Choosing An Ice Fishing Rod

Most ice fishing rods are 28 inches long. Currently, a 28-inch, medium-action jigging rod is a standard piece of ice fishing equipment. However, there are other options. The problem is, nowadays, rods are so advanced and plentiful that selecting the right rod for you can sometimes be a problem.

Luckily though, eliminating ice fishing rods that you dont want is easy as long as you keep the target species, lure application and rod power in mind. Once you've eliminated the unwanted, you can start to decide on rod materials, construction, and length.

Firstly, Think about Species and Power

Power is the amount of force that is needed to bend the blank. Heavy, medium, light and ultra-light are the common options. Before choosing which ice rod to purchase, match the power to the target species you're looking to buy in the same way you would when deciding on a rod for open water use.

Application Awareness

The next step to choosing when looking for an ice fishing rod is determining its application. Meaning, what baits or lures do you want to use to fish with, and how do you want to fish them? S wim-baiting walleye, spooning lake trout, or finesse-jigging bluegills all require different types of rods. 

Understanding Action

Action defines the point where the rod flexes along its blank. Action is a very important aspect when selecting an ice fishing rod because it changes how you can play with a fish and present lures.

Blank Materials: Graphite vs. Fiberglass

Choosing which blank material to buy is a big decision. Composite blends, Graphite, and fiberglass are the main options.

Lure and Line Balance

It's vital that you choose a rod that's matched for the lures you'll be using. Sensitivity is also an extremely important factor, because if the lure and rod aren't balanced, you'll miss fish.

Rod Length

The rod length you'll need differs depending on your fishing conditions. Longer ice fishing rods are more forgiving. They absorb hard hooksets, headshakes, and they give you leverage when fighting to catch a fish. The one problem with longer rods is that they are very difficult to fish with in closed quarters.

Short rods on the other hand, provide much less shock absorption, causing reel drag, which unfortunately, your arms have to compensate for. On the plus side though, shorter rods are much easier to use within cramped conditions, which you'll be thankful for when fishing in ice-fishing huts.

Line Guides

One factor that you should definately look into as a buyer is the number and quality of 'eyes' (guides), as they have a huge impact on the ice fishing rods overall performance. The more guides a rod has, the more consistant the rod-bends and the better the units shock absorption and performance. You should be looking for a rod with at least 4 guides, but you should attempt to find one with 5/6.

Handles

The material that handles are made from varies alot, and it's definately something you should have a think about when looking for an ice fishing rod. You have a few options when it comes to choosing a material for your handle. First of all, there's foam and plastic, which are the least sensitive materials. There's also cork, which is preferred by alot of ice anglers as it conducts vibrations from the blank and warms really easily when held. There's also the option of high-tech graphite handles, which are used for ultimate sensitivity. These handles are not so common, so you might have a tough time tracking one down.

Reel Recognition

When choosing an ice fishing rod, make sure you choose one with the right size reel for you, to properly balance the combo.