Best Ice Fishing Rod And Reel Setups For Trophy Fish

Choosing the best ice fishing rod and reel setup for catching trophy fish is a straightforward process provided you keep a few things in mind. The fish species you plan to target, techniques you’ll be using, and whether you’ll be inside a shelter or outside are three principal considerations. Read on to learn more on choosing the best ice fishing rod and reel setups for walleye, lake trout, northern pike, yellow perch, crappie and more.

Hooking into a giant fish with an underpowered rod combo is a bad scenario. Poor hooksets, lopsided battles and, worst of all, a fish of a lifetime getting away are three potential outcomes of  using improper equipment.

WHAT SPECIES ARE YOU TARGETING?

Avoid this doomsday by selecting a rod that’s power, action and length characteristics match-up well to the size and strength of species you’re targeting. This means medium to heavy rods for large, powerful predator like northern pike and lake trout; light to medium rods for mid-sized walleye, whitefish and trout; and, ultra-light to light rods for smaller fish, like yellow perch and crappie.

DO YOUR OUTINGS INVOLVE MULTI-SPECIES CATCHES?

If multi-species mayhem is part of your ice fishing reality, you’ll need rods capable of taming different kinds of fish. For many anglers, finding one do-it-all rod is unlikely. However, it’s very possible to find one to three setups capable of doing the bulk of the heavy lifting. 

This brings us to the new, Canada-exclusive Wicked Pro Evolve XL ice rods, a pair of 38-inch ice swords specifically designed for taming trophy fish ranging in size from jumbo perch to giant pike. Their long reach, responsive tip section, parabolic-like blank action, extended fighting butt and ability to accommodate large 2500 and 3000 sized spinning reels (e.g., Kalon series, Aerios) all work to an angler’s advantage when pursuing trophy fish.

The medium-light Wicked Pro Evolve XL shines for lighter presentations when targeting crappie, perch, as well as walleye and whitefish. The medium model is precision-tuned for #7 Jigging Raps and other larger lures, and easily subdues trophy walleye, pike and lake trout. 

WHAT TECHNIQUES ARE YOU USING?

This is an important question to spend time thinking about when choosing a rod for trophy fish.  Generally, most ice rods fall into one of two main categories — rods made for jigging lures and rods made for deadsticking live- or dead-bait. Here are some rod characteristics to take into account when looking to get a new rod from either of these categories.

JIGGING RODS

Choosing a rod made to handle the weight of lures you intend to fish will help ensure proper presentations. Generally, selecting rod power based on target species as a first step tends to point you in the right direction, but it’s always best to confirm proper rod-lure balance. 

Ideally, the presentation’s weight will create a slight bend in the rod tip. Results of this include improved control and precision when jigging, enhanced bait “feel” and better strike detection. For example, when a light or ultra-light Tickle Stick’s Flat Tip is under load, an angler is able to precision jig with minimal effort and then detect an ascending or a descending panfish strike with flawless precision.

Action is another rod characteristic to consider. Check out moderate-fast to extra-fast models to learn what action is best suited for your jigging style and preferred lures. As examples, anglers who favour a reactive, crisp blank, absolutely love the Omen and WidowMaker jigging rods for trophy fish, while those preferring a moderate and moderate-fast blank (i.e., decent parabolic flex giving way to a strong backbone) will gravitate towards rods like the Wicked Pro Evolve XL and Snitch Pro Ice Combo. For a budget friendly rod and reel combo option, look to the Wicked series offering great feel in a multitude of lengths/actions.

DEAD-STICK RODS

Whether dangling a lively minnow or hanging a dead-bait, soaking bait is one of the easiest ways to catch more trophy fish. This is the domain of deadstick rods customized for such techniques. 

For instance, the tip on a WidowMaker Dead-Stick rod is so sensitive it moves under the weight of a panicking minnow and effortlessly loads up when a walleye, crappie or perch takes the bait. Most deadsticks have a longer butt section to ensure a secure fit inside a rod holder. This is seen in the extended EVA fighting butt of the Wicked Ice Deadstick XL. This feature ensures the Wicked Ice Deadstick XL works with traditional rod holders, but also allows it to operate with popular hook-setting devices and rod-style tip-ups, which are very popular for big pike, walleye, trout and other large predators. For a budget friendly rod and reel combo option, look to the Microtec Walleye series.

ARE YOU FISHING INSIDE OR OUTSIDE?

When fishing in a cramped one-person ice hut, using a shorter rod tends to be the more practical option. This said, today’s portable ice huts feature more spacious interiors than earlier generations, which opens up more space for using longer rods, so definitely don’t write-off jigging with a 38” Wicked Pro Evolve XL in an ice house. 

Long rods remain popular choices when fishing outside. The added reach allows the tip to be positioned closer to the ice hole. This, in turn, means less line is exposed to wind, which improves control, sensitivity and bite detection, while reducing ice build-up on the line. 

Long rods also pick up line faster, and more of it, than shorter rods. Benefits here include better hook-sets and more efficient hole-hopping.

Being able to absorb strong surges from trophy fish and prevent hooks from dislodging are other long-rod perks. Such is the thinking behind the 40” and 38” lengths of the Infrared Ice Rod and Wicked Pro Evolve XL rods, both of which excel for trophy lake trout, northern pike and walleye. 

Trophy panfish anglers also gravitate to longer rods at times. The ultralight 32” WidowMaker Noodle rod is popular for those chasing trophy crappie, yellow perch and bluegills.

Shorter rods still have their place beyond confined ice hut interiors, however. Shorter rods excel when sight-fishing and tight-lining, for instance. Children and beginners learning how to ice fish can also benefit from using shorter rods, which can dampen overzealous jigging strokes and help them trigger more strikes. The 23” ultra-light Tickle Stick, for example, is well suited for trophy panfish adventures and for anglers of all skill levels.

Rod guides are another detail to keep in mind. Large-diameter line guides are less susceptible to freeze-up than smaller guides. This is why quality “outside” rods have guide trains with oversized eyelets. Conversely, lightweight, smaller guides are seen on rods catering to anglers who prefer fishing inside with a featherweight combo.    

TIPS FOR TRAVELING WITH LONG ICE RODS

When not in use and during travel, keep rods in a protective rod case. Also take extra care when holding a rod and going in or out of an ice house. Securing the lure to the hook keeper is another easy way to avoid mishaps, regardless of rod length. 

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN AN ICE FISHING REEL FOR TROPHY FISH?

Trophy fish have a habit of exposing any fishing equipment weaknesses. As such, pairing a quality ice rod with a dependable ice fishing reel is critical. 

For many, the BlackBetty FreeFall inline reels are tough to beat. Featuring the unique FreeFall Trigger instant hookup system, stellar drag system, tangle-free spool cap and no-line-twist design features, FreeFalls and the FreeFall XL are built battle-ready for trophy fish.