what rod to get?

[rjm123]

looking to get a new `gill rod. i usually fish w/ small jigs and a flasher. i was mostly looking at a 24" or 28" jason mitchell meat stick or a 28" st. croix premier UL.  any experience with these rods or suggestions for others?

[SoftSpot_716]

i was using a 24 inch ice blue UL fishing for gills yesterday with a 3mm fiska was a blast. they are fiberglass i no blah blah but best of all they are cheap and easy to replace if ya happen to break one.   theres another post on here where guys are saying they have had problems with the meatstick rod tips breaking off. http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=172562.0  that was the thread RG was one of the guys said that his tip broke off on the meatstick

[Carrots]

The St. Croix's are very nice rods indeed. If you're willing to spend some money though, you should definitely consider a Thorne Bros. Power Noodle. Pricey yes, but IMO they make the best rods out there.

[icejunky]

The jason mitchell meatstick is a good choice, personally I did not like the St. Croix premier rods.

If you have the extra cash, the St.Croix Legend is a great gill rod it is about $15 more then the meatstick and then you have the Thorne Bros Power Noodle, excellent rod, it is similar to the meatstick, but more sensative in the blank and a stronger more durable tip. (they will run you about $60)

[rjm123]

Thinking more towards the Jason Mitchell now. Any recommendation on the length? Are they basically the same action?

[icejunky]

I like the 28" model

[Jigging Nomad]

If you are jigging deeper water, go with the 28" ML St. Croix.  The extra backbone will come in handy. 

[ECIcer]

I purchased the 20" model and I would definately recommend either the 24 or 28.  I mostly fish panfish and didn't actually like the meatstick, couldn't feel strikes cause it was so short. I am in the process of switching all of my rods to the St. Croix bobber system.

[Iceman421]

I just got my Clam True Blue 24 UL in the mail today and it looks like it'll replace all my other UL rods.

[Rat-Man]

Try the action in the store get the one you like,  I like a 24 to 26" medium with a extra fast tip, but if your like me you'll end up with at least a 100 different ones before too long.

[pfscott]

Not sure about what would be best, but the most fun rod i have is a Currents Noodle rod. Makes those little 'gills feel like monster crappies.

[jigginPig]

I purchased the 20" model and I would definately recommend either the 24 or 28.  I mostly fish panfish and didn't actually like the meatstick, couldn't feel strikes cause it was so short. I am in the process of switching all of my rods to the St. Croix bobber system.

haha trade you my st. croixs with bobbers for the meatsticks! I fish for pannies also and am slowly getting rid of my rods with st croix bobbers and replacing them with meatsticks. One of the things that make fishing great, different things work for different people!
Pig

[slipperybob]

looking to get a new `gill rod. i usually fish w/ small jigs and a flasher. i was mostly looking at a 24" or 28" jason mitchell meat stick or a 28" st. croix premier UL.  any experience with these rods or suggestions for others?

The St. Croix Premier UL is more responsive than the JM Meat Stick.  However the backbone to those Meat Stick will be able to put the hook set on and tame fish with ease.  They are kind of dull in the feel aspect and your hands will be able to feel a lot more with the St. Croix Premier.  After all sometimes it's the thump of the hit that you give a hook set on and seeing the rod tip move is sometimes too late.  Unless the gills are very finicky, the ML power is a very good utility rod.

[rjm123]

what about a 27" frabill "bro" quick tip? i think i`m gonna order from fish usa and they don`t have the jm rods. i have another "bro" rod that i like.

[icejunky]

I have owned a frabill quicktip and a jason mitchell meatstick, very similar rods, I sold my quick-tip to a buddy because i preferred the meatstick.