Top 5 Ice Rods Every Angler Needs This Winter

One of the easiest ways to catch more fish in winter is to use a quality ice fishing rod that’s well-balanced for the bait and technique you’re using, as well as the fish species you’re targeting. Ice anglers who are only targeting one species can easily get by with one or two rods, while multi-species anglers will likely need more. To be prepared for catching everything from small panfish to big predator fish like northern pike and lake trout, carry the following five ice rods.

Fussy, light-biting crappie, yellow perch, bluegills, and other panfish, along with small trout in inland lakes, are no match for 13 Fishing’s ultra-light Tickle Sticks. Available in 23- and 27-inch lengths, these rods are ideal for fishing tiny ice jigs tipped with live bait or small plastics, as well as micro spoons.

A Tickle Stick’s innovative Flat Tip Blank is a major reason why it’s often hailed as the best ice fishing rod for finesse presentations. This flat (not round) tip provides unrivalled sensitivity for detecting ascending and descending strikes.

In addition to offering a built-in visual strike indicator, Flat Tip blanks are extremely durable and powerful. These rugged rods can withstand more abuse than traditionally made ultra-light sticks and have the strength to handle bigger fish when unexpected encounters occur.

A quality, light-power ice rod between 26 and 32 inches is a versatile marvel. Rods fitting this criterion, such as a light 27 inch Tickle Stick, allow anglers to fish lead and tungsten ice jigs, as well as hard baits and spoons up to around 1/8 to 3/16 ounces. This makes light rods ideal for presenting more assertive and larger panfish, while also being excellent sticks when conditions demand downsized, finesse tactics for walleye and whitefish.

Combo Option: Force, Snitch

A 28 to 38-inch medium-power rod is an ice fishing workhorse, and a mainstay for jigging walleye, pike, trout, whitefish, and burbot. Expect these rods to balance extremely well with Jigging Raps, Rippin’ Raps, Leech Lake Flutter Spoons, and other jigs and lures generally weighing between 1/8 to 3/8 ounces (give or take). Top picks in the medium-power ice rod category are the Clam Jason Mitchell Meat Stick and 13 Fishing Wicked Ice and Wicked Pro XL.

Combo Options: Omen FreeFall XL, Clout, Meat Stick, Dead Meat

If you’re willing to own six ice rods, consider getting a medium-light and a medium-heavy one. Otherwise, choose the rod you’ll use more frequently based on the fish species you encounter most frequently.

For instance, anglers who target small to mid-sized fish, such as panfish and walleye, often find a medium-light rod, like the 13 Fishing Wicked Pro XL or Tickle Stick, best suited to their needs.

On the other hand, anglers who frequently visit world-class trophy fisheries, like Lake of the Woods and Lake Winnipeg, and regularly battle medium to big fish will require a medium-heavy rod, such as the 13 Fishing 40-inch Infrared, for taming big predators. However, the 38-inch medium Wicked Pro XL is a formidable choice that can handle large fish due to its high-performance features, including its tip and taper.

Combo Options: Capture Walleye, Wicked Ice, Omen FreeFall XL, Clout

Most ice anglers own at least one deadstick rod for a reason: these technique-specific sticks are the perfect tool for presenting live or dead bait. Outfitted with a high-vis tip and an extremely soft upper blank, deadstick rods bend easily, allowing fish to get a mouthful without feeling resistance. The rod’s brightly coloured, limber tip also serves as a visual strike indicator for anglers.

Deadstick rods are commonly used as a secondary line (in areas where regulations permit) to cover more water and complement jigging strategies. However, during extremely tough bites, using deadstick rods exclusively can be the secret to catching more fish.

Deadstick rods are available in various powers, which should be matched to the size of the fish species being targeted. For instance, this would mean using the Wicked Ice Deadstick XL 47” medium rod for walleye, but opting for the medium-heavy version in situations where encounters with a mix of big lake trout, northern pike, and walleye are more common.

Combo Options: Capture Walleye and Baitstriker 

While the general ice rod recommendations cover a wide range of ice fishing scenarios, they are not set in stone. For example, anglers who primarily target mid-sized to large fish may not need an ultra-light rod, as panfish are rarely in their crosshairs. In such cases, their five picks might consist of light, medium-light, medium, medium-heavy, and deadstick rods. The key is to have variety in the rod collection so you can fish various presentations suitable for the fish you commonly encounter during your winter adventures.

To learn more about choosing the best ice rods for your needs, check out these blogs about 13 Fishing Ice Combos, Rods, and Reels, and Why Successful Ice Anglers Carry Multiple Ice Rod Combos.