Are Inline Ice Fishing Reels Worth It?


spinning reels

are better for everything but fishing for shallow water panfish with

light tackle

. It is still pretty hard to surpass the functionality of a spinning reel. Inline reels certainly deliver better presentations with small baits but their powers stop there.

What is an ice fishing combo?

Combos are designed to: Withstand the Cold : Ice fishing rods are made from material that will stay flexible and responsive, even on the coldest day of the year. Reels will not lock up due to frigid temperatures. Fit in Tight Spaces: Ice fishing shelters or cabins can be tiny.

What is an inline ice reel?

Typically, inline reels shine brightest when jigged. These reels allow the line to lay on the spool without twisting, which, in turn, allows the bait to be jigged without spinning over and over again.

What size reel is best for ice fishing?

A typical ice fishing spinning reel will be an ultralight size with a model smaller than or equal to 2500 (25) These smaller sizes are necessary to properly balance with the smaller ice fishing rods which are between 16 – 24 inches long.

What is the difference between ice fishing line and

regular line

?

There are two other qualities that come built into ice fishing line, but these can also be found within standard open water lines. The first relates to the process of dropping and reeling in a line while ice fishing. The difference between that and warm weather angling is the hole in the ice , obviously.

Why are ice fishing rods so small?

Ice fishing rods are so small because they are designed specifically for use in ice For ice fishing, you need to be close to the hole, so a standard open-water pole will be too long. You also need a more sensitive rod for ice fishing, so the small size of ice fishing rods helps with feeling the fish.

How long should an ice fishing rod be?

A standard length is approximately 28-inches with a fast-action tip. A

medium-action rod

is tailor made for walleye,

small trout

and pike, and will work well as your second combo. Look for a rod of around 28 to 30-inches in length, with a solid backbone throughout the lower 2/3rds.

What pole do you use for ice fishing?

If you are ready to ice fish and all you have is a regular 5 to 7 foot fishing pole , here are a few pointers to success. Use light line and pick your shortest, most sensitive rod. Detecting bites through the ice is more difficult than in open water.

Can you use spinning reel on ice rod?

Yes, absolutely – you can use a regular spinning reel for ice fishing Small spinning reel sizes from 1000 to 3000 are ideal for hard water fishing.

What is a noodle rod ice fishing?

True noodle rods are slow action ice fishing rods that give uniform flex from tip to butt Their fiberglass construction incorporates a brightly colored, and super sensitive, tip designed to help you visually detect even the most subtle bites from panfish and trout.

What is the best bait for perch ice fishing?

Ice Fishing Perch Bait Perch feed on insects, freshwater shrimp, and smaller baitfish Start with an ice jig and soft plastic tipped with a waxie to mimic insects and shrimp.

What is the best bait for ice fishing?

For ice fishing live bait, try wax worms (bee moth larva), maggots, spikes (fly larvae), wigglers (mayfly larvae) or minnows You can drop your bait and leave it alone, or you can slowly jig to attract the fish. Ice fishing jigging also works with artificial ice fishing bait.

What are ice fishing reels?

Ice Fishing Reels are typically constructed with less ball bearings than a traditional spinning reel This is because they are not used for casting and retrieving.

What is a medium light ice rod for?

Light rods are good for perch, and light to medium rods are good for walleye, whitefish and most trout Heavy rods are best for pike or lake trout.

What does 4000 mean on a fishing reel?

Choosing a fishing rod to go with this size reel: A 4000 or 40 reel is where you start to gain a little size so this sized reel will generally suit medium action classes of rods in the 6ft-7ft (barra/snapper style rod) with a line class of around 4Kg-10Kg or in an 8ft-10ft (light surf) rod with a light line class.

How much line should I put on my reel?

Casting reels should be between an eighth of an inch from the top and all the way to the top If you get too much line on them, you’ll get a weird sound when you cast. Spinning reels should be all the way full, right to the top. If you get too much line on them, the line will jump off the spool in coils.

Can I use normal line for ice fishing?

It will work just fine I have used regular fishing lines in my ice rods fot years and they always do the same thing and that is catch fish.

What color of line is best for ice fishing?

Cold Weather line is blue , so it shows up well against the snow, while Micro Ice is clear, making it invisible below the water. Both are easy to handle in cold weather. A new line that has many ice-anglers excited is FireLine Micro Ice in the crystal color.

Do you use a leader when ice fishing?

In order to be able to safely land your ice pike, you either need a strong fluorocarbon leader of about 50-60lb or a titanium wire leader of about 25-30lb Both leaders have excellent abrasion resistance and will be able to handle the ice hole’s sharp edges, even under hard pressure.

How deep should I ice fish?

In my experience, I’ve found that most of the best ice-fishing action comes in water from 3-to-20 feet deep I like to set up my traps so that they cover a variety of depths. Areas with rock piles, weed beds, or dramatic contours are all good spots.

Are Longer ice rods better?

The farther the distance between your rod tip and the ice, the more the wind is going to take away your feel for what’s going on below. So unless you want to hunch over all day (your chiropractor might not mind lol) a longer ice rod is going to let you keep wind out of the equation while still letting you stretch out.

What size hooks for ice fishing?

Small hooks in the size #8 to #14 range will serve well with small delicate baits like mousies and waxies. For minnows, start with hooks of size #4 and #2, adjusting with larger or smaller hooks to match the size of minnows you are using. Downsized jigs will be the lures of choice for the majority of your ice fishing.

How much line do you need for ice fishing lake trout?

Spool your reel with at least 100 yards of 10- to 20-pound braided line You typically catch lake trout in deep water and they can easily pull out 100 feet of line on their long powerful runs.

What pound test should I use for ice fishing walleye?

For regular sized walleye lures and live bait, 4-6 lb is ideal. For large swimbaits, rattle baits and extra large live bait, you can go up to 8-10 lb. Choosing the right pound test line for walleye can be extremely important, especially if you’re fishing in clear waters that get a lot of fishing pressure.

Is ice fishing easier than regular fishing?

Ice fishing a great break from regular fishing It requires a totally different approach with totally different equipment and a totally different set up. There are also certain lakes that produce better results with desired game fish species in winter.

References


https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/ice-fishing-rod-and-reel-combos


https://www.fishusa.com/Fishing/Rod-Reel-Combos/Ice-Fishing-Combos


https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/ice-fishing-rods-and-reels-combos

Inline vs Spinning Reels: Pick The Best For Ice Fishing