LADSON, S.C. - Anglers in northern climates have always known the fishing doesn’t stop when temperatures dip below freezing and the water gets hard. Ice fishing continues to attract anglers to their favorites lakes for everything from panfish and perch, to walleye and northern pike, and Shimano is addressing their tackle needs. Now available - or soon to be at selected tackle dealers in popular ice-fishing states, Shimano introduces a new line-up of cork grip Convergence ice rods, along with a selection of Sienna combos featuring EVA grip rods matched with Sienna 500 spinning reels.

“With ice anglers relying more on advanced equipment such as high-performance electric augers to drill holes, sophisticated electronic depth finders to show what’s below the ice, and insulated pop-up shelters to combat the cold, it was a natural step for Shimano to take,” said Trey Epich with Shimano’s product development staff. “We have many here at Shimano with northern roots and a passion for fishing through the ice, and obviously we want them - and any ice-angler, to feel the same confidence fishing with Shimano ice rods and reels as they do when open-water fishing.”

The five Convergence ice rods all feature a sensitive carbon tip design. On the 24” ultra-light, 26” light and 28” medium-light power rods, anglers will find a Tennessee handle design and coil and ring guides. The 28” medium and medium-heavy power Convergence rods offer a comfortable seamless carbon ring reel seat and lightweight Zirconia ring guides. All the Convergence come with a hook keeper and match up well with any of Shimano’s 500 size spinning reels - including those in the Sahara and NASCI series.

Already matched up with Shimano’s wobble-free Sienna 500 spinning reels, the five Sienna ice combos include sensitive carbon tip design rods with aluminum oxide ring guides on the 28” medium and medium-heavy power rods, and wire guides with aluminum oxide also on the 24” ultralight, 26” light and 28” medium-light power combos. They all feature lightweight graphite reel seats, comfortable EVA grips and hook keepers.

“On both the Convergence and Sienna lighter power rods, we added a bright colored tip section,” said Epich. “When in the cold, wearing gloves, light bites can be difficult to feel , and this just gives anglers a visual way to see subtle bites from panfish, perch and crappies.”

All the Sienna rod and reel ice combos retail for $39.99 (USD), while the Convergence ice rods retail for $44.99. Most tackle shops carrying Shimano’s new ice tackle also offer a selection of spinning reels ideal for ice-fishing use, including the Sahara, NASCI, Sedona and Sienna 500 size models. All the reels can be spooled up with PowerPro ICE-Tech braid, available in 5-, 8, 10- and 15-pound test.

Ice anglers can check out the new ice tackle from Shimano at: Convergence Ice Rods - Sienna Ice Combos -- and can also see it in action at Shimano Tackles The Ice.

For more information on Shimano's new Convergence ice rods and Sienna ice combos, see your local tackle dealer - visit the Shimano web site at http://fish.shimano.com - or call Shimano's product support team at 877/577-0600 (9 am to 8 pm EST - 6 am to 5 pm PST).

See the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnpNWXimWIU&authuser=0