Why is ice fishing still lagging behind in the concept phase of specialization between rod and reel and technique? If you look at walleye fishing, and bass fishing too, rods are designed to match specific techniques to catch your favorite species. If you go to www.stcroixrods.com, they have rods in their Tournament Legend series for both eyes and bass.
When you look through the various companies that produce ice rods, you will actually find some specialization already taking place. Sometimes the best you can find is a short rod vs. a longer rod, for fishing inside and and the other for out of a shanty or house. So one could argue that the rods exist already, you might need a combination of manufacturers to get what you need, but the problem may only exist in the mind of the angler.
The angler who thinks he needs some walleye rods and takes any medium on the shelf, the panfish angler who takes any ultra light that feels right, and the same can be said for pike or lake trout, take a heavy and head toward the checkout. Others look at the action, then the price and heads for the door. So maybe its the angler who needs to take a look at the concepts and apply them to the rod and reel setups he or she chooses.
Here are some panfish applications, and some rods that can fit them:
Sight Fishing: St Croix’s Legend 17 inch with its spring bobber can actually pull double duty for this technique. Used for sight fishing, as well as tightlining outdoors. Frabill’s new Bro Series has a 17 inch road available. Jason Mitchell and HT also make short rods for this method of catching fish.
Finesse Jigging: Both Mitchell with his MeatStick, Bro with the Quicktip, Thorne Bros with the Power Noodle and St. Croix with the Legend series all make rods that can be applied for finessing panfish with light lures and line.
Tightlining: For fishing over deep water with heavier jigs, several 24″ ultra lights fit the bill. This comes to a difficult decision for the angler and you should take some time shopping around to pick out the rod that best fits your needs and wants. Handle several types, feel the tip action and make informed decisions. My fav for this is the 24″ UL Premier from St. Croix, its a bit stiffer, but that is what I want from my rods. If you are the spring bobber kind of angler, look at the Legends or other types available. You might want a tweener rod, like Mitchell’s 20 inch rod, designed by Michigan’s own Bud Faynor, specifically for the tightline technique.
Deadsticking: Once thought of as only a walleye catching technique to use instead of a tip-up, panfish anglers have actually been using the method for years. Some refer to it as a minnow rod, but the concept works the same. A longer, noodle tip rod with some backbone at the rear near the handle. The rod I use is actually an older Shakespeare which is a 30 inch UL rod. Its no longer made today but is fairly whippy at the tip, so maybe a HT Ice Blue will feel right for you. The tip should give when a fish hits so that it doesn’t spit the bait right out.
That roughly sums up the concept for panfish rods, although you could add a medium light action in for using swim jigs like the new Puppet Minnow from Northland, or the old standbye Jigging Rap, in the smaller sizes for crappie. Perch fishing in deep water, the ML action would apply also.
Will tackle walleye rods next.