Choosing The Right Reel When Hitting the Ice

Written by: Kenneth O’ Malley

November 21, 2025

Time to read 2 min

In the past, ice anglers didn’t have that many options to choose from when it came to reel selection. Spinning reels dominated the shelves. Today, the craze is centred on in-line reels, as many manufacturers have added them to their lineups. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or expert ice angler, choosing the right reel and determining its application can be a difficult task. Let’s go into more detail on the pros and cons of each.

Spinning reels

The Pros

Piscifun flame spinning reels are more versatile, less expensive, and a better choice for beginning anglers. The drag settings are not complicated and easy to adjust on the fly, thus reducing the opportunity of losing that trophy fish. They offer a wider range of retrieve ratios that can range from 5:1 to 7:1 and can be converted to left or right-hand retrieval. This is a good choice to have when fishing deeper water. When fishing with live bait options, they offer the ability to run the bait freely by opening the bail.

Piscifun Flame 500

The Cons

When dropping your favourite jig down the hole, there is slack line with the bail open. If fish are aggressive and hitting your presentation on the drop in shallower water, there is the real possibility of missing that hook set. Spinning reels also cause line twist from how the line comes off the spool, as well as the memory issue. When fish become finicky, they can be reluctant to hit a bait that is spinning due to the line twist. Let’s face it, that is not a natural presentation. On colder days, there are more freezing points on spinning reels, and they can take longer to thaw.

Piscifun Flame 500

Piscifun Flame 500

In-line reels

The Pros

They are a better choice in shallower water, as there is no slack in the line when dropping the bait down the hole. There is no line twist as the line is coming straight down off the reel, which reduces line memory. For those finicky panfish, that is good news, as the bait is being presented in a more natural state. There are fewer freezing points on these reels on those colder days.

The Cons

The cost of in-line reels averages more, which might be a turnoff to some anglers. They also offer a slower gear ratio that is typically 1:1 to 3:1, which may present a challenge when fighting fish in deeper water. Drag settings can be more complicated to set on the fly and tend to fish harder with gloves, depending on the reel drop. Options with certain models are limited to right-hand retrieval only and cannot be converted.

Piscifun ICX Frost Carbon Magnetic Drop System

Each reel has its time and place, and just may come down to it being a personal choice. Select the reel you are most comfortable and confident with. Whatever direction you take, Piscifun has a full lineup of ice reels to choose from. Head on over to WWW.PISCIFUN.COM and check them out.

I hope you have a successful and safe season on the ice.

author

Kenneth O’ Malley-– Outdoor & Hunting Enthusiast

Kenneth O’Malley is an avid outdoorsman who actively shares his passion for hunting, wildlife, and the outdoor lifestyle. Through his presence on social media, he posts real hunting experiences, gear usage, and field moments that resonate with fellow hunters and outdoor enthusiasts. His authentic style and genuine love for the outdoors make him a strong fit for collaborations with hunting and outdoor gear brands.

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