a bugger to spool up with the square edge the spool has.

[fishcast]

I have used a pack shack this year and really enjoy it when sight fishing since it is real dark in there. Also it is one of the cheapest shacks, and while you cant be too rough on it, I think it is real nice for the price. Only thing is it isn't the greatest in the wind.

I also really like the little atom plastics, they are good quality, and have great movement with even light quivers of the rod. I've been doing real well with wedgees and duppies.

I've also bought a 26 perch Mitchel rod the other week and really like the way it feels. I was using 4lb trilene micro ice and an 1/8 lindy rattler spoon (which also worked well) for perch, and I thought the combo performed real well.

Also another person liking the fl-20, I really like the colors of the Vexilar when fishing in weeds, and looking at the bottom signals and echos for lake bottom makeup.

[Corey Bechtold]

I wanted to add another field testing note for everybody. Last weekend while fishing for Panfish I hooked a big fish on my Thorne Bros 24" Power Noodle. I switched my reel to backreel and take some of the stress off the drag. Even though my 2lb Stren High Vis Gold line was right against the hole I was able to get the fish in.

I still am totally amazed what this combo can do.

Good fishing,

Corey Bechtold

[Borch]

 Originally Posted By: Corey Bechtold

I picked up a reel a few weeks ago and after using it once I decided to buy another. That reel is the Mitchell Avocet II G-500ULF. This is the "reel" deal! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> This reel sports 8 ball bearings and an oversized bail system which is easy to grab with cold fingers. The drag is very smooth as well. The best part is this reel weighs in at roughly $29 bucks! A great reel for the money.

Good fishing,

Corey Bechtold

I've gotta agree Corey. I have the larger Avocet II G-750 on one of my walleye rods and picked up the ultralight for my son's new rod. They are very smooth and have a great smooth drag which is so important. The price is also an attractive feature. In fact I picked up the 750 for $19

[CALVINIST]

Cory,

Did you catch that bass up north with us? Great pic, and what a piggie!

Next week I'll be in Fridley, so I think I'll pop into Thorne and buy the TB 24" Noodle rod for panfish. I liked the Jason Mitchell Meatstick while I had it, (a noodle rod for panfish and walleyes), but I accidentally broke it, so now I would rather deal with a local ouitfit like Thorne for my rods. That being said I do like the JM spring bobber rod, JM sight fishing rod. Also have the JM 28" walleye rod, but haven't really caught enought fish on it to put it to the test. I also recently bought some of the Micro-Nuggies in glow, but haven't tried 'em out yet.