Headlock/Heavy Trolling Setup
Choc Jones
Posted 6/19/2018 4:20 PM (#910397)
Subject: Headlock/Heavy Trolling Setup




Posts: 13


Does anyone have a recommendation for a dedicated heavy trolling rod specifically for head/mattlocks and other large hard pulling cranks? Also capable of using with a Tx-44 board? Thank you in advance
muskyhunter47
Posted 6/19/2018 5:56 PM (#910406 - in reply to #910397)
Subject: Re: Headlock/Heavy Trolling Setup




Posts: 1638


Location: Minnesota
Thorn brothers
E glass rod
Mojo1269
Posted 6/20/2018 9:22 AM (#910441 - in reply to #910406)
Subject: Re: Headlock/Heavy Trolling Setup





Posts: 752


What ^^^^ said. Put a Tekota on it. Other options out there cheaper can work (some not nearly as well) but when you can have the best made to your specifications for under $250.00 why go any other way (IMHO)
joh10891
Posted 6/22/2018 1:11 PM (#910570 - in reply to #910397)
Subject: RE: Headlock/Heavy Trolling Setup




Posts: 112


A cheaper option is the 8' H Denali Bottom Feeder for $50. Been using it this season for big cranks and it works well. Has good stainless guides and a forgrip that's surprisingly useful for helping pull in fouled baits. Only thing is that is has a trigger, which not everyone likes and doesn't fit all rod holders.
supertrollr
Posted 6/22/2018 10:31 PM (#910589 - in reply to #910397)
Subject: Re: Headlock/Heavy Trolling Setup


these cranks don't pull really hard. try the okuma battlecat,and a tekota 600 lc 100 pound braid and salty down east rod older and you will good to go for hard pulling cranks like franky baits,plow etc
Wimuskyfisherman
Posted 6/23/2018 7:54 PM (#910636 - in reply to #910397)
Subject: Re: Headlock/Heavy Trolling Setup




Posts: 229


I have both Shimano Tekotas and Okuma Convectors. The drag on the Tekota is great but the Convector is a stronger reel that wins in everything else. The thing that I don't like with the Convector is the drag. It does not have as fine of an adjustment as the Tekota and tends to loosen over a day of trolling. However, I use both reels and they work well, I just have to babysit the Convector drag more. The Convector is really powerful and pulls big boards in with ease- a lot less work than with the Tekota. As far as line, I use both 40lb Big Game mono and 80lb Tuf Line Plus. My preference for boards is definitely mono but obviously there are times and places to use superlines.
Jerry Newman
Posted 6/24/2018 9:09 AM (#910651 - in reply to #910636)
Subject: Re: Headlock/Heavy Trolling Setup




Location: 31

If you like the 600 Tekota, you will love the 700. 

supertrollr
Posted 6/24/2018 11:23 AM (#910658 - in reply to #910651)
Subject: Re: Headlock/Heavy Trolling Setup


600 is dead perfect.it's almost like the size of abu 7000 .why would you need more than near 750 feet of 100 pound ?
the tekota has more bearing and it's a lot more durable than the conector , simply not in the same league. that's why one cost more than 100 bucks than the other.if you use hard pulling cranks you will quickly noticed that the extra 100$ is not a waist of money trust me one that
Jerry Newman
Posted 6/25/2018 11:40 AM (#910739 - in reply to #910658)
Subject: Re: Headlock/Heavy Trolling Setup




Location: 31

supertrollr - 6/24/2018 11:23 AM 600 is dead perfect.it's almost like the size of abu 7000 .why would you need more than near 750 feet of 100 pound ? the tekota has more bearing and it's a lot more durable than the conector , simply not in the same league. that's why one cost more than 100 bucks than the other.if you use hard pulling cranks you will quickly noticed that the extra 100$ is not a waist of money trust me one that

You don't necessarily "need" the extra capacity of a 700 Tekota, but that's not the only thing you should be considering too (even though having the extra capacity is a very nice plus).  BTW, I fill the first 1/2 spool with 80lb braid and the other 1/2 with 40 mono, and then only change out the mono. 
 
I've used the 600 extensively, and can tell you without question the 700 simply outclasses the 600 in every category... louder clicker, better drag system with a much wider range of adjustment, and MUCH better overall power and faster line pickup with boards... mainly because of the extra capacity. 
 
If you haven't used a 700 for your HD muskie trolling set-up, well frankly you don't know what you're missing and that's why you still "think" the 600 is the perfect reel... I sold the 600s after using the 700
 
L to R; 700 - 600 - Sealine down rod 



Zoom - | Zoom 100% | Zoom + | Expand / Contract | Open New window
Click to expand / contract the width of this image
(trolling reels.jpg)



Attachments
----------------
Attachments trolling reels.jpg (37KB - 361 downloads)
Nershi
Posted 6/26/2018 9:33 AM (#910812 - in reply to #910397)
Subject: Re: Headlock/Heavy Trolling Setup




Location: MN
No need for an expensive trolling rod IMO. I use shimano TDR's as do all my fishing buddies and they work just fine. All we troll are Headlocks, Mattlocks and Pelagic's with TX boards.

I also run the tekota's LC. I believe I have the 600. The clicker is a little too quiet but other than that it works fine. Probably makes sense to go with the 700.
Jerry Newman
Posted 7/1/2018 7:40 PM (#911300 - in reply to #910812)
Subject: Re: Headlock/Heavy Trolling Setup




Location: 31

Nershi - 6/26/2018 9:33 AM No need for an expensive trolling rod IMO.

X2!  typically we look for a decent 8-9’ graphite with good backbone that loads to about 20-30%? with an inline board.  I’m personally not a fan of fiberglass because they recover so slowly and lures are more prone to pop out and catapult toward you when the boat is under power. 

You might want to check the Tx-44s against standard size… we found that (surprisingly) there's not much difference in separation with hard pulling baits and they're a lot harder to wind in than a standard size board.