deadstick?

[apegs]

Another dumb question, What is a dead stick,is it a type of rod?

[fishin4life...]

Yes, its a rod. They have an extremly soft tip and then in the middle of the rod they get stiff to fight the fish. Most guys attach a minnow and sinker, place the dead stick in a rod holder, and watch the rod for a bite. The tip should be soft enough where the fish shouldn't notice any resistance.

[riverrat56]

A dead stick can be a type of rod, but it refers to a technique and a rod in general.

The technique is to fish a small jig and minnow or grub on a tight line but with no bobber, you fish the rod by putting it in a rod holder or on top of a pail and watching it, hence the name "dead" stick. This is usually done right next to a jigged bait.

Any rod with a very soft, slow loading tip would work well for this. 2 examples are the Thorne Bro Power Noodle (I think?) and the Jason Mitchell Meat Stick.

[apegs]

sounds like a good technique, is this generally done for waleye or just any bigger fish in general?

[harvey lee]

Acouple of very good deadsticks to consider if your looking to purchase one would be the Jason Mitchell Meatstick or the Thorne Bros deadstick. Both are very good rods and they both will get the job done the same.

http://www.thornebros.com/winter/rods/thorne/dead_stick.html

http://jasonmitchellrods.com/ice.php

I like to use a deadstick when I'm jigging a spoon and have a plain hook and a minnow on the deadstick about a foot off the bottom. many times the jigging will attract them and then they will smack the minnow on the deadstick. The soft tip will let one see the fish bite.

[Chode2235]

What is the advantage of the dead stick over a tip up?

How do you set it so a good fish wont take your new Thorne Bros, or JM rod down the hole with it?

I get nervous leaving my line "unattended" on the ice.

[Craigums]

Why wouldn't you just use a bobber? Then you can use any rod you want.

[evinrude19]

im with craigums with this one i have used a deadstick before and i tend to like the bobber more

[fishwater]

Both work. I've found times when a deadstick is far more effective, I imagine the fish doesn't hold the bait long enough for a bobber style hookset in these situations. I've also found times were the bobber is the way to go too. I prefer to deadstick if I can.

[PerchJerker]

I love deadsticking, I almost never use a bobber any more.

I put my deadstick rods in rod holders, with the tips over the hole. When the rod tip bends down (or goes up if the fish puts some slack in the line), you pick up the rod and set the hook in one motion, and the fish is on.

I think there's several advantages over bobber fishing - no knots to freeze, no knots to move, no extra resistance from the bobber, don't have to worry about setting depth you just drop it to the bottom and bring it up a few inches, etc. Besides being effective, it's really a convenient way to fish.

I use Mitchell Meatsticks and have been happy with them.

[Craigums]

Just got the new In-Fisherman and there is an article on deadsticking for walleyes. didnt get to read it as I was to busy watching DeAngello Williams run wild for the panthers last night but If anyone is interested it may be worth checking out

[apegs]

Now with the dead sticking rod is it usually sitting right off the bottom?

[Wookiee]

6 inches to a foot for me.

[apegs]

not the dead stick but the spoon that you are trying to attract the fish with do you use a minnow on there as well?

[Wookiee]

Almost always just a head. If I have a whole minnow on a spoon its usually on the deadstick.

[L_Cappo]

i dont use a special rod.just a jig or a plain hook with a minnow.and just let it sit.deadsticking is very affective.works very well on lotw .

[looneyducer]

That In-Fisherman article is pretty good, though they stick with a wide-gap jighead for a hook. In my experience, a swedish pimple with a short dropper hook works better.

[apegs]

Almost always just a head. If I have a whole minnow on a spoon its usually on the deadstick.

With the dead stick do you use a classic round jig or what ever you want?