Walleye Rod(s)??? Line(s)????

[Needice]

I am all about crappie fishing but would like to go out and fish with my friends who are all about walleyes. I am looking at picking up 2 combos one for jigging( spoons or chubbies ) and one for a slip bobber rig. I have used my ultra lights in the past but need a rod with more backbone. There are just to many for my to even choose from. As for line I use gamma on my crappie rods but have no idea what line is best for each combo. I have never fished on the ice with anything larger than 4 pound test. What pound test do you use for walleyes and what brand/kind? I need all the input I can get. Thanks

[Northlander]

For walleye line I like 6# trilene Xt in clear and use a florocarbon leader in clear waters. For a rod I like a 28" to 32" med light. Small 500-750 size reels. For deep jigging I use 6# power pro with a floro leader.

With spoons I use a barrel swivel about 12" above a small cross lock snap. I tape all my reels on with a good electrical tape.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I'm pretty much the same as N-lander. Jason Mitchel 28 walleye rod is very nice that I have, I also have a 28" walleye sweetheart that is awesome. I too use 6lb mono(gamma) For your slip bobber rod, maybe pick a rod that has a softer tip then you can use it as a deadstick rod without the bobber at times too.. . Just a thought.

[wbliceman]

for a slip bobber rig i would also go with a deadstick rod. the tip has a little more give, and i feel it gives you a better hook set

[Eric Wetteland]

I would go with a Thorne Bros 32-36 Deadstick and a Thorne Bros walleye sweetheart outside rod. With the line I would go with 5-6 lbs p-line. good luck

[kapp]

The Jason Mitchell has about the right action. Cabelas top of the line is real similar. costs are comparable.

Oh sure Thornes has some great options. Becareful as you may love their stuff. but be prepared to pay a little more

[deaceye]

Needice,

If price is an issue, I would go with a good jigging rod and mid range ice rod. I like the Jason Mitchell 26" Perch rod for jigging walleyes, it is a little softer at the tip, but good backbone.....also you could use it for your crappies. Dead rod could be any mid range rod, I like at least 28" medium to med/light. I like the medium light shakespeare ugly stik, nice action and you will never break it.

[Fred_Bear]

St. Croix Premier 28" ML with a tica cetus reel. 6 lb fireline crystal for jigging set up and 6 lb trilene XL for dead stick set up. You can use 6 lb vanish as a fluoro leader, but I don't. I just see it as another thing that can go wrong.

[Needice]

I would like to thank all of you that took time to reply.

I am leaning towards a Jason Mitchell rod. I held one last night and really liked it as for a Thorne Bros rod I am a person that has to see it, touch it, and drool over it in person before I buy it. I checked Thorne Bros web site and that must be one heck of a rod for that price. I hope that in can run into someone that has one this year on the ice. I am sure it is a top of the line rod but for the price I think I will be happy with one of Jason's rods. As for line I am going to stick with what I believe in GAMMA.

Thanks again.

NEEDICE

[Northlander]

Need ice if you ever want to see a TB rod and are in Duluth I can show ya a few I have. Otherwise hit the St. paul ice show next weekend and they will have tons of them.

Myself I think they have kind of over priced themselves now.

They are great rods though. You never see a used TB rod for sale.

many many good rods on the market for about 1/2 the cost of a TB rod. Hit a show or big retailer and play with some and get what you like best.

[walleyeslammer]

I have a pale full of rods, but now i am a Jason Mitchell guy and use a meat stick for deadsticking an bobber fishing and then the 26" perch and the 28" and 30" walleye for all other jigging. Only one problem. I think I am going to order a Thorne Bros walleye sweetheart because everyone on here that has them bas me convinced. Good luck and my advice is to not do what I did. That is buy 10 other cheap combos before finally getting some good rods with good reels with drags that don't lock up in the cold

[Needice]

I also have a bucket of cheep $20 combos. My four wonderful kids just keep getting my hand me downs. I thank all of you for the great info but I did break down today and picked up a Jason Mitchell walleye rod. It is the one that seems to have every thing that I am looking for. Now if the ice would only arrive for me to try it out. Northlander, I thank you for giving me the option of looking at one this year. I am sure that by the end of this ice season I will have at least one sweetheart rod in my bag. Some people collect cars, others collect guns, I collect fishing rods. I absolutely hate having to retie when the fish are bitting.

[Drewski]

Try out the TB deadstick 28". Phenomenal walleye rod.