Ice Fish Ohio Forum
Ice Fishing => Pro's Pointers => Topic started by: deerslayern on February 05, 2013, 01:39:05 PM
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Is there a big difference in forsay a frabill rod and a more expensive rod (actions vary) or is it a personal preferance?
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I have both, and Frabill, Clam, and even some Shakespeare ugly sticks passes the eye test when you hold the rods next to each other. I break most of my expensive rods anyway so if it were up to me, I would pick the Frabill as long as the reel was good, I feel a good reel goes a longer ways than a well made rod on ice.
The above is my recommendation to most anglers looking for just a combo to get them through most species on most days. The trend in ice fishing is to follow soft water bass fishing where pro anglers have a rod for every presentation, for these types of angles, I call up Jason Mitchell, St. Croix, and sometimes just stick with American Made (more $$) and go with Thorne Bros. All great rods all for specific presentations and if you have the $$ to spend why not, but if you fishing on a budget, the difference between a $30 combo and a $100 combo is not significant enough to break your budget.
The owner of Thorne Bros summed it up best last off season when he told me that the Chinese are getting better and better at matching our American made products and will one day be able to make the same quality rods at a cheaper price. (This confirms the trends we have seen in Jason Mitchell and St.Croix going to China recently).
Hope this helps.
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I say the difference is in if the rod goes through the handle. I found just a better feel and touch if it does.
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If you learn to keep a finger on the line you can use a stick and still feel the bite. Learned years ago after breaking 2 $300 rods in one season. The difference between high dollar and poor man's rods aren't enough to justify the price. I agree that a better reel is more important. Picked up a Black Betty and love it.
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A day in the life of an ice rod. Thrown onto an ice bucket then bounced around in the car or truck . When a fish is landed its dropped on the ice and if a fish hits the dead stick its dropped on the ice ,if a flag goes up on a tip up it'd dropped on the ice. Then back in the bucket and car . Get Ugly sticks. ???