New TB walleye rod

[cps420us]

I'm looking a purchasing a nice combo for my dad for LOW. Thinking of going with a 28" walleye sweetheart, med. action. Is this a good choice or would something lighter be more ideal. We mainly fish early ice for walleyes in a house. Is it worth upgrading to outside guides? Is the spinning reel handle OK, or is there a better option? Was going to pair it with a Sedona either 500 or 1000, or a Pflueger President. Would like to keep it under $150. What's everyone else think that has experience with TB rods?

[fishwater]

What size bait/jig does your dad mostly use? If he's like most of us, a perch sweet heart is going to be the best all-around walleye stick. If he's sticking to a shack, inside guides will work great. If you think he might try and fish outside now and again, the small extra cost is well worth it.

I find that I prefer to fish with rods made with modest cork handles most of the time. I like the lightness and prefer to use a tiny 4" sliver of cork. I have a lot of rods with reel sets; traditional, hidden hood and a new set with the fuji sk2 reel seats. They all work great when the fish are biting.

You should be able to get a nice rod and reel for well under $150. I think your dad will be a happy man.

[cps420us]

Maybe 3/8 oz at the heaviest, but mainly 1/4 and 1/8

[FirstIce]

I'm looking a purchasing a nice combo for my dad for LOW. Thinking of going with a 28" walleye sweetheart, med. action. Is this a good choice or would something lighter be more ideal. We mainly fish early ice for walleyes in a house. Is it worth upgrading to outside guides? Is the spinning reel handle OK, or is there a better option? Was going to pair it with a Sedona either 500 or 1000, or a Pflueger President. Would like to keep it under $150. What's everyone else think that has experience with TB rods?

I have a 28" walleye sweetheart and a perch sweetheart. Personally if you were only going to use it for walleyes I would lean towards the walleye sweetheart more. This rod really excels with a 1/4 oz and will take up to a 3/8 oz. 1/8 oz is ok but then you are getting back to where the perch sweetheart is better with that particular size. If it were to be used for various species (perch, walleye, crappie) then I would recommend the perch sweetheart.

Like you said if you fish mostly inside get the inside guides. I have the insides and have used them for outside and they will work but you may end up with a little more icing. It is manageable. As for reels? Stick with the 500 series size on the 28". I would also choose the 6" Tennessee handle with the 28".

[NAMASafetyDirector]

I have 2 walleye sweethearts and while they work really well and I really like them, for my personal liking I would like to have went with a little lighter action. If you think about the majority of the fish your going to catch the lighter action will give you alot better feel but still have enough to handle a big fish when it comes along. I guess I just like a lighter rod and then run the drag loose. I recently picked up a custom 30" ML ex-fast with a 4" long straight cork handle so I am super excited to try that one.

[Rope]

I have a 32" perch sweetheart with a 500 Sedona that works great for about everything I fish for here in Kansas.

[FisH_SLaYer24]

I don't think you can go wrong with either the Perch or Walleye Sweetheart. The Perch Sweetheart excels at fishing jigs of 1/8 ounce and up to 1/4 ounce (but it can load a little more) and the Walleye Sweetheart excels at fishing jigs of 1/4 ounce and up to 3/8 ounce. If you want the the rod to be used for the heavier jigging spoons, then I would definitely go with the Walleye Sweetheart, but I would also pick up a spring bobber to use when you're fishing a little lighter jigs (maybe an 1/8 oz) because it will allow you to detect the lighter bites a little better.

As for reels, I hae nothing but good things to say about the 500 series Shimano line of reels. The Sedona is a very good reel, but I think with your price point you may be able to upgrade to a 500 series Sahara. If it were me, I would personally take a look at the 28" Walleye Sweetheart paired with a 500 series Shimano Sahara

[Myrt]

I agree with everything slayer posted and I have a 32" in both...can't really go wrong...just pick the rod that will match the size of lure he will fill fish with the majority of time and you'll be fine...

[mccullen]

I did the same thing last year for my dad and got the Perch SH. Cork handle, size of cork is preference according to how big his hand is, just like a glove. If he fishes inside, the extra cost of outside guides is $ you could spend on the reel. I personally love my president reel and also abu's cardinal's are great too. Never used Shimano personally.

Overall, I think the Perch SH could cover more of your bases on the ice than a Walleye SH. Just my opinion though.

[Scupper]

28"Perch Sweetheart. Regular size Hardloy guides.

10 plus years using these rods and I feel they are more then adequate for your described use.

Your a thoughtful person and your Dad will be thrilled with his new gift no matter which one you decide to go with.

[Fred_Bear]

32" Perch Sweetheart paired with a Pflueger Trion... Best multispecies combo you can build.

Seriously check out the Trion, it's a better ice fishing reel than the president and at $20 cheaper. Way better than the Shimano Sienna which is the same price point.