|
|
Member
Posts: 2393
Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | The post on line and Ralph's comments on rod lengths started to make me think.
What is your preferred rod length?
For vertical jigging still I like my St Croix 6' 2" Avid baitcaster.
For pitching and jigging I prefer longer rods in the 7' to 7 1/2' lengths with a fast taper.
I find myself going to longer and longer rods especially with the use of the super lines like Power Pro. I loose fewer fish with the longer rods and fast tips.
What do you think?
| |
| | |
Member
Posts: 714
| I use a 6' or 6'6" rod for most my vertical jigging. I prefer a spinning rod personally.
Smallie fishing, depending on the wind is either a 7'6" spinning, or in the wind, a 6'6" spinning rod for pitching tubes. I also use these rods for pitching jigs for walleyes too.
Rigging is a different story though. Most of the time I use a 7' spinning rod. If the fish are real finicky, and I have to go to a lighter line or long snell (8'+), then I go to a 7'6" rod. When I have to rig and the wind is blowing, I switch to either a 6' or 6'6" rod so as to reduce the wind bucking.
Pulling blades with bottom bouncers I used to primarily use a 6' bait caster, and still do if I'm not using rod holders, but over the last couple years have been going to a longer (6'9" ) rod, and in some cases 7'. Depending on how aggressive the bite is. A friend of mine has some custom made 10' rods for pulling bouncers with and I've given those some thought also.
Bobber fishing has been a 7' rod, but am considering going up to 8' for faster take up on the sweep when I set the hook.
Edited by JLDII 12/5/2003 10:36 AM
| |
| | |
|
Just picked up a pair of very light 5'3" Fenwick Rods for vertical jigging. Coupled with those light-weight Stradic 1000's spinning reels, will make the set-up super light, super sensitive, and bet the walleyes will give a super fight on them! | |
| | |
Member
Posts: 376
Location: Menominee MI, In Da UP Eh? | Great topic Dennis.
What follows is what works best for me, and every angler has their preferances and ways to rig up for a given task. This should be an interesting topic.
For vertical jigging, longer rods offer a better spread and more control with a lighter action. I will be using 6'6" one piece, medium light IM7 rods for that next year. (Billy Westmorland Rods from Bass Pro) A lighter action, very sensitive rod, coupled with Fireline or any of the superlines gives you the ability to feel a minnow wiggle or the action of the plastic on your jig! You will feel it if a walleye even breathes on your offering!
For casting and jigging with jigs and light baits or for vertical jigging and casting with heavier jigs and stickbaits, a 6 foot, medium light rod or a 6 foot medium action rod, respectively, fits the bill.
Use the smallest reels that will still balance well on the rod and feel comfortable in the hand. Also don't skimp on the quality and the bearings! These days it is very easy to get a high quality, long performing lightweight reel for about 45 bucks. Sub line, or sub brand (that is a better term) like Pflueger or Bass Pro and Cabela's house branded reels are a tremendous value for the price.
I use 6'6" medium action, and medium heavy action trigger rods (IM7 Tourney Special also from Bass Pro) for the bulk of my blades, spoons, bass spinnerbaits and crankbait casting.
It was not intended for this to sound like an add for BPS, but they do have incredible rods at great prices, as do several rod builders. But they are being gradually phased in to my collection, so I felt the brand relevant.
Fishing over the years has taught me that rods are incredibly versitile and can pull double duty. I use trigger handles as any baitcasting rod can also double as a trolling or drifting rod in a pinch.
But when it comes to jigging, I am very specific. Each rod has a more specific niche than the other. A jigging rod only pulls double duty in the case of on a windy day, the 6 footers come out for vertical jiggin as they wind does not push em around in the hand as much as a rod merely 1/2 foot longer.
Shorter rods are also critical in tight quarters such as around obstacles like brush or under low bridges. It is important to have the same action and line weight in a shorter rod for these instances.
The best recomendation I can offer is to use the lightest line you feel will get the job done, the same with the action and weight of your rods too.
And don't get me started on using 10 to 15 foot "noodle" rods for drifting, dead sticking and pulling spinner rigs in skinny water....these are my stealth sticks. Shhhhhhhhh!
Edited by Nofish 12/7/2003 10:34 AM
| |
| | |
| ask your wifey | |
| | |
|
Jeez Ralph, why do we always troll when we go fishing together? | |
| | |
Member
Posts: 376
Location: Menominee MI, In Da UP Eh? | We troll because of where we were pre fishing.... And we didnt troll when we went bassin that day now, did we??  | |
| | |
|
Ok, ok Ralph! but know I want to go jigging with you as soon as the ice is off that river you live near!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | |
| | |
Member
Posts: 376
Location: Menominee MI, In Da UP Eh? | No problem, that should be about June....LOL!!! | |
| | |
Member
Posts: 120
Location: Devils Lake, ND | Dennis,
It really doesn't matter as long as she is smoking. 
Seriously though, I view fishing rods as a golfer would golf clubs. THe more precise the presentation, the shorter the rod. Just as in golf, the more precise the shot the shorter the club.
Verticle Jigging 5'9" to 6' The putter, wedge, etc. Very short easiest to control the lure on the other end.
Rigging or bouncers 7' the 5, 6, 7 iron. Needs to be in the right place, but really, how tough is it to feel the bottom?
Trolling 9' The "Big Dog" the driver, just get it out there as far as I can.
Longer rods are the bomb for super lines and make landing fish a much easier task. If I had my choice in a tournet, every rod in the boat would be 10 feet or better, we would never loose a fish. That, however isn't practical.
Rod brands are personal preference, and this would have been a perfect post to list specific models, but that's not what this is about. I will say that the mid-range rods of today fish much better than the mid-range rods of 15 years ago. The Lighnin' Rod and the Series One (both under $100) are incredible for the money.
Bottom line is, you have to believe in the rod you are using or it won't work for you.
| |
| | |
Member
Posts: 526
Location: blue mounds,wisc | come on johnnie "golf is for guys that dont know how to fish". LOL
i like to use 10ft. medium action rods for leadcore trolling. theres something about watching it fold in half when a five pounder jumps on.its like seeing your boards go back... i like to use a medium heavy 6.5foot rod with a light drag on my bait casting reels for jigging, you can bury the hook quicker because your rod wont give so fast.and when im pulling ways its medium action 6footers. this allows the fish some give to reduce ripping themselves free. | |
| | |
Member
Posts: 2393
Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Johnnie,
I like the golf analogy. It's one that I have used when people enter my garage and ask why I have so many rods resting in the rod storage system.
However, I never broke it down to comparing rods to different clubs. I really like that.
I totally agree that longer rods are more forgiving when fighting fish making them easier and more fun.
A spin off question for this thread:
Are most of your rods medium, medium lite, or ?
I find that most of my rods have a fast taper. I really like the feeling of a fast taper. What do you look for?
| |
| | |
Location: Rhinelander | I have 6', 6.5', 7', and 7.5' walleye rods, and like them all for the applications for which I I bought them. I like the 6.5 for casting jigs, the 7' model for slip rigs, and the 6' model for casting cranks. All are medium light action.
The 7.5 models haven't seen any water yet, but will next Spring!
One cannot have too many rods. | |
| |
|
Does rod length matter?