Seeing as I’m a real novice on ice fishing: I was out at JR’s today and looked at their ice rods. $30 Anyone have an opinion on them? As tiny and fragile as they look I’m wondering if an ugly stick won’t be more practical? What do I get with a rod like JR’s that I wouldn’t get with a cheaper combo?
Good rods for the price. Eyelets could be bigger for outside fishing. If anyone is over that way mention that to them.
JRs seems to have a good variety of lengths and strengths to choose from at a very decent price $30. At the show they were 2 for $30. Fantastic deal.
What are you looking for the rods to do? If you pick a ultra light panfish model to fish pike or walleyes it might just break. Just need to match the rod to how you fish and what you want it to do.
I don’t know anything about JR’s rods, but I would say you are going to lose out on the sensitivity if you choose an ugly stick or other cheap combo, and a lot of those combo reels are junk.
I started out fishing walleyes with an ugly stick, they work but there is a lot better rods for not much more money. Get an ugly stick and that is what you get; a “stick”. They have their place but if you want a jigging rod and want to feel your bait, get a thinner and lighter rod.
I place more importance on the reel. You don’t have to spend a lot to get a pretty good reel. You need something that has a good drag, and I prefer something with full anti-reverse. Nothing like setting yourself up for failure like a cheap reel with a bad drag.
You can get a pretty good rod for $15- $30 and a reel for the same price and set yourself up with your own $40- $50 combo.
A JR’s rod at $30 is probably a pretty good value.
Good Luck fishing!
My JRs rods have been great. I have the lite bite which is their fiberglass ‘noodle’ style rod and it works great. I also have a light graphite rod that I’m very happy with. Theyre a great value in my opinion. I have some ugly sticks for lead core and catfish but would not consider one for any of my ice fishing applications.
Joe
I have one, bought it at the ice show but haven’t had it out yet.
I agree with Mike W that the guides are small. If you plan to fish outside you may run into trouble there. Other than that seemed like a decent rod for the price.
I’m not familiar with these, who sells them?
Their tackle is at most retailers but I think the rods you can only get at their outlet in Brooklyn Park on 169 or online possibly.
Joe
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I’m not familiar with these, who sells them?
J.R.’s Tackle out of Brooklyn Park
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Their tackle is at most retailers but I think the rods you can only get at their outlet in Brooklyn Park on 169 or online possibly.
Joe
Yeah, I’ve heard of the tackle but not the rods. Thank you!
thats a apple to orange comparisment…..they make a good rod for a good price… there not a fiberglass uglystick, they will break if you abbuse them like any onter graphite rod. i have had a half dozen of them over the years and am more than happy
I have a JR panfish rod that I have been using for two season. Nice rod.
You can get a deal at the ice show most years for $30 for two rods. You won’t find another rod that nice anywhere near that price. I would put the rods on the same level as a Jason Mitchell, not a super nice custom, but still a better rod than typical garbage in that price range.
I’ve got a perch rod and a noodle rod from them, both work very well. The noodle rod is my go-to rod for the majority of my fishing. It’s also nice that if the top breaks you’re only out $15.
Sure hope the quality of their stuff has come up….like the guides all spaced properly and aligned on the rod straight.
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Sure hope the quality of their stuff has come up….like the guides all spaced properly and aligned on the rod straight.
You might be asking a lot there Tom. These are inexpensive foreign made rods from what I can tell. No different from the many others in that price range. Thought at one time they where the same as the Jason Mitchel series rods just different names on them. Not sure if that is true or not. Like I said above about my only gripe is the eyelets need to be bigger.
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