When lakes lock up and you start drilling holes instead of casting, your reel suddenly has a much harder job. Cold temps, light lines, tiny jigs, gloved hands, and fish that often only nip instead of smash the bait all put your ice fishing reel to the test.
Piscifun has leaned into ice fishing over the last few seasons with compact spinning reels and dedicated inline reels built for hardwater. The good news, you do not have to buy everything. If you understand how you like to fish, you can pick one or two reels that will cover most of your days on the ice.
In this guide I will walk you through the core Piscifun options for ice season, Viper X and Carbon X in 500 and 1000 sizes, plus the ICX Frost, ICX Carbon, ICX 5 and budget friendly Flame reels. We will keep it practical, with clear advice on who each reel is for and where it shines.
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If you are brand new to spinning reels, you can also check my breakdown of what are the parts of a spinning reel first so the terms in this guide make more sense.
Contents
Key takeaways
- If you want one do it all ice spinning reel, start with the Viper X Ice in 500 or 1000.
- If you like ultralight, finesse panfish and perch, the Carbon X 500 or 1000 gives you a lighter, smoother package.
- If you want inline free fall control and less line twist, look at ICX FrostⅡ or ICX Carbon X.
- If you are on a stricter budget or building extra setups for kids or guests, ICX 5 and Flame 500 or 1000 are solid value options.
Quick comparison chart
Here is a quick side by side look at how the main Piscifun ice reels line up.
| Reel | Type | Typical Size for Ice | Feel / Role | Best For | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viper X Ice | Spinning | 500, 1000 | Workhorse all rounder | Walleye, pike, trout, multi species | Check Price |
| Carbon X | Spinning | 500, 1000 | Ultralight, very sensitive | Finesse panfish, perch, light walleye | Check Price |
| ICX FrostⅡ Carbon | Inline | One size | More capacity, more power | Walleye or pike with heavier baits | Check Price |
| ICX Carbon X | Inline | 500, 1000 | Light, compact inline | Panfish and eater walleye | Check Price |
| ICX 5 | Spinning | One size | Simple, budget friendly | Extra setups, kids, guests | Check Price |
| Flame 500 / 1000 | Spinning | 500, 1000 | Entry level, budget | Casual anglers, spare rods | Check Price |
If you want to go deeper into reel types in general, my spinning reel guides and dedicated review posts like best trout spinning reel are helpful follow ups.
What to look for in an ice fishing reel
Before we get into specific models, it helps to know what actually matters once the water is frozen.
- Cold ready drag and grease
Cheap reels can stiffen up in the cold. You want a drag that still starts smooth when your reel is sitting on the ice. - Compact sizes
500 and 1000 sizes balance well on shorter ice rods and keep your whole setup lighter and more responsive. - Light line friendly
Many ice presentations use 2 to 6 pound mono or fluorocarbon. You want a drag that does not lock and snap light line on the hookset. - Inline vs spinning
Spinning reels are familiar, versatile and easy to use. Inline reels reduce line twist and allow controlled free fall, great for dropping tiny jigs straight down.
If you are still learning the basics of casting each type, my guide on how to cast spinning and baitcasting reels for beginners walks through both styles step by step.
Piscifun Viper X Ice Fishing Reel, 500 and 1000
The Viper X Ice is a compact version of Piscifun’s popular Viper X spinning reel, tuned for hardwater in 500 and 1000 sizes. It uses a smooth carbon drag system with plenty of stopping power for the species you are likely to hook through the ice.
Best for
- All around ice setups
- Walleye, pike, trout, multi species
- Anglers who want one reel that can also pull double duty for open water ultralight work
On the ice
In real ice conditions, the Viper X feels like a workhorse that shrank down. The 500 and 1000 sizes balance nicely on common 24 to 32 inch rods. The moderate gear ratio lets you pick up line quickly without ripping small jigs out of a fish’s mouth.
If you only want to buy one ice capable spinning reel from Piscifun to start, this is the one I would point most anglers to.
Suggested setup
- Viper X 500 on a light rod with 3 to 5 pound mono or fluoro for panfish and smaller walleye.
- Viper X 1000 on a medium light rod with 4 to 8 pound line for walleye, trout and smaller pike.
Piscifun Carbon X 500 and 1000 for ice fishing
If Viper X is your generalist, Carbon X is the finesse specialist. The small sizes work nicely for ice fishing, especially if you care about a very light reel in hand. The carbon body and smooth drag make it a great match for panfish and light spoons.
Best for
- Finesse panfish, perch, crappie
- Light spoons and tiny tungsten jigs
- Anglers who want the lightest possible setup
On the ice
You feel the difference as soon as you pick up a Carbon X setup. Less weight in your hand means better sensitivity and less fatigue if you are hole hopping all day. I like Carbon X best on true ultralight and light rods where you are working 2 to 4 pound line and small baits.
It will absolutely handle a bonus walleye, you just are not buying it as a pike winch. You are buying it because you are picky about feel.
Suggested setup
- Carbon X 500 with a 28 inch ultralight rod and 3 pound mono for bluegills, crappie and perch.
- Carbon X 1000 with a 30 inch light rod and 4 pound line when you are mixing panfish and eater walleye.
Inline Ice Reels, ICXⅡ Frost and ICX Carbon
Inline reels have grown fast in the ice world. Line comes straight off the spool instead of wrapping around a bail, which reduces twist and gives you very precise control over how your bait drops. For anglers who fish a lot by watching a flasher or live sonar, that extra control can make a big difference.
Piscifun offers two main inline options for ice, the ICX FrostⅡ Carbon Free Fall and the ICX Carbon. Both use a magnetic drop system and a free spool style control, but they fill slightly different roles on the ice.
Why choose inline over spinning
- Less line twist, better for tiny jigs and picky fish that just nose your bait.
- Controlled drop, you can slow your bait down as it passes fish on the screen instead of blasting past them.
- Glove friendly, using a trigger or lever is often easier with cold fingers than flipping a bail on a small spinning reel.
Inline reels are not mandatory, plenty of anglers catch fish forever with spinning reels only. Think of inline as a tool you add when you want more control and less line twist for vertical presentations.
Piscifun ICX FrostⅡ Carbon Free Fall inline reel
The ICX FrostⅡ Carbon Free Fall is the “muscle” inline reel in the Piscifun lineup. It is built around a large 2.48 inch spool with an anti tangle cover, a carbon frame and a free fall trigger system, so you get power, control and smoother line flow when you are chasing bigger fish through the ice.
Key features and benefits
- Carbon frame, keeps the reel light in the hand but stiff enough for walleye and pike, so you are not fighting a heavy reel all day.
- Large anti tangle spool, the 2.48 inch spool with a cover helps reduce line twist and random loops, and gives you more capacity when you fish deeper water.
- Free fall trigger, lets you drop your bait with one finger and stop it instantly. That makes it easier to hit marks on your flasher without overshooting and to control how fast your jig falls.
- Magnetic drop speed adjustment, an eight magnet system lets you fine tune drop speed to match lure weight and depth, so you can go slower for finicky fish or faster when they are aggressive.
- 7+1 stainless steel bearings, keeps the retrieve smooth and helps the reel feel tight and responsive even in the cold.
Best for
- Walleye and pike anglers who want an inline reel with more power.
- Heavier spoons, rattle baits and bigger plastics.
- Anglers who like one hand free fall control and fish a lot by watching their flasher or live sonar.
Piscifun ICX Carbon X inline ice reel
The ICX Carbon X is the lighter, more compact inline reel in the Piscifun family. It uses a carbon fiber frame to cut weight, a finely machined aluminum spool and a magnetic drop system, so you get a sensitive, easy to fish reel that still has enough power for eater walleye.
Key features and benefits
- Lighter carbon frame, the carbon body keeps total weight low, which makes the reel feel very light on shorter ice rods and helps you feel light bites from panfish.
- Magnetic drop system with seven magnets, a ring of neodymium magnets controls spool tension, so you can micro adjust how fast your jig falls and get a smooth, controlled drop instead of sudden free fall and tangles.
- 3.2:1 gear ratio, a good middle ground for inline reels, fast enough to pick up slack and keep pressure on a fish, but not so fast that you lose torque.
- 8+1 bearings and brass gears, the bearing stack and brass gearing keep the reel feeling smooth when you are working small jigs all day in the cold.
- Dual mode lever, the lever and trigger let you pop into free spool on demand and stop the spool instantly, or lock into a free fall mode when you want a constant drop without holding the trigger the whole time.
Best for
- Panfish, perch and crappie anglers who want a lighter inline reel.
- Mixed bags of panfish and eater walleye in shallow to mid depth water.
- Anglers who like precise drop control for tiny tungsten jigs and small spoons.
Budget friendly options, ICX 5 and Flame 500 or 1000
If you want to rig extra rods for friends, kids or just different presentations, you do not always need the fanciest reel. Piscifun’s ICX 5 and Flame in 500 or 1000 sizes are good ways to keep cost down and still have reliable gear.
Piscifun ICX 5 ice reel
The ICX 5 is a compact spinning reel built specifically with ice anglers in mind. It uses a simple, proven layout that works well with small to medium ice rods.
Best for
- Backup or second setups.
- Kids and guests.
- Anglers who want a dedicated ice reel on a tighter budget.
Piscifun Flame 500 and 1000 for ice
The Flame is often the cheapest way into Piscifun reels. On Piscifun’s ice fishing collection page, the Flame 500 and 1000 are listed as ice friendly options for anglers who want to stay very budget conscious.
Best for
- Tight budgets.
- Rods you leave in the shack or loan out.
- Casual anglers who get out a few weekends per year.
Which Piscifun reel fits your style
To make the choice easy, think in simple profiles.
- I want one reel that just works for everything.
Go Viper X Ice 1000. Pair it with a medium light rod and 6 pound mono or 10 pound braid with a leader. - I chase panfish and like ultralight setups.
Go Carbon X 500 with a true ultralight rod and 3 pound mono. - I love watching fish on the flasher and playing the chase game.
Try ICX Carbon for panfish or ICX Frost if you are mainly a walleye and pike angler. - I am on a budget or rigging rods for the family.
Grab one or two ICX 5 or Flame 500 / 1000 reels, they will catch plenty of fish without stressing your wallet.
For matching rods, you can send readers over to your deep dive on rod power vs action so they pick a blank that actually fits the reel and species.
Final thoughts, getting ready for hardwater season
You do not need a huge pile of reels to have a great ice season. Two quality setups will cover almost everything, a finesse rig and a heavier all round rig. The nice thing with Piscifun is that you can mix and match within one brand, Carbon X for your light rod, Viper X or ICX Frost for your heavier rod, and keep things simple.
Before first ice, give your reels a quick check. Refresh line, make sure the drag is smooth, and test any free fall controls at home. Also, remember that no reel is worth taking unnecessary risks on sketchy ice. Always follow local safety guidance and thickness recommendations. A good starting point is the Minnesota DNR ice safety page, which explains why there is no such thing as 100 percent safe ice and how to think about ice conditions.
Ready to gear up for ice season?
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FAQs about Piscifun ice fishing reels
Is Piscifun a good brand for ice fishing reels?
Yes, Piscifun has built a strong reputation in the budget and mid range reel space, and their ice fishing lineup follows the same idea. You are not paying for big name branding, you are paying for practical features, smooth drags and reels that fish well for the price. If you want premium Japanese reels you will look at other brands, but for value focused ice anglers, Piscifun is a solid option.
What size reel is best for ice fishing?
Most ice anglers are happy with 500 or 1000 size spinning reels. These compact sizes balance well on 24 to 32 inch ice rods and handle common 2 to 8 pound lines. A 500 size is perfect for panfish and finesse work, while a 1000 size is better if you are targeting walleye, trout or smaller pike.
Do I need an inline reel or a spinning reel for ice fishing?
Both work, so you do not have to buy an inline reel to catch fish. Spinning reels are versatile, easy to use and familiar if you already fish open water. Inline reels shine when you fish tiny jigs and watch fish chase your bait on a flasher, because they reduce line twist and give you smoother free fall control. Many anglers run one spinning setup and one inline setup so they can switch depending on the presentation.
What line should I use on a Piscifun ice fishing reel?
For most ice setups a 3 to 8 pound line is ideal. Many anglers use 3 to 4 pound mono or fluorocarbon on smaller reels like the Carbon X 500 for panfish, and 6 to 8 pound mono, fluoro or braid with a leader on reels like the Viper X 1000 for walleye and trout. Dedicated ice lines are less prone to coiling in the cold, but if you only fish a few times per winter, a good quality mono or fluoro works fine.
Which Piscifun reel is best for beginners on a budget?
If you are just getting started and want to keep costs down, the ICX 5 or Flame 500/1000 are good choices. They are simple, reliable spinning reels that handle common ice fishing techniques without a big price tag. As you fish more, you can always upgrade one setup to a Viper X or Carbon X and keep the budget reel as a spare rod for friends or family.
How long should an ice fishing reel last?
With basic care, an ice fishing reel should last several seasons or longer. The key is to avoid dunking it in slush and salt, wipe it down after trips, and back off the drag when you store it so the drag washers are not constantly compressed. If you notice grinding or stiffness, a simple cleaning and fresh lubrication will usually bring a quality reel like the Viper X or Carbon X back to smooth performance.