Pan fish "Long Rod"

[Icefisher40]

How many of you guys use a longer rod for Hole-hopping for panfish? I'm talking 36"+.

Yesterday I fished a lake here in SE Michigan that required a lot of moving to stay on the fish, and my back now kills the day after, presumably from huddling over each hole with a 24" rod.  I noticed a lot of other guys out there had quite a bit longer rods that allowed them to stand a few feet away from the hole and still successfully catch fish in the wind without even having to kneel.

Does anybody have any recommendations on longer rods to try out to see if that type of fishing suits me better and saves my back?

Thanks everybody

[SizeMatters]

HT Ice Blues wil give you a taste of it for little money.  I've built a few of my own using scavenged rods with broken tips and pole reels with the line thru the middle of the blank.  THey're a blast in shallow water when the weather's right.  Line through the blank beats the wind.  With my height and reach I can pick a panfish off bottom in 10 fow with just a lift.  Definitely saves the back and knees.  The Ice Blues are pretty limber.  Once you get into the technique you'll probably want something with more of a backbone.  You're basically hooking the fish and lifting it onto the ice. They call them "stillfish" rods out that way and there were a few places that were building and selling them a few years ago when I was looking into it.
https://www.fishusa.com/product/HT-Enterprises-Ice-Blue-Super-Flex-Ice-Fishing-Rods

[Unclegillhunter]

The longer rods really help the back when hole hopping. I use a 38". won't mention the brand son't want to start a debate. Get what you can afford. Good luck on your season.
Keep it safe! JDL

[Iceassin]

I've been looking at the HT Ice Blue 48" and the Schooley Arctic Blue 42" ( which look to be not as whippy as the HT with larger guides) Anyone have any info or experience on this one? So far as I've seen everyone seems to be out of them.

[DR.SPECKLER]

yep hole hopping standing up requires a long rod.ht ice blue 48" or 36".32 is alright too.all the ol timers stand and use  long rods around here.its hard to tell if the catch anything because the have pack baskets on them too.lol.in 10ft or less you just lift the rod and pluck the fish out of the hole and right into the pack basket.

[Icefisher40]

The longer rods really help the back when hole hopping. I use a 38". won't mention the brand son't want to start a debate. Get what you can afford. Good luck on your season.
Keep it safe! JDL

Mind PM'ing me the brand?

I'm open for any and all suggestions.  My back can't take the short game much longer.

[Icefisher40]

I've been looking at the HT Ice Blue 48" and the Schooley Arctic Blue 42" ( which look to be not as whippy as the HT with larger guides) Anyone have any info or experience on this one? So far as I've seen everyone seems to be out of them.

That's my one thing with the ht ice blue, they are so whippy that any wind has them wobbling like one of those inflatable air tube men at a used car dealership.

[Mountain Maggot]

Also if you are too far from the hole, you need to get up off your bucket to skim off the slush.

[Icefisher40]

Yeah...folks don’t realize that mixing brands will cause interference when the signal overlaps from the transducers.  I’m surprised that we don’t have more discussion on the utility of different angle transducers.  Bigger angle is not always better if you are fishing deep for species such as mackinaw or Lakers.

Wrong thread . I think...

[Unclegillhunter]

Mind PM'ing me the brand?

I'm open for any and all suggestions.  My back can't take the short game much longer.

PM sent.

[Icefisher40]

PM sent.

Thank you, sir!

[bassbull]

I use a 4 ft. 8 inch ugly stick ,med act.. Cost about 40 bucks at wally world. Saves the back and the pain between the shoulders big time. What ever brand you go with you won't be sorry!!! Also if possible, a head of time get yourself a old golf club and put a skimmer head on it. it will help on the hole jumping also. No bending over to skim holes. Good luck  STEVE

[Monticatgeek]

my go to long rods are a 36 and 48 inch Jason Mitchell Meat Sticks. both with the matching reels. 36 inch is offered as a combo and the 48 inch you need to buy the rod and reel separate.

[slipperybob]

4'6" Ugly Stik Lite UL
5' Ugly Stik Lite UL

Not just for hole hopping, but lazy lounge fishing too...

[Icefisher40]

my go to long rods are a 36 and 48 inch Jason Mitchell Meat Sticks. both with the matching reels. 36 inch is offered as a combo and the 48 inch you need to buy the rod and reel separate.

How do you like them? Is the backbone too stuff just for bluegills?

[DR.SPECKLER]

theres also the frabill jiggler.think its called that, where the line runs  inside the rod and comes in long lengths.those are pretty good in the wind.all the ol timers around here use whippy long rods in the wind because the go by feel with them and can tell when a fish hits even when its windy with those wet noodles.im still voting ht ice blue 36 to 48 inch.not much money to invest in case you don't like them.

[Monticatgeek]

How do you like them? Is the backbone too stuff just for bluegills?

I like them. the tips are sensitive and there is enough back bone to pull the fish up and out of the hole. you can really feel the bite on them. I was fishing my 28 inch meat stick in my house the last time I was out and had a small 5 inch gill come up and smack the jig, really felt it when it hit. just be careful with the tip as they are known to break if you are not careful with how you store them.

[DR.SPECKLER]

its quicker to hole hop and a lot easier on the back with long rods and jigging standing up is all.dont have to carry a chair or bucket.plus longer rod in shallow water all you do is lift the fish out of the hole.

[DR.SPECKLER]

yeah mine too. with a backrest.lol.mine hurts standing or sitting these days.

[Iceassin]

yeah mine too. with a backrest.lol.mine hurts standing or sitting these days.

Comes with age. Used to be able to sit on a bucket all day long. Now after a couple of hours the ache starts setting in. Much more comfy standing now.

[FISH4WISH]

I only stand if the ice is sloppy,otherwise I kneel,blocks the wind more.


      F4W

[DR.SPECKLER]

I only stand if the ice is sloppy,otherwise I kneel,blocks the wind more.


      F4W

oh man I cant get up from the kneeling position anymore.if I'm fishing like that more than 30 minutes I have to stop drop and roll myself back up. rhuematiod arthritis in my knee joints and hip sucks,but in the cold it sucks worse.

[Jagger0502]

I do amlost all of my fishing standing and moving from hole to hole. Can’t troll if you don’t have 30+ holes and I catch a lot more moving than I do sitting. I keep adding length to my rods and the longer I have gotten the more I like the rod. It’s not just my back but my neck that starts to hurt after a while looking straight down. I just ordered a 42” TS light action rod and think this will be the right length for me at 5’9” I have also found fishing for panfish in deeper water I like the longer rods with heavier spoons than a short UL or light action could handle. Just don’t seem limited with the longer light action rods like I do the shorter ones. Of course this is hole hoping. In my shanty I can only go 32” max before I hit the front or roof. I don’t even fish with a rod under 30” anymore and have passed those rods all onto buddies I fish with.

Also not sure if anyone has tried summer fishing out of a kayak or canoe with the flasher but a 40-50” rod and a flasher out the side in a small boat is a lot of fun in the summer time so keep the dust off your gear and give it a try.

[TCubed]

I really like using the Perch Assault 42". Its a super ultra light but has enough back bone in it if you do happen to hook into a bigger fish.
Mike Howe who has them made is a member on here. PerchAssault is his screen name.  Look him up

Nick

[rdhammah]

oh man I cant get up from the kneeling position anymore.if I'm fishing like that more than 30 minutes I have to stop drop and roll myself back up. rhuematiod arthritis in my knee joints and hip sucks,but in the cold it sucks worse.

I was wondering if anyone was going to mention arthritis in their hip. Mine just became noticeable this fall. I used to be able to fish from 6am to 5pm. now, if I can make it til noon, i'm lucky. can't stand and walk for too long. if my hip is hurting, the pain goes to the knee. I've had to use my bucket to help me get up vs the stop, drop and roll. Next year, i'll be out there with a cane.

[UFCreel]

Here is an example of the Pulsator type of ice fishing rod that is considered a long rod. Very popular in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. Easy on the back, Line runs through the blank cutting down on wind interference, Keeps you back from the hole. So you are not spooking fish, Lift and walk to next hole. Lots of fun. https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/spo/d/ice-fishing-rod-54-pulsator/6514600774.html. As for skimming out your holes, attach your skimmer to a golf club shaft with electric tape or shrink tubing.

[deerefishyfishy]

I made rod holders out of pvc pipe.  I cut the pipe to length then I cut a slot on the side of one end.   The riser on the reel fits snuggly into the slot.  It took me about fifteen minutes to make two rod holders.  No more broke poles during transportation.

Was just reading through this thread and read Snitch's post. Thought I'd share a couple pics of the rod holders I made to modify my jet sled with. They would work for any size spinner combo and they work way better then cramming them all in a bucket and getting everything tangled up! Quick and cheap to make also

[jtc]

Do you add spring bobbers to your long polls.

[Iceassin]

Do you add spring bobbers to your long polls.

Yes...I have them on my 48" HT's with an inline reel and works great. Next season I am going to purchase a couple of 42" Schooley Arctic Blues with same setup.
 

[Light liner]

Im going to have to try the inline reels.
I just picked up a 36" Shakespeare fiberglass that works great for panfish.