Are ice reels really needed?

[Fin-S-Fish]

Unless you're fishing in an ice tent I wouldn't bother with ice reels or ice rods even. I have several ice rods but used them sparingly despite going ice fishing at first ice to the end. By first ice I mean a solid two inches though I have been 1 and 1/2 lol. I have to admit only you beat me to hitting ice early.......saw your post a while ago during first snowstorm. There's not much need for ice fishing line either. I can land a decent 18in lmb down in the valley in open water with an ulgy stick 5ft ultralight rod with a big size 4 pfleuger president reel spooled with 12lb trielene xl and then head up somewhere with the same rod put a hole through the ice and an ice fly on the end of the 12lb and boom and bam, little brookies and rainbow action. I fish that rod all winter and i tend to switch constantly from open water to ice daily depending on my mood and what I feel like fishing for. Landed the finickiest mantua bluegills, to big trout at hyrum, rock port, deer creek to perch and tiger muskie at pine view. I hate ice rods since hookset SUCKS with it. Too short equals no leverage. The only ice gear I use are augers, chisels, strainer, and yes a plethora of ice lures, now ice specific lures ARE a necessity. Fish want entirely different things depending on species and body of water.
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