bait cast reel on the ice

[planofslayer]

Do any of you guys use bait cast reels on the ice for Walleye? If so what brand, model, etc, etc do you suggest? I was looking at the 32" thorne bros rods, both glass and graphite, and saw they were available with bait cast reel seats. Thx ahead of time for your input.

[knoppers]

I mostly use baitcasters for lakers, but they do work for willys. I spool them with 10 pound line, so they work great for all.

[Ed Carlson]

A Shimano Cardiff 100 or 101 class makes a nice ice reel. I have a 101 on a Jason Mitchell Elite Series 36MH Mackinaw rod, spool up with 6/20 Power Pro.

A very light palm sized high performing reel/rod combo, I love it.

*The Shimano Cardiff 100 holds 120yds of 12lb line, the 200 holds 120yds of 14lb line and the Cardiff 300 holds 110yds of 20lb line.

*Super Stopper anti-reverse for instantaneous hook-sets.

*5.8:1 retrieve ratio.

*The Cardiff series features a one-piece, die-cast aluminum body and a precision aluminum spool, all presented in classic gold/copper/bronze livery.

[candiru]

I use them all the time. For bobber lines I just set in a rodholder and with the freespool on the fish can take the line it needs. I have also used them without a bobber and set the freespool up so the fish can take the jig with very little pressure against it. For jigging I like the slow-fall. I believe this has triggered strikes for me. I also like being able to hit the freespool and just set the rod down if I have to attend to something else. I think Thorne brothers will put a baitcast type handle on any of their rods for a few extra bucks. For reels the ones that have the bigger level wind guide work the best (particullarly using bobber-stops). In the last couple of years I have picked up some low-end Abu Garcia ambassaders for around 50 bucks at wally world.

[planofslayer]

I'm so thankful for the replies. candiru what model of Abu Garcia do you use? I like the looks of the Shimano too.

[candiru]

I think it is a 5000 something series, pretty bare bones, they are red and I picked them up at Wal-Mart for 40 or 50 bucks. This was a couple of years ago. They all seem to work. For some applications a clicker might be nice. It is just that with a bobber stop and fishing outside the one with the small level wind guide can ice up and keep the bobber stop from going into the reel.

I should not call them baitcasters. In my hands they are trolling reels.

[looneyducer]

All the lettering is worn off; I can't tell. Great reel, though.

[knoppers]

I use nothing but shimano now, I have used the abu-garcia and they are very good reels. I don't think you can go wrong with either.

[Borch]

I have Abu Garcia 4600s spooled with 12 on my Jason Mitchell Mackinaw Laker rod. Should work great for working bigger walleye baits as well.