Is there a single rod for icing panfish? 
By Nathan Krusko “Fishman”
Team Panfish Persuaders
How to choose the best rod for your application.
There are many different rods for vastly different applications. When you are flipping through the catalogs, browsing the pages on the net or wandering the aisles at your favorite bait shop, the choices can be overwhelming. You have heavy rods, ultra lite, graphite, fiber, and not to mention all the different lengths. How to choose one? Just grab one, they all look the same? Not so fast, with the proper choice you will be leading yourself to increased success.
Rod Classifications:
Ah yes all these rods do have different classifications. This is explained by the abbreviations that are printed on the rod shafts. No need to worry, you will not have to attend a class on breaking the code. Although after a proper selection you will need good safe ice to enjoy your new purchase.
SB (Spring Bobber)
This is a description given to rods that are manufactured with spring bobbers either permanently attached or as a slip on. For a permanently attached example there is one manufactured by Jason Mitchell Rods the JMS2SB. This is the only rod with the spring bobber wrapped onto the rod blank permanently that gives the spring better durability. This spring can be bent or cut to adjust to individual fishing styles. Along with this is an eighteen inch rod that has a fiberglass finesse spring with a glow bead for fishing low light. For a good representation of a quality rod with a removable spring bobber there is the Legend Ice Rod made by St. Croix Rods. This is a modular design with a fully adjustable and interchangeable spring indicator system made of high-tension, stainless-steel.
A spring bobber rod gives you the ability to fish micro presentation allowing you the ability to sense extremely light or negative bites. The characteristics of a rod like this, is one that will typically have a fairly stiff back bone and is short in length. It is ideal to chose a rod with a fairly stiff backbone since you will want to make up for the movement loss of the extra sensitive tip. This stiffer backbone helps with successful hook sets. For an angler that has limited sensitivity in their hand or is unsure of light bites this is a great choice.
UL(Ultra-Lite)
Ultra-lite rods are commonly made of graphite or composite blends to give the most in sensitivity and movement at the tip. There are also some rods on the market that are manufactured with extremely sensitive tips and flexible backbones (commonly called noodle rods),that fall in this classification as well. For an ultra-lite rod to be effective, it must have a very flexible tip with a moderate bend down the backbone. The tip section between the first and second guide will be extremely thin and will bend at the slightest touch of your finger tip. With more pressure applied, there is more movement down the entire rod shaft before you feel your wrist bend from the pressure. A rod of this style is an excellent choice for finesse presentations of the smallest of micro jigs to some of the smaller (1/32 & 1/16oz) jigging spoons. This rod, with the versatility of using light jigs and even some of the jigging spoons, is a great choice as a one rod fits all for the average angler chasing panfish.
L (Lite)
Lite action rods are made with graphite, carbon fiber and a few of fiberglass. How to chose a rod like this. The tip section will be thin and the guides fairly close together (1 1/2 to 2 inches apart, generally). With the press of your finger at the tip, there will be a slight flex back to the third guide. With steady pressure you will begin to feel your wrist bend by the time you see rod flex back to the fourth guide. A rod like this is fairly versatile, with the ability to fish the smallest 1/64 oz jigs up to some of the 3/16 oz jigging spoons and jigging minnows. Even though this stiffer design gives some sensitivity loss for the light bite with small jigs, its strength is in the jigging spoons and the heavier horizontal jigs. This is not to say that you cannot use this rod for the smaller jigs, since you can. It will take some more skill and observation to sense some of the lighter strikes. This rod with its slightly heavier design is a great choice for your aggressive panfish jigging and those using jigging spoons such as hali sukkla or forage minnows in the deeper water grass beds.
ML (Medium Lite)
Medium Lite rods are made with carbon, graphite and an increased number of fiberglass. A rod of this design is not a drastic change from the lite action rods with the exception of a slightly stiffer tip and a longer back bone. These rods are a good choice for jigging with larger jigging spoons, minnows and with drop shotting in deep water. A rod of this style is limited in its sensitivity for light bites, unless you go with the higher quality graphite and composite materials. A rod of this style should be reserved for the more aggressive bites and jigging styles.
Size Matters:
In all of the different classes there are many different sizes available. Depending on the manufacturer, there could be as many as 6 different lengths to choose from. What length is best for you will be based a lot on the application and your preference. To help narrow this down a bit consider the method in which you are fishing in and your personal sensitivity. Fishing from within a shelter, the shorter 17-24 inch rods are best. These shorter rods are necessary because of the confined space within a shelter (of note the shorter 15-17 inch rods work best for sight fishing). If you are fishing outside a shelter then the choice is wide open. Lets consider the affect of wind. If you choose the longer 28 inch rods, the tip of your rod will be further out in front of you being prone to movement from the wind. If you are fishing from a bucket with a sonar, odds are you will be fishing closer to your body. In this case the 24 inch rod will be a good choice. If you are still at a loss with the different lengths, the 24 inch ones will be the best all around choice. This rod can be both used in and out of a shelter, with a change in your holding technique it can also be used for sight fishing.
Conclusion:
Understanding the many different classes of rods and the many sizes, the choice should now be easier. In the end, it is always the best practice to purchase a product that is of the highest quality for your budget and the application that you are using it for. It is not entirely necessary to own many different rods to be successful, you just have to be efficient at your methods with the rod of your choosing. For the beginner or the fishermen looking to get a rod that will be the most versatile, then it would be best to choose an ultra lite action rod from a reputable manufacturer. For the seasoned veteran looking to improve your success, it is a good idea to fill your arsenal with one of each of these and keep them pre-rigged with the best jigs for each particular rod. By doing this you will be increasing your time to fish and therefore increasing your chance for success.
Good Luck and Tight Lines
Nathan Krusko
Article Definitions:
Tip : The section of a rod that is from the first guide to the second.
Backbone: The section of a rod from the base of the rod shaft up one half of the rod length.
