Thread: Help Picking Ice Fishing Gear

I'm looking to buy some rods and reels for ice fishing. Seeing as how I've never ice fished before I don't know how much thought I need to put into buying the "correct" rods and reels.


Ideally I'd like about 3-4 rods each for different species or different applications. I really like Fenwick's regular rods so I think I'm going to buy rods from them. I've got a couple picked out for bass to trout to pinfish. My question lies in reel selection.



Do I have to consider gear ratios (retrieve speed) as much as I do in regular fishing reels. Like normally, if I'm flipping' and pitching' in the summer I like a fast gear ratio for a quick retrieve, which provides the ability for rapid presentations.




Seeing as ice fishing is essentially only vertical jigging, does gear ratio matter in the same regard? Is it based more on species? For example, if I'm fishing for trout would I need something that can reel faster in case they swim directly towards me, Vs. fishing for pinfish where I might not need to bring in line as quickly? Does gear ratio even matter? What brands are good and reliable?




Geek out, the more detailed and opinionated reply you can give, the better!

Check out the st. Croix Legend paired with smaller Pflueger President. Fishermen have also have been using the in-line reels which look similar to a fly reel.
Clam Gravity Reel - Graphite | SCHEELS.com