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Posts: 75
| Hey guys, just saved some money to finally decide what kind of Musky Rod I want to get. Yet, I feel that the St. Croix Mojo Musky is to much money. I don't do a great load of Musky fishing, so it feels as if some of my money is going to waste. I'm looking for a GOOD/DECENT starting ROD that can handle 3-8oz lures. If anyone has any information about any rod's they know about that can fit a beginner, but also hold a Shimano Corvalus Casting Reel, please post  |
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Posts: 547
Location: Oshkosh | The 8'6" Hawg Chaser from Black River Rods should work just perfect for what you lookin for, with a great price and a great warranty as well.
Peter |
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Posts: 32926
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Take a look at the Tackle Industries rod. Lots of bang for the buck. |
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Posts: 75
| I know longer rod's are better, but I prefer shorter one's the Croix has one 7'2'' XH and can hold 3-8oz lures, anything like that but less price would be awsome! |
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Posts: 22
| I second the TI rods. I just water tested my new one yesterday and am very impressed. Great rod for the money. |
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| I wouldn't go less than 7'6". A 7'6" is a good size for a jerkbait and WTD rod. If you're new you might feel intimidated by 9' rods, but they are much better than you could imagine. They throw lures easier (especially heavy lures like you are looking to use) and make larger figure-eights with ease. Your rod selection should depend on what you are planning on using most of the time and where you live.
If you live in an area like I do, which mostly has 30"-40" fish, I would stick to lighter rods. A 7'6" H or XH is a good starter rod, and can be used for jerkbaits/WTD baits when you get more serious. A 7'6" gives you a better figure-eight, farther casts, and better hook sets than the 7'2". There is only a 4" difference, but the 7'6" provides more advantages. I have a 7'6" XH Shimano Compre and love it.
A 9' rod is a must somewhere down the road. For someone starting out, I would suggest the Tackle Industries 9' MH (1-6oz lures) for throwing smaller rubber (Regular Bulldawgs) and smaller bucktails (double 8s). The 9' XH (3-12oz lures) is great for 10s and larger rubber, up to Mag Dawgs. If you live where it's good and you want to throw anything larger than Mag Dawgs, the Tackle Industries 9' XXH (8-48 oz lures - ?) is a must.
To be honest, the 7'2" is going to be very inconvenient for throwing heavy lures. The smaller rods don't allow any bend and your body is doing most of the work. This concept is hard to explain in words, but you will understand what I mean if you go with the 7'2". With that said, I would go with a 7'6" XH Shimano Compre. No offense, but the Corvalus will not withstand the pounding of using larger lures, so the Compre is your best bet.
My dad has an 8' XH Compre (2-6 oz) and it's a decent in-between rod. I would recommend that if you are starting to think the 7'6" is too small, and the 9' is too big. |
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Posts: 75
| I was looking at the Compre's, they look very good for their price. Had one question. I think because I'm a begginer I'm stuck on getting the shortest rod out there, which I know will bite me in the butt sooner or later, but is the 6'8'' Compre's 3-6oz lures a good starting rod. Or should i deffinately go to the 7'2. I read on many reviews that there is a added 4'' to all there rods. Thus, the 6'8'' would really be a 7'2'' and the 7'2'' would actually be a 7'6''. But there is about a $20 dollar difference in the size difference that's why I'm leaning towards the cheaper/shorter rod. Yes/No? |
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Posts: 582
| Gander makes good starter rods sometimes on sale for $70.. otherwise, for $110 the TI rodes or black river are nice for the price. I would go 7'2" over the 6'8".. you will find that longer rods just work better. A 7'6" rod would be ideal if you like shorter sticks. |
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | tackle industries man, price vs. quality, cant beat em
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Posts: 75
| I really like the TI rods a lot. They just won't fit me for my couple first outings. The rod's are just to big for me, nothing against them, but in the future when i get a little more advanced and become a Musky Nut TI is where I will probably go. I only found 1 rod on Gander, probably didn't search to thorough, Shakespeare® Ugly Stik Tiger® Rods, which i probably think doesn't compare to the Compre's. |
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Posts: 75
| I basically came down to 2 rod's that I really like after reading some of their reviews and opinions about them from this site. 1.) Shimono Compre XH 3-6oz lures - 6'8'' or 7'2'' - $109.99 for 6'8'' and $119.99 for 7'2''
2.) Black River Musky Rod 7' Extra Heavy Fast Jerk 3 - 8 oz lures - Found it as cheap as $89.99
Let's here some OPINIONS on these 2 rods, or if you have better choices.. |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | Noob,
Why is it that you think you need to start with a shorter rod now and later upgrade to a longer rod? Unless it's a very young child, where the physical weight of the rod comes into play, just about anybody should be able to handle a longer rod. I really, really, would recommend going at least 8 feet long. You can buy an Okuma 8'6" rod that telescopes to 7 feet or a TI 9' rod that telescopes to I think 7'6" if you are worried about storage. Both great rods.
I also have used 8' Gander Mountain rods and they work pretty well too. I don't think you'll find them on their website, you'll have to visit a Gander Mountain store in person.
A longer rod makes everything easier in musky fishing - EVERYTHING! That definately includes casting heavier baits, which it sounds like you are planning on.
Another thing to consider is resale. If for some reason you ever decide to sell this rod, you WILL be able to sell a longer rod easily, and for a decent amount of money. If you buy a 7'2" rod you'll darn near have to give it away to get rid of it.
Also, I'm not sure where you read about rods being 4" longer than advertised? I've not found that to be the case with any of mine. I do remember a thread on here where guys were adding length to the handles of their rods to make the handle/rod longer.
You may have your individual reasons, and the choice is yours, but anglers going to longer rods for musky fishing isn't just a fad or hype. There is a reason everyone is using longer rods.
Good luck on your search. Buying new equipment is fun!
Tucker |
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Posts: 75
| Curley, I don't know man, I've always loved using shorter rod's not sure why, i guess it's a habit from Bass fishing when I was younger or i really don't know. Just feels right holding a shorter rod, feels as if i have more control you know. I know you guys will be on my butt about short rod's but that's just my favor you know. Thank's for your opinion, but if you had to choose from the one's above which one would you go with was my question?
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | Hilarious! Guy says he wants advice on which short rod to buy under $100 and everyone gives advice on long rods over $100. I think the Black River for $89 is a MUCH better deal than the Shimano for $120. |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | Noob, I understand. Just wanted to make sure you were well informed before purchasing. I always hated spending my money on something then regretting it later. I haven't used one, but the guys that use Black River rods seem to like them. I would also look into the St. Croix Triumph line of rods. Don't have time to see what models and prices are out there, but it could be an option. The St. Croix Mojo rods also look nice for shorter sticks but it sounds like they might be a little out of your price range.
I used to have a 7' MH Shimano Compre, and sold it due to it's short length, but it did seem like a nice rod as far as weight and fishability went.
Tucker |
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Posts: 75
| Thank you Flam, they are just trying to help me out which i respect. They are more experienced than me, but as any angler I will learn from my mistakes For now I just want to know which Rod and Deal they think is better out of the two above. |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | If my 9' rods are too long I think Tooth Tammer rods come in shorter rods and I have heard a lot of good things about them. Good price points too and Bill is a good guy to work with.
Ross's Sport shop has tehm and I think the will ship to you also. John is another good guy to work with. Now he just needs to carry my rods and lures 
Ross's Sport Shop
286 N. Lake Ave.
Phillips, WI 54555
(715) 339-3625
rosssportshop.com
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Posts: 582
| I would go with the black river rod for $89. I have one of their 7'6" rods that i use for jerk baits and thats a good price for a pretty good rod. Nothing wrong with the Compre either, but you can save the extra $30 for a lure. I can't tell you how many you will end up with in the end but its lots. |
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Posts: 994
Location: Minnesota: where it's tough to be a sportsfan! | Gotta vote on the T.I. rods on this one. Big Bang for small buck. Rods you can grow into for the price of that beginner rod. |
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| I work with Black River Rods, so obviously I'm going to say good things about them. At the same time, I'm demanding about the way my gear performs and I've been very satisfied with what Black River offers. I'm happy to suggest them to anyone as a rod that will do what you ask it to do for a very reasonable price. http://blackriverrods.com/ I use the long rods like many people and the 8'6"ers are a staple in my lineup. They do make casting and figure-8s on certain baits much easier. At the same time, I really like the 7' XHF for working snappy jerkbaits like muskie treats or hellhounds. Although I can run those baits on the longer rods, it's just plain easier on a short stick. In my experience with it, the 7' XHF is somewhat of a "specialty" rod for those applications however. For the purposes you describe, as more of an introductory and general purpose rod, I'd point you towards the 7'6" HF. It will still be "small" enough to feel comfortable if you're leery of the really big rods and it's much more versatile than the 7' XHF rod you've been considering. I absolutely love this rod and even use it for Pounders, so believe me it can handle all the standard muskie lures: plenty of backbone for casting and the right flex in the tip to help impart action to your lures and keep fish pinned when you get hooked up. Black River Rods is run by good people, and they'll stand behind your purchase. |
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Posts: 897
| I'd go with the Compre unless the Black River rod also has an over the counter warranty. If you break that Compre (rods break, it happens) you can bring it back to a Shimano rod dealer and they'll exchange it for another on the spot if they have one in stock. I've used this warranty 3 or 4 times in the last 4 years. |
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| 8 foot fenwick heavy fits in my car perfect and is good all around...i honestly wouldnt go shorter |
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Location: Northern Wisconsin | Noob, I have the XH 6'8" Compre that I used for one season until I tried out a longer rod. It is a nice rod but I have no need for a rod that short anymore. I might be willing to sell it for cheap, if you are interested send me a pm. It is missing one of the guide inserts but it hasn't caused any problems. |
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Posts: 75
| Yea, the warranty does play a huge factor! But you suggested the 7'6'' from Black River but why? You say it's more versatile, but it only hold's 2-6 oz lures, where I want to throw 8oz Weagles. That's why I wanted to get the 7'0 one. |
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Posts: 897
| I've never used a Black River rod, so I can't recommend one over the other. My comment was meant to inform you of the warranty Compre's have. If both have over the counter warranties then get whichever you like better.
My two cents...quit with the short rod stuff and just buy an 8' HF Compre and be done with it. I can work every lure in my box other than BIG rubber with an 8' HF Compre. I prefer to use other rods for certain applications, but if I had to choose just one rod to use day in and day out it would be the 8' HF Compre. |
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Posts: 432
Location: Eagan, MN | Noob, I think just about every rod under 7-6 or so is going to be designed as a dedicated jerkbait rod, so I wouldn't worry about the top end rating as much as I would about the low end. A 3-6 oz rating should throw a Weagle just fine. I use a rod rated 1 1/2 - 4 oz for some lures like that. If you have an issue throwing anything with that rod it will most likely be light stuff like smaller bucktails and crankbaits. |
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Posts: 1023
| Take advice from those who know - buy a blackriver rod as it is what you are leaning to - that is 8' or longer. It is a no-brainer. The rod will feel short after a few trips and you will wish you had gone longer. Been there, done that:)
I recommend a 8 or 8'6" 2 - 6 oz rod to start with. New muskie anglers almost always start off too light.
Landry |
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Posts: 75
| Cast, thankyou I was worried that in order to throw bigger lures the rod must say it can throw that many ounces. I just found an amazing deal at a local rod shop in my city. They are selling a Shimano Sojourn Heavy 7'0 1-3oz lures 17-40 line for just $39.99 I think they said. He said that it could most likely handle my 4-8oz lures, but then again they will say anything to sell. Any opinions, it would save me Crap load of money compared to teh Shimano Compre or Black River rod's that are over $100. |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | My first rod was 6', then 6'9", then 7'6", then 8', then 8'6", then 9'. I'm sure most of you started short then went longer. Sorta like starting with training wheels and eventually taking off the training wheels and then finally getting 31 speed Trek.
I can't tell you the number of Noob's I've spoken to that started with a 8'6" and HATED it. Too much rod too soon. My point is it might be best to start small and work your way up. I bet you'll always have a spot in you boat for that 7' XH, terrific length and action for WTD baits.
That Sojourn is a bass rod. Wrong tool for the job. |
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Posts: 75
| I read on the Shimano websites the Sojourn is a Musky Rod lol ^
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Posts: 432
Location: Eagan, MN | Noob, honestly for $40 that's not a bad deal. And if it turns out that you want a longer rod down the road as everyone suggests (count me among them) then you are only out a couple bucks. btw you're right, it is a muskie rod. |
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Posts: 75
| Cast, in your opinion, do you think it can hold some heavey lures? It states it can hold 1-3 oz lures. Though I have some lures that are 6oz and one that is 8oz. It's so hard to pass up the deal, yet I think a HEAVY Shimano can hold a Weagle if my MOJO BASS did! |
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Posts: 582
| just want to chime in one more time on this,, i suggest getting the right rod to start like the black river or TI rod. When i started out, i started cheap and now i have about 20 muskie rods laying around. All the money i spent on the cheap stuff only to replace it with good stuff seems like such a waste. If you like muskie fishing and plan to chase them, jsut spend the $89 on a rod you will be able to use for a while. Out of my 20 or so rods, i use about 8 of them. The other collect dust and annoy the wife. If i was to do it all over again, i would have bought all the right stuff to start. |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | What I meant about it being a bass rod was that it will be WAY too light for Weagles. That rod is designed for little spinners and bucktails. It'll cast Weagles fine but you want something rated at least 1.5 to 4, better yet 2-6, IMO 3-8 would be the best. |
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Posts: 432
Location: Eagan, MN | EvErNoOb - 5/18/2011 1:38 AM
Cast, in your opinion, do you think it can hold some heavey lures? It states it can hold 1-3 oz lures. Though I have some lures that are 6oz and one that is 8oz. It's so hard to pass up the deal, yet I think a HEAVY Shimano can hold a Weagle if my MOJO BASS did!
You really don't know until you try. I know it won't be ideal for your big lures. Some heavy lures like a weagle cast really well, others like bulldawgs don't. One thing I haven't seen mentioned is that long rods cast a wider range of lure sizes better than short rods. I know we keep harping on this but you seem to have your mind made up so I let it go. |
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Posts: 41
| if you really want a shorter rod id go with a 7ft MH guide series advantage, from gander mountain. $40 and tough as nails!! my wife still uses this rod today. i broke one by stepping on it(oops) and took it to gander and they replaced on the spot. Also when you do dicide to upgrade it wont be so painful. I have a bunch of diffrent rods and have to say if you were going to spend 100+ i would get the TI or the tooth tamer. The tooth tamer rods are my fav but TIs a close second. rods are a personal prefrence thou. the only thing that makes one rod better than the other is how comfortable it is to you!! |
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MuSkY RoDs v2