Rod and Reel combo for Walleye, Perch?

[jordy1380]

I have been looking at some more rod and reel combos and I am looking for advice on what rod and reels to get. I have a few of them that I have been using for crappie in open water, but they seem to be noodle rods lol. They will work perfectly fine for bluegill and some crappie through the ice, but I want something that's a bit stiffer for larger fish. Are there any rods that work awesome for general use?? If I could buy a couple rod/reel combos that would work well for walleye, perch, crappie, and the possibility of catfish or pike. I have a medium heavy rod that is a scheels rod and I have that paired with an okuma avenger?...I want to say?? I really like the rod that I bought and it works great for jigging for crappie off of docks. I especially like it because it is 36" but I think that I would be able to use something that is 28-32" and I may enjoy it just as much. Are there any rods that work great for my needs? Maybe something that is a medium action that I can just put a longer spring bobber/ bite detection on to catch panfish? I don't mind if it takes me 3 seconds or 3 minutes to land bluegill lol I just want something I can catch fish with that doesn't feel like I'm holding a guitar string while fishing. Any input from you guys would be great! Thanks!

[ULking]

Bricker Custom Rods.....nough said!

[spikes]

For the price I like my Frabill ice hunter series.   

[swoab47]

I have a Frabill Ice Hunter 40" Panfish Quick Tip that is an absolute joy to fish with. It has plenty of backbone for landing larger fish and is sensitive enough to detect the lightest bites.  I have a Pfluger President 6720 reel on it with a spare spool so that I can change lines for different situations.  I like fishing out in the open and drilling lots of holes and then fishing them.  With the 40" rod I can walk from one hole to the next and not have to kneel down.  Just drop the 'ducer in the hole set the Vex next to it and fish standing up.  Works great for me.

I have also picked up a couple of the "13" brand "Wicked" combos from Scheels.  I have not used them yet but they seem to be pretty nice rods.  I think that they are 27" medium action.  I bought them specifically for tugging those big gills out of weeds out west.  I can't wait to give 'em a try.

[Slimdog]

+1 on the Frabill Fish Hunter & Bro Series Rods.

Love the quicktips for panfish.  I also have a 26" Light Bro Series that works great for spoons, jigging Raps and Darters up 3/8oz. 

Just as important or maybe more so than the rod is the reel, IMO.  I am very happy with the Frabill Bro Series and Pfluger reels.     

[formerSDguy]

I like the Jason Mitchell rods myself. I will say I just picked up one of the Eagle Claw inline ice reels. They are pretty interesting. I think 13 is supposed to be releasing something new at the MN ice show in the inline (looks like a fly reel) series. The eagle claw is geared which sets it miles apart from the frabil and black betty reels on the shelves now.

[Eastwesterner]

Thorne Brothers Perch Sweetheart coupled with the smallest Plueger Patriarch and you can catch anything.  High quality blank on the rod.  Like the GLoomis of icefishing.  The Patriarch's drag system has 3 times the drag settings of my 40 dollar tica cetus which I used to think was good.  That way when you hook the fish you've been chasing all season you catch him. 

[jordy1380]

Well, thanks for all the tips! Looks like I may need to buy a few rods to find which ones I like the best!

[Walleye Assassin]

I would definatley suggest a rapala r type. The tip is nice and soft for litebites but plenty of backbone for larger fish

[Ranger_bound]

Bricker Custom Rods.....nough said!

X2 Adam makes a tough rod. My IA rod of the year accidentally got towed under my shanty for a mile and only suffered a chip in the clear coat.

[jordy1380]

Has any of you guys had any experience with Dragon's Custom Rods in Lincoln, NE? I have a few friends that say good things about that business as well.

[ULking]

Has any of you guys had any experience with Dragon's Custom Rods in Lincoln, NE? I have a few friends that say good things about that business as well.

I looked at them but couldnt justify spending that on a rod that wasnt a bricker! I think the same about thorn bro rods. Yeah they are great but its not much different than me buying the parts and putting it together there isnt much thats special to me....now Bricker customs are the best of both worlds you get the quality rod builds with custom designs of your choice!! its all up to you but thats what ive been most happy with!

[jordy1380]

Well, I've been talking to the Bricker dude and I got him working on a rod for me. He said he's a bit backed up with work and probably wont get to it until the 1st of the year, but I think that'll be fine since ice is slow to come this year. I got a couple other rods over the weekend to play with although one I can't use until xmas I got a berkley one...can't remember what kind but it's a 28" L I think then the one I can't have is the 13 fishing rod and reel combo, white noise, I think it's called. I really liked the feel of the 13 fishing one so I'm looking forward to trying that out. I did see some of those fish hunter frabill ones with the quick tip and I really like those too! I can't seem to help myself from buying rod/reel combos just to try out lol...too bad they didn't have rod/reel rental places at tackle shops lol

[ULking]

Well, I've been talking to the Bricker dude and I got him working on a rod for me. He said he's a bit backed up with work and probably wont get to it until the 1st of the year, but I think that'll be fine since ice is slow to come this year. I got a couple other rods over the weekend to play with although one I can't use until xmas I got a berkley one...can't remember what kind but it's a 28" L I think then the one I can't have is the 13 fishing rod and reel combo, white noise, I think it's called. I really liked the feel of the 13 fishing one so I'm looking forward to trying that out. I did see some of those fish hunter frabill ones with the quick tip and I really like those too! I can't seem to help myself from buying rod/reel combos just to try out lol...too bad they didn't have rod/reel rental places at tackle shops lol

Youll LOVE your Bricker Custom! Adam is a great guy to deal with and if its not exactly like you want he has no problem fixing it for you!

[jordy1380]

Anyone like to use the fly reels or reels like the black betty or eagle claw inline over the spinning reels? What are the comparisons? Pros and cons?