I am looking for some feedback in two areas:

1) I'm in the market for a tip-up / deadstick type thing that allows you to use your rod & reel. IFish Pro, Finnicky Fooler, Clam Arctic Warrior, HT Rigger, etc. These things vary in price from $15 to $40 and every one claims to be the best. Anyone have any experience? The IFish and the fooler look best to me, maybe with the small edge to the fooler based on a smaller size and lower price.

2) I'm looking for rod recommendations to use in conjunction with this system. If you have a specific rod to recommend that's fine, otherwise I'm curious to know what characteristics you'd be looking for in a rod like this. I want it to be able to handle pike and lake trout, and I'd greatly prefer a rod that's set up for a bait-caster reel.

Many thanks in advance

I have had some success with the ice rigger. It was cheap and simple. I don't think rod choice is all that critical since your not feeling a bite only fighting the fish. For trout and pike I usually run a 42" solid glass thorne brothers rod. nice slow action to help keep hooks pinned for barbless fishing.

I concur with what LOTW said. Better to have a longer rod for fighting larger lakers. They don’t need to be anything fancy. Just long and stout. The reel you put on there is more important I feel. They really like to run.