Any thoughts on a stand, or holder for the ice rod?
Will a stand keep the entire rig from being pulled into the hole, say if a "Big One", strikes?

To answer your question, all the rod holders I have will stop the rod from going down the hole. I use those cheap $3 or so ones that are just curved metal that holds your rod about 4" off the ice. You see, the fish basically pulls straight down on your rod since you are fishing straight down. As long as your rod doesn't fall out of the holder, it would be really, really tough to lose it down the hole.

Jim

This is what I use Richard & I really like them.



You balance your rod on the black rubber inserts, just forward of the reel seat & as everything balances, the fish feel very little resistance, pulling rod tip down until the drag actually engages. Fits perfectly on top of a 5 gallon (20 litre) bucket (pail). with the reel being behind the "downward facing dong" line holder, even if pulled off the bucket, it can't be pulled done the hole (even a 10" hole) !

I'll see if I've got a pick of one with a rod on it.

I tend, to sit the weight a little further back, to get some more angle (say 20% above horizontal) between rod tip & hole. For walleye, I set my bait 3-4 inches of the bottom of the lake.

What is the brand, and availability on the stands Paul?

Richard,

Ht Enterprises.

About $14CAD here in town, but a quick innanet search shows them from $5-8 USD, in your great country !!

Paul, would those be the same as I saw on Canadian Tire's site? The Fort Frances store has them on hand, Dryden does not, they say.

Richard, their product mane is:

Little Jigger Balanced Rod Holder