Gimmick?

[Lucy]

Is there any kind of significant different between fishing rods that are to be used for ice fishing? I saw some advertised, and it seemed like a gimmick. Is it?

[Pathfinder1]

I usually don't trek very far,
when all around me ice holes are.





Hi...

I can't comment on what you might have seen without seeing it myself. However, many ice fishing rods are much shorter than a more conventional fishing rod (since no casting is necessary).

The shorter fishing rods are frequantly used for "jigging"...which is slowly jigging a lure up and down under the ice.

There is also something called a tip-up, which is another ice fishing device. When a fish takes the bait, a flag will "tip up", letting you know that a fish is either caught...or at least interested.

[hippieP]

I have only noticed shorter and the weight to be honest. My father did this for a few years and until I was older I never knew what they were for going into his shop. Are you starting a new hobby or just curious?

[ppine]

Native Alaskans catch all kinds of fish with sticks or piece of wooden dowel with a line attached on the end. A handline will work. Don't over think it. Just go.

[JimBob]

Does everyone use a fishing rod when they ice fish? I always thought you'd just use a spool and a fishing line. I guess it would be tough if you caught something heavy, but it just makes more sense to me.

[Pathfinder1]

Originally Posted by ppine

Native Alaskans catch all kinds of fish with sticks or piece of wooden dowel with a line attached on the end. A handline will work. Don't over think it. Just go.

Hi...

That was probably the case many years ago...usually for ice fishing...not to say that some of them might not still be using that method.

Today, most Native Alaskans have pretty much adopted many "modern" methods of doing things...metal fishing/whaling boats...snow machines...modern firearms...store-bought cold weather gear...aircraft...etc.

And yes, handlines will still work.

One thing I thought was unique...when I lived there...was that some Natives thought little of the white mans' putting doors on their shelves...!!

[Pathfinder1]

Originally Posted by JimBob

Does everyone use a fishing rod when they ice fish? I always thought you'd just use a spool and a fishing line. I guess it would be tough if you caught something heavy, but it just makes more sense to me.

Hi...


I wouldn't say that EVERYONE uses a rod to fish through the ice. It takes lots of patience to do that, not to mention (hopefully) an ice fishing shack for protection against poor weather.

And, yes, on rare occassions a fish is caught that is to big to pull up through the hole in the ice. I've never had that happen to me...but if you're wondering what would happen in that case...I would presume that the fisher would try like a madman to increase the size of the hole in the ice...before the fish could get away!!

Tip-ups make it possible for fishers to ice fish in more than one location at a time.