IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community

IceShanty Main => General Ice Fishing Chit Chat => Topic started by: Agronomist_at_IA on Sep 23, 2018, 12:29 AM

Title: Ice fishing baitcasting reel....
Post by: Agronomist_at_IA on Sep 23, 2018, 12:29 AM
So does anyone thing we will see some company release an “ice fishing”bait casting reel....

Guessing it would just be a baitcaster in a size to fit our ice rods.....

Surprised no company has done it yet.
Title: Re: Ice fishing baitcasting reel....
Post by: HWeber on Sep 23, 2018, 08:36 AM
Not enough rods out yet, but same argument could be had for nor having rods, not enough reels.  ;D what comes first the rod or the reel  ???
Title: Re: Ice fishing baitcasting reel....
Post by: Handy on Sep 23, 2018, 09:54 AM
hopefully it wouldn't be expensive either. No overly complicated spool tension system to prevent rats nesting. It would make things more compact to store also.
Title: Re: Ice fishing baitcasting reel....
Post by: river rat78 on Sep 23, 2018, 10:09 AM
Baitcasters are better used with heavier baits and line. I don’t see them being able to drop small lures designed for panfish. I do see them being used to target larger fish like walleye, pike, laker trout. For this you can just use a low profile baitcaster.
Title: Re: Ice fishing baitcasting reel....
Post by: DR.SPECKLER on Sep 23, 2018, 10:33 AM
Id like to see a nice small baitcaster reel too.not the cheap ht one either..i think it wouldnt be a levelwind because that has the tendency to get water splashed on it and freezes up on my winter steelhead reels.
Title: Re: Ice fishing baitcasting reel....
Post by: Iceassin on Sep 23, 2018, 11:56 AM
No interest here  :-\
Title: Re: Ice fishing baitcasting reel....
Post by: missoulafish on Sep 23, 2018, 06:45 PM
plenty of smaller bait casters out there...
Id buy 5 of them before a single in line reel :)
Title: Re: Ice fishing baitcasting reel....
Post by: bart on Sep 23, 2018, 06:59 PM
I like a baitcaster for Lakers. I have a Abu Garcia Pro Max that fit my hand well, good line capacity and does double duty during the open-water season.
(https://i.imgur.com/s0h26ZYh.jpg)
Title: Re: Ice fishing baitcasting reel....
Post by: slipperybob on Sep 24, 2018, 04:54 AM
I bugged Shimano about it for years.... LOL.  They know that there's not a profit to go for.

They have the tooling and designed all done, just that they only made very expensive models done.  No one is gonna pay In excess of $400 for an ice reel.

Previous reels that suits ice fishing style were, the Calcutta 50, Chronarch 50.  Current models like Curado 70, Aldebaran MGL 50, or Aldebaran BFS.

13 fishing has been the most responsive to the ice fishing market.  I'm sure they will be the first company to try a real ice fishing bait casting reel.  Not counting that tear dropped of a reel.  That was one heavy clunker.
Title: Re: Ice fishing baitcasting reel....
Post by: Agronomist_at_IA on Sep 24, 2018, 07:38 PM
I like a baitcaster for Lakers. I have a Abu Garcia Pro Max that fit my hand well, good line capacity and does double duty during the open-water season.
(https://i.imgur.com/s0h26ZYh.jpg)

Lol....that is the same reel I have on my St. Croix bait caster ice Rod. I use it when big pike come around.
Title: Re: Ice fishing baitcasting reel....
Post by: Agronomist_at_IA on Sep 24, 2018, 07:40 PM
13 fishing has been the most responsive to the ice fishing market.  I'm sure they will be the first company to try a real ice fishing bait casting reel.  Not counting that tear dropped of a reel.  That was one heavy clunker.

I bought/have a tear drop...while it was an interesting idea/setup it just collects dust in the corner......never really cared for it.
Title: Re: Ice fishing baitcasting reel....
Post by: slipperybob on Sep 24, 2018, 10:21 PM
There were other flawed attempt with small bait casting reel from Shakespeare and HT, which were a version of a Wally Marshall Mr. Crappie mini reel.  All built cheap, were clunky to operate, and spools were too small giving off the worst pig tail lines.  Drag was non-existent.  You got some drag or you got full stopping line breaking drag. 

Even if it was $10 it was a waste of time, money, and space...
Title: Re: Ice fishing baitcasting reel....
Post by: hays47 on Sep 25, 2018, 07:09 AM
I rather like the 13 teardrop reel. They match up well with a couple of my rods. They did not stay in production very long. So obviously the vast majority agree with those that dislike it. Long time pencil grip  fan . This reel seems ideal to me for that purpose.

They aren't my favorite but somehow. They are always on board when going out.
Title: Re: Ice fishing baitcasting reel....
Post by: bart on Sep 25, 2018, 08:03 AM
Lol....that is the same reel I have on my St. Croix bait caster ice Rod. I use it when big pike come around.


Mine sits on a Jason Mitchell 36" Mackinaw rod...
Title: Re: Ice fishing baitcasting reel....
Post by: bart on Sep 25, 2018, 08:12 AM
I bought/have a tear drop...while it was an interesting idea/setup it just collects dust in the corner......never really cared for it.


I have a Black Betty 6061 on a Wicked ice 28M, only had it out a couple of times, don't care for it. It's just been collecting dust here too... may give it one more go this winter before I get rid of it?
Title: Re: Ice fishing baitcasting reel....
Post by: filetandrelease on Sep 25, 2018, 09:49 AM

Bart I have the same set up and I have no issues , I use it for eyes and perch on Oneida
  Just shows what’s works for one doesn’t for another,
Title: Re: Ice fishing baitcasting reel....
Post by: Philip on Sep 25, 2018, 10:17 AM
Baitcasters are better used with heavier baits and line. I don’t see them being able to drop small lures designed for panfish. I do see them being used to target larger fish like walleye, pike, laker trout. For this you can just use a low profile baitcaster.


I think a BFS reel could get a light lure down there
Title: Re: Ice fishing baitcasting reel....
Post by: matzilla on Sep 25, 2018, 12:56 PM
take the break system off a baitcaster and it will get a small lure down for sure....does anyone make an affordable (under $50???) baitcaster in a small size?

Title: Re: Ice fishing baitcasting reel....
Post by: DR.SPECKLER on Sep 25, 2018, 02:05 PM
I think there are some smaller baitcast reels for crappie.forget who makes them.smaller sizes than a standard abu garcia series.not the cheap ht ones.ok crappie max by bps,lews has one and a few others.no reason you couldn’t get rid of the grease and put some hot sauce in them.baitcasters for crappie is what i searched.
Title: Re: Ice fishing baitcasting reel....
Post by: slipperybob on Sep 25, 2018, 06:22 PM
It's not really the actual physical size of the bait casting reel, but more the shallow spool designed just for some ice fishing line capacity.  Next there is no need for a braking system as there's no need to cast.  Then having a graphite type frame instead of a metal type frame, cuz cold metal is always colder with some moisture.  Finally a precision design so that 1 or 2# diameter lines don't slip around the spool lip and getting caught up in the gears.
Title: Re: Ice fishing baitcasting reel....
Post by: matzilla on Sep 26, 2018, 09:10 PM
Smaller size would allow for more sensitivity and grip options....a baitcaster built this way would be a perfect fit for crappie dipping rods too
Title: Re: Ice fishing baitcasting reel....
Post by: ran7ger on Sep 29, 2018, 03:11 PM
 i think i paid $50 for a small low pro pfleuger i forget the model.  have it on a 36" mackinaw rod with spiral guides.  pretty much the only rod i use for pike, lakers and burbot.
Title: Re: Ice fishing baitcasting reel....
Post by: slipperybob on Sep 29, 2018, 04:53 PM
Not enough rods out yet, but same argument could be had for nor having rods, not enough reels.  ;D what comes first the rod or the reel  ???

The rods of course.  Back when I was looking for a bait casting set-up, there were pretty much broom stick with like two line guides.  Then there was the Dave Genz Gold rod for like a cheap $100 and some change.

A child fishing rod was a better choice.  Barbie or Snoopy...LOL.

Nowadays there could be quality youth bait casting rods that will get the job done wonderfully for $20 but they'll be at about 4' long to maybe 5' long.  There were even short 3' bass rods that existed for a long time too, Diawa Triforce comes to my mind.  If you want better specs or quality custom made route.
Title: Re: Ice fishing baitcasting reel....
Post by: wirenut45 on Sep 30, 2018, 05:49 AM
hey Bart, if you wanna get rid of that 6061, shoot me a PM, wire
Title: Re: Ice fishing baitcasting reel....
Post by: Tmuskie on Sep 30, 2018, 07:25 AM
I've been using this one for the last few seasons. yet to get a monster on it but works good.

https://www.cabelas.com/product/fishing/ice-fishing/rods-reels-tip-ups/pc/104793480/c/104735880/sc/104543280/mr-crappie-wally-marshall-signature-series-crappie-reel/1304148.uts?slotId=42