Are ice reels really needed?

[Bama_Boy]

Personal preference. I haven't spent a ton of money on my ice fishing rods/reels. The link below is for the Shakespeare Glacier Ice combo. I found these a few years a go, and I absolutely love them. $18 at Smith and Edwards. I have the medium weight rods, and they are just fine for the panfish as well. I pulled a 39.5" tiger muskie through the ice on this combo. Inexpensive, durable, and I haven't had any issues with the reel in the cold weather after dropping it in the snow or anything.

http://www.shakespeare-fishing.com/index...ories.html
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