Best Ice Fishing Rods of 2021 – Ultimate Review

Are you on the hunt for the best ice fishing rods to make your fishing experience enthralling?

Well, look no further, because this article has got you covered!

In this review, you’ll find the best ice fishing rods on the market. So, without further ado, let’s begin!

Comparison of the Best Ice Fishing Rods

Can Any Rod Be Used For Ice Fishing?

Technically, you can use a regular rod for ice fishing. You can easily catch fish using a regular rod, especially if you do not plan on going ice fishing occasionally. However, if you want to amp up your fishing experience and get a better catch, then investing in an ice fishing rod would be advantageous for you. Since ice fishing rods are shorter than regular ones, you will be closer to the hole, and it makes maneuvering it in a tight space more useful. They are also built for extra sensitivity, and fighting fish is far easier using an ice fishing rod than using a standard regular one. 

How Do I Choose an Ice Fishing Rod?

Before you head on to the reviews, let’s go over some of the key features that you must look for before purchasing an ice fishing rod. Here are the main characteristics that a good model must have: 

Length

The ice-rods mostly must be shorter in length than regular rods. When you are ice fishing, it is crucial for you to use a rod that is short so you can reach the fish below and be in close proximity to the hole. Hence, the unit you pick must be no longer than 48 inches. This also makes it easier for the fishermen to fight the fish when it gets caught on bait.

Fish Species & Power

According to the type of fish that you want to catch, the power of the rod is a very good determinant of what will be most suitable for you. Medium, light, ultra-light, and heavy are the different classifications of power, and they determine which rod to pick. If you want to catch panfish, an ultra-light one will be more suited for you. 

Blank Material

The rod’s blank material is also a very important characteristic that should not be ignored. The main two materials to choose from are graphite and fiberglass. Graphite can be more costly but is more sensitive and lighter to use. Fiberglass, however, bends better than graphite. It is also more durable than graphite. 

Review of the Best Ice Fishing Rods

Now that you’ve gone over the basics of ice fishing, let’s dive into the reviews of the most sought-after ice fishing rods that will amp up your fishing game. 

What Makes a High-Quality Ice Fishing Rod?

The right gear increases your catch rate when ice fishing. You'll need to be particularly cautious about the material, action, power, length, line guide, durability, and comfort while making a purchase. We've come up with a small guide on the top features that make an ice fishing rod stand out from the crowd.

Graphite Construction

This is a key determinant of the rod's durability and longevity. Rod materials may vary from graphite, fiberglass to carbon fiber. Although each of them has its pros, graphite and carbon fiber are the leading choices for premium quality. 

Most top-notch fishing rods are built out of graphite to enhance robustness under steady loads. It is exceptional in its sensitivity and lightweight properties and adds to the strength of the rod at the same time.

Fast Rod Action

Rod action is all about the bend and recoil of your fishing rod to its original shape. Extra-fast or fast action refers to the bending of the tip only, under pressure. The choice of rod action comes down to your fishing requirements. 

However, fast action can tackle a wide variety of fish. If you're a pro at jigging and spinning, fast action will suit your style for better sensitivity and transmittance of strikes.

Moderate Rod Power

Quite similar to rod action, the power is the amount of pressure and force that the rod can bear without breaking off. This is essential to determine how much weight it can bear. A heavier rod can withstand great pressure, so it's best for heavier fish with a huge weight; otherwise, moderate power will suffice too.

Ice Fishing Rod Types

Knowing your gear well can help you choose what's ultimately best for you. Once you surf the market, you'll see that there are two distinct types of ice fishing rods. Let's have a look at each of them.

Baitcasting Rods

Excelling in power and accuracy, baitcasting rods are suitable for professional anglers and fishermen. They're attached with a baitcasting reel, and the guides are mounted on top. As the name suggests, they cast out heavy baits in water by accommodating big game fish.

Unparalleled in terms of strength, they bear heavy lines but may lead to tangles if handled unprofessionally. A baitcasting rod provides excellent precision and has accurate distances to offer greater torque for heavier weights.

Spin Casting Rods

Paired up with a spinning reel mounted beneath the rod, the guides in a spin casting rod are also situated on the underside. These are simpler to use and ideal for beginners and amateurs. They are easy to understand and can be good for controlling longer lines. 

However, there's a certain restriction because spin casting rods can only be used for small-sized fish species such as walleye, trout, panfish, etc.

Featuring modern functions and design, telescopic rods can be adjusted to your desired length for convenience. This is a very useful feature that allows one to extend or shrink the rod while traveling or for storage purposes. Such rods can bear small to medium-sized fish in working with spinning reels.

How to Care of an Ice Fishing Rod

If you don't want your money to go down the drain, you'll have to be particularly considerate towards regular cleaning and maintenance of your fishing rod. Read along to find out some tips and tricks to keep your ice fishing rod as good as new!

Cleaning the Rod

After you're done fishing, make it a habit to rub your fishing rod with a soft cloth to remove any dirt specks or annoying marks. If you've got plenty of time on your hands, we recommend doing a thorough cleaning with warm soapy water to remove stubborn stains or any ice crystals. Allow the rod and reel to dry properly before using or storing it.

Lubricating the Reel

Using any oil as a lubricating agent for your reel will maximize the efficiency of the device. It permits smoother operation of the reel and also cleans out dirt residue effortlessly. Make sure that the oil reaches every nook of the reel; however, overusing it may meddle with the drag power.

Storing the Rod

It is important to store your rod in the best condition possible because it won't be needed till the next year's season. For this purpose, moisture-absorbent storage packs make the best choice because they prevent rust and mold formation.

You can also store it in the reel case for improved lifespan. Also, never store your rod with the tip loaded because this will permanently alter its shape and affect the performance. Keep the line free of any tension or load to avoid breakage.

What Size Ice Fishing Rod?

Ice fishing rods come in a range of sizes, from small to longer ones, so that everyone can find something they're comfortable using. The general size chart for ice fishing rods is much smaller as compared to saltwater or freshwater fishing. Typically, the sizes vary from 16" to as long as 42".

To be more accurate and specific, the rod length depends on the area you're fishing in. If you're in an indoor setup such as an ice hut or shelter, you'll have to make do with a 16 to 28-inch rod, which will be suitable enough to fish without hitting the walls.

For outdoor ice fishing, longer rods of 36 to 42 inches will come in handy with maximal coverage.

Longer rods provide more leverage, power, and shock-absorbing capability, which is why you can even fish large species freely. Nonetheless, shorter rod length poses a restriction on chasing big fish. Why? Because it won't be able to handle the pressure and would only amplify arm stress.

Ice Fishing Rods - Comparison Overview

If you're new to the world of ice fishing, there are a few commonly used terms you need to be familiarized with. This comparison overview will prove to be decisive in purchasing the best fishing rod for winters.

Ice Fishing Pole vs Fishing Rod

Both of them serve the same purpose, which is to catch fish. So, where does the difference lie? Fishing poles are crafted out of natural substances such as reed, cane, etc. They are used to catch fish by hooking the bait on one end of the pole and swinging it over the water's surface.

Meanwhile, fishing rods are combined with a line ending in a hook for the bait attachment. They are used for fishing by luring the bait deep under the water and attracting fish. Casting and spinning rods are famous among fishers because they are versatile and easier to use.

Ultra-Light vs Light Rod Ice Fishing

An ultra-light fishing rod will bend on the slightest application of pressure and offer additional flexibility to bend the rod. Since they can only withstand extremely small weights, such rods can be used for panfish.

Utilizing lighter lines and weightless lures, ultra-light rods will guarantee a thrilling experience due to increased line sensitivity.

Moving on to light rods, they are pretty much the same as ultra-light fishing rods but with only slight differences. They have a fast action to bend slightly only over the tip of the rod, but they cannot bear the weight of large fish.

Medium vs Light Ice Fishing Rod

Medium fishing rods come with moderate action and power, making them a viable option for catfish, walleye, black bass, and whitefish. The medium action means that the rod bends somewhere in the midway, and the power is strong enough to carry an average size fish. Medium units with fast action provide better casting and can be used for jigging, owing to their sensitivity.

Contrary to that, light ice fishing rods pair up fast action and only slight bending properties to attract small fish. They feature low power and are adapted to fish, panfish, bluegill, etc. Fishers must refrain from using light rods on heavier fish because they can bend the rod way more than its original capacity.

Baitcasting vs Spincasting Rods for Ice Fishing

With greater power, accuracy, and strength, baitcasting rods are the perfect gear for large fish. They require great skill and mastery; hence, professionals and experienced anglers know the right way to set up a baitcasting rod. The heavier line enhances torque and pulling power; resultantly, one can lure large fish more smoothly for precise targeting.

Spin casting rods are a favorite for using light lures with longer lines. Having reduced drag and simplified operation, amateurs and hobbyists can make the most out of this product. Although it lacks a bit in power, it allows you to lay long casts and lure fish by soft baits. Such a fishing rod has great applications in all kinds of waters and is particularly versatile in ice fishing.

Aspects to Consider Before Buying

Let’s wrap up this article by focusing on the main features and aspects that you should keep in mind before buying a fishing rod for ice fishing:

Length

You need to look for a fishing rod that has a short length. Since these fish are smaller than other types of species, the rods should be no longer than 48 inches. The shorter length will provide you better manageability and ease of use when fishing. It will also give you better casting and accuracy.

Power

Power can be Light, Ultra-Light, Medium, or Heavy. You need to determine the power required by looking at the species that you want to catch. Since smaller fish fight easily and is harder to get hold of, you need a rod that has a sensitive tip. The power depends on the type of species you want to catch.

Action

Action can be described as the flex of the rod and can be slow, medium, medium-fast, and fast. If you want to capture small fish, then you need a fishing rod with fast action. But if you want to capture bigger or heavier fish, then you need a rod with a slower action so it can fight the fish for some time and capture it in the bait.

Conclusion

This article is to be followed as a guide on choosing the best ice-fishing rod. Make sure to check the specifications and match them for your intended use, so you get the best possible one that is suited for your fishing needs. Hopefully, this article was helpful to you. Good luck fishing!

People Also Ask

If you still have some doubts or queries that need to be cleared out, then you can go over this portion to get answers. This will help clear out some ambiguities and make it easier for you to make the purchase for an ice fishing rod:

What is an Ice Fishing Rod with a Quick Tip?

The quick tip describes the fast action of a fishing rod. This means that the rod remains stiff throughout but only bends at the last one-third or near the rod's tip. A quicker tip enables the strikes to be transferred quickly with improved sensitivity and is best for jigging purposes.

What Rod for Ice Fishing Bluegill?

The best rod for bluegill is a spinning rod or an ultra-light or light fishing rod. Such rods utilize a fast action and lighter line, which yields better results to be sensitive for detecting slight nibbles. The rod's length is not quite long, somewhat around 24 to 36 inches, which would make a pretty good choice.

What Action Rod for Ice Fishing Walleye?

Walleye can be targeted successfully by jigging the fishing rod's ends, and nothing beats a fast-action rod for this purpose. Fast to medium action bends the rod near the tip to augment sensitivity near the ends. This will help locate and sense vibrations during jigging to attract walleye even if they're not responding.

What is a Dead Stick Ice Fishing Rod?

A smart and innovative way to trap fish if they're not paying attention is using the dead stick method. Fishermen keep an active jigging rod to instigate the fish constantly, while at the same time, they add a dead stick in a nearby hole. 

There is no particular choice with the type of line used in dead sticking, but live baits are preferred, such as minnow heads. The dead stick bobs away, and often the fish ends up biting onto the live bait on the dead stick.

How to Set Up an Ice Fishing Rod?

Start by setting your rod in such a way that the line guides are perfectly aligned together. Then grab your rod from the farther end and insert the line working your way down to the guides till it reaches the reel.

Tie a knot on the reel to secure the line and continue by winding the reel to wrap up the line's required amount. Now, attach the sinker, swivel, and the hook on a separate piece of line and make sure all the parts are tightly tied and secured. Once you're done, set up bait on the hook, and you're good to start fishing.

What is a Noodle Ice Fishing Rod?

Noodle rod is a high-precision rod that wins from the rest in terms of finesse and tip sensitivity. It is exceptionally sharp in detecting even the smallest fish bites with enhanced visibility. By making use of a light line, it is a class apart in terms of delicacy and multiplying catch rate. Hence, it is ideal for panfish, trout, etc.

How Long is an Ice Fishing Rod?

An ice fishing rod is no longer than 48 inches. This is because the smaller the rod is, the better it will be able to stay in close proximity to the hole or lake, making it easier for the fisherman to fight and capture the fish that fights it.

Why Are Ice Fishing Rods So Small?

The reason ice fishing rods are small is because of the sensitivity required to catch the fish. Since the fish are tiny, you need a sensitive tip to detect the fish bites on the bait, and lightweight rods are helpful in determining those. They also make it easier for the user to capture the fish.