| Matt Johnson Outdoors Thorne Bros Custom Rod and Tackle |
| Matt Johnson Outdoors |
By: Matt Johnson
Ice fishing is right around the corner, and I
don't know about the rest of you, but I've
been tinkering with my ice gear all summer
waiting for the day when ice forms once
again. Now as we near the long awaited
arrival of that first sheet of ice, it’s time to
start focusing on a plan of attack and to
make sure our gear is up to par and ready for another fun filled winter
season. I always make a stop at Thorne Bros Custom Rod and Tackle in
Fridley, Minnesota to help me prepare for the up-coming ice fishing
season.
Thorne Bros, as well as know, offers an excellent assortment of
custom-made ice fishing rods, ranging everything from extreme
finesse fishing for pannies, all the way to heavy hard-jerkin rods for
lakers and muskie, and literally everything in between. Panfish, perch,
walleye, bass, pike, catfish, lake trout, muskies… Thorne Bros makes a
rod for the situation.
I’m very fond of their panfish line of rods (probably has something to
do with myself being a panfish geek) and I truly feel they are in a class
of their own. Whether you’re sitting over a tightlipped pod of bluegills
with the Finesse Plus and a spring bobber, or an insane school
crappies with the Panfish Sweet Heart, Thorne Bros offers a rod for
any panfish situation. Some of my favorites are the Sweet Thing Plus,
Power Noodle, Finesse Plus and the ever popular Sweet Heart Plus.
Moving on from Panfish to Perch, Thorne Bros offers a few perch
options that cater to the needs of both the aggressive and finesse
style perch angler. Labeled as the Perch Sweet Heart, they present
options for inside and outside jigging rods. By inside and outside I
mean your location in or out of a portable fish house. The inside rod
provides a shorter handle and the choice of a slightly shorter rod. The
inside rod comes in a 28 or 32 inch version. The outside rod provides
a longer handle (for better grip/control with gloves on) as well as
oversized fuji alconite eyelets to help reduce ice-up. The outside rod
comes in a 32 inch version.
While the perch rods can be used for panfish, walleye and bass as
well, Thorne Bros makes several options that are designed
specifically for walleye and larger gamefish. The Walleye Sweet Heart
Plus is one of Thorne Bros most popular rods. The Walleye Sweet
Heart is also offered in an inside and outside version. Whether you’re
targeting walleye with a jig and minnow, or a jigging spoon or
swimming lure, there is an action/feel that will suit your needs. Choose
from 9 options that range in actions from medium to medium-heavy,
and lengths from 28 – 32 inches. These options allow the ice angler to
effectively target walleye throughout any winter conditions.
A line of rods that really caught my eye in recent years was the
Professional Plus and Laker Breaker line of Thorne Bros Ice Rods.
Maybe this is mostly due to that fact that I’ve been trying to pursue
more species, but nonetheless, these more powerful, yet fast, style of
rods have really become a part of my arsenal. Choose for a rod that
ranges anywhere from 32 to 45 inches, with actions allowing you to
accommodate any big game situation. I like working a 36 inch
Professional Plus for catfish and pike. Couple these rods with your
favorite open-water reel and you have yourself a very comfortable,
balanced system.
One last series of rods that I would like to mention are Thorne Bros
Dead Stick line. I save these for last because I feel these are Thorne
Bros most unique line of ice rods that really offer something that no
one else does. As stated on Thorne Bros website, “A requested
custom rod from Doug Stange. Designed as a minnow rod without the
hassle of bobber stops or set floats. Limber tip allows angler a visual
check of minnow action and detects the lightest of strikes while
producing very little resistance to fish. This rod really shines as a
stationary rod while you jig with another rod. This solid glass rod
features oversized guides for minimal ice build up when fishing
outside.” Dead sticking has become more and more popular in recent
years, and this rod from Thorne Bros, is in my mind, the epitome of
dead stick rods. For anyone who has used one of these, they can
vouch for their performance for being in a class of their own. Dead
sticking is a technique that has helped me become a more productive
ice angler, and for a variety of species and conditions. The Thorne
Bros Dead Stick line of ice rods has really assisted me in that
productivity.
For more info on Thorne Bros Custom Ice Rods – Click Here
Outside of Thorne Bros many options of custom ice rods; they also
offer a store full of tackle and fishing equipment. With several brands
and options to choose from, Thorne Bros is packed full of ice fishing
goodies, not to mention their staff is some of the more knowledgeable
anglers in the area who provide some outstanding insight and info for
anyone who stops in willing to learn a thing or two. My stops at Thorne
Bros are usually not too short.
See everything that Thorne Bros has to offer by checking out there
website… www.ThorneBros.com
Or visit their store in Fridley, Minnesota.
Ice fishing will be here before we know it, and I’m looking forward to
another exciting year!!
Good Fishin,
Matt Johnson
*** Check out the video on Thorne Bros Rods... CLICK HERE
Ice fishing is right around the corner, and I
don't know about the rest of you, but I've
been tinkering with my ice gear all summer
waiting for the day when ice forms once
again. Now as we near the long awaited
arrival of that first sheet of ice, it’s time to
start focusing on a plan of attack and to
make sure our gear is up to par and ready for another fun filled winter
season. I always make a stop at Thorne Bros Custom Rod and Tackle in
Fridley, Minnesota to help me prepare for the up-coming ice fishing
season.
Thorne Bros, as well as know, offers an excellent assortment of
custom-made ice fishing rods, ranging everything from extreme
finesse fishing for pannies, all the way to heavy hard-jerkin rods for
lakers and muskie, and literally everything in between. Panfish, perch,
walleye, bass, pike, catfish, lake trout, muskies… Thorne Bros makes a
rod for the situation.
I’m very fond of their panfish line of rods (probably has something to
do with myself being a panfish geek) and I truly feel they are in a class
of their own. Whether you’re sitting over a tightlipped pod of bluegills
with the Finesse Plus and a spring bobber, or an insane school
crappies with the Panfish Sweet Heart, Thorne Bros offers a rod for
any panfish situation. Some of my favorites are the Sweet Thing Plus,
Power Noodle, Finesse Plus and the ever popular Sweet Heart Plus.
Moving on from Panfish to Perch, Thorne Bros offers a few perch
options that cater to the needs of both the aggressive and finesse
style perch angler. Labeled as the Perch Sweet Heart, they present
options for inside and outside jigging rods. By inside and outside I
mean your location in or out of a portable fish house. The inside rod
provides a shorter handle and the choice of a slightly shorter rod. The
inside rod comes in a 28 or 32 inch version. The outside rod provides
a longer handle (for better grip/control with gloves on) as well as
oversized fuji alconite eyelets to help reduce ice-up. The outside rod
comes in a 32 inch version.
While the perch rods can be used for panfish, walleye and bass as
well, Thorne Bros makes several options that are designed
specifically for walleye and larger gamefish. The Walleye Sweet Heart
Plus is one of Thorne Bros most popular rods. The Walleye Sweet
Heart is also offered in an inside and outside version. Whether you’re
targeting walleye with a jig and minnow, or a jigging spoon or
swimming lure, there is an action/feel that will suit your needs. Choose
from 9 options that range in actions from medium to medium-heavy,
and lengths from 28 – 32 inches. These options allow the ice angler to
effectively target walleye throughout any winter conditions.
A line of rods that really caught my eye in recent years was the
Professional Plus and Laker Breaker line of Thorne Bros Ice Rods.
Maybe this is mostly due to that fact that I’ve been trying to pursue
more species, but nonetheless, these more powerful, yet fast, style of
rods have really become a part of my arsenal. Choose for a rod that
ranges anywhere from 32 to 45 inches, with actions allowing you to
accommodate any big game situation. I like working a 36 inch
Professional Plus for catfish and pike. Couple these rods with your
favorite open-water reel and you have yourself a very comfortable,
balanced system.
One last series of rods that I would like to mention are Thorne Bros
Dead Stick line. I save these for last because I feel these are Thorne
Bros most unique line of ice rods that really offer something that no
one else does. As stated on Thorne Bros website, “A requested
custom rod from Doug Stange. Designed as a minnow rod without the
hassle of bobber stops or set floats. Limber tip allows angler a visual
check of minnow action and detects the lightest of strikes while
producing very little resistance to fish. This rod really shines as a
stationary rod while you jig with another rod. This solid glass rod
features oversized guides for minimal ice build up when fishing
outside.” Dead sticking has become more and more popular in recent
years, and this rod from Thorne Bros, is in my mind, the epitome of
dead stick rods. For anyone who has used one of these, they can
vouch for their performance for being in a class of their own. Dead
sticking is a technique that has helped me become a more productive
ice angler, and for a variety of species and conditions. The Thorne
Bros Dead Stick line of ice rods has really assisted me in that
productivity.
For more info on Thorne Bros Custom Ice Rods – Click Here
Outside of Thorne Bros many options of custom ice rods; they also
offer a store full of tackle and fishing equipment. With several brands
and options to choose from, Thorne Bros is packed full of ice fishing
goodies, not to mention their staff is some of the more knowledgeable
anglers in the area who provide some outstanding insight and info for
anyone who stops in willing to learn a thing or two. My stops at Thorne
Bros are usually not too short.
See everything that Thorne Bros has to offer by checking out there
website… www.ThorneBros.com
Or visit their store in Fridley, Minnesota.
Ice fishing will be here before we know it, and I’m looking forward to
another exciting year!!
Good Fishin,
Matt Johnson
*** Check out the video on Thorne Bros Rods... CLICK HERE
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