While the temperature is still in the 90’s here in Florida, I am already hearing rumblings of people ordering their ice fishing supplies. Yes, I will admit, I am looking forward to cooler temperatures, but I have never wished for our waterways to freeze!
For those that have not been ice fishing, it is fun, challenging and I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. From choosing a lake, to drilling the holes and setting up with the old school flashers, it was fun. There is a certain camaraderie about it and you can have a good sized group since you aren’t restricted by boat size. I was lucky because we got to have Buzz Butters along on the trip. Not only is he a great rod builder and fisherman but he is a blast to be around and has some great stories.
I wanted to get this blog down so if you haven’t been ice fishing or built an ice fishing rod, you have time to get everything completed before the ice is safe to fish.
Let’s start with the most underrated deal in ice fishing. That is the All-In-One Ice Rod Kit here at Mud Hole. Notice I say in “ice fishing” and not just rod building. My reasoning behind my choice of words is I see many ice fisherman turn into rod builders. Maybe it is just in their nature or their geographical location giving them access to awesome basement workshops!
Why the All-In-One Ice Kit?
You get three ice rods. In no other kit do you get all the tools, supplies, and equipment PLUS three rods to build. I saw first-hand how having multiple setups is very helpful and efficient on the ice. It is very similar to bass fishing where the angler has very specific rods and reels for a particular lure or technique.
Ice Rod Blanks
One of the more tricky aspects of building your first ice rod is choosing your rod blank. This is another reason why we recommend the All-In-One Kit to start. I am going to walk your through some various blanks and the common techniques for each one.
The CIB-28UL is crafted to serve as the perfect rod for panfish, crappie, and deep water perch - this blank is highly versatile. It is perfect for small spoons and micro jigging raps. Traditional "line watchers" love this blank and its unmatched mixture of power and finesse.
The PPN-36 is one of the best selling ice rod blanks of all time. It is our go-to blank for panfish, crappie and any other situations where we need light bite detection. This solid fiberglass blank offers a super soft tip that gives anglers an edge when the fish get finick. But when it is time to set the hook, there's no need to hold back.
Big Fish Ice Rod Blank
I will admit I wasn't planning on catching something big when we went ice fishing. I know we were targeting panfish and perch but I was in for a surprise when our team showed up with live shiners on the last day of our trip. The bait bucket looked like something out of a Florida largemouth guide trip. I paused and then it hit me, "Are we going to fish for a northern today?". The guys laughed and just nodded.
Rod Recipe for Northern Pike
So, now that you have the basics, start building to be ready for hard water this coming winter!
Leave a comment
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.