purchasing rods advice

[Kodiak]

I am looking to purchase some rods for the upcoming fishing season because i finally broke down and bought a real fishing boat and going to fish my brains out. So i am going to go out this weekend and get some more specific rods. I am basically looking for length, weight, and action for the specific fishing style. I am set on getting a 7' ML avid for walleye fishing lindy and multipurpose so help me with the rest.

trolling rod with line counter reel, cranks, bottom bouncers.

musky rod, with a big rapala not going to use it much, just want one.

slip bobber rod

jigging rod for walleyes

please help.

[Kodiak]

i guess i should have put what i want to spend....not too horribly much, i am only getting the avid because that will be my BEST rod.

i see cabelas has the tourney trails buy one get one.

[PerchJerker]

Rods are all about feel and personal preference ......

I like the 7' ML avid and would use it for jigging and for slip bobbers. I'd only use it for live bait rigs with 1/4 ounce weights or less, any heavier than that and I'd go with a heavier rod.

For a trolling rod, it depends if I'm pulling cranks on flatlines, or if I'm pulling lead or planers. For flatlining small cranks and stick baits, I like 7' ML rods like the avid you already mentioned. If I'm using hard-pulling deep running baits, or lead or boards, I go with heavier rods. I have some 8-9.5 foot telescoping rods I like for lead and boards, they're not very expensive rods (I spent more money to make sure I got good linecounter reels, I use Daiwa Sealines in the 17 and 27 size depending on what I use them for).

For your muskie rod, make sure you match the rod power and action to the baits you want to throw with it.

Cabelas and Gander both have nice rods with their own private labels on them, they are definately worth a look.

[mn_bowhunter]

I'm a big fan of the avid series rods. I've got a 6'6" ML and MH. For walleye jigging or cranks I turn to the MH, and I actually find the ML too light for lindy's but make do. I wish I would have gone with a medium power instead. For musky rods on a budget the St. Croix triumph, shimano compre or convergence, or gander rods are worth a look. I picked up a triumph with a garcia 6500C3 reel for $110 brand new at gander a few years ago so look for package deals too. Warranty returns are easier with store branded rods and shimano among others.

[BoxMN]

I have got a 6'9" avid extra fast tip "Drop shot" casting rod. It is awesome. Also have a avid medium action fast tip spinning, and that one is too stiff for how I like to use it, but for heavier jigs works great.

I gotta say, I got a couple Fenwick Eagle GT rods from Joes several years ago, on clearance for dirt cheap, and they were going to be my "extra/friends/junk" rods for the cabin. I gotta say I love them! I think they only cost $30 each, because they were an "old" model. So if you can find some old model rods, and right now it time to look, as the stores are putting in the new stuff.

We also have some Gander Guide Series, and some Cabelas Fish Eagle II, and both of these are "good for the price" models, and they have enough models and actions to pick what you want. we use 7 or 7.5 foot "rather wimpy" rods for rigging, and that works great for us - I think medium light action with slow tips. The best is a Berkley Bionix in light action that we call the noodle... just awesome for dragging egg sinkers or bottom bouncers or even 1/4 oz weights with lindys or spinners. We have aGander that is almost the same, but with a bit more backbone.

Anyway, another vote for Guide Series but also Fish Eagle II spinning rods. The Gander reels are awesome for the money, but I have some "old model" Abu spinning reels that work GREAT and I got them for under $30 each on clearance as well.

Good luck.

[Kodiak]

i found a muskie rod online that is a good deal it is a

G Loomis MUR915C....i am not going to be a hardcare musky guy but i just want one in the boat to try from time to time. I posted the specs below here, no can i throw big raps with this thing or just bucktails...i want to use a big rap that runs just under the surface kinda like a husky jerk.

Action Fast

Color Cranberry

Handle No. 103

Length 7'7"

Line Weight 25-50

Pieces 1

Type Casting

Lure Weight 1-4

Power Med-Heavy

Series Muskie Bucktail

Rod Type Casting

Water Type Freshwater

[NCLaker]

For your muskie fishing, you'll be happy with that rod. For muskies, I recommend adding a few different type of small-med sized bucktails (#8 blades or less for this rod), a top water prop bait (like a topraider), regular bull dawg.

[zamboni]

Can never go wrong with a Loomis.

[Mike Stark]

you might also check out Limit Creek Rod Company . Limit Creek is a sponser of the forum. I will be testing these rods out this summer up on big basswood walleye. I have heard great things about them and they wont break your bank either.

[Lazy Mike]

I really like the Bass Pro Shop walleye specific bottom bouncing rods.

[Northlander]

Bass Pro has some walleye rods for each specific presentation. I have the bottom bouncer combo with a flippin switch reel and really like it. They have jigging, riggin, trollin and lead rods.