I have to agree with the folks who prefer the high end gear. Even if you don’t go custom, any fisherman would be better off with a quality rod, and it’s important that it is either glass or solid graphite. The hollow graphite and the composits and low quality graphite can develop tiny fractures and weaken over time. Add water expanding and comtracting in those cracks, well, you get a pike that decides to dive or if you get a snag you can break your rod. Since fishing tends to be a remote sport, whether on a boat, bank, or out on the ice, it’s a pain if if have to pick up and find a new rod or tackle shop to repair equipment. When I’m out there, I don’t want equipment breaking down and ruining the outing. Plus the higher quality rods are lighter, stronger and more sensative. No, they won’t help you find fish, but they help with every single other thing to get the fish iced–feeling the bite to playing it so it won’t snap the line (drag is only part of it), to pulling it out of the hole. As for reels, you don’t need 17 ball bearings and a super balanced one since you’re not working a bait or lure like you are in open water. But you’re still going to want an excellent drag, and gears that stay put in the frame under stress of fighting a fish. If you ice fish two times a year, then go as cheap as you want. But if you do it regularly, I’d go with a solid outfit, imo.

Thanks gator and switchback I will check those out. I don’t mind spending a lot since I do a lot of brook trout fishing .

Here’s a link for another knot for braided line…looks close to the ol’ standard fisherman’s knot…

There’s also a link for the polamer near the top

web page

sorry eye-guide…just realized I called you fish-eye!.

Thanks fishaholik and fish-eye. I figured the answer would be all-season gear, given the junk I’ve come across made for icefishing. fish-eye…is the reel you posted the garcia 5500c3 fishaholik was talking about? Thanks.

Man, that was fast! Thanks for the replies and thanks for the welcome. I will be going for lake trout mainly. I trolled for those up at like Winnipasockee (?) in New Hampshire and had a tough time getting them in on heavy spinning gear. As far as the guys in Wis. and MN, that is mostly curiosity—what kind of gear do need to get in a 30-40 pound musky, for example. Wow! I can’t imagine ice fishing gear made for that. Thanks again.