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Posts: 1000
| Hey guys. What are your favorite rods for pounders? |
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Posts: 611
Location: Michigan | Big Dawg Legend Tournament is awesome for throwing big rubber. Also have used the Musky Innovations Monster Magnum and the Mark Lejewski 4x rod with good results. |
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Posts: 1100
| My choice in this order.
Nr 1: Predator XXH (don't have it borrowed one from a guide)
Nr 2: MI Mark Lejewski XXXXH. (have my own)
Nr 3: St Croix Big Dawg, with handle extended.(have my own)
Nr 4: TI XXH 9 foot.(have my own)
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | I use a X Heavy For pounder's Tranx HG best of the best. Use a predator heavy for dubbel 10 ' s Tranx PG. And bought a back up predator XXH Tranx PG used it a few times for pounder's but works better for 2 pounders. Last 2 predators 9 foot 8 inches with 18 inch handle. |
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Posts: 1283
| I have been usig a Big Dawg but picked up a new Chaos Tackle Shock and Awe. Although I havent had it out for obvious reasons, I can tell you it is one bad ass rod. Its got the perfect handle length same as a TI 9ft rod but a bit thinner, somewhere right between the Big Dawg and a TI. Its rated from 4-24oz so it will throw anything in your box and it really loads up great for smaller baits. Also has alloy guides so no worries about cracking them. Weight is a bit lighter then a 9ft TI and a bit heavier the my Big Dawg. Awesome rod! |
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Posts: 668
Location: mercer wi | Used shimanos new 9' xxh. Was really impressed with it. If your on a budget. I aslo weighted but section n turned rod into really well balanced rod.I liked it better then big dawg rod too. Just my spare change. |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | Of course I want you to buy a Tackle Industries XXH pounder rod, but I am at the Chicago show right now and just looked at that new St Croix Legend Elite rod. Wow is all I can say! It has to be lighter than 10oz!!!
James |
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Posts: 1283
| I also love my TI XXH rod! |
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Posts: 122
Location: Appleton Wi | xxh Tackle Industries rod
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Posts: 424
| musky2424 - 1/11/2015 1:43 PM
xxh Tackle Industries rod
I agree, XXH Tackle Industries Rod
esoxone |
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| Xxxh tooth tamer jawbreaker |
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Posts: 427
Location: Planet Meltdown | Shock & Awe. Awesome pounder rod and will not break the bank. |
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Posts: 512
Location: Appleton | The new Custom X XXH pounder rod is simply amazing. Has a middle of the road price range and it's great for throwing big rubber. |
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Posts: 908
Location: South-Central PA | With some modifications, the TI XXH and Premier XH blanks can be built into killer Pounder rods. There are VERY few TI XXH's left. James is sold out and I have 2 or 3 left.
Jeremy |
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Posts: 143
Location: Palatine, IL | Shock and Awe. |
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Posts: 337
Location: Watersmeet, Michigan | Ditto on the Tackle Industries XXH Light and strong. Good rod at a great price.
Fr. K |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | i was given a 12' surf-casting rod to try last year on our November Vermillion trip by a friend who works at St. Croix ... i'm 50 and was not in what i'd call pounder shape. i casted pounders and alphas 2.5 days straight with the assistance of the law of physics. this year a few of us are having customs built on their surf rod blank 3SRS120HMF2 (pictured next to a sling blade). you can throw pounders a mile and they load and launch like a bucktail ...
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Posts: 1405
Location: Detroit River | jonnysled - 1/15/2015 8:24 AM i was given a 12' surf-casting rod to try last year on our November Vermillion trip by a friend who works at St. Croix ... i'm 50 and was not in what i'd call pounder shape. i casted pounders and alphas 2.5 days straight with the assistance of the law of physics. this year a few of us are having customs built on their surf rod blank 3SRS120HMF2 (pictured next to a sling blade). you can throw pounders a mile and they load and launch like a bucktail ... That rod looks sweet. Don't know how I would transport that rod to the lake in my 14'5" boat but I want it. :) Were can a person buy the blank from? MudHole no longer sells the SC 12' surf rods. |
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Posts: 908
Location: South-Central PA | Transportation isn't an issue, it's a 2-piece. They are butt-jointed and the top section should be around 9'.
Yes, Mudhole does carry this blank:
http://www.mudhole.com/Rod-Building/SCIII-Surf-Blanks/St-Croix-3SRS...
I built a pair of trolling rods on the 3SRS110MHF2, these are very nice blanks!
jeremy |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | Zib - 1/15/2015 8:06 AM
jonnysled - 1/15/2015 8:24 AM i was given a 12' surf-casting rod to try last year on our November Vermillion trip by a friend who works at St. Croix ... i'm 50 and was not in what i'd call pounder shape. i casted pounders and alphas 2.5 days straight with the assistance of the law of physics. this year a few of us are having customs built on their surf rod blank 3SRS120HMF2 (pictured next to a sling blade). you can throw pounders a mile and they load and launch like a bucktail ... That rod looks sweet. Don't know how I would transport that rod to the lake in my 14'5" boat but I want it. :) Were can a person buy the blank from? MudHole no longer sells the SC 12' surf rods.
it's a 2-piece rod - edit, oops didn't see the other post, thanks ... |
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Posts: 1405
Location: Detroit River | Thanks. I didn't look under the SCIII blanks. The other models had stated that they were no longer available. I don't throw pounders that much but if having the longer surf rod makes it much easier on my old body then I guess I'll have to bite the bullet & pay the extra for the SCIII blank. Was it harder to find the spine in the butt section piece of the rod? |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | You won't find a spline on the butt. Tip is a different story. And the tip is actually about 7 1/2 foot, pretty manageable for transport.
The hardest part of building on this blank is finding components large enough for blank diameter. It's like .8 or bigger where the reel seat goes, size 20 fuji reel seats are about .78. So you need to ream a size 20 or go to a size 22 and shim it. |
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Posts: 120
| A MSC120HMF2 is a great off the shelf option for a surf rod |
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Posts: 1405
Location: Detroit River | My concern with using the surf rod for pounders is that the line rating max is 60 LB. I use 100 LB for pounders just in case of a backlash. I wouldn't want to snap the rod due to using line that's heavier than what the rod is rated for. I broke an Okuma rod on a sturgeon partly because I was using line that was heavier than what the rod was rated for. With the surf rod having the moderate-fast action I would think this would maybe allow you to get away with using heavier line but not sure how that softer action would affect hook sets. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | i used 80# braid ... 100# would not be a problem. we casted just above freezing temps and then with about 15 degree air temps. and other than de-icing line guides and reel pawl there were zero issues with casting lines you would use to throw pounders. |
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Posts: 908
Location: South-Central PA | Don't worry about the spine on the butt section, you'll never find it!
jeremy |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | Zib - 1/15/2015 9:46 AM
My concern with using the surf rod for pounders is that the line rating max is 60 LB. I use 100 LB for pounders just in case of a backlash. I wouldn't want to snap the rod due to using line that's heavier than what the rod is rated for. I broke an Okuma rod on a sturgeon partly because I was using line that was heavier than what the rod was rated for. With the surf rod having the moderate-fast action I would think this would maybe allow you to get away with using heavier line but not sure how that softer action would affect hook sets.
Don't pay attention to line ratings, you can bust a rod rated up to 100lb with 20 lb line and can catch fish on an ultra lite with 100 lb test.
The lure rating is more significant, 6-16 oz, the highest lure rating of any blank SC builds.
And as to hooksets, simply loading this rod buries hooks. Just make sure you have a netman. |
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Posts: 284
Location: Eagan, MN | Sled, 12 foot rod, very interesting. I'm not poo-poo'ing the idea, but have questions re. a rod this long as an option. Wouldn't there be a significant amount of loss of power with the additional length? What you gain with a longer rod is rod tip speed on the hook set. Casting is one thing, but curious how the rod behaved in practice at crunch time...when a fish bit. Were you happy with your results in that respect? Interested in more feedback on fish hooking/fighting performance. Brian |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | make sure your boat is long enough so your netman doesen't have to stand on the motor cowling ... LOL. i only fished this rod 2.5 days and shared it with a couple others who were interested (and building one) and played netman to a hot bait, but i wouldn't worry the least about pinning a fish with the leverage you get with the rod.
boatside swimming and dropping is another benefit with this rod. |
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Posts: 120
| Flambeauski - 1/15/2015 11:01 AM
And as to hooksets, simply loading this rod buries hooks. Just make sure you have a netman.
Agreed. A net man is more or less required.
To sleds last point, figure 8's and boat side swimming may be the greatest strength of using a surf rod.
One thing you do need to be aware of when handling a 12' on shore is low hanging power lines!
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | Flambeauski - 1/15/2015 11:01 AM
Zib - 1/15/2015 9:46 AM
My concern with using the surf rod for pounders is that the line rating max is 60 LB. I use 100 LB for pounders just in case of a backlash. I wouldn't want to snap the rod due to using line that's heavier than what the rod is rated for. I broke an Okuma rod on a sturgeon partly because I was using line that was heavier than what the rod was rated for. With the surf rod having the moderate-fast action I would think this would maybe allow you to get away with using heavier line but not sure how that softer action would affect hook sets.
Don't pay attention to line ratings, you can bust a rod rated up to 100lb with 20 lb line and can catch fish on an ultra lite with 100 lb test.
The lure rating is more significant, 6-16 oz, the highest lure rating of any blank SC builds.
And as to hooksets, simply loading this rod buries hooks. Just make sure you have a netman.
 My daughters Barbie pole has 30# Power Pro on it. I think its rated for 2# line...
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Posts: 1405
Location: Detroit River | Flambeauski - 1/15/2015 12:01 PM Zib - 1/15/2015 9:46 AM My concern with using the surf rod for pounders is that the line rating max is 60 LB. I use 100 LB for pounders just in case of a backlash. I wouldn't want to snap the rod due to using line that's heavier than what the rod is rated for. I broke an Okuma rod on a sturgeon partly because I was using line that was heavier than what the rod was rated for. With the surf rod having the moderate-fast action I would think this would maybe allow you to get away with using heavier line but not sure how that softer action would affect hook sets. Don't pay attention to line ratings, you can bust a rod rated up to 100lb with 20 lb line and can catch fish on an ultra lite with 100 lb test. The lure rating is more significant, 6-16 oz, the highest lure rating of any blank SC builds. And as to hooksets, simply loading this rod buries hooks. Just make sure you have a netman. http://www.rodbuilding.org/library/rodusage.pdf |
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Posts: 908
Location: South-Central PA | Zib,
I used to hand that article out at musky shows! There's another one that was featured in Rodmaker Magazine showing what the break looks like on a rod blank based on what caused the break. Different causes such as a crush-fracture or an overload break cause the blank to look much different at the break area. I always get a kick out of stories I get from guys who 'broke a rod casting' when it was clearly smashed in a door or stepped on.
jeremy |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | It's like the 10 Commandments for rod builders!
Line doesn't matter except in the case of guide diameter (100lb fluoro doesn't work with micro guides).
Drag is your friend, sharp angles and pinch points are your enemy.
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Posts: 120
| *giggles*
@Zip- sounds like more of a freak occurance rather than normal outcome. FWIW drop 40$'s or so on one of these for sturgies. Perfect for sturgeon, perfectly worthless for everything else. But, a very reasonable single application rod at the price point. |
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Posts: 120
| Their blanks are highly sensitive. |
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Posts: 1405
Location: Detroit River | Thunderpumper - 1/15/2015 2:46 PM *giggles* @Zip- sounds like more of a freak occurance rather than normal outcome. FWIW drop 40$'s or so on one of these for sturgies. Perfect for sturgeon, perfectly worthless for everything else. But, a very reasonable single application rod at the price point. As for the freak occurrence that's probably about right because had the sturgeon not gone under the boat then head upstream & start to tangle in the anchor line I don't think the rod wouldn’t have broken. |
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Posts: 120
| Wow, 1lb leads! That would be a bit much for the rod I linked. I fish the St Croix and Rainy rivers and never really need to go bigger than 8oz, and because this is the internet if I haven't had the problem no one else has either 
I have a buddy that went on a guided trip for White Sturgeon in Oregon. They were using 1lb cannon ball off an Ugly stick. I'll have to find out what model they used. |
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Posts: 1405
Location: Detroit River | Thunderpumper - 1/15/2015 4:09 PM Wow, 1lb leads! That would be a bit much for the rod I linked. I fish the St Croix and Rainy rivers and never really need to go bigger than 8oz, and because this is the internet if I haven't had the problem no one else has either I have a buddy that went on a guided trip for White Sturgeon in Oregon. They were using 1lb cannon ball off an Ugly stick. I'll have to find out what model they used. How strong is the current in the Rainy? Depth? The St. Clair River's current varies depending on location & water levels. It's usually around 4 knots in the area I fish & others it can be down to 2 knots or up to 7. We usually fish in 28 to 35 fow but sometimes go as deep as 52. Depending on who's boat we're fishing in we will run up to 8 & a few times 9 rods (allowed 3 per angler in Michigan) so we need that extra weight to keep the line spread out. Surprisingly we have only had a few tangles over the last 5 seasons of targeting sturgeon.
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Posts: 120
| I'm not sure of the exact flow rate. It's an early spring season so the flows are all over the place depending which tribs have blown out, but 6oz lead seems to be the most you need. Depths are 30-45'. 2 lines per guy on both the Rainy and Croix. The season on the Rainy get's pretty crowded in places but is well worth trying at some point. Still haven't landed a 60+, but she's a commin'.
she's a commin' |
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Location: Des Moines IA | I had a custom Calstar blank built by Frank's Custom rods. It ended up JUST short of 9 ft, and absolutely is a tank I am pairing it with a Tranx HG this year, and the thing will be a pounder eating machine. Ran it last lear with a Revo 5:4 to 1 and it worked great, it will be an absolute work of art with the tranx. the cost was similar to the Legend series. Having exactly what I wanted was worth the couple extra bucks in my opinion. |
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Posts: 908
Location: South-Central PA | FYI, I can get those surf blanks in 13 custom colors.
jeremy
(Custom Blank Colors.jpg)
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| how long is the butt section/rear grip of that 12' rod? looks to be 2 feet or more. I suppose it helps with balance but how did you like retrieving the dawgs with it.? |
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