Ugly Stik Ice Combos

[Dakota Iceman]

I just picked up a closed face 24" combo for my 7 year old boy for when he goes fishing with me this year. I went with the closed faced (lever release style)for a couple of reasons...First so im not retying and restringing line constantly this year out in the shack and also for the durability/warranty on these little units. 7 year on the rod. Kids are kinda rough so i figured this was the way to go and on sale at cabelas for 24.00 bucks. Anyone have thoughts or experience with the Ugly's?

[Polar Bear]

No experience with the uglys as such but I have tried closed face reels thru the ice. I didn't like them at all. First, unless you can keep your reel warm the line will freeze up and you end up unscrewing the face to dig out the line. Secondly, I usually fish with a bobber stop and have had trouble getting the stop out of the little hole in the face of the closed face reels, this might not be a problem if you got a reel with an over-sized hole in the face. Third is the drag. On my closed face reels I can not get the drags to operate smoothy enough to handle the occasional northern or even larger walleye that unexpectedly hits my light panfish rig.

Polar Bear

[pikemania]

I like the ugly stick combo with an open faced reel. That is the only reel I would use for ice fishing. I would stay far away from a closed face reel. Nothing but bad things happen with those and ice fishing. I would recomend the open face reel and teach your son how to work the bail system and you will be a lot happier.

[rockhardinmn]

try that ugly stick with an open face reel and whatever line you like to use for whatever fish, sunnys, crappies, wallys . you will find it is a pretty sensative rod rigged right with plenty of back bone to pull wallys in the 28" to 30" range . match the rig to the type of fish your after is a key to me . i rig mine with 4 uglys with light / ultalight reels with spiderline 2lb diameter line and a gapen clip on bobber. this way if i want to jig a small spoon or deadstick a minnow i can easily

[Teach-D]

To everybody out there, I am presently about to "gear up," for the ice fishing season. I only have gone after sunfish and crappies usually. My question is what pound fish line should I use for walleyes. I am very partial to the smallest lightest line possible. For crappies and sunfish I use 2 lbs. line and it has worked great! Can I get by with 4lbs. test for walleyes or do I want to go even stronger? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks all!!