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Posts: 1939
Location: Black Creek, WI | Calling all Trollers.
I'm going to start experimenting with some trolling in 2004. Picked up some Rod Holders, but am in need of some good, but very inexpensive rods to use exclusively for trolling. Is it possible to get a decent trolling rod capable of dragging 10" Jakes for say $20-$30 a pop? If so, any recommendations on what and where to buy them? Thanks.
jlong |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | Yep, Shimano Triton TDR's $30 a pop and many weights and lengths. There are a million of them trolling for salmon on the great lakes. BPS has them for $29.95. |
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Posts: 1023
Location: Lafayette, IN | I use the berkley Big Game rods at 19 bucks apiece. |
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Posts: 440
| I will second the Berkley Big Game rods. We are using a 6'6" one and it pulls the 9" Grandmas just fine. |
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Posts: 2378
| How will any of these rods handle a large to XXL spinnerbait? |
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Posts: 212
Location: Madison, WI | Great question J.....But how about completing the combo...Are there cheap, ok not cheap, inexpensive reel recommendations?Thanks. Peter |
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Posts: 5874
| Jason,
I used to use Diawa Heartland S rods for trolling. Last year, I changed over to Gander Guide Series rods. They pull double duty for Lake Michigan, as well. I use 7' for my down rods, 8 1/2' for out rods, and 9 1/2' for planer boards. I paid $29.95 for them, and they work great. See the pics of the fish my kids caught, and that is proof. They have a soft enough tip to see the lure action, and enough backbone to handle big fish.
I use a couple different reels. Penn 209's are a good standby, rugged and reliable. I will count passes to determine how much line is out(8' per pass?) I have some Shakespeare Tidewater Linecounters. About $35 at Fleet Farm. Seems to be an ok reel. Noe problems so far. Also have some Diawa 47 LC's. Very good reel. Better drag than the Tidewaters. You can get the Accudepths for $50, and the SL's for around $80. I got my ACcudepths on sale at BPS last spring for $39.99.
Hope this helps. If you decide on the Gander rods, let me know. I get a good discount.
Edited by Shep 3/4/2004 10:06 AM
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| glass is cheap and great for trolling--you should have no problem picking up a rod for about $30: ugly sticks, the BPS and cabela's house brands and even the yellow eagle claws will do just fine. Longer rods with softer tips will let the jake ride over rocks better, though. |
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Posts: 78
Location: Pardeeville, WI | Berkley Reflex Catfish rods are great for only $30 bucks. They should stand up and also have a foam grip. They are made with 3M tape so you can see the rod tip move even under really low light/dark conditions.
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Posts: 1046
| South Bend Catfish Special, 8` heavy with glow-tip.($19.99) They have super-solid reel seats which alot of the other models I looked at did`nt and they are 2 pc. but I expoxied mine together.Rubber butts, foam handles, nice eyes and they double as SMOK`IN SUCKFISH rods to boot!I landed about a 300# er(tree that is) in frezzing weather and not a problem, my homemade quickstrikes held up too! They fit sweet in my downeasters and with 50# biggame just work awesome. |
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Posts: 1243
Location: Musky Tackle Online, MN | There are lots of people that choose to go with cheaper end rods for trolling. So I’m just wondering what the reasoning is for this? Why would you not want the higher quality rods for trolling, just as you would for casting?
I’ve just got into trolling pretty seriously over the past two seasons. I’ve put over 100 muskies in the boat by trolling alone over the past two years, both speed trolling and at slower speeds. I always use my St. Croix rods that I use when I’m casting. With bone jarring strikes at high speeds during the summer as well as many big fish in temps below 20 degrees, I have never had a problem with my rods. Is having a rod break a major concern and the reason for going cheaper?
I know I like having my St. Croixs not only for fighting the fish, but also for the feel and the ability to tell just what my bait is doing out there.
Also, is rod breakage more of a concern when using rod holders? I don’t use them, and I wouldn’t want to use them. I much prefer holding them myself to detect anything that may be happening to my bait (picking up a stray weed, etc.). I also like to give my baits some erratic action from time to time. This can’t be done with a rod holder and I feel entices many additional strikes.
AWH |
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Posts: 1046
| AHW, I am not putting my casting rods in rod holders and in my opinion my casting rods are bought only with the intention of casting.Cheap`os all the way and trolling is a small part of my fishing as most areas are no-troll and like I said excellent suckfish sticks!I guess if I could afford it, I really like the St.`s glass rods but for what I do the Southbends work awesome with alot of fish on them too!!!! |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | Trolling is probably 75% of my fishing because of Lake St Clair. I wouldn't trust "cheap" rods either. I'm very surprised there hasn't been more responses saying use the Shimano TDR's. They are inexpensive but I don't think they are cheap. They have a ton of backbone yet a soft enough tip to see what is going on. The EVA foam grips do not get torn up in the Down Easters like cork will. I love my high end rods for casting but don't use them for trolling either. |
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Posts: 5874
| The TDR is a good rod. I just get better pricng and selection with the Diawa and Gander rods.
As far as why don't I use my high end casting rods? Trolling is hard on equipment, especially cork handles. I tend to like softer tips, slower action on my trolling rods. The Ganders give me this. In the late fall, I want glass or glass composite. Best reason is they work and are cheaper. |
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Posts: 20281
Location: oswego, il | I know alot of guys like glass rods but i personally like graphite rods for trolling. I can see what my baits are doing alot better with them. I could use glass for my planer baord rods and may do that when the rods I have give out. If you are flat lining, you should get a cheap graphite rod for better feel. |
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Posts: 32958
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I use telescoping heavy action IM8 casting rods usually described as 'flipping sticks'. They work very well! |
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Posts: 259
Location: Alexandria, MN | AWH makes the point that he does not use rod holders. If you are not using the holders, then the cork won't get chewed and you can react quick enough to not break a rod when/if you snag something solid.
I don't use holders either, so I am pretty open to using my 8' Diamondback bucktail rod for trolling.
Steve |
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Posts: 333
Location: menasha wi 54952 | Jason,
If you want to get your hands on some nice quality glass trolling rods for your boards or down rods Scheels in Appleton has a great selection of 8' - 9.5' for under $30. I picked two 9.5' up last week. As far as reels go Gander has the 3 bearing Okuma line counter reels for $40. Or you can order out of Bass Pro or Cabelas but then you cant see what your getting!!!!
MR |
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