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| Being new to the east, I want to get some info on rods for trolling. I know st. croix has some nice ones. They would need to be 2 pieces, and have different models to handle both downirggers (will be using them for salmon also) and be able to handle the super large trolling baits. I guess I am curious if there are less expensive brands out there than st. croix or do I need the quality as I do for casting...Thanks,Ben Remer |
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| ben, I troll a lot, and don't think you need to spend the extra bucks for a st. croix. I use an ugly stick for trolling, cost about 45 bucks, and works fine for me. Most of the guys I fish with here in pa don't buy really expensive rods for trolling. |
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| Ben, Check out Shimano and Diawa Dipsey Diver rods (and downrigger rods for that matter). Great trolling rods for muskies, and not too spendy. Some of the better trolling rods out there frankly...
Cheers,
RK |
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| Ben,a seconds on RK reply.
Take a look at shimano.They have reasonable rates on rods.Not sure you need dipsy rods,maybe for salmon.
But consider a 7 foot compre with twirly tips for wire.I think you can move away from down riggers fishing deep.Many baits will go deep,20 to 45 foot down.
Wire helps also at putting baits deep close to the boat.
Remember they are not always on the bottom,putting baits down below 15 feet is not that hard of a task.You dont need super baits either,some companies make baits that go down more than 20 foot and are only 9 inches.ex the Big M from liny,Hi Fin 9 inch Trophy Diver with the big lip,Beleivers (drill a holle and fill them with insulating foam)they go deep also.A 10 inch Jake on wire screams for the bottom dwellers.Using the right tools to achieve what you wish is important.Right rod,line and lure and leader combined put all the odds in your favor.
You would be surprised how short you can run lures down with the right equipement.
take care
marc |
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| I use 8.6 Lamiglas Salmon Moocher rods, they work awesome on planner boards. With good backbone and long cork, its no different in fighting the fish then normal. If you are going to troll you might as well enjoy the fight. Lamiglas 7'6" Backbouncers are awesome too, they make great inside rods. Downrigger rods have a tendensy to make the fight soft and lazy, kinda like draging in a log that shakes every once in a while.
But if you are look for less expensive way to go, Browning has some nice Downrigger rods with good backbone for $29.00 at Gander Mt. |
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| Hi Ben,
I've been using Diawa Heartland series rods for trolling. I have the 8 1/2 footers, about $29.00. I use them with my planer boards for walleye and salmon with 12 lb XT on Diawa 27LC reels. For muskies, I bought some new Shakespear(sp?)Line Counters, About $39.00, with 20 lb XT, on the same rods. Haven't used with the planers yet for 'skies, but soon will.
Tight Lines,
Shep |
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| I got two 8 foot Berkley Reflex (29.00) That have work so far this year.Just got an 7 foot bass pro rod.I think it was a power plus that I plan on using in the prop wash(18.50).The Berkley have one season on them already and have no complance.Had one of there Catfish grade rod in some line of rods break on me.It seemed stiffer with maybe less glass in them as it broke out towards in of tip.Dennis Blume |
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| 7 to 9-footers to the sides, and a stubbier 6 to 7-footer staightback. In the case of trolling - I do agree that compromising to a less expensive rod is generally ok. Even heavier fiberglass rods are acceptable since you won't be tossing baits with them all day.
A good CB radio antenna (metal or fiberglass - preferably the orange ones) work great! [;)]
Randy
www.pikeandmuskie.com |
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| I use St. Croix seven footers for trolling with Daiwa Sealine reels when I'm flatlining, using boards from the boat sides. I recently started using a Spoonplugging rod for the propwash and bottom bumping lures.
This little rod will really fool you if you judge it by looks alone. Kind of "Mickey Mouse looking." However, my thoughts changed after I started using it after it gathered dust for a couple of years. It is solid fiberglass, is 4 1/2 feet long and has plenty of backbone for Musky fishing. I mount a Penn Mag 10 on it. This rod is virtually unbreakable, shows lure vibration and does have the power to handle a Musky. Although solid fiberglass, it is not that heavy (because it is only 4 1/2 ft. long). It has a comfortable and long handle that will not wear out. It fits very well in my "down easters." I also use this rod to bump lures on the bottom to find trees, etc. in conjunction with my depthfinder. It is well-made, tough and can handle mono, braid or wire line thanks to the tough guides used on it. The rod and reel are each in the $60 range.
Note: This is strickly a trolling rod. :) |
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| RiverDog,
Sorry for getting back to you so late. I searched all the usual on-line places for these rods. No luck yet.
I bought mine at Mill's Fleet Farm. Blaine's Farm and Fleet also had them earlier this year.
Hold the presses! Just found them in my Reed's Sports catalog from this spring. Page 55. Model number HL-SD863MS-G. $29.99 EA.
Try them at 1-800-346-0019. They don't list them on their site, but here it is. www.reedssports.com
Hope this helps,
Shep[:praise:] |
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| thanks shep- i'm trying to get ready for the fall season on the larry. need to fill in a few holes in my equipment arsenal.[:)] |
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| Radio Shack is having a sale also...[:bigsmile:] |
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| I also use the Diawa Heartland-S rods. I prefer the 9''6" Dipsey Diver model. It has a lot more back bone than a downrigger rod, but has a nice soft tip so you can see precisely how a bait is running. I run this with 80 pound Power Pro, and a Penn 310 GTI. I am VERY happy with this combination, and have been using these for 3 1/2 years now.
The other rod I use is much heavier - it is a Berkley Reflex 10'' Dipsey Rod. This will rod is much stiffer than the Diawa, more than ample to handle the big deep diving baits used on Georgian Bay, or other big waters. It''s loaded with 45 pound Musky Master and a Penn 320. I am not too pleased with these rods. The foam handles have worn VERY quickly, one rod arrived broken inside the handle, and another now has a small hairline crack about 1/2" long in the lower section. Considering these rods were all new at the start of this season, and cost 50% more than the Diawa''s, I would not recommend them. I will be contacting Diawa this fall to see if they make a heavier 10 or 10 1/2 foot model to replace the Berkleys.
I think one of the things you have to look at closely is your style of fishing and trolling. I really rely on my rods a lot, and like a rod that is long and has some give at the tip. This makes seeing what a bait is doing easier, and takes some strain off the line and reel. I still firmly believe that for my style of fishing, fibreglass, S-glass, or E-glass are far more durable than graphite. I also know that a long rod gives you infinitely more control over a fish than a short one does, and also significantly reduces line wear.
One of my clients I had out 2 weeks ago was explaining that Korea is producing some of the highest quality fishing equipment in the world right now. (He is from Hong Kong.) He noted that most of the saltwater charter boats that operate out of Hong Kong will ONLY purchase rods and or reels built in Korea. Interestingly, the Diawa Heartland-S rods are built in Korea... the Berkley rods in China. Perhaps he is on to something here.
Steve Wickens |
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