I have searched and read everything I can about what I should buy and I need more help. We fish exclusively inside permeant shacks on LOTW and use mainly 1/8th oz jigs with a few 1/4th oz rarely. I can’t decide between the perch sweetheart and the walleye sweetheart. Then what other options should I look at for custom ordering? Thanks a lot guys!
I own a variety of Thorne Walleye & Perch Sweethearts and prefer the Perch as I feel it has a better action for fishing lures in the weights you mentioned. For an inside rod I’d recommend a 26″ – 30″ rod with most guys opting for a 26″ – 28″ length if use will primarily be inside a shack.
I only use the walleye sweethearts when fishing bigger blade or rattle baits in excess of 1/4 oz. or when I’m on a lake where lake trout or big pike are the rule rather than the exception. In my opinion the Perch Sweetheart will handle any walleye that swims. 
Get the perch sweetheart plus with the inside guides. I have 5 thorne bros rods now and when I go to LOTW this is still the one I use. I have landed a 9 lb walleye and 12 lb eelpout on this setup with no problem. The feel is great, so no problem picking up light biters.
Is this a rod that you can pick up right off of the rack? Or is a it a custom order? Even more importantly..will they be on sale this Saturday? 
FDR
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Is this a rod that you can pick up right off of the rack? Or is a it a custom order? Even more importantly..will they be on sale this Saturday?
FDR
Yes, yes and yes.
It is a rod produced in standard lengths (custom lengths are available for the asking although you will wait several weeks for YOUR rod to be made) and Thorne will have a good selection on hand on Saturday.
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Is this a rod that you can pick up right off of the rack? Or is a it a custom order? Even more importantly..will they be on sale this Saturday?
FDR
Yes, yes and yes.
It is a rod produced in standard lengths (custom lengths are available for the asking although you will wait several weeks for YOUR rod to be made) and Thorne will have a good selection on hand on Saturday.
COOL! Glad my wife is coming to pick up a few early Christmas presents.
FDR
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Is this a rod that you can pick up right off of the rack? Or is a it a custom order? Even more importantly..will they be on sale this Saturday?
FDR
Maybe I spoke too soon.
http://www.thornebros.com/winter/rods/thorne/sweetheart_perch.html
Their order page shows ALL Perch Sweethearts as SOLD OUT. I’ll run this past Matt Johnson to see if they’ll have models available this weekend.
I sent Matt an email on this. I’m sure he’ll give us the scoop as soon as he reads that email.
No need to worry, we are well-stocked on Perch Sweet Heart rods and will have a 28″ Perch inside for you when you come on Saturday. While we don’t have every rod in-stock, you will see that a few hundred adorn the rack 
Finesse Plus… Power Noodles… Quiversticks… Sweet Things… Professional Plus… Perch Sweet Hearts… we have a pretty good assortment on the shelf…
See everyone on Saturday!
Thanks Matt.
I hope it is wrong! Is there a difference in the size of eyes between the “outside” and “inside” versions?
FDR
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I hope it is wrong! Is there a difference in the size of eyes between the “outside” and “inside” versions?
FDR
“Outside” guides are larger in diameter to help prevent / reduce icing. You’ll be able to compare the two on the rack at the event to get a feel for which you prefer.
I keep hearing guys talk about Perch Plus Sweethearts, but I don’t see that as an option when ordering in their web site. How do I get a Perch Plus rod? Thanks again guys!
Both the Perch sweetheart and the walleye sweetheart have been a staple in our fishing up here on Rainy. I like the walleye sweetheart for sticking larger fish, but also love the flex of the perch series.
Beyond that the Powernoodle………ROCKS!! That may very well be the best panfish rod made today.
Each rod has its place in my opinon, the best all around panfish rod for sunfish, crappie, and perch is the quiverstik. Take a look at those this weekend too.
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I own a variety of Thorne Walleye & Perch Sweethearts and prefer the Perch as I feel it has a better action for fishing lures in the weights you mentioned. For an inside rod I’d recommend a 26″ – 30″ rod with most guys opting for a 26″ – 28″ length if use will primarily be inside a shack.
I only use the walleye sweethearts when fishing bigger blade or rattle baits in excess of 1/4 oz. or when I’m on a lake where lake trout or big pike are the rule rather than the exception. In my opinion the Perch Sweetheart will handle any walleye that swims.
Well-stated James. I’ll chip in and say that if your house is big enough, you might want to consider a 30 or 32″ custom perch or walleye medium sweetheart as well. The more I fish with the longer ice rods, the more I like them, especially for bigger fish. Large head shakes + short stout rods = lost fish, and those are typically the ones you’ll have a big problem losing.
It’s phenomenal that Thorne Brothers gives you the option of going with the outside guides vs. inside, but as of the past two years, I’ve been getting all new rods with the RECOIL guides. They ice-up less, and when they do, you can give them a twist or a flick without worrying about them being brittle or snapping. They’re more costly and a custom job, but if you’re like me and you go back and forth between hole hopping and back to the Otter now and again, it’s worth it.
Saturday would be a good day to put your custom order in as well so you’d get your rod in time to fish. There’s no other custom ice rod builder like them anywhere, so they get swamped with custom orders as ice season draws nearer.
Just talking ice again gets me excited!
Joel
Good info, Joel. My outside rods are moving towards all 36″ blanks. Love ’em. I get great control of the bait while standing without having to hunch over the hole and, as Joel stated, the longer rods are the bees knees when fighting a big fish.
If you like fishing 1/8 oz. spoons outside, hopping hole to hole, a 36″ Perch Sweetheart with the Recoils is as good as it gets in my opinion.
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I keep hearing guys talk about Perch Plus Sweethearts, but I don’t see that as an option when ordering in their web site. How do I get a Perch Plus rod? Thanks again guys!
Maybe they don’t make the rod anymore or maybe they never did? I know 6 years ago my brother and I got the same rods for Christmas. He wanted a lighter action and I wanted a heavier action, so he went with a Perch Sweetheart and I got a Perch Sweetheart plus. I always believed that was the case, but maybe I’m wrong. There are 3 rods in my bag at all times-that Perch Sweetheart and a couple Quiversticks in different lengths.
The Perch Sweet Heart and Perch Sweet Heart Plus are the same rod. For some reason there were a couple years where the “Plus” got added to the end for no reason, and some people still reference that… however, they are both the same rod. The “Plus” will no longer be a part of the equation…
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Each rod has its place in my opinon, the best all around panfish rod for sunfish, crappie, and perch is the quiverstik. Take a look at those this weekend too.
I guess that is why they make the entire series of rods. Although I too love the quiverstik the Powernoodle is far more forgiving on nuetral/negative fish in my opinion. Teaching anglers to line watch in deep water can be a daunting task where the slight dip in the Power noodle tip is much easier to grasp. The backbone add to the traditional “Noodle” rod enhancing to the “Power Noodle” is fantastic and allow anglers to hook panfish of all sizes effectively. I do love the ability to shake the presentation in sharper motion with the “Quiverstik”
BUY THEM ALL!! 
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