TUCR vs Thorne Bros Panfish Sweetheart vs JT Custom Panhandler

Looking for opinions between a TUCR, TB Panfish Sweetheart or a JT Custom. Thinking about getting one for the upcoming season. Used primarily for crappie and bluegills-mainly fishing with jigs, sometimes small spoons. I’d like to hear your opinions.

I have a tucr bullwhip it’s a very versital rod I fish panfish,eater size walleyes and even whitefish with it, I love it

I love my tucr bull whip and fusion. Can’t give any info on the TB or JT rids.

I like the TUCR bullwhip or quick tip. I had the noodle before but I like the bullwhip better. I haven’t fished with the others.

The TUCR Bullwhip is perfect for tungsten jigs and small spoons. I haven’t used the other brands, but I have no reason to put down the Bullwhip. If you want to handle each the St Paul ice show is a great place for it. Otherwise TUCR are on display at Scheels or Cabela’s and you can stop into the shop in coon rapids for a demo any evening as well. Good luck with the choice and keep us posted.
Dan

I have a tucr bullwhip and also a jt panhandler. Both great rods. But if someone told me I had to get rid of one, it WOULD NOT be the bullwhip!

Yet another advocate of the Bullwhip. 6 responses all for the Bullwhip…..I think you have your answer lol.

The Bullwhip is a very versatile rod. I fish tungsten jigs 5mm<, size 3-4 rippin raps, and 1/16-1/8oz spoons. I’ve even live lined crappie minnows on it and it handles all of that well (smaller tungsten works great too but I have Precision Noodles for those). It’s versitle enough for any panfish situation but can also handle the roaming bass or pike really well too. I think a Bullwhip would suit your needs nicely.

I have a 32″ Bullwhip and as Ryan said it’s great for both size 3 and 4 rippin raps and also 1/16oz – 1/8oz spoons and jigs. I use mine for bluegills, crappie and jumbo perch.

In my opinion, the TB panfish sweetheart is overkill for most of the lures I use for crappie and gills. I use that rod with the smallest jigging rap. It has slightly more power (and a very different tip) than the TUCR quicktip that I use for the smallest rippin raps and larger panfish spoons.

I prefer the TB quiverstick as a panfish “feel” rod for jigs and spoons. Or, for a “sight” rod, pretty much any of the various noodle rods (I will echo everyone else that the bullwhip is my #1 choice for heavier tungsten jigs).

Do you prefer fishing by sight or feel?

JT has a few options that would fit what you are looking for. for small jigs, I use the 30″ Panhandler with spring bobber, as you get both the feel from the carbon blank, and the visual bite detection of the nitinol spring bobber.

If I am fishing a small spoon or a small jigging rap for panfish, I use the 30″ Panhandler without a spring bobber. an amazing and versitile combo.

I have all 3. If you want to feel the bite i’d go with the thorne bro. That being said my favorite rod out of them has to be the Bullwhip. It’s got an awesome sensitive tip that you can see everything that is going on through it. It handles any panfish you’ll ever catch plus I have had some low 20″ eyes that weren’t trouble to it at all. My vote goes BW. I have the 36″ so I can stand next to the hole and keep the tip close to the water. PM me if you have any other questions. The JT is sensitive as all get out but it doesn’t have the backbone I’d like it to have.

What’s the best line size for the bullwhip?

Tim Watson wrote:

What’s the best line size for the bullwhip?

Tim I have run from 2lb – 4lb mono and fluoro. At the end of last year I decided to run a 6lb Sufix Performance Ice Braid as a main line and about 30 feet of fluoro in whatever poundage I needed for that particular trip.

I use 3lb Sufix Ice Magic on my Bullwhip, tried the 4lb Sufix Ice Floro but found it to be too stiff and it would come off the spool

I run 3 pound suffix something…can’t remember which line I put on it. I believe it was ice magic.

I also run 3# suffix ice magic in tangerine on my Bullwhip.

I have two Bullwhips, one is spooled with 3lb. Suffix Ice Magic, and the other 3lb. PLine Floro ICe. I haven’t noticed much of difference between the two. I have landed some nice bass (up to 4 lbs.) and northern on the Bullwhip. It has a sensitive tip, but a strong backbone to help land that occasional surprise. I don’t fish walleye very much, it’s not very accessible through the ice in Northeast Iowa, but I’ve heard of people using their Bullwhips for eater-sized walleye as well.

I have owned and fished all 3. Count me as one more for the TUCR. Another Bullwhip is on my list for this season.

Do not forget to check out us small rod builders, we can do a lot more creative custom handles and other things you can not get from the bigger guys.

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bigcrappie wrote:

Do not forget to check out us small rod builders, we can do a lot more creative custom handles and other things you can not get from the bigger guys.

Some nice looking work there. Cool looking handles are nice, but to me it come down to the quality of the blanks – What brand of blanks do you use on your builds?

I hate to say it but no company can say they have a superior blank based on materials until they actually make public the materials they’re using lol

If anyone says a small builder can’t build a decent rod because they’re not using Thorne, JT or TUCR blanks – you’re drinking the cool aid hard

fishthumper wrote:

Some nice looking work there. Cool looking handles are nice, but to me it come down to the quality of the blanks – What brand of blanks do you use on your builds?

I use 100% solid carbon blanks for my Walleye and perch rods, and glass for my noodle style rods and dead sticks. Same as everyone else

I don’t think Throne Brothers, JT, or TUCR make their blanks in house. They sub that job out to a different company and specify the taper and specs.
I believe Thorne Brothers open water rods are made by St. Croix.

Mat Peirce wrote:

I hate to say it but no company can say they have a superior blank based on materials until they actually make public the materials they’re using lol

If anyone says a small builder can’t build a decent rod because they’re not using Thorne, JT or TUCR blanks – you’re drinking the cool aid hard

I wasn’t saying that smaller Builders cant build a decent rod – I was saying that their are Major differences in the quality of blanks available to use when building rods. If you are saying there is no difference in quality of rod blanks – Your drinking more than Cool Aid really hard

One more nod to the BW.It was the first rod I purchased a coupla years ago.I loved it so I got another.I now have the QT,Fusion,and a noodle on the way.Hands down the BW is the most versatile of the bunch.

I wasn’t saying that smaller Builders cant build a decent rod – I was saying that their are Major differences in the quality of blanks available to use when building rods. If you are saying there is no difference in quality of rod blanks – Your drinking more than Cool Aid really hard

After profiling many of the blanks available, materials are very comparable, straightness is all over the place and tolerance of the grind is usually pretty tight (+/- .003 for most). I’ve been through all of the Sportsmens blanks, MHX, CRB, some st croix, etc. Some are Chinese grinds, a few are US grinds.

I prefer the quiver stick. With a medium light trip wire for 4-5mm and small spoons. Very sensitive can feel

Thanks for the help on line fire the bullwhip.

Alex George wrote:

crappie and bluegills-mainly fishing with jigs, sometimes small spoons. I’d like to hear your opinions.

TUCR Bullwhip in 30-32″ using 3-4# Sufix Ice Magic line.