Sight fishing pannies

[Farley]

Long story short, I found some of my panfish rods are too long when sight fishing so I just picked up a really short Jason Mitchell sight fishing rod, cant wait to get out and use it but was looking for a reel to match it up with. I thought I'd just put on one of my walleye reels that wont be used for the rest of the ice season but found they are probably too big for that little rod. Looked around at Gander and didnt find much also looked at Cabelas and Thorne online and couldnt find anything that seemed that much smaller than a standard reel. For those of you who use these tiny rods, what reels do you put on them. I wasnt planning on spending more than $50 on a reel but I guess if that's my only option for a decent reel with no backlash, I'll go that route. Most of the reels I looked at online were 6.3 oz, maybee that's small enough???

[snoozebutton]

Tice Cetus here, I have 3 of them and they're a nice little reel. I do have a Mitchell Avocet on one of them. Both reels are pretty inexpensive.

[Garette Lee]

I have the Mitchell Avocett 2 gold and that is a really nice reel for a great price. Great drag and fits nicely in your hand.

[PerchPounder]

My personal favorite is the Pflueger President 6720x, second would be the Abu Garcia Cardinal 300U, following those would be the smallest Pflueger Trion 4520GX and Cardinal 100U.

[Wookiee]

Another vote for the 6720 and Tica cetus. The drag is better on the president but it stiffens a little bit in the cold where the ticas do not.

[ASMOLEY]

Most of the time if im sight fishing im shallow enough for a jiggle stick...

[fishuhalik]

My favorite reel is my symetre 750. The ticas are nice too, though, and alot less expensive.

[Dark Cloud]

I'll second that Plfueger Trion. For 30 bucks you cant go wrong and you wont find a better drag at any price...

[blackdog1101]

I've got 2 Pflueger Trions and like them quite well.

[KTapper]

What about the St.croix legend I have the 17" one and I really like it, and it has the spring bobber on it.

[Rick G]

All I use for ice fishing are the tica reels. Sheels store brand are nice too and have a lifetime warantee. That is what im going to switch over to for next year.

[BigGills]

I have a Thorne Bros 19" Power Noodle with the 4" cork handle on it. Pat Smith at Thorne's recommended the cheap Shimano 500 which has preformed beautifully. Nice setup!

[jeffstu82]

I would have to agree with some of the previous posters. I have fished with TICA CETUS reels for several years now and prefer them over any other reel.

[Pumkinseed]

I found longer rods work better late ice so the fish don't see you walk up to the hole and get spooked Maybe I'm just scary looking...

[NCLaker]

I own most of the ones mentioned ... you'd be happy fishing panfish with any of these reels. I don't own any of the new Shimano 500's, but tried them in the store - they are very smooth, I'd say on par with the Pflueger President.

[gogophers]

Pumpkinseed, if that's you in your avi picture, I think you're right on!!!

[Drewski]

A mitchell avocet 2 or a cabelas fish eagle would work great. They are all I use for ice fishing.

[TravP]

I use ticas on all my rods but I still dont have a sight rod. By next year I will have one and I'll be putting a fly reel one it. Zero line twist!

[OTBASSER]

I have the Mitchell Avocett 2 gold and that is a really nice reel for a great price. Great drag and fits nicely in your hand.

Very much agreed! I have three of them and love them.

[tacklebox7FF]

if you want a cheep reel to preform well.. I would go with the advocett or the quantum xtralight. small reel lightweight with a good drag

[panfish11]

i agree with the mitchell avocett it is a nice reel that is smooth and cheap and it hold alot of line. but i guess you dont need alot of line for sight fishing since your in probably 3-6 fow . thats my opinion. hope you find what your looking for!