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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

I really like the frabill.  bought a couple of the clams to try next week. I like the smaller opening on the front. wish they had a bigger piece to grab on the back to adjust it. will see hoe they work. seem a little stiffer than the frabill. 

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

Frabill anddont look back their spring bobber is the best add on one!

Posted

I have tried many of them and keep going back to the "teeter pig" designed in the UP of mich. I like the larger diameter hole, less freeze up when outside plus if u don't want to use it u don't have to re-tie. Just pull the jig back through and you back fishing. 

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

both of these are the pull back design which also makes them adjustable for a little bigger jig. I don't like a #10 on the frabill, it bends too much.  but I usually use a 14 anyways and love it for that. the big hole is nice on the frabill but once in a while my jig comes thru it... lol   now if i could just get the reflexes back to what they were a few years ago,  right @Rick G  ?  LOL  

  • Thumbs Up 1
Posted

There are some mods that allow you to add a St Croix spring bobber to any rod. I really like those. Have you considered that?

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

Have not considered that.  cut the eyelet off and use super glue?   Does that spring move in and out for adjusting?  I have never used one. 

 

500-0.jpg

Posted

Love love love my St Croix set up's  Imho,they are the best ones made....yes you have to buy the rod, but they are pretty sweet for $60 silver edition,  100  for the gold.  Or you could copy the st croix design on a rod you already own, then you only need the spring 15-20. 

 

And as far as reflexes go, you need to be quick using plastics, not as much as using meat...right? @eyeguy 54..... Like I said, getting slower myself the last few yrs. My brain tells me to set the hook, my hands are slightly slower...lol

3 minutes ago, eyeguy 54 said:

Have not considered that.  cut the eyelet off and use super glue?   Does that spring move in and out for adjusting?  I have never used one. 

 

500-0.jpg

Made some like that...Tom has one of them :-)

  • Thumbs Up 2
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

I have the reflexes of a cat, an aging cat... LOL 

 

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

Doesn't look like gander makes the 15 dollar ice rod anymore. I sure like the UL with the spring attached. 27 bucks total. :)  I see they have one for 10 and one for 20 now.  

  • Thumbs Up 1
Posted

bought a Jason Mitchell spring bobber rod this year, love the nitinol spring bobber, it stays straight because it is titanium, no adjusting and pretty sensitive, wish the rod had a little lighter tip but it has worked out well. The Jason Mitchell reels also are pretty decent for a cheap little reel, I like that th handle folds, they fit easier in my rod bag like that

  • Thumbs Up 1
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

the clam are nitinol also. mix of titanium and nickel I guess. hopefully will compare them tuesday or so. looks like crazy wind again monday. 

 

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators
Posted

Ad far as I'm concerned the St Croix us the way to go for lighter jigs.   The Meat sticks work well for #10 or bigger tungsten jigs.  I've iced a ton of panfish on this set up and still have my original one before they added to colored tip.

Posted (edited)
2 hours ago, eyeguy 54 said:

Have not considered that.  cut the eyelet off and use super glue?   Does that spring move in and out for adjusting?  I have never used one. 

 

500-0.jpg

 

It's just a size 8 single-foot guide with a rubber grommet with a 1/8" hole. Then you attach the guide using some fly-tying thread and fly-tying "head" cement/epoxy or super glue. I was able to rig one up last season, but my dad lost it down the hole when using it as a dead-sticking rod. it worked great mounted to a $10 Gander Mountain rod. 

 

Compared to a $50-60 dollar St Croix Legend Silver, which is a terrific rod with a warranty, my cost was about $25-28. The rod was $10, the bobber was $12, the guide was $3, the head cement was $3, the grommet was a buck, and I already had the fly tying thread. Plus I had to drive to Thorne Brothers to get the guide and the rest of the stuff.

 

The spring bobber is easily adjustable. It works best when a little warm, so I just suck on the grommet for 15 seconds and then PUSH (not pull) the spring back and forth while firmly securing the end guides with my other hand.

 

Pictured below is a pic from the Net. It's exactly what mine looked like.

Montrose_at_night_1-9-10.jpg

Edited by BassThumb.
  • Thumbs Up 2
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

looks nice.  here are the 2 for the test here to see which I like better. might be a tie. :)  Frabill top and Clam bottom. I started wearing some low power readers now also to help me see the bite. 1 or 1.25 power makes it nice and the Fl18 cleared up a bit. Had Lazic 12years ago and use 1.75 or 2.0 to read. 

sp bob.jpg

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

I love my st croix silvers but the add on frabills are great if you don't want to spend the bucks. 

Posted

That rubber grommet is key, where do you buy them?

 

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

so you have to buy the rod with the spring?  cant just buy the setup to add to a rod?  gotta custom do it?  seems like a lot of work

 

 

Posted

The Frabill titanium is the best I've used, haven't used a St. Croix so I can't compare but these spring bobbers will turn any rod into a killer rig if used correctly!

  • Thumbs Up 1
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

thats for sure!  helps me bigtime. 

Posted

I might have to look into spring bobbers one more time. I always feels that I am losing my "touch" with most spring bobbers. Me and my brothers were taught by my Dad how to catch panfish and we put a lot of old guys to shame as youngsters. The tradition continues still today ;)  I know there is a time and place for the spring and I just need to use it more and make it part of my bag of tricks.

Posted

Thorne brothers  can add a spring bobber to any rod! I have  2 they are the best!!

Posted
1 hour ago, Glass guy said:

Thorne brothers  can add a spring bobber to any rod! I have  2 they are the best!!

I've been eyeing the tripwire. It has a Ti spring bobber built into the tip. Just can't bring myself to spend that much money for an ice rod..

 

5 hours ago, eyeguy 54 said:

so you have to buy the rod with the spring?  cant just buy the setup to add to a rod?  gotta custom do it?  seems like a lot of work

 

 

Yes, unfortunately. You can buy different springs, but you have to either buy their proprietary rod or rig something up like above to use them.

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

The Frabill works so good I cant see spending more loot. Beer money! :) 

 

  • Thumbs Up 1
Posted

I had the rod bought the spring bobber from Thorne Bros they put it on the end. Looks like it was done by the manufacturer!! Perfect setup!! I'll try to post a picture 

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators
Posted
On ‎12‎/‎25‎/‎2016 at 4:00 PM, Tom Sawyer said:

That rubber grommet is key, where do you buy them?

 

Pretty such Menards has them either in electrical or plumbing.

Posted (edited)

I also have the st croix rods,love the spring bobber on them!ive had them for 8 years now and no complaints!caught tons of fish with them. Even the lightest bites are easy to see on these rods.

Edited by Kelly Oman
  • Thumbs Up 1
Posted

Thanks Borch, kinda what I thought. Bass Thumb also thanks for the message. Game on!

 

Posted
1 hour ago, Tom Sawyer said:

Thanks Borch, kinda what I thought. Bass Thumb also thanks for the message. Game on!

 

Are you gonna build one?

  • Thumbs Up 1
Posted

Improve on one, and yes build one. I prefer to fish noodles over springs, but sometimes the movement from the spring is best.

  • Thumbs Up 1
Posted
8 hours ago, Tom Sawyer said:

 sometimes the movement from the spring is best.

At times, even the best noodle rod will fail on bite detection. This is most evident when using the smaller 2-3mm jigs.  Bottom line,  a couple spring rods, w "the right" spring, as well as a couple noodle rods in various actions to cover all bases.

  • Thumbs Up 2

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • smurfy
      🙄 oh yea.....like your a picnic on the beach!!!!!!! 🤣
    • leech~~
      Hey, he seems to like starting pissing matches, everywhere!  😒 😉
    • Wanderer
      Hey now, that one is all you!  Haha!  Don’t make another thread septic. 😉      Yup, the Looper Bug.  I couldn’t remember that catchy name for it.  2lb test is a little crazy, especially for the line quality back then but I can see that being a thing too.  Such clear water.  Looking down the hole watching the fish swim around and them looking back at you.  The further out I got, the easier it was for them to see me.   My one looper charged in when my jig was just below the ice while I was laying face down like you said.  It hit basically right in front of my face.  The fight was me rolling over and pulling it out of the hole.  That was shortly before the guys in the shallows packed up their little black shelters and left with their fish.     So, by the end of the day I learned: black looper bug; light line; conceal movement; and/or fish shallow.  And then never went back.
    • leech~~
      Cuz like I said, he was breaking off a lot and they were like gold at the time.  Guys an't giving up anything when combat fishing, I'm sure he pissed off some folks running around jumping in and out of open holes. 😉
    • smurfy
      🤔why didnt ya "leech" some of them black flies from the guy!!!!!🤗😂   awe come on....wanderer would of said it too!!!!😉
    • leech~~
      Au, yes the black fly, aka the looper bug.  I remember the first time I was introduced to it.  There must have been 20-30 guys out in front of the French on the ice. This one guy was running from hole to hole and pulling fish, but he was also breaking off a lot.  When I finally got close to him, he said he had 2lb line and just the bug on the end and jigging.  I think I had about 6lb line and some jig with waxies.  I jumped in my Suv and buzzed up to the bait store in Two harbors "which is closed now" to get new line and bugs.  By the time I got back and fishing again the bite must have been over!  Spent the rest of the day laying on the ice staring down the hole, ton's of fish went by but not bite!! ☹️    I used to get up at like 3:00am to drive up from Brooklyn Center, fish until dark and drive home.  When I had more of the wander spirit.  Heck I remember when I had no brains or money in the spring, getting up at like 2:30am, driving up and fishing every stream for about an hour that I could get to from Duluth to Grand Marais.  Then driving all the way home the same day.  🤪
    • Kettle
      Last day of myself hunting before I help my friend with new clients. Back on the bigger marsh, mainly teal but 5 fulvous whistling ducks. A medium size duck but they fly and decoy like Canada geese, big circles and glide in. They are noisey birds
    • Hookmaster
      Kettle, sounds like an awesome trip. Never see drake bluewings in MN during the season. For the bridge my pucker factor would've been 11, and that's walking across both ways!!
    • Wanderer
      Gotta love META, right????  Naw, they ain’t tracking’…   
    • Wanderer
      I did the looper steelhead thing in front of the French River once.  It was fun. I got one looper but the sight fishing aspect of it was the most fun.   We saw a couple guys limit on steelhead up close to shore and learned the black fly was the way to catch ‘em.  We didn’t have any.   My first 40+ hour day that I can remember.  Went to work Friday morning, Van Halen concert Friday night, too jacked up on the way home to call it a day so we loaded up for the North Shore.  Fished all day, drove home Saturday night.     Those crazy kids…   Chequamegon Bay and the Apostle Islands have always been a want but an undone deed.  The wander spirit has faded from my old traveling buds.  They like to stick to what they know now.
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