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Fishing pole ??
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12-31-2006, 12:24 AM
I was wondering what some of yalls opionions were. Do most of you use a small ice fishing pole or a longer pole? is it good to use a small pole with stronger line to fish for the big ones, or is it better to just use a bigger pole to go after them? Which pole do you think its easier to catch fish on?
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12-31-2006, 12:33 AM
Go buy a relatively light action ice fishing pole. The fish are quite lethargic in the winter, so your pole doesn't need to be as strong. You need the light action to see the bites hit, and to give a little when the fish does tug. Often the only way you know you have a bit is seeing the line move around a bit in the hole. That's a lot easier with the small ice fishing poles as you can be closer to the hole.
With that said, you can do just fine with your regular pole. It's just a bit easier with the shorter ice fishing poles. [signature]
12-31-2006, 01:14 AM
People laugh at my fishing pole; especially when I hook a fish. It is so flimsy it looks as if it is going to break in half. However, I truly believe that I can catch fish 2:1 compared to my other, heavier rods.
If I am fishing in deeper depths, I will use a slightly heavier rod in order to get a harder, quicker, hook set. I have caught some 4 and 5lb trout this year on this rod, so they do hold up well. I have had it for 3 or 4 years. I have seen them at Sportsmans. [signature]
12-31-2006, 01:17 AM
I have about 6 different types of the smaller fishing rods... I bought an ugly stick at sportsmans a few weeks ago for 22 dollars including reel and it hhadas been the best pole that I have had.. it has the best feel of any rods that I have ... well worth the money
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12-31-2006, 02:33 AM
I totally agree with the ugly stick. You can't beat it for the money.
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12-31-2006, 02:50 AM
I like a lite weight rod 4 to 4 1/2 feet long... The short ice rods are too stiff and you miss to many fish on the hookset or loose them half way up....
Many people have to put a strike indicator on the ice rods so they can see the strike, + with the 4 to 4 1/2 foot rod you can fight the fish better and still use the shorter rod... . [signature]
12-31-2006, 05:22 AM
Where do you find 4-4 1/2' rods? I'd love to get some around 5'.
As for my preference on ice rods, depends on what you're after and the depth you're fishing in. Going for lake trout down deep, a longer, regular rod is better to set the hook due to the longer excursion of the rod to take up the line stretch. The shorter, 28-30" rods are nice to get closer to your hole, and even shorter ones are needed to fish in a ice hut. I have several ranging from ultra ultra light (great for pan fish and perch), light (great for trout and perch), medium light (trout and perch), medium (bigger trout), and medium heavy (deeper fishing). I find that the lighter rods indicate a bite much easier but I don't feel the fight of the fish as much due to the flexibility of the rod. The stiffer rods are harder to detect the light bites but provide more of a thrill for the fight of the fish. Over all I prefer my meduim light to ultra ultra light rods. I also test my reels by putting them in the deep freeze and then checking to see how stiff they are to turn; many get pretty stiff making it difficult when you're out in zero degree weather. Don't know where to get other grease to make some of my current reels to move easier. [signature] 
12-31-2006, 02:08 PM
[cool][#0000ff]It is pretty hard to find exactly the rods you want. If you buy "off the rack" you have to settle for what manufacturers say you want.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff] [#0000ff]I build all my own stuff and have built 4 rods this past year on 5 1/2' blanks I got from Cabelas for about $20. I made two spinning and two casting. Love them all for vertical jigging from my tube and for ice fishing. They are on ML blanks with fast tips. Plenty of backbone for even large fish, but flexibility and "touch" for fishing light jigs.[/#0000ff] [#0000ff][/#0000ff] [#0000ff]One of the good things about making your own rods is that you can buy a blank that is close to what you want and then either cut it back a little, or make an extension handle. If it is too soft in the tip, you can remove a few inches and stiffen it up some. If you just want a shorter rod you can remove some from the butt, without messing up the action.[/#0000ff] [#0000ff][/#0000ff] [#0000ff]Most of us develop a feel for things after esperience on the water/ice and we are able to KNOW what we really want. If someone does not fish much, and is not experienced at ice fishing, then the length, action and composition of the rod does not make as much difference.[/#0000ff] [#0000ff][/#0000ff] [#0000ff]When I go fishing where the fish du jour are mainly going to be perch, bluegills, crappies or other smaller fish, I go light. Lots more fun and also better for seeing/feeling bites. I also use spring steel strike indicators for small fish and light jigs.[/#0000ff] [#0000ff][/#0000ff] [#0000ff]For fishing in deeper waters, where I need a flasher or heavier jig to reach bottom more quickly, I do away with the strike indicator and hold the rod more to feel the strikes. Having a heavier weight on the line takes the coils out of the line and allows better feel of what is going on down there.[/#0000ff] [#0000ff][/#0000ff] [#0000ff]Bigger lures and bigger fish call for heavier rods. Sure, you can land large fish on wispy rods, but you stress the fish more and lose more fish due to poor hook sets or failed line.[/#0000ff] [#0000ff][/#0000ff] [#0000ff]I do not fish in tents...EVER. So, I do not have to have any ultrashort rods. The shortest ice rods I use are about 30 inches. If the wind is light, and I can use longer rods, I prefer using the longer ones...for overall feel and for better hooksets and fish handling.[/#0000ff] [#0000ff][/#0000ff] [#0000ff]You can get by with one rod and reel setup, but if you fish more than one water, for multiple species of different sizes, you will catch more and have more fun if you build a collection of rods of different lengths and actions.[/#0000ff] [signature]
12-31-2006, 02:53 PM
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]I agree with what the 'Dude said. Match your set ups to the species you're after. As far as the long rod/ short rod, it all preference and the environment you're fishing in. If you make your own rods, as TD said, you can get exactly what you want plus it's fun to do. I use rods in the 32" to 34" range. I do fish in a shelter when it's cold and a shorter rod is easier to handle. I also prefer graphite to composites. Lot of guys love their Ugly Sticks but you couldn't give me one.[/size][/black][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3][/size][/black][/font] [font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]As a side note, I very rarely fish with strike indicators. I just find them a nuisance. The 'Dude builds his own and they're the best I've seen but I still just don't like fishing with them. Guess it's a personal problem.[/size][/black][/font] [signature]
12-31-2006, 03:16 PM
[black] TD and BLM about somed it up pretty good. go to a swapmeet and pick up a old piece of junk rod for 2 bucks. (I see them quit a bit) then you can cut it down and rebuild it too what you want. take a section out of the middle or just the top section. It's your choice ,you just need to figure out what action you want. later chuck[/black]
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12-31-2006, 05:56 PM
I just bought my second Ugly Stick. The first one I had is a medium action, but the reel seat is silly. I have had to add black electrical tape to keep my reel from moving around. Besides the seat I love the rod. The rod I most recently purchased was an Ugly Stick with a better reel seat, it will actually tighten down on the reel itself. I bought a light action and I hate that part of it. It is too short and not nearly as sensitive as my others. Maybe I have been fishing for the wrong sized fish with it, so I will wait to see how it will hold up against perch. I have several eagle claws that I bought for a steal, I really like them and would love to get my hands on a few more of them, they are the Black Eagles.
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12-31-2006, 08:30 PM
There's an Outdoor show at the Southtown Expo center coming up. Stop by the Daiwa booth. We usually have some rods 4-5 foot backpacking rods and sometimes we have one and two piece rods of that length also.
Or Sportsman's Warehouse can order you one. [signature] |
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