I am interested in getting a couple of rods for downrigger use (IE- rod holders and trolling) on the great lakes. I have a few spinning and casting rods now, but they are all set up and configured for cast/release and jigging and do not have the tailstock/grip for riding in a holder.
My questions, and thread topic, are surrounding the rod sizes and line weights. Would it be safe to say a rod with 10lb test line would be a good starting point?
The break down of my rod selection now is as follows:
Berkley Pro Series One IM6 6ft up to 3/8oz lure - I have it set with a Shimano Sienna FD 1000 and 4lb line;
Fenwick HMG med/fast up to 3/4oz lure - I had it set with a Shimano Solstace 2500 and 10lb line;
Field & Stream Tech Spec 1oz-4oz lure, casting - I have it set with an Abu Garcia Ambassadeur open frame reel, I will have to look up the specs/model again but I believe it is a 5000 series. I have 40+lb braided line on it.
My Fenwick is my general purpose rod right now and does a good job with walleye, pike, and bass. I have been throwing the small sienna fd 1000 reel on it recently casting smaller lures for bass and it has done a good job. It also has reeled in some pike in the 20-30" range, but any bigger and it is not the right tool for the job. I'd think that same rod capacity would work well for walleye on a down rigger. Thoughts?
For bass and bluegill the Berkley is a good set up. It will take jigging for walleye also, but is over-taken with big walleye and bass.
The Field & Stream does a good job once the lures I am using are too big/heavy for the Fenwick. It throws Suick thrillers, big spoons, and other larger lures fine but starts to fade off with the bigger muskie lures.
Salmon is another species I'd like to set up for. I would think I need a heavier rod, like the Field & Stream, or bigger, as salmon can get pretty big. Is there any spec I can look at like lure weight or line weight range? I was looking at some Okumas (the Nomad travel series specifically) and it appears the ultra-light versions of those rods are still a more powerful rod than my fenwick is - and I got the fenwick because it is a heavier rod than the berkley I have. So I am at a bit of a loss here.
My thoughts, also, on a trolling rod are to go with casting as opposed to spinning. This might be like a truck discussion or a football team discussion, but I would be curious what your thoughts are. I have always thought a big fish rod should be a bait caster - and that stems from muskie fishing with my family.
For a lighter casting rod (in the 10lb range) I would need a new reel. For a heavier rod set up - would the Abu Garcia I have work OK with braided line?
Another, somewhat off-topic, question - what is the life expectancy of monofillament line? I had some rods in the tackle shed that had not had the line replaced in YEARS - maybe 10-15 years - and the line was very brittle. I got a large spool of 6lb test Triline this summer. I stripped the reels and rewound with the new line. They are all spinning rods and set up to jig for walleye with some cast fishing. All three rods have a label on them now with the line type and when I replaced it.
My questions, and thread topic, are surrounding the rod sizes and line weights. Would it be safe to say a rod with 10lb test line would be a good starting point?
The break down of my rod selection now is as follows:
Berkley Pro Series One IM6 6ft up to 3/8oz lure - I have it set with a Shimano Sienna FD 1000 and 4lb line;
Fenwick HMG med/fast up to 3/4oz lure - I had it set with a Shimano Solstace 2500 and 10lb line;
Field & Stream Tech Spec 1oz-4oz lure, casting - I have it set with an Abu Garcia Ambassadeur open frame reel, I will have to look up the specs/model again but I believe it is a 5000 series. I have 40+lb braided line on it.
My Fenwick is my general purpose rod right now and does a good job with walleye, pike, and bass. I have been throwing the small sienna fd 1000 reel on it recently casting smaller lures for bass and it has done a good job. It also has reeled in some pike in the 20-30" range, but any bigger and it is not the right tool for the job. I'd think that same rod capacity would work well for walleye on a down rigger. Thoughts?
For bass and bluegill the Berkley is a good set up. It will take jigging for walleye also, but is over-taken with big walleye and bass.
The Field & Stream does a good job once the lures I am using are too big/heavy for the Fenwick. It throws Suick thrillers, big spoons, and other larger lures fine but starts to fade off with the bigger muskie lures.
Salmon is another species I'd like to set up for. I would think I need a heavier rod, like the Field & Stream, or bigger, as salmon can get pretty big. Is there any spec I can look at like lure weight or line weight range? I was looking at some Okumas (the Nomad travel series specifically) and it appears the ultra-light versions of those rods are still a more powerful rod than my fenwick is - and I got the fenwick because it is a heavier rod than the berkley I have. So I am at a bit of a loss here.
My thoughts, also, on a trolling rod are to go with casting as opposed to spinning. This might be like a truck discussion or a football team discussion, but I would be curious what your thoughts are. I have always thought a big fish rod should be a bait caster - and that stems from muskie fishing with my family.
For a lighter casting rod (in the 10lb range) I would need a new reel. For a heavier rod set up - would the Abu Garcia I have work OK with braided line?
Another, somewhat off-topic, question - what is the life expectancy of monofillament line? I had some rods in the tackle shed that had not had the line replaced in YEARS - maybe 10-15 years - and the line was very brittle. I got a large spool of 6lb test Triline this summer. I stripped the reels and rewound with the new line. They are all spinning rods and set up to jig for walleye with some cast fishing. All three rods have a label on them now with the line type and when I replaced it.
