For me, dead sticking for trout or anything that will bite, I use a regular medium/lite rod. Same I use for jigging. No need for a sensitive tip on the rod, that's what a spring bobber is for! I love those wire things. Even the littlest bites make the spring bobber dance like Yosemite Sam is shooting below it.... Lol. I have tried using slip bobbers, but with the small ice jigs, they don't provide the weight that is needed to suspend the bobber correctly. Splitshots are not really an option with the clear water. Even with the smallest jig it loads the spring bobberso you can see big movement when the fish lifts the jig. If you dot want to buy a spring bobber cut a straw from mc donnalds in half, snip the edge to make an eye and trim down the red color stripe and tape it to your pole. If you want it more sensitive make it longer, vise versa for a heavier jig. I will even use a spring bobber when jigging everything from jigging raps and big spoons.