i use a egale claw... brave egale...yes a ice rod.. a swivel..ture turn hook #2 no bling ...1 maybe 2 3/8 split shot..minnow hooked down through the back then up into the jaw. the little pole lets me hold the pole under my armwhen putting minnow on.and it is just stiff enough to feal or see any little bump of the line...the small pole is a real space saver too.. i get sh.t from my friends about it all the time..but as they have found out ,,IT DOES WORK