|
|
Location: Not far enough north! | I know this has been discussed many times and I have sifted through many of the older posts but they were mainly for newbies. I have a stack of rods in the garage that at the time of purchase were the cats meow... Loomis, Fig Rig, Blah Blah Blah
Currently my main rods are an 8'6" Hammernick rod which is used for bucktails and topwaters. It is a good rod but is a little too soft for the bigger Double 10's and up. It is a perfect rod for tail spinners, spinner baits, and smaller bucktails but a day or two of throwing bigger baist really wears me out. The second rod is 8' XH Compre which was bought in an emergency last summer after a buddy snapped my jerkbait rod about two weeks before my LOTW trip. This rod I do not like, It is real work to cast mag dawgs size baits and not stiff enough to get real good rips on the baits it is also heavy enough or balanced badly that I really struggle with WTD baits.I have trouble WTD with 9' rods generally but have not used them too much lately since gaining more confidence in dawgs and hardheads... I miss my old jerbait rod 
I have been doing some switching with buddies while on the water and have tried a few other rods. I really like Hulbert's 9' heavy for double 10's. I could not believe the difference between my tail rod and this one for that application but do not think it would handle big rubber with ease. Used a Musky Mayham 9' XH and it was like a pool cue but threw mag dawgs with ease. I just worry a little about boatside strikes with such a stiff rod.
Anyways, just wondering how I can find one rod to fill the void. I dont really like having more than two or three rods laying out in the boat for each guy. There has been so much chatter about the TI rods. For the price I can't really go too wrong. Descriptions are one thing but hands on experience from guys is another. I am sure the XH would handle the 10's and 13's but how does it do ripping mag dawgs or does the XXH get the nod for big rubber most of the time?
Thanks Guys, |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1184
Location: Iowa Great Lakes | I have been running the TI rods now for almost 3 years, my main rods for mag dawgs and 10 blades are a 9' XH, but recently have switched dawgs to the XXH due to the reel I have on that rod. Either are a great choice and all 3 of my main boat rods are 9' TI's and throw just about everything except small bucktails, for those I still use my 9' Predator.... My G Loomis hasn't seen action in well over a year now.... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 313
Location: Bemidji, Lake Vermilion | I have both xh and xxh TI rods. For the d10's or larger blades and for rubber I was amazed how much more I prefer the xxh rod. Anything else the xh are great. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 941
Location: Freedom, WI | I will throw a plug in for a Black River 8' 6", have been using it throwing all sizes of my HardHead lately (even the prototype pounder size BucketHead) and it handles them all. If I was to just throw the BIG rubber I like Lamiglas Rickys Stick but it is a heavier rod though. For price point the Black River and TI rods have the nod. Toothtamer fits in there but do not know much about their line. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | May I ask which rod you used of mine??? I glad you like it!! Did it have a Musky Armor logo on it or did it just say Mike Hulbert Signature Series without a logo? The rod without the musky armor logo, that is my new rod, designed for BIG rubber. I have been using that for Pounders, Monster Medussa's, etc... Right now I am selling the newly designed large rubber-large bucktail rods for $100 as well. My rods in my opinion have a perfect balance of strong backbone and just a fast enough tip for figure 8 strikes and lighter baits when you want to toss something smaller. The new rods do NOT have the Musky Armor logo on it and are awesome Pounder, Mag Dawg, Medussa rods...if you saw Musky Hunter TV last fall, the episode where we were bombin' Pounders, that is the exact rod I was using during that shoot. |
|
| |
|
| TI Rod XXH is a great double 10/13 / dawg/pounder rod. Like you say, for the price you can't go wrong and his customer service is 2nd to none. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 79
| I also use black rivers 8'6" rod. It throws big blades and mag dawgs with ease. I throw pounders with it as well, but it may be just a bit on the light side for this. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | I think you would be happy with either the XH or XXH but I would lean towards recommending the Tackle Industries XH rod. If storage is an issue get the telescopic and if not, go with the 9' solid rod. Got all of my rods with either a split grip or full grip 18" fat cork handles too. Let me know if you have any questions. Here are the specifications on all of my rods:
http://www.tackleindustries.com/muskypikerods.html
Thanks!
James
[email protected] |
|
| |
|
Location: Minneapolis | I use my 8' xxh TI rod for everything, jerk baits buck tail, topwater and trolling and it has worked great for all. |
|
| |
|
Location: Not far enough north! | Thanks guys,
Mike, The rod of yours that I used is a 9' heavy and i believe it is two seasons old pretty sure the musky armor logo is on it. Best rod for casting double 10's i have ever thrown but like I said little light for big rubber.
If I had the resources or room in the boat for a different rod for every type of bait life would be great... But there has to to a compromise. I guess that I wold rather throw 10's with the Hamer Rod I have than Bulldawgs with the compre. So that I guess would lead me to a TI XXH but james leans towards the XH... Maybe I'll just have to get two, one of hulberts and one TI.
By the way it has been over 100* the last few days again. Havent had rain in over a month now. You guys go fishing for me it is way to hot still here!!
Thanks
Rick |
|
| |
Thinking about Rods...