Am i the only one?

[Doeslayer]

I dont buy really expensive rods for ice fishing, 60$ combos is about as pricey as i get, i always seem to break a rod every year and with my luck it would be the expensive one lol, am i the only one that is like this?

[Iceassin]

I would say it's all personal preference. I have rods ranging from $15 to $130. Would I be upset if I broke the expensive one,? Yes...but I would get over it...and probably not buy another. Inexpensive rods? I'd replace. No problem.

Btw...sent you a PM.

[zcm_82]

I don't buy real high end rods either. I'm too hard on them to justify the cost, between breaking them and losing them into the drink. I'm better on ice rods than open water, but I still don't go real expensive on them.

$25-ish for a rod or $50 for a combo is about my upper limit on ice rods. For open water gear $50 is about my upper limit for a rod, and about the same on reels.

[SKIFFLAKEJIMMY]

Same here. A few of my rods are "repaired" at the tip.

[Doeslayer]

Pm replied ice, i figured i wasnt, but with the lack of ice i have ti make some conversation lol

[Iceassin]

Pm replied ice, i figured i wasnt, but with the lack of ice i have ti make some conversation lol

Thank you sir. All set. 

[TFish57]

3 or 4 of my ice rods are actually repurposed broken soft water rods. I have a hard time throwing anything out!

[smeltbuster]

All of my open water rods & anything I use for Hardwater, with the exception of my Smelt fishing, is all cheaper rods/reels. My  3 Smelt rods are all Custom made 58" Patriot rods. At $60.00 each, they are not bank account breakers but I treat them like they are. If they were to get damaged,they would be replaced w/ the same thing, only because I take my Smelt fishing so seriously 

[Iceassin]

All of my open water rods & anything I use for Hardwater, with the exception of my Smelt fishing, is all cheaper rods/reels. My  3 Smelt rods are all Custom made 58" Patriot rods. At $60.00 each, they are not bank account breakers but I treat them like they are. If they were to get damaged,they would be replaced w/ the same thing, only because I take my Smelt fishing so seriously 

I had read in another "site" that you used the longer rods for Smelt. Therefore, I have dedicated my Elliot Evolution 44" UL with an Ice Stong .020 wire (perfect for a Hali and adjustable), paired with a Pflueger President 20 reel. Have plenty of Smelt Factory jig leaders tied up. Just waiting on ice. Gull Lake 2023 

[maddogg]

I use a spring bobber I could use a old stick and still catch fish. But I only fish for panfish.

[icecats]

I started too cheap and ended up with rods without threads to hold the reels on. They always fall off at the worst time. Worth it to spend a few extra $$ to hold the reel on.

[wingfan87]

All my ice fishing rods are cheap. To many variables to buy expensive rods, such as sled tipping over going down an embankment, wind blowing over the shanty, slipping and falling on the ice, hard bouncy rides across the ice, fish pulling the rod into the hole and whatever else that doesn't come to mind at the moment. So....it will always be cheap for me.

[DR.SPECKLER]

I do not own a icefishing rod or reel combo over 30$ however, i have some really expensive open water rods and reels.i find i dont need speciality rods for pulling a fish thru a hole in the ice.

[SirCranksalot]

3 or 4 of my ice rods are actually repurposed broken soft water rods. I have a hard time throwing anything out!

That,s what I started with but, since I fish in the open, rods with big eyes work a lot better. I have a bunch of cheap rods. For the sliding seat rings a wrap or 2 of duct tape comes in handy(Remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they should find you handy!! ;D0

[CWlake]

I'm not bragging here but I paid $170 for a 40" noodle rod and reel for my grandson this year for Christmas. I'm a different story. My two favorite rods are over 70 years old. One was handed down, and the other was bought at a flea market. My grandson thinks he can out-fish me, but he still has a lot to learn. Patience being high on his list!

[SKIFFLAKEJIMMY]

Your Grandson will cherish it forever.  Mine turned 14 in September.  This past summer he acquired patience like someone flipped a switch.  FINALLY

[zcm_82]

3 or 4 of my ice rods are actually repurposed broken soft water rods. I have a hard time throwing anything out!

That was most of the ice rods we used when I was a kid. My Dad just glued the ends of broken rods into a chunk of dowel and taped the reels on  I still have a couple of them, but haven't used them in years.