Live Bait Rod....

[bigstick56]

I want to hear your guy's thoughts on a live bait rod that I am looking to pick up for the upcoming season....I will be using this rod strickly for lindy rigs / spinners....I am going to match it up with either my Patriarc or Exo, whatever feels better on it....I was thinking something in the 7' range with fast to med action....What are you guys thought, My budget for this rod would be around the 150-200 dollar mark....Thoughts?

[Matt C]

I really like my Limit Creek Smoothie's. I use them for lindy, trolling small cranks, casting jigs, or just jigging off the bottom. Pretty much my 'go to' rods.

Very sensitive and responsive.

[Sportland_Bait]

In that price range I would go with the St Croix Avid 7 foot medium fast action. I can get you a sweet deal on something like that here at our store. We could even deliver if you would like. Just let me know if we can help.

Jason Erlandson

[email protected]

[bigstick56]

Sportlan Bait, Where in Nissawa are you located. I have a cabin in the longville area and drive through Nisswa quite often, never stoped in...Might have to this weekend on my way up...let me know....

[Wayne Ek]

Bigstick56: I don't know if you have to go that high in the price points to get what you need. Reed's was selling the Okuma Dead Eye rods (walleye tech. specific) which retail for $99.99 at the Fargo show for only 79.00. Most are IM-8 blanks with an over the counter life time warranty.

[JohnMickish]

The Avid is a great choice, but for that price, I'd rather get the Legend Tournament 76ML. It retails a tad out of your budget but you can find it on sale and it would fit your budget just fine.

IMO the best live bait rod on earth.

I have used the smoothie too and that is a good rod as well.

There are a ton of rods in that price range, go play with a few and see what feels good in your hand. When spending that kind of money on a fishing rod, keep in mind warranty and ease of replacement if things should go bad (your fault or not).

[bigstick56]

Hey, thanks for the responses, now I have another question regarding my soon to be set-up...I do allot of fishing in the 25+ FOW, so as far as line what would be by best bet? I have used the new Suffix 832 for ice fishing and loved that, I also started getting into 100% fluro on my baitcasting reels and cant find anything wrong with that either...Is mono a thing of the past? Would I be better off with braid mainline to Fluro leader, or would be fluro to fluro better? Would really like to hear about this? Thanks

[JohnMickish]

90% of my rods are now spooled with either flouro or one of the superbraids. The exception are my lindy rods. I use two rods that ONLY get used as either bobber rods or lindy rig rods, and they are spooled with 8lb Trilene XL. I love the sensitivity of the braids and have used it on my lindy rods but have better luck with mono. It might be that the mono stretch works for me when setting the hook with these 7'6" rods or maybe the mono gives the live bait a better action. I don't know the reason but for me its mono on my lindy rods.

[waterwolff]

St Croix PS70MLF great rod for less money than you are looking to spend.

[Stick in Mud]

I dunno...for my .02 (and for $200), I'd get two different rods, one each for rigging and pulling spinners. My spinner rods are a lot beefier than my rigging rods, but I usually pull a lot of weight on the spinner rods to keep the line close to vertical. I guess I'd never pull a spinner on a 7'6'' ML rod...but that's just my own preference. HOpe that helps, though it probably doesn't.

[JohnMickish]

You make a very good point, and I don't pull spinners with my rigging rods, and I don't rig with my spinner rods.

Two rods would be the ideal thing to do, but if I had to choose between a dedicated rigging rod or a dedicated bottom bouncer rod, I'd take the rigging rod any day.

I do not believe that there is a "one rod that does it all". Compromises will be to many, especially if one is looking for a better than average rod.

With a $200 budget, and two rods I'd spend $150 on the rigging rod and $50 on the BB rod. At the sportsmans show you can get an Avid for real close to that $150 mark.

[JohnMickish]

I'd like to add to what I just said and say that if you are using the same rod to bottom bounce spinners and also lindy rig you are really handicapping one of the two presentations. The two rods are very different in actions,length and weight.

[Northlander]

My lindy rods are far different than my spinner rods. My spinner rods are longer, heavier action and are 95% of the time in rod holders like rams or scotty's. Im cruising with spinners looking for active fish with up to 4 or 5 oz. of weight on these rods.

My lindy rod will be much lighter, spinning with a med/fast action. I also have a few moderate action lindy rods that are a lot of fun. I like the 7' to 8'6" rods. When going very light with like 1 split shot and really long lining I like the 8'6" light weight moderate action.

Limit Creek has some very nice and affordable rods that will work for this. The telescoping spinning rod, cant remember off hand the numbers, is great for lindy rigging deeper waters.

I highly suggest you use a friends rod or bring your reel of choice to a shop and put it on a rod and see how it balances out. Lindy rigging can get tiring so weight and balance is very important. Most of all its personel preference. What I may like you may find to heavy or light. Im also a longer rod lover but Im 6'6" tall.

[bigstick56]

Guys, all this info is aweosme. I should have stated that I already have a dedicated spinner rod (7' med heavey, with a abu baitcater on it) i usually have this in a rod holder as well.) I am just looking for that perfect lightweight lindy rod. After a little trip this wekeend I should have narrowed it down, and hopefully pick it up at the sports show at the end of the month...Cant wait to get the boat on some soft water...

[Sportland_Bait]

Hi Bigstick, I would love for you to stop in sometime. We are at the stoplights next to the Schaefer's grocery store. Sorry to say this weekend we are closed. Taking the kids for a weekend getaway before we ramp up this spring. Maybe next time. Let me know when you narrow it down. We might be able to save you some money. Thanks.

Jason Erlandson