If you’re new to ice fishing, you’re probably wondering how it can be so similar to open water fishing, yet so different at the same time.
For example, why doesn’t the ice fishing pole you just bought have any reel mounting seats, and how can you keep the reel on your rod?
Understanding why you even need to ask how a reel goes on an ice fishing pole is key to setting up your pole and your ice fishing success.
Before worrying about the mechanics of attaching a reel to an ice pole, you need to know how ice fishing reels and poles differ from their open water cousins.
Read on to learn the ins and outs of attaching a reel to an ice fishing pole.
Contents
How Are Ice Fishing Poles Different From Open Water Poles?
Not all fishing poles are the same. The average ice fishing pole runs 26 to 36 inches, while the average open water pole is 5 to 6 feet.
Why the difference? The ice fishing environment demands a shorter pole to function in small shelters and stay near the ice hole.
The handles are another difference between the two types of poles.
An average open water pole has a handle between 6 and 11 inches long, but some are as long as 18 inches.
Using 11 inches as the average handle length, that is a little over 31% of the average ice fishing pole’s length.
Ice fishing poles are, by design, too small to accommodate larger handles.
In contrast to a standard pole’s larger handles, an ice fishing pole typically has a simple cork handle. Ironically, many ice fishing rods don’t even have seats to mount a reel, and many with seats wear become too loose, and cannot securely hold your reel.
How Are Ice Fishing Reels Different From Standard Reels?
Compared to other types of fishing reels, ice fishing reels are simple devices. They lack effective drag systems to limit how fast a hooked fish peels off-line, and they typically hold less line.
Sure, you can use your standard spinning reels for ice fishing, but they freeze up when lubricants get too cold. To avoid this problem, you need to change the lubricant or grease in your reel to a type that can withstand extremely low temperatures.
An additional problem is water on the gears. Only a drop or two can cause freezing, so if you plan to change your lubricant to an antifreeze type, Stanley’s Ice Off is a good choice. After changing your lubricant, make sure all seals on the side plate are tight.
Some of the best ice fishing reels out there are the Penn Pursuit II & III for a spinning type reel, and, for in-line reels, the Black Betty in-line ice reel . A close second in-line reel is the Eagle Claw in-line reel .
To learn more about ice fishing rods and reels, click here.
Which Way Does a Reel Go on a Rod?
When deciding how to place your reel on an ice fishing rod, you don’t need to worry about the actual direction of the reel, only whether the handle is on the left or right.
In open water fishing, many anglers prefer casting with their dominant hand.
Righties use their right and lefties their left to cast.
For example, I’ve always cast with my right hand and switched to my left to hold the pole while I cranked in my lure with my right hand.
Ice anglers don’t need to worry about this because, instead of casting, you’re lowering your line through an ice hole. This means you can use the hand you’re most comfortable with while cranking up your line.
Most Common Ice Fishing Reels
You can use two types of reels for ice fishing, spinning reels and in line reels.
Whichever design you choose, lightweight and ultra light reels are good picks because fish are sluggish and fight less in the winter.
Spinning Reels
A spinning reel mounts with the spool facing the front. Most have handles that are easily reversed in a few simple steps.
Follow these steps to reverse your reel’s handle.
- On the side opposite the handle, you’ll find a cap covering the handle seat. Loosen this by turning the cap counterclockwise until it comes off.
- Hold the reel spool in place and unscrew the handle by turning to the left until you’ve removed the handle.
- Insert the handle in the opposite side handle seat, hold the spool and screw the handle by rotating to the right until snug.
- Screw the cap onto the open side handle seat until snug.
- If you are reversing the handle out on the ice, be careful not to get any water in the open handle seats to keep the reel from freezing.
In-line Ice Reels
In-line reels are like fly casting and bait casting reels, which means their spools rotate to avoid line twist, so it is easier to jig your baits and lures.
The following list discusses some things you need to know about in-line reels before buying one.
- Unlike spinning reels, some in-line reel handles aren’t reversible, so you need to buy a reel with the handle on the side you prefer, usually your dominant hand.
- In-line reels typically hold about 200 yards of line and have lighter drag systems. Because fish under the ice are lethargic and fight less, neither of these should present a problem.
- If you’re targeting lake trout, salmon or muskie, you should look for a model with a stronger drag system.
- Most in-line reels are made of graphite, metal or a combination of the two.
- Metal is stronger but not unnecessary because of sluggish fish.
- Graphite performs well in the cold and is lighter, a real plus in balancing out your pole.
- Lower gear ratios of in-line reels help mimic the appearance of an injured bait fish when reeling in a lure.
How Do You Secure a Reel to an Ice Rod?
If your ice fishing pole doesn’t have reel seats, you’ll need to attach the reel to your pole. One of the most common methods is black electrical tape, but it isn’t without its faults.
We’ll be looking at this approach and several other methods below.
Electrical tape
Electrical tape is probably second only to duct tape as a solution for fixing anything.
It’s a good choice for attaching your ice reel to a pole, but isn’t without its downsides. Electrical tape stretches with use, making the reel unstable.
The adhesive used in electrical tape also leaves a dark, sticky residue on your cork handles, which can easily damage handles when removing the tape or the adhesive.
You can avoid both problems in four easy steps.
First, apply several wraps of clear plastic wrap to the cork handle.
Second, with the reel in place, put several wraps of a light gauge wire on both sides of the handle stem.
Third, on the top of the handle, twist the wires tightly with pliers and press them flat to the reel handle.
Lastly, put seven or eight wraps of electrical tape around both sides of the reel base.
After following these steps, you’ll have a reel firmly attached to the pole, and the wire comfortably covered by the tape.
Variations in this method include substituting zip ties for the wire. If you choose this approach, be sure the zip ties locks are on top of the handle to make a more comfortable grip.
Self sealing silicone tape is another popular method.
It only sticks to itself and works well in place of the electrical tape. Frabill has an ice fishing version of silicon tape available at Farm and Fleet stores.
Horse Wrap
Professional boxers wrap their hands to prevent breaking them, and horse’s legs are wrapped for the same reason.
The point is, horse wrap is strong enough to securely hold your reel in place, it’s self-adhesive, easy to apply, comes in many colors, and is inexpensive.
There are other methods out there, but most of the practical ones simply use different tapes. Whichever you choose, properly securing the reel is the primary goal.
The last thing you want is your reel coming loose when you have a fish on your line.
Other Considerations When Attaching a Reel to a Pole
Keeping your reel securely attached to your pole is the number one consideration when deciding what method to use.
However, other factors such as comfort, weight, and how materials withstand extreme cold temperatures should be considered as well.
Comfort
Ice fishing isn’t always the most comfortable sport. You’re out in the open, on frozen water, in extremely low temperatures, splashing near freezing water around.
So no, comfort isn’t ice fishing’s biggest selling point. While all this is true, we’re talking about another type of comfort.
Think of how a shoe that rubs just a little can cause a big, painful blister.
Some methods of mounting a reel are similar and best avoided, because they are like a rock in your shoe. Over time, that tiny rock can cause a painful blister.
For example, stainless-steel hose clamps would give you a strong reel mount. But the screw closing mechanism and extra steel band are bulky and would rub in your hand even if taped over.
Avoiding methods that can cause potentially uncomfortable hand grips and irritation over time should be a primary consideration when choosing a mounting method.
Weight
You’ll want to keep the weight of your pole and reel setup to a minimum. This probably seems like a minor point, but after six or eight hours, a heavy and unbalanced setup is fatiguing.
A good way to avoid this is to go with a graphite reel and rod. Graphite is strong, light, and endures the cold well.
Cold Weather Durability
Some methods of attaching a reel use plastic tubing or hose that has been heat shrunk tight around the handle.
Many plastics, such as PVC tubing, become brittle in extreme cold and could be prone to breaking after hours on the ice, you should avoid methods using these types of material.
Wrapping it All Up
Light action spinning, and in-line reels are the types most commonly used by ice anglers. Buying an ice rod with reel seats makes mounting easy, but these can become loose, and need additional fastening to your pole.
The best methods for mounting a reel should use durable, lightweight materials that can withstand extreme temperatures, and result in a hand grip that’s still comfortable after hours of use.
One approach is plastic wrap on the rod handle with a light gauge wire twisted around the reel, then covered with seven or eight wraps of electrical tape. This popular method results in a reel securely mounted to a rod without seats, or reinforces one with seats.
An effective runner-up for mounting a reel is eight or nine layers of horse’s leg wrap. The wrap is self-adhesive, strong, and makes for a comfortable hand grip.
Following one of these methods will give you a firmly mounted reel and a worry free ice fishing experience.