I am looking for a couple of ice rod blanks and I am having a hard time choosing. I have narrowed it down to two, maybe three, different blanks but having never seen either blank I'm not sure which one will be best.

The first rod I am going to be building is going to be a jigging rod for light biting deep water perch, using jigs from 3-4mm tungsten jigs and size 8-12 lead jigs and plastics exlusively with no spring bobbers with 2lbs test.

I am looking at two blanks right now:

MHX 30" UL
Thorne Brothers Quiverstick

The other rod I am going to build is going to basically be the same but this one will be a spring bober rod. Is it worth spending the extra money one the TB blank?

The thorne brothers quiverstick is 100% worth the extra money.

Be safe

Also the MHX UL are still pretty heavy for an ultra light.

I will be building an ice rod that will use the St Croix spring. Lonnie at Throne Bros recommends their panfish sweetheart for use with a spring bobber. The quiverstick is excellent for use without a spring bobber, but you'll see more up-bites with the spring.

John

Bill that is exactly what I was looking for. I wasn't sure just how light their ultra light was, sounds like it would make a pretty good light spoon rod though.

John, I have been thinking about the Panfish sweetheart as well, for a spring bobber rod I am not sure spending an extra 20 bucks on a blank is worth the price. In your experience is the quiverstick going to be sensitive enough to see light perch bites in deep water?

Thorne brothers also offers a blank in thier hardwater series that is like the noodle. Has about 3 inches of soft tip before getting backbone. You can also take a solid blank and sand it down to your liking. Static test it as you sand. I sand alot of rods to get exactly what I am looking for. I drive momma crazy building rods for myself. I usually build about 10 rods a year for me and another 10-15 for friends.I hope this helps.

For fishing crappies and sunnies without a spring bobber, I use an ultra flexible fiberglass $2 blank. It works very very well. There is little back bone in the entire rod, but that basically makes the entire rod one long spring bobber.

Give it a try.

When you set the hook, just point the rod down the hole and reel. No need for rod backbone if you use your elbow to pull up the fish.

Be safe

The MHX blanks are pretty stiff for their rating... I use the 26" "Ultra Light" for walleyes all the time. Handled a 26" walleye no problem last winter along with other good sized eyes.

I would never use any MHX blank for panfish. Unless they have changed there blanks or added different models over last years lineup.

Bill

Chip, I am assuming that you are talking about their powernoodle? I thought about going with that blank but wasn't sure on the speed of the rod. Even though this rod will be used to target deep water perch there is an abundance of walleye and the occasional northern, I wasn't sure if the PN was going to have enough backbone to get a solid hook sent into a walleye in deep water.

Bill, that is good to know because I need a couple of new walleye rods as well in the future.

Has plant of hook set in reserve. I have caught northern up to 39". Its a very fast rod. All backbone from 5" back. Can see mid season light bites without a scoring bobber. I was getting ready for this season and was looking to order more. Basically the same blank as the noodle.

ok auto correct is my enemy. thats suppose to say plenty of hook set. spring bobber,

Check out the Microlite blanks from Janns NetCraft.