What's your favorite "all around" musky rod?

[Moose-Hunter]

My neighbor asked me this last night as he took a peek at my arsenal... If you could have only one "big rig" (Scary thought I know!! ) Which rod would it be?

For me... My trusty St. Croix 7'6" MH / 6500 combo is my "go to" rod for just about everything Musky/Pike related. It seems to be a jack-of-all-trades in the Esox world. also, it just "feels right".

So how about it folks? If you were limited to only one set up for all your Musky/Pike needs, what would it be?

(Come on now... Quit shaking! It's only a question. )

[Meat-Run]

Moose-Hunter,

I have a few rods that I like such as my Fig Rigs, and an older 2-piece St. Croix and yes i did say 2 piece but I'm a little partial to it because my brother gave it to me on a specail day in my life. But I did just order a new St. Croix Legend that I'm hoping will be my new FAVORITE rod.

mr

[B420]

8'H st.croix avid, with a 4" handle extenstion, and garcia 7000 C3. Can handle anything from small hair to pounders!

[Random guy]

8' foot Diamond Back MH with extended handle and turned down corks fitted with a Calcutta 300TE. (I got small paws, I need small grips and reel)

[10,000 Casts]

Thats an easy question,

7' 6" Heavy St. Croix SC4 Tournament with the normal handle. With a Calcutta 400. Spooled up with 65lb Power Pro. I would go 8 feet if I didn't like throwing jerk baits as much.

John

[RK]

Hiya -

Probably a 7' or 7'6" Medium-heavy power, fast action. Between the length and the blank speed you'd be able to throw fairly light baits, but still have enough backbone to handle bigger baits, although admittedly not giant bull dawgs, etc.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[cjac]

I can tell you EXACTLY after I receive a phone call this afternoon!

This is my project right now, I put together a "big bait" set up (8'6" Thorne Bros Avid H with a Luna 300), and am putting another "go to" mid-size set up together now. 7 1/2 or 8 foot Diamondback, based on builder feedback, looking for bucktails and spinnerbaits primarily, with the ability to go a little or heavier on occasion. Probably with the 253 Luna of 300 Calcutta. Somewhat smaller reels, but lighter and more line capacity than I'll ever need! Basically what Jonny P and RK described.

Chris

[walterking]

g loomis heavy bucktail with a 300 calculetta

[Random guy]

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I Somewhat smaller reels, but lighter and more line capacity than I'll ever need! Basically what Jonny P and RK described.

Chris

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I use 300s on all my musky rods except for a couple 5600 Abus on my jig rods. I have never spooled, had trouble casting them or fighting fish. Also the cigar smoking old timer that tought me how to fish musky swore by smaller reels on bucktails, your retrive speed increases faster as the smaller spool fills up and you don't even realize you are creating a trigger every time you run a bucktail. The only place you will have trouble is your fishing buddies calling it a baby reel, that is where the 8'6" rod comes into play, just give em a little crack on the back of the head.

[VMS]

Right now, it would have to be my 7' fenwick HMX...the older style that is not as thick at the butt end. That may change as I just completed a custom rod today that is a 7'-6" heavy action. Thanks to Gary Wick and his class, I am really looking forward to building more..

I balance mine out with Garcia 6500 series reels.

Steve

[tgff009]

Hey Steve - I bet there is about 20 people that have that new custom built rod as there favorite after Saturday's class

[mtreno]

Chris -

on your 253 luna's - does the line guide stay put while casting or does it move like the 300's? both mine stay put more like a bass real. seems like alot of rubbing to me and affects casting distance if the guide is all the way to one side when you cast. i do like my new "rattletrappin" rods - 7ft + 7.5ft MH fast action with luna 253's - great small bucktail and spinner baiters.

how about a bulldawg rod - thinking a trolling/dawg rig - 9ft extra heavy? what is everyone going to be using for there bulldawgs?

[cjac]

I'll check out the 253s tonight and see, I can't recall off hand. I had that reel on the 7'10" Avid flippin stick and I could bomb the Rad Dogs way out there.

Dawg rod: I did the St Croix Avid blank out to 8'6". I didn't do the pounders,but anything below those I should be good to go. The Dback heavy blank would work for them. If you're looking to do the pounders and 13 inch Suzy Suckers, look no further than the XXXH St Croix done by Professional Edge. It's the ONLY way to go if you're tossing pounders, etc.

Chris

[MuskieMojoTackle]

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how about a bulldawg rod - thinking a trolling/dawg rig - 9ft extra heavy? what is everyone going to be using for there bulldawgs?

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9ft St Croix XXH is a killer Dawg rod and will do double duty as a trolling rig if you need it. A little stiff for trolling small baits, but it will troll big stuff with the best of them

[cjac]

Yep, the 253 line guide stays put while the 300 feeds across the spool. Never noticed that to be honest!

[Cooter]

Mine is an old Quantum I paid $10 for at a thrift sale. 7 footer, the blank is sliding in the grip - last year's super glue job lasted most of the year...we'll see how long she lasts this year.