The spinning reel is the most common reel that anglers use when
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.
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 size are
ice reels
?
Also, Ice fishing reels are very small- usually in the 500-2500 size range Many traditional spinning reels used during the warmer months are in the 2500-4000 size range, so that larger size may be a bit cumbersome when fishing in an ice hut or tent. Lastly, be sure to check what type of fishing line you are using.
What size rod is best for ice fishing?
Look for a rod of around 28 to 30-inches in length , with a solid backbone throughout the lower 2/3rds. During the winter, a fish’s movements may be more subtle due to the colder temperatures, thereby making the movements harder to detect. As such, a more sensitive rod tends to come in handy.
Can you use any reel for ice fishing?
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. You should use the smallest ones (1000 – 2000) for panfish, and the larger sized models (2500 – 3000) for bigger fish such as walleye, pike and lake trout.
What is an inline ice fishing 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 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.
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 long should an ice fishing leader be?
Re: How long for tip up leaders I use 10 foot mono leaders and put some medium size split shot in the middle to keep the bait down. I use a variation of
colored blades
and beads close to the hook and also just plain hooks.
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 a walleye ice rod be?
Since walleye can get bigger than 10 pounds, you need to use sufficiently strong gear for catching them. In general, you should aim to use a solid carbon rod that’s 30-34 inches long for this, since that’s strong enough to handle a big fish under the ice.
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.
How do I know what size reel to buy?
Choosing the correct reel size is as easy as determining the size fishing line you intend to use most often. The lighter the line you intend to use, the smaller the reel you should purchase Ten-pound test line should be the highest strength and diameter used on a spinning reel.
Can you use a baitcasting reel for ice fishing?
Re: Baitcasting Ice Fishing Reels Also can be used better in deeper water The only thing with bait casters is if you’re using them on the open ice they tend to get stiff due to the grease on the retrevial mechanism.
Do you need special rods for ice fishing?
Any conventional reel will work for ice fishing It is important however, to match it to the type of fishing you plan on doing. Since you are not casting, an ultralight spinning reel is ideal for most species like walleye and panfish.
How many yards of line do you need for ice fishing?
Ice fishing line is often sold in 50 to 110 yard spools. This means a 50 yard spool can be used on two reels. That’s 25 yards each. Just start spooling with your leftover braided line you used in the summer, then finish it off (with a GOOD knot!) with 25 yards of some decent ice fishing line.
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.
Can you use normal braid for ice fishing?
but yes, it freezes i tried water proofing with reel magic and atsko, but would always hold water, at least on the surface of the line. also brings more water to the line guides.
Is HG or XG better?
High gearing reels offer a good compromise between retrieve speed and power. Extra-High Gearing (XG) is designed for anglers looking for ultra-fast retrieve speeds XG gearing is ideal for anglers looking to target fast moving fish like tuna, trevally and mackerel using topwater lure presentations.
What does FB stand for on Shimano reels?
Alot of Shimanos finish with FA, FB etc. The “F” stands for front drag and the letter after stands for the model of that range. If a reel has an “S” at the end (like 2500S) , it means it is a “shallow spool” model. “HG” at the end, meaning “High Gear” “PG” at the end, meaning “Power Gear”.
Citations
https://castandspear.com/best-ice-fishing-reels/
https://www.bcfishingjournal.com/reels/best-ice-fishing-reel/