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Posts: 21
| Thinking that I want to start doing some trolling. looking for some recommendations on rods that I can use for trolling and sucker rigs. I hear that you can use the same rod and reel combo. I have an Abu Garcia 6600 CL reel as well as a C2 and C3 which don't have line counters but are sitting around not being used. Also this will be to keep fishing when we get tired pitching. Want to hear what you have to say. Thanks in advance. |
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Posts: 788
Location: Delavan, WI | If youre just putzing around, killing time your setups will work, if you want to get serious and do precision trolling you will need line counter reels and rods dedicated to just trolling which will also work well for suckers , if price point is an issue you could get Shimano TDR rods which work fine for about $40 a piece and some okuma Magda reels for around $50- $60 so you could keep it around a $100 per set up |
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Posts: 21
| Putzing around is a good description. Looking at the Thorne Bros site there are a lot of choices for those rods meaning length and weight. What would you recommend? |
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Posts: 1288
| I have the TDR rods and Okuma reels (I went with the Coldwater models). Been just fine for both trolling and suckers. No need to spend more. |
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Posts: 21
| Length options on the TDR rods are; 7", 8", 8'-6", 9'. Weight choices are Med, Med Heavy, Heavy., What would you go with? |
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Posts: 183
| I was considering the same setup with old Abu C3 6500 reels with metered braid on 9' Heavy TDR rods. It will be a poor mans line counter setup just meant to give me a break from casting probably only running one rod each side, no rod trees or planer boards. The reels have bait clickers to alert me when they're snagged or hook a fish. |
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Posts: 21
| According to the Thorne Bros page they recommend the 9" Heavy TDRT909H2PC Shimano for Musky Trolling. Im guessing most here would agree? |
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Posts: 788
Location: Delavan, WI | I actually prefer shorter rods for trolling especially if fishing by yourself a lot, makes for an easier net job that being said 8 ft heavy for planer boards and boat rods , 7 ft heavy for down rods, in case you dont know what a boat rod is, its when you put it in a Rod holder with just the tip barely under the water , down rod is as straight down as you can put it in |
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Posts: 1247
Location: Walker, MN | TDR 8' Heavy is the way to go for muskie trolling imo. The 9'H is too light for me, and I own both. You might find the TDR a bit too parabolic for sucker fishing however. |
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Posts: 21
| Not sure what you mean by parabolic?
I do have some aluminum planer boards made by a guy out east that guys who fish for Stripers typically use. Also some orange Churches in a larger size. So I guess I will be doing the boat rod technique. Surprised to hear that that tip of rod should be in the water |
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Posts: 21
| Not sure what you mean by parabolic?
I do have some aluminum planer boards made by a guy out east that guys who fish for Stripers typically use. Also some orange Churches in a larger size. So I guess I will be doing the boat rod technique. Surprised to hear that that tip of rod should be in the water. |
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| I bought a Chaos Assault stick trolling rod after WI allowed motor trolling in northern WI. I think it is a great value. Not long after buying, I managed to hang up on a rock that was much higher than I expected. Rod bent almost in half because I had the drag too tight but no damage.
I bought the 9' version, in part because I fish from an 18' Pro V tiller and I like to put the rod tip down about a foot to catch some of the floating weeds that otherwise end up on the lure or leader. |
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Posts: 419
Location: MN | You want a stiff rod for sucker fishing, in order to ensure the rig comes out of the sucker when you set the hook. If you go tdr for trolling, I would just use your casting rods for minnows.
I use ugly stik tiger for both, though I've mostly got away from sucker fishing. I have a smaller 7'3" rod locker, wanted to be able to stow 4-6 of them without it becoming a mess and they make some 7' models. They use one piece guides so there is no insert to fall out (a problem I've had with cheap options). Price on those is in-between the tdr and Chaos at $60. |
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Posts: 20221
Location: oswego, il | BPS Power Plus Boat rod. Perfect for both and big metal guides that won't freeze shut. Has to be the boat rod not the casting rod. 39.99 |
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Posts: 1288
| nar160 - 12/24/2023 12:39 PM
You want a stiff rod for sucker fishing, in order to ensure the rig comes out of the sucker when you set the hook. If you go tdr for trolling, I would just use your casting rods for minnows..
This is true, and the TDR are a little soft for suckers, but are certainly doable. If the weather is not too cold, I do use one of my casting rods for suckers, but if it's very cold, I use the TDRs, and I've never had an issue. Won't use a full carbon rod in cold weather. |
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Posts: 66
| I have been using the "Bottom Feeder" Catfish Rods made by a company called Denali. I have 8 ft for the side and 7 ft for the propwash. I like them because they have 1 piece guides with no insert to fall out as others have stated. They are 1 piece and run about 50 bucks at my local tackle shop. |
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Posts: 21
| Some great recommendations. Keep them coming. Merry Christmas. I got the Tranxs 500 hg from my wife this morning so time to start thinking about fishing.
My son said "I can already hear the WT%$# from the front of the boat when dad birds nest it". |
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Posts: 280
Location: US | Ive been using shakespeare tidewater twbt2040c70 7' rods and they work great. Fiberglass blank with solid guides. Plenty of backbone for mattlocks, etc. They're around $30. Will not find a better more capable rod for that price imo. |
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Posts: 3869
| With everything so inexpensive why not have a dedicated sucker set up? I'm no sucker master but I like a short rod in a holder with a bait clicker reel and hang the sucker straight down about 6' deep. It can work out that a lazy follow that won't hit on the 8 sticks around and grabs the sucker. Or you don't see a follow but look down and poof there's a muskie nosing the terrified sucker. One time I had two low 30"s looking at the sucker, both drifted away but it was amazing to watch for 10 minutes or so. Another time I watched a upper 30"s muskie slam the sucker and shake it into two pieces. back off, then lazy swim away. Awesome.
Here's how rookie I was with sucker fishing..... I decided to catch my own suckers and went to a small, wadable river with a cane pole and doughballs. Caught 3 suckers all around 14", threw them in my redneck aerated cooler, smiled all the way home, slept hard and headed to the lake early the next morning. The first sucker died after an hour or so, the second one lasted longer, and the third was a trooper, too, but no muskie action. At take out I threw the dead suckers on the ground, off to the side of the landing, for a family of raccoons that lived under the outhouse. A guy wanders over, looks down and says, "Oh, carp. Good job getting them out of the lake." Yep, my suckers were actually carp. How dumb is that? |
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Posts: 372
Location: On the River | TDR rods work great for trolling I use the 8ft heavy.
I fish alone and find the 8ft best for handling fish when they get to the boat.
These rods have some flex to them which helps when your lures are banging off rocks.
However they do not have enough backbone to break the hooks free from a sucker on a quick set rig.
I use 6’6’ Ugly Sticks model number CALM110066 heavy action for suckers for over twenty years and have caught hundreds of muskies on that rod.
Your C3 reels should work for suckers, and you can mark your line for precise trolling depths if you don’t want to purchase a line counter reel.
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Posts: 21
| I just spoke with someone at Thornes so they would bring some of the Shimano TDR rods to next weeks show for me to pick up. I asked which length they recommend and I mentioned I would be using planner boards. The rep said he wouldn't recommend those rods for planner boards. Said they are fine for shallow cranks but I will be limited to small baits like Solo Slimers. What say the forum members. What have you been able to get away with. Remember this is for Putzing around as mentioned early in the thread. Not looking to spend $300 for a custom trolling rod as is recommended by the rep. |
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Posts: 145
| Owned a few 8’ heavy TDR myself. Worked well for flat line trolling even up to 12” super naturals.
Used them in a pinch for sucker fishing and caught one or two. But way too moderate an action for sucker fishing in my opinion. Also not for boards and big cranks
If you plan on mostly flat line trolling I’d say go for it. If you gonna do more sucker fishing maybe try another inexpensive option. I’m not familiar with the others mentioned tho
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Posts: 670
Location: mercer wi | Spend a couple bucks. I recommend a chaos 8' sucker/trolling rod $150 I think. All the line counters in the $100 range are pretty good. Load it with 100#. Buy a bunch of 130# fluorocarbon leaders. In case you snag of fish shreads them.
If you go cheap YOU WILL REGRET it.
Probably find some deals at shows too. |
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Posts: 21
| Upnortdave have you used the Chaos rod with a planer board? Are you limited in lure size? I am picking up 2 other Chaos rods so might look at the trolling rod. Not too soft for a Sucker? What length are you using? One or 2 piece? |
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Posts: 670
Location: mercer wi | I don't use boards but friends do. Chaos trolling rods is all they use. I've been in boat with them. They handle everything from 13" grandmas and 12" mattlocks behind boards no problem. I've used mine for suckers and pulling everything from 6" deep slammer to 14" slammer. Used with headlock mattlocks and pelagic. They really are a great sucker/ trolling rod for the $. 8' heavy 1 piece. |
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| Lund, I used my Chaos rod with a large board and a 12" Headlock, worked fine. |
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Posts: 21
| Then I will add a 8" Chaos as the planer board (larger lures)/sucker rod and get a 8' TRD as a boat rod for smaller cranks. This way I will be able to go at 2 different depths. Worst case 1 use the 7' Tooth Tamer XXXH for the prop wash. First hand knowledge goes a long a way so I appreciate the replies so far. |
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Posts: 21
| I appreciate the replies so far as experience from others is educational. |
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