I bought one this summer but have not used it much. With the back bone on the rod of the one I bought you chould not have to much trouble setting the hook.
A friend in Michigan made a similar rod years ago. They were great for fishing perch in deep water. After unhooking a fish and re-baiting all you needed to do was set the rod down with the bail open. when the crappie rig hit bottom couple turns of the reel handle and the line was tight so you could detect a bite.
After the perch fishing took it's dive he sold out the patent to some one out west, I think near Devils lake. I beleive that his had a curl in the plastic that set on the ice.
Before he started making his and being short of cash I made some similar out of cpvc pipe and old broken rod tips. They worked fine. One day I had a guy walk 100 yards across a lake to see what type of rods I was using as I was able to keep the rods in action so fast.
