ice rods and reels

[birddog one]

I'm sure all you north country boys have your favorites looking to buy 3 rod reel combos 1 for gills and crappie one for walleye and one more for a back up (all around). Any help would be great. Would like to stay in the $100-$150 range.

thanks

[Crappie 1]

Go online for Northwoods Wholesale.com They have a lot of stuff in that store. Or, if you want a better quality go to Franks Great Outdoors, Franks carries a better quality of fishing tackle. I shop both places..

[sizematters]

Hard to beat the HT Ice Blue rods for panfish. Inexpensive, tough and ultra sensitive. No need for a float or spring. Any of the small frame Pflueger reels have great drags and will protect light line if you stick a bass or pike.

[no1son]

For real cheap better go with the HT icelander for the panfish, for better quality at a bit more money, the Jason Mitchell meat stick has a better noodle tip and overall better quality. For backup and walleye rods the St Croix Premiers are a very good value with St Croix quality into the bargain and still cheaper than the Mitchell line. The Jason Mitchell reels would provide very good service on all three rods. My personal favorite reels are the old style black Shakespeare Alphas, but you can't get them anymore by themselves. For a bargain priced reel the Shakespeare Prius isn't too bad though.

You can get all weights of the Mitchell rods in a rod and reel combo and still stay pretty much in your overall budget. If you are saying 100-150 per combo then step all the way up to Thorne and put Pfluegers on them. It is real hard to beat Pflueger drags but the cheap Shakespeares come close as does the Mitchell reel.

[birddog one]

Thanks for all the input not sure we are even going to get ice this year still using the boat

[CTom]

The north country cadilac rods are customs built by Thorne Bros in Blaine, Minnesota. The rod and a reel will ring up to around 130.00...150.00 depending on rod model and reel quality.

Try thornebros.com

Ht and others like fenwick and frabil are all Jap stuff and you will end up with exactly what you pay for. Thorne uses American made blanks, guides and are crafted here on American soil. Spendy, but well worth the investment. For panfish and crappies I suggest a 28" Power Noodle. You need no spring or float of any kind with this super sensitive rod. You can get the noodle in 24" and 30" models as well.

[UFCreel]

X 2 on Thorne Bros. Very good rods!

[Swift]

HT Ice Blues is all I use now for panfish, no 'eyes around but use Ice Blues 44" Heavies for Pike. 18" -24" ULs in the Scout and 48"ULs for hole hopping. Inexpensive Zebco Bill Dance Crappie series reels. The higher end stuff that's important is the line and jigs. ASSO Micron 3 in 2# for all Pannies and use mainly Wolfram Tungsten jigs and plastics

[Cray]

Check out Cabelas outlet. Saw they have some on sale pretty cheap. Don't know anything about ice fishing but look like they would work to me.

[UFCreel]

Another new rod that is showing some potential as a great rod. is the new Team Northland Ice Rod. 100% solid graphite, single foot aluminum oxide guides, adjustable soft touch reel seats, they come in 7 custum specie specific actions. Saw them at a whole sale show for retailers. Very sensetive. At $29.99 they should not break the bank. But remember some guys only hobby is ice fishing so if they choose to buy a Thorn Bros custom built rod they should be allowed too. The same goes or those buying cheap HT stuff. If thats what you want have at it. The main thing is catching fish and having fun while you do it.