"Dead Stick" vs. Bobber Rod???

[castmaster]

I've been using a Thorne Bros dead stick rod for several years but just dont seem to get the big fuss over them. I keep trying it, but always end up reverting to running a bobber rod. The dead stick just doesnt seem to produce like a bobber does. With the dead stick the fish gets very little movement before it starts loading the blank to the point the rod is giving "resistance" and the fish spit the bait. And for me its darn hard to drop the rod I'm jigging and grab the dead stick fast enough. Where as with a bobber rod I can leave some extra slack so that a fish can take the bobber down and move a couple feet if needed before any resistance is felt. When using quality bobbers, and properly weighted line/lures the bobber is neutrally buoyant and gives no resistance.

So for those who swear by a dead stick....is there something different I need to be doing? Or what is it that you prefer about them over a bobber rod? I'm to thet point I'm thinking of selling the dead stick and just picking up another walleye sweetheart.

[OnAFly]

I happen to agree with you 100%. I tried the deadstick thing a couple times, but it just doesn't make sense to me. Why give yourself 1-2 seconds to grab the rod when you can have 4-5 using the bobber setup?

Also, aren't those deadstick rods built off of PowerNoodle blanks? I'm sure with the shortage of those blanks right now, you could probably get a good price to put towards another SH, which is also a sweet, sweet rod.

[whitebassman]

I love deadsticks. The only thing I have against bobbers is they freeze on the line and stick.

Using a noodle rod gives you the best edge. Since TB is backordered this year, I went with a DH noodle rod, and those are just as good as TB rods and more importantly, available this year.

What I do is put the deadstick rod with the flasher and keep an eye on the flasher. Once I see a fish rise up and approach, I get ready to grab the rod when they bite, and fish on! Worked awesome on LOTW a couple weekends ago, especially as they were favoring deadsticking over jigging that day.

Plus with a bobber you have to be over the hole to see when it goes down. With a deadstick you can be a few feet away and see when the rod tip goes down. Just my experience.

[fishwater]

I treat the deadstick essentially as a second jigging rod, usually only 3-4' from my jigging rod with the flasher between, or even a second flasher on it. I'll keep a close eye on it and jig it a bit, often by bouncing it while in the holder . I usually set the hook the instant the tip deflects beyond a quick bump.

[IcerRon2010]

I will let the fish load the rod at a 45 degree angle and then set the hook. Dido on using the flasher. With my Marcum in the 20 degree mode, I can fish 2 holes at he same time. One jigging, one deadstick hole, with the flasher in one of the two holes.

Most of the time you can tell whether the fish has part of the minnnow or the whole minnow with hook. From there you can wait to set the hook or pull the trigger depending on how the rod tip loads.

On tough bites or finnicky fish, when I see the fish start to load the rod, I will put a 1/4 turn on the reel before I set the hook, and that makes the fish clasp harder.

Thorne Bros, has the best rod out there. You just gotta commit to the deadstick, to dial it in. Once you do you will find, its a easier setup.

[Northlander]

I love my Thorne Brothers deadstick and its even better when I place it in a Rock n Reel rod holder. Fish doesnt feel any more than they would with a bobber if done correct.

With that said I have been using more of the Venom bobbers because I can get them set for so many different weights of lures just by pushing the foam in and out or adding the pin weight. Plus I love the glow components for them night time walleyes and crappies.

Still waiting for the bigger size to come out though.

[backinblue]

I've gone to a spring bobber mounted on my deadstick, can detect up-bites better that way. Jigging one (attracting) and deadsticking (catching) seemed to work really well last time......but that was "last time"!

[Northlander]

If you have a good deadstick like a TB you should not need a spring bobber.

[marine_man]

I love my Thorne Brothers deadstick and its even better when I place it in a Rock n Reel rod holder.

This is the system I use as well with very good success

marine_man

[OnIce]

I love my Thorne Brothers deadstick and its even better when I place it in a Rock n Reel rod holder.

I have heard of these before, but have never seen one, and as far as I can tell they are not made any more. Could you post some pictures of it?

[fishwater]

I use the Today's Tackle Rod Rocker 2, pretty much the same deal functionally. You need to cut a board and drill two holes in it.

[ICE_TEAM_DREAMER]

So I'm curious, am I the only one who uses a rattle reel instead either of them? I attached a quick clamp to a Rattle-Reel and use that with a bobber or sometimes without a bobber as well for the finicky times. I guess its kind of the same concept, just without a rod????????? I use them in my portable clamped to the overhead poles and in my permanent as well. I guess im just curious as to why people don't use them as much?

[sunriseduckblind]

+1 on the rattle reel. It's fairly new to my arsenal, but I've had alot of luck with it this year. I like the fact that a fish can take line and finish swallowing the bait. I also like to cover more area with my lines and sometimes set it up farther than I'd be able to react to another pole. The only downside I've found the hole freezing up fast when it gets real cold, but I'm sure the same goes for a dead stick when fishing outside a shack.