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Location: Rhinelander | I have heard conflicting ideas about what makes a good crankbait trolling rod. I'm going to be fishing the Ashland areea alot in the future, and need to know what is best, a stiffer, less forgiving action or a softer, more forgiving action. What is the ideal length, and should the rod be glass or graphite? |
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Location: upper michigan | I prefer a softer rod to absorb the head shakes of the larger great lakes fish. I am not going to pretend to know what makes one rod better than another as far as there construction. I just know what a good rod feals like in my hand. I am running some 8'3" ugly sticks that work great for me. I got them on a clearance rack and couldnt pass them up. They are strong have enough backbone to haul in big fish yet the tip is soft enough to absorb head shakes and powerfull boatside runs. I am sure there are better rods out there but I like the ones I got.
Edited by butch 8/18/2005 3:28 PM
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Location: Kaukauna WI | Steve
I use St Croix rods you can try the tele 8 footers or do as I and use a comination of Premier, tele and wild river seris. Changing up on days that weather demands more or less rod.
Over all I mainly use the Tele for 70% of my trolling. But find on days that I am flat lining or pole lining behind boat a wild river 10 6 is great and 7 ft preimer inside are second to none to get lines away from boat itself.
Edited by irishwebs 8/18/2005 4:10 PM
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Location: Chicago IL. | I have better sucess with glass rods for trolling . Softer tip with some backbone. All the the companys have pretty good rods out now for a decent price. I would not pay over 60 bucks for a trolling rod. |
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| I like a softer rod also, at least 8 foot in length especially if you are running superlines. I own two of the Gander Mountain series telescopic rods both 8 footers, and for the the price you can't go wrong. They were on sale 10 bucks off, so I think I paid around 30 bucks each for them. I also own two 8'6 telescopic Bass Pro Shops series rods that were highly recommended by Walleye Express and they are top notch! A little more expensive than the Gander rods but they are quality. Hook them up with Diawa Sealine linecounters reels and you're in buisness. |
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | I agree with everything that John says EXCEPT I would say do not spend more than $40 a rod. The rods that Mike mentioned are truly awesome but IMHO they are way over priced (and I'm a big time St. Croix fan).
Butch mentions very good rods that I use while long lining with PowerPro and/or leadcore but they are a little too soft for my tastes with boards. HOWEVER, I’m not sure what model Butch is using. I use the Ugly Stick BWD 1101, 9 foot, light action. Many people use these for downriggers. I totally agree with Butch when he mentions that he prefers a softer rod to absorb the head shakes of the larger great lakes fish, ESPECIALLY when using the super lines like PowerPro.
The Bass Pro rods that mjd22 mention are great and are often mentioned when people suggest rods. You can get them on sale twice a year for $40.00.
Some people use down rigger rods for trolling with boards and these are very inexpensive. I have Shimano downrigger rods as backups because they are in my arsenal already.
I like longer rods, at least 8 foot and prefer telescopic so they fit in boat rod storage.
There is absolutely no reason to get graphite unless you plan on using them for long lining also. If you get graphite make sure they are limber enough.
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Location: McFarland, WI | I use the same Ugly stick as Dennis for trolling with harnesses or smaller baits. They ride with the boards well and allow steady pressure when bringing in fish that may be barely hooked. I use a stiffer rod when using leadcore or bigger baits. Cabelas 9 ft telescopic depthmaster (for lead) can be purchased for around $20 in combination packs with reels and Ganders telescopic guide series go on sale for $29 a couple times per year and can be further discounted with $5 off coupons if you check their promotions.
Larry Strelow
McFarland, WI |
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Location: Rhinelander | Thanks, everyone, I am going to get the rods this fall. Any other suggestions? |
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Posts: 129
| Steve,
Looks like you already have some good advice. I agree with Dennis that the St Croix are pretty expensive (overpriced) but they are pretty-won't catch you more fish though  Here's a copy of my response to the same question from a local message board recently:
Diawa Heartland 8'0" 2-pc composite medium action $30
Okuma Contender 8'0" 2-pc composite med action $30
Bass Pro P&K Trolling rods 8'0" or 8'6" IM6 graphite med action telescopic $60
St Croix 8'0" telescopic composite med action about $110
The Diawas and the Okumas are pretty good for the price and probably have a better action for braid-a little more parabolic. The P&K rods are a good all-around rod...definitely more sensitive (faster, thinner tip) than the Diawas or the Okumas, but probably not as durable because of their graphite construction. I like them for mono trolling but will work well for both. The telescopic feature is worth it's weight in gold to me. The St Croix rods I have look great but don't do anything, including catch fish, better that the others! Decide on one that fits your needs and you can add (or replace broken ones-it happens) relatively easily. Good luck.
Tim
PS-I'll also add that longer rods make it more difficult (at least for me) to land fish in the types of (tourney style) boats we run. Add a bimini top and it gets even tougher. One other rod that's pretty nice (I have 4) is the Cabelas Depthmaster t-scopic trolling rods. About $45. Sensitive tip similar to the P&K but a bit heavier action and come in 8'6" and 9'0" only (a little longer than I prefer. You can probably tell I like the telescopic rods! If you're trolling mono-either longlining or w/boards, I think it's tough to beat the BPS P&K rods.
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Location: Rockford MN | I use the Cabela's brand planner board rods in the 8'6". I really love these rods, tons of backbone and a perfect tip. You can get them on sale for about 40 bucks. I also use the Loomis 941's for Fireline, very soft tip! |
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Posts: 265
Location: Combined Locks, WI | Look into the Bass Pro Shops Graphite Series 7'6" MH telescopic rods. At only 20 bucks a rod for graphite with cork handles you can't go wrong. I just bought 6 more for other trolling applications. In fact I let Bill Bobber borrow them for the last MWC event in Menominee and he loved them. I have been using my first set of six for 7 or 8 years now and haven't had one complaint about them.
This is just my opinion you do what is best for you, but you should at least take a look at them. |
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Location: Fremont Wi | I see that people are talking about super lines I was wondering if they are better for trolling? I just wonder if the cost is worth it? This last summer I upgraded to 8'6" trolling rods and they made a world of differance over the barrel rods I had. |
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Location: Lincolnshire, IL | I like the 8'6" telescoping Berkeley Lightning Rods(Gary Roach model) Which you can buy from www.ffo-tackle.com for about $35. I think they may have some now...The only drawback with these rods are the cork handles. I use rod wrap to protect them. |
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Posts: 106
Location: Chilton, WI | I like the Gander Mountain 8' Med. action teloscopic rods. As was mentioned before they are priced pretty decent. I don't like to spend over $40 on a trolling rod either because they get abused a lot more than a jigging or rigging rod. |
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| I personally like the Pereguine graphite rods, they are fairly light action, and very reasonably priced. |
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Location: Kaukauna WI | I second on the Pereguine Rods they were the first ones I had for trolling. But you get what you pay for and this reason I like St Croix and for the dollar you spend bit more but get a great rod to go with it and it is made here in WI and Steve if one breaks you run less then 1 hr down 13 to Park Falls From Ashland and get a new one or yours fixed.
When at Bass Pro this last weekend working the Fall Classic I looked at their rods and feel they are well worth the money I looked also at Gander Mountain Products personally feel they are good also.
Personally you need to put a reel on any rod you are looking at and see how it feels. For I can say one thing Dennis can say another or even larry but you may feel something totally different when you actually have a rod and reel in your hands.
Edited by irishwebs 8/22/2005 10:08 PM
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Location: Neenah, WI | We bought the Perrigrine rods 2 years ago and really like them. We had the Walleye Angler rods from BPS and they were good too but after a while they were hard to telescope without really forcing them in. After all our stuff got stolen in 2003 we wanted the Roach rods but they were on back order. We went with the Perrigrine and are happy with them. About $40.00 I think. Got them through Sports Specialties in Milwaukee.
Does HT make trolling rods? They're other stuff is pretty good. |
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| I have an 8' Conlon rod with a line-counter reel that i used on Winnebago a lot that you can have. My e-mail is [email protected]. I could bring it up there if you would like it. It's yours for the taking. Just let me know where to meet you if you decide to take it. |
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Location: Appleton wi | if you spend more than 40bucks on a trolling tod your wasting your money. Anyone trying to tell you different there on a ego trip and full of#$@ |
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Location: Fremont, Wisconsin | what in the world is a gosh darned TOD eyelunker? LOL |
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Location: upper michigan | I got my two ugly sticks on clearance last winter $19 apiece. 8'3" ML they are working great for me maybe a M action might be a little better for the bigger fish. |
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Location: Manitowoc, WI | Uh Oh! Not only did I spend more than $40 on my trolling rods but now I am full of #$@! I guess my wife was right on that one. Hope she doesn't read this post or I will be stuck buying $20 rods for the rest of my life. It's a personal choice on which rods work for you. I for one am not picky as long as they catch fish. For the record: I have had $20 rods catch fish and $100 rods catch fish. The more expensive rods have always lasted longer for me. I saw a Pereguine (spelling?) Okuma line counter combo at Fleet Farm for a reasonable price and might just buy 2 of them. Man I hope they work or my wife will kill me. Have fun all. |
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Location: Appleton wi | TOD=tits on deer |
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| I'd agree with Horsak. Not all trolling rods are created equal, but there are a few that can be had for $30 or less that are good for certain applications. IMO the higher $ rods may not always give you added benefit for the $ (bang for the buck) but sometimes they do. My rule of thumb is if it's in the holder (at least most of the time) spend less $$. I do prefer better quality trolling rods for longlining (holding the rod) and even for planer boards (in the rod holder) with mono. Please don't tell my wife I've been spending too much on rods.:) Different strokes...
Tim |
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Trolling rods