Picture sweet little cherries dangling enticingly on low-hanging vines. Coveting eyes watch the juicy fruits intently, insatiably. Now swap the cherries for phosphorescent ice jigs hovering motionlessly beneath a 憊ine?of arrow straight monofilament. Line from the machined circular spool peels off in smooth, coil-free ribbons. The connection between ice angler and lure is distinctly direct條ike manipulating a marionette.
The method known as 搕ightlining?has for years garnered a sort of cult following among select practitioners梡articularly anglers from Michigan抯 inland lake regions. A simple reel梕ssentially no more than a spool with a handle梒oupled with an appropriate rod allows premium line to feed straight off the spool, which eliminates the line coils that otherwise cause wildly spinning lures and botched opportunities.
NEWS FLASH #1: Tightlining is radically effective, triggering and detecting bites from extraordinarily picky panfish brutes.
NEWS FLASH #2: A premium quality tightline rod and reel combo has never been built . . . until now.
Working in concert with panfish savant Brian 揃ro?Brosdahl, the ice insiders at Frabill have developed the Straight Line Ice Series梩he first advanced tactic-specific rod and reel combo to grace the ice in some time. The pro-grade Straight Line reel resembles and functions like an elite-class fly reel, except it won抰 wimp out when the thermometer cracks zero. Its wide aluminum spool design manages the lightest lines with precision, all but eliminating coils and twists for the ultimate in tightlining control. A liquid-smooth drag protects wispy lines, while an oversized reel handle yields positive control.
An all aluminum reel body minimizes weight, perfectly pairing it to one of three technique-centered rods. Each solid graphite rod blank (24-inch Ultra-Light, 27-inch Quick Tip, 32-inch Quick Tip) sports fine-tuned aluminum oxide guides, a deluxe hook keeper and solid cork handle. The Straight Line Combos were matched and made in ice fishing heaven, bestowing on their fans a sort of magician to wand relationship.
揟ightlining is an art,?said Frabill抯 Bro. 揑t抯 likely the finest means of presenting small baits to panfish ever developed. I think of it almost like 慼and-feeding?the fish. Line no longer serves as a disconnect with the fish. You抮e 100-percent locked into presentation, detecting subtle takes never realized with spinning gear. Clearly, Frabill抯 new Straight Line Combos are poised to change the game. I can抰 hide this trick in the dark corners of my rod locker anymore. It抯 much too deadly. And so are these combos.
揘ow where I抣l be using them? That抯 a secret I抦 going to keep.?
ABOUT FRABILL
Frabill, Inc. (Jackson, Wis.) is in its 73rd year of engineering premium, trusted fishing equipment. Frabill抯 ice fishing product lineup consists of portable ice fishing shelters, rod and reel combos, tip-ups, bait containers, portable aeration, and premium ice fishing apparel, including FXE Snosuit. Openwater products include landing nets, portable aeration, bait containers, bait care, bait traps and seines, accessories, and premium openwater apparel, such as FXE Stormsuit. Visit www.frabill.com.
