Best ice fishing rods for panfish in 2026: the Shakespeare Fuel 28-inch combo takes our top slot because it balances a sensitive tip, a pre-spooled reel and a packable length that fits inside a hub house or a sled. Panfish here means bluegill, sunfish, crappie and yellow perch, and all four give you almost nothing to work with in freezing water unless the rod tip translates a soft tap into a signal you can feel.
That is the whole argument for a dedicated ice rod. An open-water spinning rod is tuned to cast and to absorb a run. An ice rod is tuned to do one thing: turn a bluegill picking at a wax worm two feet down into a tap you notice with gloves on. Cold-blooded fish in near-freezing water move slowly and commit tentatively, so the difference between a cheap fiberglass blank and a sensitive carbon blank is the difference between fishing and waiting.
We spent weeks comparing the eight rods below on blank material, tip design, power rating, grip geometry and what owners actually say after a season on the ice. Last updated October 2026. Every pick here is a real, currently sold model, and we tell you where each one falls short as well as where it wins.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Panfish Ice Rod Picks for 2026
Shakespeare Fuel 28in Combo
- 28 inch glass rod blank
- Red translucent glass blank
- Pre-spooled 20 size reel
JSHANMEI 22in Fiberglass
- 22 inch fiberglass blank
- Bright red bite tip
- Collapses to 16 inches
Fenwick HMG 26in ML
- 26 inch solid carbon blank
- Aluminum oxide guide inserts
- Cork handle with TAC trim
Quick Overview: Panfish Ice Rods in 2026
The table below lists every rod in this guide with the feature that decides its place. Scroll past it if you already know your power rating and length, because the individual reviews go deeper on tip feel and owner complaints.
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Shakespeare Fuel Ice Combo 28in |
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 QualyQualy 24in Two-Tip Combo |
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| JSHANMEI 22in Fiberglass Rod |
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| Fenwick HMG 26in Medium Light |
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 St. Croix Legend Black 24in |
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 Dr.Fish 24in All-in-One Kit |
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 13 Fishing Tickle Stick 23in |
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 Berkley Lightning 28in Combo |
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1. Shakespeare Fuel Ice Rod and Reel Combo: Best Overall Panfish Setup
Shakespeare FUEL28MCBO Fuel Ice Combo Red, 28″ – Medium
28 inch rod
Pre-spooled 20 size reel
Red translucent glass blank
Pros
- Pre-spooled reel ready to fish out of the box
- Short enough to pack into an ice sled
- Well balanced in the hand
- Reported to catch trout and perch and smelt
Cons
- Rod guides can arrive out of alignment
- Slender blank struggles with larger fish
- Reel quality is below the rod quality
This is the one we keep handing to friends who own no ice gear. It arrives with the reel already threaded and spooled, so there is nothing to figure out at the hole while your hands are cold. Owners rate it 4.4 stars across 153 reviews, which is the largest and steadiest owner base of anything in this guide.
The blank is translucent red glass rather than carbon, and that shows in the feel. It is a touch lazier than a solid carbon blank on the tiniest bluegill nibbles, but it is far harder to snap, which matters more than most spec sheets will tell you. Owners consistently fish it for perch, trout and smelt on the same trip.
At 28 inches, this is the smart default length for shelter and hub house work. It handles a mixed bag of panfish plus the occasional trout or small walleye without feeling like a broom handle. The EVA foam handle stays soft and grippy in cold, wet hands, where a slick cork grip can lose its purchase.
Two flaws are worth planning around. The blank is slender, so landing anything genuinely heavy is a fight, and reviewers do mention guides arriving slightly misaligned. The included reel is serviceable but clearly the weakest part of the package, so plan on upgrading it after a season if you outgrow it.
Why it wins the top slot
Nothing else here combines a real owner review count in the hundreds with a build that survives being bumped against a shelter wall all season. The carbon options feel better for an hour; this one still feels fine after a winter.
For a first shelter or a first hardwater season, the gap between a carbon blank and a good glass blank is much smaller than the gap between a mediocre rod and this one.
Where it will disappoint you
If you fish pressured shallow water for gills that barely touch the bait, the stiffness of a medium-power blank can hide bites a finesse rod would show you. The included reel is the part most likely to be replaced within a year.
It also is not a spring bobber rod. There is no built-in indicator coil, so you are watching the tip by eye.
2. QualyQualy 24in Two-Tip Combo: Best Rod When Fish Sizes Change Hour to Hour
QualyQualy Ice Fishing Rod and Reel Combo 24 inch M/ML Inline Ice Fishing Combos 2 Different Tips for Walleye Perch Panfish and Trout, Left Hand
24 inch combo
Two interchangeable tips
Inline reel with 4+1 bearings
Pros
- Two tips let you match power to the bite
- Everything ships in one bag
- Cork handle stays warm
- Light enough for a backpack
Cons
- Spec listings for line weight are inconsistent
- Finish is entry level against premium brands
The idea here is simple and genuinely useful. You get two tips rated medium and medium light, and you swap them depending on whether you are pulling perch or working finicky bluegill. On a lake where the bite changes as the afternoon warms, that flexibility removes the worst part of pack-and-carry decisions.
The cork handle is the sleeper feature. Cork insulates your hand and transmits vibration, which matters when the fish are tapping instead of biting and you are working through mittens. The 2.6:1 inline reel retrieves slowly on purpose, so slack line does not create the line twist that ruins delicate hooksets in cold water.
At a listed 12.8 ounces, the whole package carries comfortably on a walk between holes, and the collapsible 24 inch length disappears into a backpack. The tip also has enough recovery to signal a crappie that commits hard instead of tapping, which is where cheaper short rods give up first.
The honest weakness is consistency of information. Owners note that published line weight and capacity details do not always match, and the finish and hardware read as entry level next to a St. Croix or Fenwick. Buy it for the two tips and the cork, not for the reel.
Who should pick this rod
Anglers moving between shallow structure and a deeper crappie hole in one session. The tip swap takes seconds and covers most of the decisions you would otherwise make by owning two rods.
It is also a sensible gift pick, because the box contains the line and reel, which means a beginner does not need a second purchase to fish the next morning.
Where it falls short
If you want to feel a single bluegill nudge through a solid carbon blank, this fiberglass construction will not match the Fenwick or the St. Croix. Treat the two tips as coarse power adjustments, not as a finesse tip.
Published specs are not consistent about line weight and capacity, so confirm the real usable range with the seller before you commit to a line you already own.
3. JSHANMEI 22in Fiberglass Rod: Best Budget Panfish Rod
JSHANMEI Ice Fishing Rod 22″ Ultralight Small Spinning Rod for Ice Fishing
22 inch fiberglass blank
Red bite detection tip
Stainless steel guides
Pros
- Lowest cost entry point in this guide
- Packs down to about 16 inches
- Red tip is easy to see in low light
- Collapses small for a sled or backpack
Cons
- No manufacturer warranty
- Fiberglass feels less sensitive than carbon
- Sold as a bare rod only
This is the rod we recommend when someone says they want to try ice fishing and does not want to commit real money to a hobby they may abandon in one season. The fiberglass blank flexes softly, which keeps it forgiving when a panfish does commit and the line suddenly goes tight.
The bright red tip is more useful than it sounds. Against a white snow background, a light-colored tip disappears, and forum anglers consistently flag this as an underappreciated problem in flat light at dawn. A red tip section gives you a visible target when a bluegill taps in 18 inches of water.
It breaks down to roughly 16 inches packed, so it fits in a jacket pocket when you are walking a lake between holes. The stainless steel guides with polished inserts run line smoothly enough for wax worms and small tungsten jigs.
What you give up at this price
Sensitivity is the trade. A fiberglass tip feels heavy compared with the solid carbon rods here, so subtle takes need more attention. Nothing beats a good glass blank for abuse, and this one will not complain if it leans against an auger handle.
You also need a reel. It is a bare rod with no line and no hardware, and there is no warranty behind it if a tip snaps.
Why it still earns the budget slot
Owners rate it 4.3 stars across 54 reviews, which is respectable for a bare entry-level rod. The handle stays comfortable in the cold and resists slipping when your hands are wet, which cheaper foam grips do not.
If you already own a spinning reel and a spool of 6-pound mono, this rod plus a bag of jigs gets you on the ice for less than most single combo kits at the hardware counter.
4. Fenwick HMG 26in Medium Light: Best Balance of Sensitivity and Strength
Fenwick HMG Ice Fishing Spinning Rod
26 inch solid carbon blank
Medium light power
Aluminum oxide guide inserts
Pros
- Solid carbon blank is very flexible and sensitive
- Premium cork handle with TAC trim
- Lightweight stainless guides cut line friction
Cons
- Reel seat can feel loose on some reels
- Occasional reports of damage in the factory box
If you want a rod you can keep for a decade rather than a season, this is the one. The solid carbon blank bends deep without giving up its shape, which is what separates a panfish rod that you can feel through from one you cannot. Owners give it 4.4 stars across 34 reviews.
At 26 inches it is a shade longer than a shelter-only rod, which gives it enough tip travel for open-ice jigging while still fitting a hub house wall. Fast action loads the tip sooner than a slower action, so a light lift-and-drop produces an immediate signal rather than a lazy bend.
The handle is premium cork with a TAC trim ring, chosen because cork insulates cold hands and does not slide. The lightweight stainless steel guides with aluminum oxide inserts cut friction at the line, which matters when you are fishing thin diameter line on a soft tip.
Two complaints come up repeatedly and both are fair. Some reels sit loose in the ergonomic reel seat until you add a wrap of tape, and buyers occasionally report the rod arriving damaged in the factory package. Open the box before you leave the house.
Where this rod earns its money
Medium light power is the most versatile rating on this list. It will not snap a line on a 2-pound leader, and it still has enough backbone to pull a crappie off the bottom of a weed edge without the tip buckling.
The cork plus carbon combination is also the only setup here that feels right for a long session in a shelter, where grip comfort matters more than packing size.
What to watch out for
Sensitivity has a limit. If you are chasing gills in one foot of pressured water with a 1-pound leader, a dedicated finesse rod shows more. Check the reel fit before your first outing.
It is sold as a rod only, so budget separately for a reel and for line in the 4 to 8-pound range that the blank is designed around.
5. St. Croix Legend Black 24in: Best Rod for Spring Bobber Fishing
St. Croix Rods Legend Black Ice Fishing Rod, 24 Inch
24 inch finesse rod
Adjustable spring indicator
Solid carbon blank
Pros
- Adjustable spring indicator shows the subtlest strike
- Precision-taper solid carbon blank is fast
- Lightweight stainless steel guides
- Split-grip EVA handle stays comfortable in cold
Cons
- Lowest average rating in this group
- Narrow 2 to 6 lb line window
- Not suited to larger panfish
This is the only rod here with a built-in strike indicator. A high-tension stainless steel coil spring sits on the tip and you wind down the line to tension it. When a bluegill touches a wax worm, the spring compresses and shows you the strike before you feel it, which removes the guesswork from tip-down fishing.
The precision-taper solid carbon blank runs extra-fast action, so it reacts to the smallest load and stays light in the hand. The split-grip EVA handle puts a piece of foam on both sides of the reel seat, which is the right shape for pulling a fish up through an ice hole one-handed.
The catch is the rating. Its 4.0 average across 26 reviews is the lowest in this group, and there is a visible tail of one-star reviews. Most of those complaints trace back to expectations: buyers who expected a general-purpose ice rod found a highly specialized finesse tool.
When this rod makes sense
Sit-down tip-down fishing for gills and perch in a shelter, where you are watching the rod rather than your hands. That is exactly the game this indicator was designed for, and nothing else on this list does it as cleanly.
If you fish fast and vertical, the spring can be a disadvantage, because rapid jigging requires a soft responsive tip instead.
Know your line window
The rod is rated for 2 to 6 pound line. That is wide enough for a panfish rig and far too light for a walleye, a big crappie, or any insurance casting at a rock hump.
Premium pricing buys the indicator system and the blank taper, not versatility. If you only ever jig, you are paying for a feature you will not use.
6. Dr.Fish 24in All-in-One Kit: Best Gift and Best First Kit
Dr.Fish Ice Fishing Rod and Reel Combo, Ice Fishing Pole Gear Spinning Reel Equipment Set Backpack Chair Jigs Lures Accessories
24 inch solid graphite blank
5BB spinning reel with spare spool
Complete accessory kit
Pros
- Everything needed to start fishing in one box
- Spare spool allows fast line changes
- Lure assortment covers common panfish rigs
- Includes ice gear and a storage box
Cons
- Medium heavy power is more than panfish need
- Right-hand retrieve only
- Most accessories go unused on panfish trips
Open this box on your first trip and you can fish. The rod, the spinning reel with a spare spool, a spread of lures, ice gear and a storage box all arrive together. Owners rate it 4.1 stars across 64 reviews for exactly that reason.
The solid graphite blank and the 5BB spinning reel give you enough retrieve to work a jig quickly, which is useful when the bite is on and you want to cover water at the hole. The spare spool is a small detail that saves real time when you switch from mono to fluorocarbon between species.
But the honest framing is that this is a kit, not a tuned panfish setup. Medium heavy power is the stiffest rating in this guide, and stiff is wrong when the target is a bluegill tapping a wax worm. The included lures skew larger than most panfish anglers want.
Where the kit works well
Gifting. If someone in your family has never been on the ice, this removes every excuse. It is also a reasonable grab-and-go set for a mixed bag that includes trout, perch or an occasional walleye where the extra backbone helps.
Accessory hunters who want ice gear and a sled seat in the same purchase get real value here.
What you will end up replacing
If panfish becomes your main target, expect to move up to a lighter rod. Many owners do exactly that after a season. The right-hand-only retrieve rules it out for some anglers outright.
Treat the lure assortment as samples rather than a curated panfish selection, and expect to buy tungsten jigs and wax worms separately.
7. 13 Fishing Tickle Stick 23in: Best for Ultra-Sensitive Bluegill Fishing
13 FISHING – Tickle Stick – Ice Fishing Rod – Gen 3-23″ SUL (Super Ultra Light) – 0-1/64oz – PC2 Flat-Tip Blank – TS3-23SUL
23 inch super ultra light
PC2 flat-tip blank
Portuguese cork handle
Pros
- Reacts to the slightest touch from tiny jigs
- Hi-vis tip works in low light
- Hand selected 3A Portuguese cork feels premium
- Size range runs from super ultra light to medium
Cons
- Tickle stick tips snap under heavy pressure
- Super ultra light blank cannot handle larger panfish
- Small polarized review base
Across fishing forums this rod has a reputation as a cult favorite for panfish feel, and the reason is the tip. The PC2 flat-tip construction gives a very short, very flexible tip section that bends at the lightest touch, which is what you want when a bluegill is mouthing a wax worm rather than hitting it.
The hi-vis tip makes those touches visible in flat light, and the hand selected 3A Portuguese cork handle is the best cold-weather grip on any rod in this guide. It stays warm in your hand and stays put when everything else is wet.
That delicacy has a cost, and it is the same complaint reviewers repeat most: the tips break. Loading the tip while setting the hook, catching the rod on the ice lip, or dropping it onto hard ice all end the same way. Inside a low-ceilinged shelter, that risk is real.
Why anglers who own it keep it
Multiple long-term owners describe this as the rod that makes panfish genuinely fun, because you actually fight the fish on the ice instead of lifting it. That feel does not come from any other blank in this guide at this weight.
It is a specialist choice. If your trip is nothing but gills in shallow water, nothing else here will feel as much.
Handle it like expensive glass
Do not let the tip rest on the ice lip, and do not swing the rod into your shelter wall. Treat it as the most delicate rod in this guide, not the most capable one.
The range also runs up to 30-inch medium versions, so if you want the same blank family with more strength for crappie and perch, step up a size rather than forcing this one.
8. Berkley Lightning 28in Combo: Best Rod for Fishing With Gloves On
Berkley Lightning Ice Fishing Combo, Black, Grey, 28″ – Medium Light – 1pc
28 inch medium light combo
Extended reel stem for gloves
4 bearing ported spool
Pros
- Extended reel stem clears the handle with gloves on
- Collapsible handle packs down small
- Ported aluminum spool runs well in freezing temps
- 4 bearing system
Cons
- Compact size can feel smaller than expected
- Occasional reports of missing handle or tip parts
- Sensitivity is not the selling point here
Most ice reel designs stop working once you put on insulated gloves. This one is built the other way around: the extended reel stem keeps your knuckles clear of the handle so you can turn the spool with a bulky mitt on, which is the detail that separates this combo from every other entry-level set.
Owners rate it 4.4 stars across 22 reviews, and the praise clusters around build and finish rather than sensitivity. The lightweight ported aluminum spool and the 4-bearing system are sensible choices for freezing conditions, where a sticky drag ruins a light-bite session.
The one-touch collapsible handle folds flat for a sled or a shelter bag. That matters more than it sounds, because a rigid handle sticking out of a rod sleeve is the fastest way to snag it on a ladder or a shelter wall.
Where it fits in a panfish kit
An angler who fishes at low light or in genuinely cold conditions and wants a rod and reel that behave with gloves on. The 28-inch length handles a mixed bag of perch and crappie with a little insurance for trout.
It is also a solid loaner setup for a kid or a guest who is not bringing their own gear.
What to temper your expectations about
Feel is not the selling point here. Owner praise clusters on build and finish, so a subtle bluegill tap may register less sharply than on the carbon rods. A few owners also report arriving with a missing handle or tip, so open the package immediately.
At 28 inches the overall size can read smaller than expected in a shelter, which matters most for anglers fishing a hub house with a low ceiling.
What to Look For in a Panfish Ice Rod
Choose a soft tip in a color you can see. Orange, chartreuse and red tips stand out against snow, while pale tips disappear in flat light.
Pick 24 to 28 inches for a shelter or hub house, and 32 to 36 inches for hole hopping on open ice. Short rods fit tight walls, long rods give you more tip travel between holes.
Look for a solid carbon or carbon composite blank if you want maximum bite sensitivity. Fiberglass costs you feel but gains real durability.
Match power to the species: ultralight or light for gills, medium light for perch and crappie. Stiffer blanks hide the taps you are fishing for.
Check the handle for cold conditions. Cork insulates and transmits vibration, while EVA foam stays soft and never freezes solid.
These five criteria are the same ones that decided every pick above. Start with power, then length, then tip visibility, then blank material, then grip. Get that order right and the reel and jig choices follow easily.
Ultralight vs Light Power for Panfish
Light power is the safer default. It forgives a heavy-handed hookset, handles a mixed bag of perch and crappie, and survives contact with a shelter wall. For most anglers on most lakes, a light or medium light blank is the right answer.
Ultralight wins on feel and on fun. A solid carbon ultralight shows you a bluegill touching a wax worm in a way no stiffer rod can, and plenty of anglers describe it as the difference between actually fishing panfish and lifting them out of the hole.
The cost is durability. Break the ultralight tips and you have to explain it to yourself, because the same blank that feels delicate also snaps when a hookset loads the tip against a cold, heavy panfish. Anglers who fish shallow and finicky for gills get real value from one; anglers who move a rod around a shelter all day get frustrated by one.
Our verdict
Start at light power. Drop to ultralight only if you specifically fish gills in shallow, pressured water and will treat the rod accordingly. Step up to medium light if you target crappie and perch.
The 22-inch fiberglass rod and the 24-inch finesse spring rod in this guide cover both ends of that range without the breakage risk.
Matching Rods to Bluegill, Crappie and Perch
Bluegill and sunfish: ultralight to light power, 22 to 26 inches, fast action, a soft high-visibility tip. The 13 Fishing Tickle Stick and the JSHANMEI fiberglass rod sit here, and the St. Croix Legend Black adds a spring indicator if you fish tip-down.
Crappie: light to medium light, 24 to 28 inches, and you need real backbone in the lower half of the rod because a crappie commits hard and dives. The Fenwick HMG and the QualyQualy two-tip combo are the best fits, since the tip swap lets you go lighter when the crappie stop biting.
Yellow perch: medium light is the sweet spot, and this is the one species where a stiffer rod is usually correct. Perch hit hard and fight in bursts, so sensitivity on the initial tap matters less than a rod that does not buckle. The Berkley Lightning and the Fenwick HMG both handle this well.
Rule of thumb: if you are targeting one species, drop a power level. If you are covering several from the same hole, stay at medium light and change tips, which is why two-tip rods solve more problems than their spec sheets suggest.
Your Complete Panfish Setup
A rod alone will not put fish in the hole. Pair it with a spinning reel in the 1000 to 2500 size class for panfish work, because bigger reels drag more line and create the slack that kills delicate hooksets in cold water.
Line: 4 to 6 pound mono or fluorocarbon on light and ultralight rods, 8 pound for medium light crappie work. Fluorocarbon is less visible in clear water, mono runs smoother through icy guides.
Jigs: small tungsten jigs in 1/16 to 1/32 ounce for bluegill and perch, and brighter painted blades for stained water where lures need to be seen.
Bait: wax worms and red wigglers tipped on the jig. Both out-fish anything else on panfish this consistently.
Indicator: a spring bobber for slow tip-down fishing, or the rod tip itself when you jig fast.
Color: bright orange and chartreuse in stained water, natural bronze and silver in clear water where fish see well.
If you fish from an RV or a truck bed, keeping the catch solid on the drive home matters as much as the catch itself, and our roundup of ice makers for RVs covers the portable options worth considering.
For shelters and hub houses, plan for warmth before the rod. Our guide to propane heaters for ice fishing covers the safety gear that goes with staying comfortable through a cold afternoon, which is what keeps you fishing into the evening bite.
Ice Safety Before You Drill a Hole
No rod matters if the ice gives out. Carry ice picks, a spud, a flotation vest and a buddy, and check ice thickness on every lake you visit rather than assuming it matches last week’s conditions.
Four inches of clear, solid ice is the widely cited minimum for walking on foot, and that number assumes consistent freeze-thaw-freeze cycles, not a warm spell followed by a cold snap. Ice that has been flooded and refrozen, or that sits under a sunny bank, is structurally weaker than the depth suggests.
Two thin spots deserve the extra caution: near a submerged creek or inlet where moving water slows freezing, and near a dam or outflow where current runs under the surface. If in doubt, drill a second hole a few feet away and compare the appearance of the ice between them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of rod is best for panfish?
A light power, 24 to 26 inch ice rod with a fast action and a soft high-visibility tip handles bluegill, perch and crappie better than any other setup. Solid carbon blanks give the most bite sensitivity, while fiberglass blanks trade some feel for durability. Match length to your shelter: 24 to 28 inches indoors, 32 to 36 inches for hole hopping on open ice.
Which type of rod is better for panfish, light or ultralight?
Light power is the safer all-around choice because it forgives a heavy hookset and survives being bumped around a shelter. Ultralight power gives you noticeably more feel on bluegill in shallow water and makes the fight more enjoyable, but the tips are more fragile and a hard hookset can snap them. Start at light power and move down only if you fish finicky gills deliberately.
What is the best rod for ultralight bluegill fishing?
The best ultralight bluegill rods are 22 to 24 inches, cork or EVA handled, and built with a short flexible tip and a high-visibility tip color. Tickle stick style flats work because they bend at the lightest touch from a wax worm. Pair them with 4 pound line, a 1000 or 2000 size spinning reel, and small tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms.
Is an ultralight rod good for crappie?
Only in shallow water or for smaller crappie. An ultralight rod has very little backbone in the lower half, so a crappie that commits hard can bend the rod into a hook straight before you can apply pressure. For crappie fishing, step up to light or medium light power at 24 to 28 inches so the rod loads near the handle and gives you something to pull with.
What type of ice fishing line is best for panfish fishing?
Four to six pound fluorocarbon is the most sensitive choice for panfish because it is nearly invisible underwater, and mono runs more smoothly through frozen guides. Use 8 pound for crappie fishing and drop to 2 or 3 pound for ultra finesse jigging. Thinner line transmits more of each tap, but the low-visibility material is what actually gets you bites.
What are the best jigs for ice fishing for panfish?
Small tungsten jigs between 1/32 and 1/16 ounce work best for bluegill and perch, because tungsten sinks fast and sinks quietly. Tip them with wax worms or red wigglers, which account for most panfish ice catches. For crappie, step up to brighter painted blades and slightly heavier jigs in stained water where fish need to see the lure.
Can I use an ice fishing rod for regular fishing?
Yes, but only with limits. An ice rod is short and built for vertical jigging, so casting is limited and the guides are designed for a vertical line path rather than a long cast. What you can use is the sensitivity, since a solid carbon blank still feels bites well. Some anglers do use them for float fishing and kayak work, but they are not a replacement for an open-water rod.
The Verdict: Which Panfish Ice Rod Should You Buy
For most anglers, the Shakespeare Fuel 28-inch combo is the best ice fishing rod for panfish because it works the day it arrives and holds up for seasons. Buying a rod and reel separately beats it on feel, but only after you know what power you want.
Fishing nothing but gills in shallow water? Take the 13 Fishing Tickle Stick and treat it carefully, or save money with the 22-inch fiberglass rod. Chasing crappie and perch? The Fenwick HMG 26-inch is the one that stays useful year after year. Sitting tip-down in a shelter? The St. Croix Legend Black spring indicator solves the problem you would otherwise solve by staring at the tip.
Whichever you choose, match the length to your shelter, keep the tip color bright, and go with light power unless you have a specific reason not to. That is where most of the ice fishing happens anyway.