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Posts: 1000
| Hi Everyone,
Thinking I'll be spending a lot more time trolling next year. Would appreciate the input of people who do a lot of this. Specifically:
Holders/Rail systems
Rod/Reel combos
Anything else you feel pertinent. Literally starting from scratch. If it matters, I'll be fishing TC metro and northern MN.
Thanks!
Ben T |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | Traxstech adapter plates with Downeast Rod holders or their single rod tubes for planer boards on a Traxstech Track system. Do yourself a favor and buy the longest tracks you can afford and will fit your boat to give you as much versatility as you will ever need.
Shimano TDR Rods, good rods and very reasonably priced.
Okuma Convector 30D Linecounter reels Tough durable reels, price wont kill ya and they will last you a long time. |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | I agree with the tracks but would have two rails about 14 or 16 inches long and 6 inches high made with 2 Downeaster rail mounts on each. This gives you the flexibility to run your rod tips in the water to collect floating weeds or tilt them quickly higher when going over a shallow hump with out having to adjust the angle of Downeaster which can be a bit of a pain when running multiple rods. These rails to fit the tracks can be built by any fabricating shop that works with stainless. |
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Posts: 555
Location: Tennessee | I use 8' Ugly Stik Big Waters with 6000 series Abu Line counters, 100lb spiderwire, with 6' multi strand wire leaders to combat the zebra muscles. For holders I like my Folbes |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | horsehunter - 11/27/2016 11:04 AM
I agree with the tracks but would have two rails about 14 or 16 inches long and 6 inches high made with 2 Downeaster rail mounts on each. This gives you the flexibility to run your rod tips in the water to collect floating weeds or tilt them quickly higher when going over a shallow hump with out having to adjust the angle of Downeaster which can be a bit of a pain when running multiple rods. These rails to fit the tracks can be built by any fabricating shop that works with stainless.
If you buy the tracks you dont need to mess with rails. The ALT4 mount is designed to be able to adjust your rods any direction you want without loosening the holder itself.
http://shop.traxstech.com/ALT-4-4-tall-adj-arm-with-lift-turn-base-...
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Location: Eastern Ontario | I'll stay with rails on tracks. Adjustment is instantaneous just push up or down on rod butt. For planer boards I use tube style rod holders in the tracks |
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Posts: 531
| Track is the way to go. I use the holders in the video links below
https://www.facebook.com/1408060812786869/videos/1784404091819204/
https://www.facebook.com/1408060812786869/videos/1791357651123848/ |
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Posts: 944
| muskihntr - 11/27/2016 10:32 AM
Traxstech adapter plates with Downeast Rod holders or their single rod tubes for planer boards on a Traxstech Track system. Do yourself a favor and buy the longest tracks you can afford and will fit your boat to give you as much versatility as you will ever need.
Shimano TDR Rods, good rods and very reasonably priced.
Okuma Convector 30D Linecounter reels Tough durable reels, price wont kill ya and they will last you a long time.
^ This is very good advice.....
Shimano Tekotas are great trolling reels also.
Jeff Hanson
madisonmuskyguide.com |
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Posts: 20211
Location: oswego, il | Cheap heavy catfish rod, okuma convector as stated above. I prefer scotty rod holders, much easier to use, plenty of searchable information on this site for trolling setups, rod holder debate will go on forever. |
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | Pretty much a repeat here, shimano tdr rods, Shakespeare tiger rods, 6500 line counters, I would rather have Folbe rod holders then my rail mount down east salty dogs. They seem much easier to use. Keep your rod tips in the water it'll keep a lot of crap off your baits. |
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Posts: 1000
| Any recommendations on length/specs of the TDR rods? Those things are incredibly reasonable!
Thanks everyone for the recommendations! |
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Posts: 20211
Location: oswego, il | I went to longer rods for trolling but am using shorter rods now. 7'. Reason being the longer the trolling rod the more the angler has to back up all the way up to the front deck with a 9ft rod which is a pain if there is stuff on the deck, wavy and maybe the angler isnt super graceful. |
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | tolle141 - 11/28/2016 8:45 AM
Any recommendations on length/specs of the TDR rods? Those things are incredibly reasonable!
Thanks everyone for the recommendations!
8' H |
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Posts: 859
Location: MN | I am using 8ft as well. Todd makes a great point about rod length. 8 foot has been ok for me. but I keep a really open and clean boat so walking around isn't an issue. |
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Posts: 108
| I have a heavy TDR and it is fine for smaller baits. But it uses all of its bend with 14 inch Jake's and Headlocks. Therefore it has no shock absorber when a fish hits. For all trolling applications I now use a inexpensive heavy catfish rod and a Thorne brother's trolling rod. Plenty of shock absorbency left while trolling the big baits. If you troll a lot of shallow rock, a fiberglass rod is much better as the bait bounces better off the rock with fiberglass. Trolling shallow rock with graphite rods the bait sticks like velcro. |
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI | Being able to tilt the rod quickly is very nice to have. I considered installing rails and replacing the tracks I had but really didn't want to deal with the rod holders always on the rails. In a moment of ingenuity I went to the hardware store and bought some nylon washers that fit between the teeth on the Down East. Then I replaced the wing nut with a lock nut. Tightened down you can hardly move the horizontal position by hand but with a rod in the holder and the additional leverage gained from the handle you can move the holder easily.
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Posts: 77
| I installed Traxstech this season and used the Fat AZ Down East Slanted Rod Holders. I love them. Here is the link. http://www.fatazmusky.com/index.html |
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Posts: 668
Location: mercer wi | Was wondering same thing. Wife's gettinge a headlocks for christmas. Don't troll much but was looking at a black river trolling/sucker rod. Not sure on reels, maybe accudepth or convector. |
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Posts: 230
Location: St Paul, Minnesota | I run a St. Croix Premier Glass Musky Rod 8' Heavy Moderate Action (PGM80HM) paired with a Shimano Tekota 500LC. It is a perfect combo and also has the backbone and toughness to double as my trusty sucker rod for trolling or soaking suckers on the coldest of days. I strongly recommend this setup.
If you aren't trolling headlocks and bigger cranks you could get buy with the Shimano TDR as a cheap trolling rod if it allows you to afford the Tekota, but if you can't troll big you could be missing out, so I wouldn't plan on the TDR being your primary trolling rod for too long, though it is a solid value downsizer rod.
-C7 |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | Will Schultz - 11/28/2016 1:16 PM
Being able to tilt the rod quickly is very nice to have. I considered installing rails and replacing the tracks I had but really didn't want to deal with the rod holders always on the rails. In a moment of ingenuity I went to the hardware store and bought some nylon washers that fit between the teeth on the Down East. Then I replaced the wing nut with a lock nut. Tightened down you can hardly move the horizontal position by hand but with a rod in the holder and the additional leverage gained from the handle you can move the holder easily.
Finally got around to doing this best tip I've had since Northern Dancer in the 1964 Kentucky Derby |
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Posts: 18
| In my humble opinion the CTS baycaster blanks are as good as it gets |
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