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Posts: 75
| I'm taller than the average guy (6'7'') and looking to throw magnum bulldawgs and maybe the 1 pounders..
Is a longer rod better? I'm guessing anywhere between 8 and 9 would work but what would be ideal..
And Should I get Heavy or X heavy?
Right now I have a Black River Rod 8ft Med./Heavy power that works great for bucktails and medium sized cranks.. would this rod be ok to toss magnums?
and thats the price range I'm looking for too.. I think I got it for a little over $100.
any help is appreciated.
-Ryan |
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| I would recomend Jason hammernicks hammer rod it is the right action in the tip to throw pounders and mag dawgs. I've used other rods specifically made for pounders that are too stiff in the tip to load up the rod properly. Hammernick definately has the rod action figured out along with strengh. I think action is more important than power I found out the hard way that you can't cast far enough with a rod too stiff in the tip a medium action works much better. |
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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | I've got a St. Croix Big Dawg and it's great. I threw plastic and Pounders with it all last year. It's an XH and is stiff, but I load my rods hard and it flexes plenty for my use. It throws them with authority. |
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Posts: 279
| I just got a 9ft mega heavy from tackle industries. I have not had a chance to throw anybaits with it yet but it is rated at 8-36oz baits so I figure it will throw the heavy plastics well. |
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| Wanted to expand on my responce i don't want anyone to think I meant medium power the hammer rod is an xheavy power but the action is not fast I would say it's medium fast. The action of the rod is how much it bends in the tip this is what makes the hammer rod awsome in my opinion because it loads up really well. |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Chris,
Is the Hammer Rod still available ? If so, where can you get one ?
Jerome |
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| Jerome I honestly don't know I use mostly rods I made myself but last fall I used a friends equipment for a couple days and was really impressed with the action of the rod. I have no idea where or how to get one. |
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Posts: 485
Location: On my favorite lake! | I have a st croix big dash and a tackle industries xxh. Both throw pounders to regular size dawg with no problems. The big dawg is lighter but also more expensive of you throw a lot of plastics I say big dawg if you only use it once in a while tackle industries xxh. |
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Posts: 32955
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Okuma XXH. |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | Musky Innovations 9' Super Mag, or a Tackle Industries Mag or a Mega Heavy 8'6"-9' Rods. The Tackle Industries rods are a little over $100.00, the M/I Bulldawgs rods are $190.00 retail. Don't take anyone word on a rod , you must handle one first, both rods should be at MN Musky show in April, Ck them out. |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | Yep, working on a deal right now for my rods to be sold at the MN show from a guide booth. More to come soon!
James
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Posts: 1536
Location: God's Country......USA..... Western Wisconsin | You could contact Jason and ask about the "Hammer Rod".
http://www.muskiebreath.com/ |
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Posts: 2686
Location: Hayward, WI | Chris Riebe - 2/15/2010 8:41 AM
I dont want to sound negative but remember you get what you pay for I would suggest spending more than $100 on a rod if you plan on using it alot I would probably look at St. Croix if you want it to last. Last fall I used a tackle industries rod and watched the handle extension break after 5 minutes throwing pounders. On a positive note the rods were light blanks seemed strong and the company stood behind the warranty.
So you are saying that the Hamer Rod is the best for Pounders but if he wants the rod to last he better buy a St. Croix? Hmmm...
I have an 8'6" Hamer Rod. I like the rod, but I don't know if I would tell somebody to get it for a main Pounder rod. It does load up well to lob/fling Pounders for the most part. But, if you have to put some muscle into it (like casting into the wind), I think the rod is a touch light or soft for that. Also, if you want to really rip the Pounders, the rod loads a lot on the rip and makes ripping them hard tough.
For anything less than the Pounder, the Hamer Rod is nice.... but out of your price range. I think they are somewhere around $180.
I would look into the Okuma XH or XXH. 8'6" or 9'3". If you want a 9' rod, their 9'3" XH sounds pretty nice. It's hard to go wrong with Okuma stuff.
I've never used Jame's Tackle Industries rods either, but I hear they are a STEAL at $100. I would not hesitate to buy a Tackle Industries product! I wish I had a need for a new rod. I might have to buy one of his... and then find a need for it! 
curleytail |
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Posts: 582
| Okuma 8'6" XXH rod will work nicely. |
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Posts: 202
| I would recommend the Tooth Tamer Jawbreaker series rods in 8'6". These rods will take the pressure of casting heavy soft plastic baits. There website is http://www.toothtamerrods.com
Captain Doug Kloet
http://www.dougkloet.com |
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Posts: 285
Location: Price County WI | I second the Tooth Tamer Jawbreaker, The 8'6 XH works great with mag dawgs and the 8' XXXH for anything bigger, like pounders. |
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Posts: 547
Location: Oshkosh | Another vote for the St. Croix Big Dawg.
Peter |
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Posts: 332
Location: Neenah, WI | I would try the 8'6" hawg chaser from Black River . I know Rollie's has them in stock and they sell for $109 , This rod will handle big Dawgs as well as DCG's and Lucky 13's it is a XXh Fast action.
saint |
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Posts: 1184
Location: Iowa Great Lakes | I love my Tackle Industries rod, well built for the money and I rank it up there with my Thorne Brothers Predator. I'm 5'10" and prefer the 9' rods for castability and working fish and figure 8's. |
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Posts: 75
| Thanks for the info everyone.. which is a lot. I've got in narrowed down to a 8'6'' to 9ft and xheavy to xxheavy.
I have a handful of st. croix walleye rods and love them but am not looking to spend that kinda $ right now.. maybe in a few years.
In the meantime I need a good rod at a great price.. I'll get a few of them in my hands and then pull the trigger.
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI | Maybe this topic should be pinned at the top, or maybe three topics - What rod for:
- bulldawgs
- cowgirls
- all around
Here are two other discussions in the last month about bulldawg rods:
http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/board/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=55...
http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/board/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=55... |
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| James wasn't trying to slam your product I think it's a great value for $100 and probably a great rod for someone who fishes a dozen times or so a year. I fished with a friend last fall who had 2 brand new rods that day he bought from you and 1 broke after 5 minutes of use. Sorry I just tell it how it is maybe he got a bad one. I think it shouldn't be too hard for you to remember since you gave him his money back for both rods which I am impressed with most companies would have just replaced 1. |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | Chris Riebe - 2/18/2010 1:15 AM
James wasn't trying to slam your product I think it's a great value for $100 and probably a great rod for someone who fishes a dozen times or so a year. I fished with a friend last fall who had 2 brand new rods that day he bought from you and 1 broke after 5 minutes of use. Sorry I just tell it how it is maybe he got a bad one. I think it shouldn't be too hard for you to remember since you gave him his money back for both rods which I am impressed with most companies would have just replaced 1.
I OWN a TACKLE INDUSTRIES 8' MED/HEAVY rod that I used for a week of Tarpon fishing in COSTA RICA and landed 3 tarpon over 100lbs and I lost count of Tarpon over 50lbs , so you don't own one, you have not casted one for a day, Y would you say this rod is for guys who only fish a dozen times a year ???? |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | "at least they finally tried something original"
See, its comments like this that make me believe you’re just an angry competitor or on the pro staff for my competition and don't have the cahones to just sign up and post under your real name. LOL-Had a booth selling rods at the Milwaukee show bad mouthing my rods and I bet they had never even used them either. Got attacked quite regularly on my SuperDs a few years ago too. That company soon learned all they did was drove business my way. My SuperD sales grew by almost 500% that year and are still on the rise. Funny thing for them was that I was done selling swimbaits until they came after me like they did. Hence 6 lines of SuperDs in 42 colors each. From what I have heard I have reduced their market/sales by 30%. All over poor competition practices on their part. Main thing I have learned is to keep my head down, ignore the whiners BUT listen to my customer comments (good or bad), work hard, make quality products and do not overcharge for them. Oh and ship fast! I hate waiting for stuff I buy online. 
Now “truth in selling” for my rods. I have sold nearly 500 rods to date. 3 handle problems have come to my attention. Each problem was taken care of immediately by sending out a new extension handle (one refund) and that handles resent did not fail as of yet on any of the rods. From what I understand, other rod brands experience a failure rate up to 20% in extreme cases. So far I am running at a 0.6% failure rate. Lots of my rods are currently in use in open water territory and I also had a lot of rods out last year in the hands of guys I know are very hard on rods/tackle with zero failures form them. Now, what am I doing about this 0.6% failure rate? Redesigning my handle. Yes, a 0.6% failure rate IMO is still unacceptable even though I would probably be just “business” fine with a 5% failure rate. That is just how I run my company. For example: My SuperDs have a sub 0.1% failure rate right now on my Generation III SuperDs. I am very happy with that. Take a look at most other rods on the market. You will probably not find any with Fuji components on them for my prices. Why? Because I do not spend a lot of money on advertising, fancy packaging, exotic trips to “test” my products, and most importantly I do not mark up my products a lot. I spend my money on my products! Sometimes you CAN get a great product for low prices. Thanks for the chance to “toot” my own horn
James
Edited by Tackle Industries 2/18/2010 2:05 PM
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Posts: 2686
Location: Hayward, WI | Chris riebe - 2/18/2010 10:02 AM
Throwing pounders puts a lot of stress on the handle of a rod and the little alluminum handle inserts are not strong enough.
So you know of one failure and that makes ALL of the aluminum handle inserts not strong enough? I'm pretty sure that every once in a while, manufacturer defects happen to every manufacturer... Telling a story of ONE failure is not likely to discourage too many guys from trying out what sounds like a great rod at a great price, if that is what you are trying to do.
curleytail |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | Chris riebe - 2/18/2010 10:02 AM
Pike master
I hope James sells a thousand rods I'm not going to argue with you, but reeling in tarpon and casting pounders are two totally different things where are your hands when fighting a fish and where are your hands when casting leverage is in two totally different parts of the rod. Throwing pounders puts a lot of stress on the handle of a rod and the little alluminum handle inserts are not strong enough. I've never seen another company with a handle extension at least they finally tried something original. I guarantee when people have the chance to use all these rods they have bought in the middle of winter we will hear of a lot of failures
Like I said in my last post How would you know if U don't OWN a TACKLE INDUSTRIES ROD ???????? |
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Posts: 2024
| Nevermind...
Okuma 8'6"XXH.
Edited by esox50 2/18/2010 3:15 PM
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| it's not exactly controversial to say that in many/most cases there is a correlation between cost and quality. engineering, components, and quality assurance practices all mean that higher-end products are often "better".
but imho, that's not the point for many of the things we use. the critical issue really is value. is the quality of the item "good enough" for the application, and is it worth the price?
for me, when it's a basic rubber swimbait or a value-brand XH muskie rod, the answer is yes (i like Super-ds and Black River Rods, myself). i own and have used the big name stuff, and the performance differences on those items just aren't there to justify the extra price.
now, when it comes to double-10 bucktails or casting reels, i stick with higher-end products like Glittertail and Shimano because i believe that the engineering and component differences make a huge difference to me in durability and performance. the alternatives just don't cut it.
my point is value matters, and that "value" point is different for every item.
there are a LOT of options for inexpensive muskie rods on the market all of a sudden: Black River, Musky Armor, Okuma, Tackle Industries, etc...pick one up, try it, at $100 you can hardly go wrong...as long as it's a Black River!
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| Chris, I'm sorry, but if you build such a good rod yourself, why were you not using your own rod that day? I have seen high quality brand rods break on the second cast after buying them. These are rods that have a defect for who knows what reason. There is not a brand of rod out there that sells at a high quantity number that does not have an issue at one time or another. I know James is not a liar, he will tell you the way it is. 0.6% failure is impressive. Besides that, he is confident enough in his rods to put a 5-year warranty on them.
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | Chris Riebe - 2/18/2010 4:02 PM
Im not going to argue this topic any more I thought this thread was suposed to be about the best bulldog rod not the worst. I offered my opinion and that was that I liked the hammer rod its awsome i have been using it as my benchmark for the action I am looking for in different calstar blanks I'm experimenting with to build custom bulldog rods. I fish 75+ days a year and thought I would offer my opinion and experiences I even said it was a good value for $100. Like lambeau said good enough for what you would expect for $100. The short chance I had at using a tackle industries rod it broke. If I had been using any other brand rod and it broke I would share that experience as well. Most people on this forum wouldn't buy a two piece muskie rod which makes me wonder why they would buy one with a two piece handle? IMO seems like a no brainer. Best of luck with your rods James. Pretty soon this whole thread will probably get removed anyway since james pays to advertise on here.
One of the hottest/best selling rods on this forum is the OKUMA Telescopic rods. WOW its a two piece rod ??????? If you would take a look at a telescopic rod the extension piece is over the rod blank not inside!!!!! |
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