I'm going on a trip in January, need some ice tackle. I have a good deal at Abu and Fenwick, anyone use their ice rods and got anything to say?

Also, can I just put one of my finesse spinning reels on the rod? They've got light braid on them.

I know quite a few guys and ice fishing circles around here use 500 and 1000 size spinning reels for ice fishing with light braid.

500 to 1000 is fine. Depending on the reel and the type of grease it might freeze and be hard to turn. As for light braid, that works good but they make ice braid which I recomenned. Normally braid is going to freeze up really easily and will be hard to work with.

I use Fenwick Elite ice rods, as well as rods from the evil, banned-on-BR company.  I started off using my ultralight spinning reels on them, but later bought three of the HT Accucast ice spinning reels,  They have a longer stem that angles the reel so the line feeds straight to the first guide on the typically-short ice rods.  The drag is excellent, the reel is smooth (I have the 6 BB versions) and the best part: about twenty bucks each!  

 

I haven't tried braid on an ice fishing rig.  I use 3 lb. Nylon mono on my panfish rods and 4 lb. Hybrid on the bigger fish rods.  The drag on those little Accucast reels is good enough to handle the occasional larger fish on light line...

 

Tight lines,

Bob

+1 on the Fenwick EliteTech Ice Rods. The ultralights are perfect for finesse panfish jigs and the medium-lights are perfect for spoons. I have size 20 Pflueger Presidents on them and it's a great setup.

Fenwick rods are nice. I ice fish a lot and have switched to Tuned up Custom rods. 500/1000 series spinning reels are fine. What species are you going for?

I hear a lot of serious ice folks opt for the Thorne Bros custom ice rods. They are quite spendy for ice rods but I am sure similar to high end open water rods in terms of performance and build quality.

Fenwick rods are nice. I ice fish a lot and have switched to Tuned up Custom rods. 500/1000 series spinning reels are fine. What species are you going for?

We are going for panfish, pike and walleye. I assume I could have one for panfish and one for the bigger two?

I use Fenwick Elite ice rods, as well as rods from the evil, banned-on-BR company.  I started off using my ultralight spinning reels on them, but later bought three of the HT Accucast ice spinning reels,  They have a longer stem that angles the reel so the line feeds straight to the first guide on the typically-short ice rods.  The drag is excellent, the reel is smooth (I have the 6 BB versions) and the best part: about twenty bucks each!  

 

I haven't tried braid on an ice fishing rig.  I use 3 lb. Nylon mono on my panfish rods and 4 lb. Hybrid on the bigger fish rods.  The drag on those little Accucast reels is good enough to handle the occasional larger fish on light line...

 

Tight lines,

Bob

I also use the evil brand's ice rods. Lol.

Size/types of baits will determine rods needed. Panfish on a UL, Walleye on a ML, and Pike on a M or MH. But all 3 can be caught on any rod.

Can someone give me a hint on this evil brand? 

Can someone give me a hint on this evil brand? 

 

 

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I wont make another thread for this, but what's the difference between ice braid and braid?

I wont make another thread for this, but what's the difference between ice braid and braid?

Lol couldn't tell you.... Probably just the package... I just buy it cause its labeled for ice fishing.

Labeling is all that I know of. Biggest difference in they offer small diameters in the "ice braid"

I'm going on a trip in January, need some ice tackle. I have a good deal at Abu and Fenwick, anyone use their ice rods and got anything to say?

Also, can I just put one of my finesse spinning reels on the rod? They've got light braid on them.

Your reels and line (assuming it's 4-6lb diameter) is fine. Any Fenwick should be fine. This coming from a guy who lives in a place that's frozen a large part of the year.