Ice rod upgrade – St Croix Legend Gold?

As for fishing spring bobbers, I like them for the very light biters. I can’t convince myself to pay $90.00 for a St Croix Legend Gold, to fish a spring bobber that I can fish on a $20.00 – $30.00 rod. Is that spring bobber that special? I have picked up a couple of Rapala Titanium bobbers and feel I can set those to fish nearly as well. What do you guys think?
While I have built many rods in the past. When looking at Thorne Bros. blanks and components I hardly think it is worth my while to buy the components for a Quiver Stick and build it myself. I also favor the TUCR Bullwhip. These look like what I want for panfish, but I might consider a power noodle. Are there other alternatives?
Watching the DH videos on YouTube shows me that the guys can catch fish, but I have not seen anything that shows me the action of their blanks. It appeared that many of them bent far up into the blank. From what I observed, their power noodle is the only one that looked like it might fit an action I am looking for.
Does anyone else have any input?

Just another option to throw in.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brickers-Custom-Rods/241606165862684

FDR

I’m about to try out a 13 fishing Tickle Stick ultra light with a built in flat spring tip. This is my panfish rod,..I hope I like it, will give report.

Off the shelf spring bobber dont work well in cold temp under 20 degrees. I would recommend DH custom spring bobber as it claims to work from -15 to 15 degrees. Thorne bros tripwire only goes to 15 degrees then it stops retracting. Thorne bros tripwire is $15 installed I assume DH is probably equivalent.

That’s quite a link. He does some amazing artwork. I’ll have to investigate. Not sure about the micro noodle. Was looking for something that loaded up better. Do you fish with any of his rods?

I am a little concerned with the Tickle Stick as the tip seems like it might break very easy. Spoke to a rep recently and he helped me understand when and how they might break, but it appears normal fishing s/b OK.

Amos wrote:

I am a little concerned with the Tickle Stick as the tip seems like it might break very easy. Spoke to a rep recently and he helped me understand when and how they might break, but it appears normal fishing s/b OK.

I promise to give this thing a run for it’s money. If it breaks trust me, I’ve broken a lot more expensive stuff.

Bricker makes functional art and he is very proud of it (just ask him). The price is what gets me. Especially when there are so many great shops with <$100 rods. For less than 1 Bricker you can get a rod and a Sedona reel from most shops.

Most of the big three make a noodle type rod to be able to detect light bite.

The biggest issue with spring bobber made of titanium is there is a temperature that the spring does not work.

What are you wanting to use this for? Tungsten? Small spoons?

Let me know I may be able to help.

Thanks.

Why not make your own St. Croix spring bobber? All you need is a #8 one legged rod guide, !/8″ ID Rubber Grommet and the Spring. All of these can be bought for about $12. A little super glue to set the guide in place and then epoxy over it.

Amos wrote:

That’s quite a link. He does some amazing artwork. I’ll have to investigate. Not sure about the micro noodle. Was looking for something that loaded up better. Do you fish with any of his rods?

@Amos,

I have only fished with two of his walleye rods last ice season. I came to Erie very much very much underarmed for the quality and size of walleye. Luckily, I had a friend from Oak Harbor that had plenty of gear.

Short answer, I can’t speak to the quality of his lighter gear, but the quality and how the heavier rods loaded were perfect for our situation. The rods do look nice, but they feel even better. I don’t get too caught up on the aesthetics of rods.

FDR

Amos wrote:

That’s quite a link. He does some amazing artwork. I’ll have to investigate. Not sure about the micro noodle. Was looking for something that loaded up better. Do you fish with any of his rods?

@Amos,

I have only fished with two of his walleye rods last ice season. I came to Erie very much underarmed for the quality and size of walleye. Luckily, I had a friend from Oak Harbor that had plenty of gear.

Short answer, I can’t speak to the quality of his lighter gear, but the quality and how the heavier rods loaded were perfect for our situation. The rods do look nice, but they feel even better. I don’t get too caught up on the aesthetics of rods.

FDR

You can buy the actual St. Croix spring bobber by itself. Grab a couple of these and epoxy them onto your rod if you like.
IMO, it is the best spring bobber out there.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/St-Croix-Super-Finesse-Spring-Bobber/1550103.uts?productVariantId=1264845&srccode=cii_17588969&cpncode=45-19804654-2&WT.tsrc=CSE&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=10050525&rid=20

Paying all kinds of dough for a custom ice rod is a waste of money I think. You are watching your vex hardcore anyway so feeling isn’t as important, especially if you already have a spring bobber. Granted, you don’t want junk either, but 30-40 bucks will get you a nice enough stick.

Spending the big dough on a open water rod makes much more sense to me.

If I were you I would give one of the TUCR guys a call if you are looking into one of those. They will definitely hook you up with a rod that best suits the conditions you are going to be in. By this I mean they will find you the rod that suits the fish you are targeting and also the types of spoons/jigs used. You won’t be disappointed!

I think I will look into the St Croix Springs and see if I can adapt them to my rods.
I also appreciate the responses here, though I may just have to attend a Minnesota Ice fishing show and put some of these rods in my hands to see what, if any difference there might be.

castle-rock-clown wrote:

I’m about to try out a 13 fishing Tickle Stick ultra light with a built in flat spring tip. This is my panfish rod,..I hope I like it, will give report.

. My son just brought one back cause the tip snapped.