HT ice blue rods

[SoftSpot_716]

i was in gander mountain yesterday night and was lookin at these rods which they had alot of spaces for but not many left but anyway a guy came up to me and was telling me how these were some of the most popular ice rods out and that HT stopped making them and after many complaints and requests they decided to re release them. i was wondering if any of you guys use them and if they are really all that guy made em out to be.

[gaudetskie]

HT used to offer a quality product, but a few years ago it seems like quality control went down the tube! Their reels seem flimsy, and poorly made, their rods don't have a good feel, the whole thing seems to bend instead of the tip being sensitive. All in all, they kinda went "Wal-Mart" with everything. I have a few HT rods, but I let my boys use them, or loan them out when friends want to fish.

just my opinion, (I can't help it if it's right )

[Lobes]

These rods are still popular in my shack. They are a better quality fiberglass rod. I mainly use graphites for their strength and sensitivity but the Ice Blues get a lot of use by me every year.

                                                     
NBG

[UpstateNYiceguy]

I have one that's a few years old.  Definitely not one if my higher end rods but it gets a ton of action.  Pretty nice for a $10 rod.

[jeffro9023]

ive owned 3 of them my favorite been an 18in i loved the gosh darn things but unfortunatly the tips broke on all 3!!! the sensitivity was awesome and made a 10in perch feel like a 25in northern but like i said the tips broke on ALL 3!...great little rods when in one piece

[Wakefieldfisher]

18" in ultra light is my favorite rod and also my least expensive. Bends from the handle to the hole when you get something bigger than the pan fish your fishing for.

[diabetik11]

i love the 18 in ultra light also

[thorzep]

i love the 18 in ultra light also

 

[Mounter]

The Ice Blues is all I use for panfishing. I have had a couple break, but for $7 a rod I expect that. No need for a spring bobber either.

[jjc155]

I have an 18inch light for sight fishing and a 24inch UL for gills and other light biting pannies. Both are pretty nice and sensitive. As for the reels I go with bare rods and then put on what I want vs buying the combo's

J-

[adipose]

garbage

[coreyl302]

I have two they're great

[Tiogan63]

I just took one back to Gander Mtn. they gave me credit on a Gander rod, the HT had broken 3 places on the orange tip, and it was protected in a tube. I never had any luck with the light  ones.

[silvercreeker]

I have 3 of different lengths, and love them.  They are delicate and you need to be careful, but you have to be careful with a  500 dollar fly rod too!

[Steelhead71]

For the price a good rod & quality seems to be better now.

[bigfoot697]

make sure your reel drag is set to the lightnest of the rod. maybe your inability to do this is why the rod broke. it aint rocket science!!!!!!!!

[Silas]

I use the HT Ice Blues 34" Heavy action rod for Lake Trout and I love it.  You need a nice Medium-Heavy action rod for those big guys

[Pork]

I like the rod.....the reel that came on it...not so much.

[devo]

Love 'em.  The 18" is my go-to "money" rod.

[captain54]

I have a couple 18 incher panfish rods,a used them in shallow water,but they lack the power in deep water,I am a St. Croix man, The Ht rods are cheap and you pay for what you get,but they will work,just not my favorite rod.

[coreyl302]

In my experience The lighter the rod the more should be spent on. Heavy rods are almost all the same in design. I have the H 24" with a salt water reel

[john t.]

I have 3 of the ice blues, great for panfish.

[scavengerj]

Have two of every length and action. I have the lighter ones matched up with Silstar Tiny 20s.
I like them even if they are cheapie little rods.

[H.T.]

I have been useing them for years. they are a great rod for sure and a great price also. i picked up anotherone the other day so i have a spare.

[devo]

I have been useing them for years. they are a great rod for sure and a great price also. i picked up anotherone the other day so i have a spare.

I bet you just like the name!!!!!

[Fat Boy]

I've caught thousands of panfish on them over the years on the ice, even out of a boat during open water vertical jigging a few times.  I bring with me on any given trip 5 rods rigged for various situations, and one of them is always my ice blue.  I have never broken one while fishing but have broken them in rod tubes before.  How can that happen when rod tubes are designed to protect the rod?  In my case, I had the rods rigged and put them in the tube, the pressure on the line pulled the rod tip down too far and it split.  This happened to two of them on the same day.  I thought I had smashed them in my shack or something.  Since then I haven't broken any in over 5 years now.

My favorite set up on this rod is my night time favorite crappie bite rig, 2 lb. test with two Ratso's rigged in tandem.  The tips are so sensitive that they are almost like a spring when a crappie pushes a lure up, you can see the rod tip go up.  Also, when you set the hook they are glass rods so they have some give...no ripping hooks out.

Are they the best?  No, but they are effective.

[H.T.]

I bet you just like the name!!!!!

YA the name says it all

[codie003]

For the money a great rod for panfish, fished with it all season for bluegills and perch, also caught several nice 15 to 17 inch trout.  It has become my favorite light action rod, can feel the slightest tap when using light jigs.