Help recommending new rod...

[The_Lee]

I am relativly new to fishing. I just got into it pretty heavily last year. So far the extent of my fishing experience has been Walleyes, Northerns, and only a couple of bass. So far I have been a fan of St. Croix rods. I am looking someone who can recommend a St. Croix rod, preferably in the Avid and Legend series that would be good for both Walleye and Musky. I am looking for one rod that would work for both. I have never gone fishing for musky before and would like to try it once I get home. Can anyone help?

[Northlander]

I dont think you will find 1 rod that will work for both well. You will sacrafice a lot on 1 or the other.

[NCLaker]

I am not a muskie fisherman, but I would think the that you would not want to use the same for both. Walleye typically are a ML to Med action with a fast tip, I would think for muskie you would go with a MH-heavy+ action rod given the size lures those guys are tossin'. Also the walleye rod more typically is a spinning rod and the muskie a baitcaster for more power and heavier line.

[Wallyeyes]

I am just starting my musky fishing expirience this year, so I don't know too much about the equipment. I got an 8' med-heavy IM8 graphite G.Mtn. Guide Series Pro Select rod and an Abbu 6600 C3 reel. I don't know either that you could find a rod suitable for both musky and walleye. I do fish walleye alot and all my rods for walters are med-light, fast action. I was told by a G.Mtn. employee that some of the higher end guide series rods are the same blanks used by St. Croix. The guide series rods will save you quite a few bucks over the St. Croix brand. I really like them. I only own one summer rod that isn't a G. Mtn. guide series. They also have a two year full warrany, which I haven't had to use yet on any of them.

[blueroof]

If you did want one rod that you could use for both, I would suggest something like the St. Croix AVC76MHMF. I could imagine using it for rigging in deeper/faster water or running planer boards for eyes. It would probably be beefy enough to land most muskies.

As suggested two rods would be better.

LB

[Spazzums08]

The Lee, glad you're getting into musky fishing, it's a great sport, but unfortunately there's no concievable way you're going to get a rod designed for both musky and walleye. As stated above, walleye rods are generally medium-light to mediums, and musky rods are medium-heavys, heavys, and extra-heavys. However if you were to take a normal spinning or baitcaster rod in a medium heavy and compare it to a MUSKY rod in a medium-heavy, you'll notice that musky rods are still much stronger than your average rod. As far as using one for both, if you chose a musky rod you'd lose almost all sensitivity for your walleyes, the baits wouldn't cast right, the action would be off, and you'd probably spend most of your time jerking the bait out of the fish's mouthes. Also the kind of reel you'd put on there wouldn't be able to handle the light lures.

Now if you got a walleye pole and used it for musky, you'd snap the pole in half, end of story. Either the weight of the lures (1/2-3oz) or the fish would do it, and you wouldn't be able to give the lures the right action, use the correct line, and your reel would actually burn out/explode from the strain of working the heavy baits.

Finally, muskies are heavy duty fish, but that also makes them much more sensitive to the fight. If you worked a fish for 15-20 minutes on walleye gear to get him into the boat (I've done it before, but never intentionally), you're seriously risking the fish's health at that point, and you're putting a great fish in danger, and there aren't many of them out there.

Now here's what I reccomend. If you like St. Croix (and I do as well) either go with 2 avids, one for walleye and one for musky, which would be about double what you planned on spending, 2 premieres (around $100 for a walleye pole, $160 for a musky pole), or 2 triumphs ($70 and $100-140). Or you could mix and match, I'd spend more on the walleye rod than the musky, you'll need the quality graphite and weight more with them for the sensitivity, however don't go cheap on the musky rod either, I've seen plenty of returned rods that were snapped in half.

As posted, Gander Mountain Guide Series are quality rods, I have a few for walleyes, and I just picked up an 8'6 MH Pro Tournament for muskies, and I highly reccomend Guide Series, they're great middle of the range priced rods, and you get a lot for your money.

[Sandmannd]

If you look at the legend series, Joes has them on sale this time of year for $50. I got a ML spinning last hear and a Medium bait cast for $100 total. Wouldn't use either for muskie though, but they have heavy ones you can buy for that.

[NCLaker]

Sandmannd, are you talking about St. Croix "Legend" series rods??

They are normally over $200, if Joe's is selling them for $50, that is an incredible price.

[Nick Kuhn]

Muskie MH rods are a little different than Bass MH rods. You'd be very frustrated if you tried to use one rod for both. IMO you can get away with a bass rod on the walleye's, but for Muskie you really need a pole specialized to do the job.

[The_Lee]

Ok, I have been contemplating buying a baitcaster, so this might be the reason to do so. I havde been checking out baitcaster reels on Cabela's HSOforum, has anyone ever used any of the Plueger baitcasting reels?

[NCLaker]

I heard good things about their baitcasters so I picked up a used Pflueger President for a good price ($80 vs $140). I am determined to figure out how to use a Baitcaster with decent confidence this summer. I put it on a 7' Gander IM9 Pro Select rod.

If I get too frustrated, I might be selling one if your intrested :-)

[polarsusd81]

The_Lee,

Here is a different take on it. In the Muskie and Pike guide from In-Fish just released a couple days ago, Doug Stange talks about using lighter tackle to catch skies. He says in there that his biggest of last year, which topped 30 lbs, came on a 7' medium action spinning rod with a 30 class reel and 14 lb Fireline. As he put it, you don't need a pool cue to catch muskies, but you do need a big heavy rod if you plan to use big baits like cowgirls and dawgs. Throwing some of the medium to large sized rapalas can be done on a 7' mh casting rod with ease. You just have to know the limitations of what you are planning to do. If you want to go through with it, I would recommend something along the lines of a PC70MHF or maybe the PC610HMF from the St. Croix Premier line. Team that up with a good quality reel, such as a Shimano Curado and Fireline 20 lb and you would have a relatively simple set up. As far as walleyes go, you would probably be limited to things such as trolling big walleye cranks, and rigging. Muskies would be more along the lines of throwing smaller bucks and spinnerbaits, some swim baits, and smaller jerk-bait-baits and cranks. If you have other rods that suit your other needs for walleyes, such as jigging, slip bobbering, and smaller cranks and twitch baits, say a 6'-6" up to 7'-6" ML fast action spinning rod, this might be the way to go.

That being said, if you are looking at a budget of 230ish, you would probably be better off buying two rods though. Get yourself a Premier PC70MLF for the eyes and pick up a Triumpf TRM70MHF muskie stick and you would be pretty well set at 230 bucks. It would net you a lot more versatility than one rod in specific.

Do what you want, but I would feel better with the two rods than one. One other note is this, the smaller muskie baits are a LOT more affordable than the big toys. A double cowgirl goes for 25 bucks and the big swim baits can range from 20 - 50 bucks each, there is another thing to weigh in on. How much are you going to spend on your new found muskie habit?

[The_Lee]

If you end up selling it, let me know I will definatly be interested. I won't be back in Minnesota until the middle of July sometime, so just let me know if you are going to be getting rid of it, we can set something up.

[rodmaker]

You will probably have to purchase 2 rods. I haven't seen one that would work.

I can recommend a rod for Walleyes though. St. Croix legend Elete ML 7 foot rod.

[Sandmannd]

 Originally Posted By: NCLaker

Sandmannd, are you talking about St. Croix "Legend" series rods??

They are normally over $200, if Joe's is selling them for $50, that is an incredible price.

Yea, wasn't the Legend was the Triumph series. Sorry. Probably just got them a ton of business though.

[The_Lee]

Well, for my first musky set up, including some basic tackle, I would like to limit myself to around $500. WIll that start me out with some decent equipment. I don;t like going real cheap because I like my equipment to last a while.

[polarsusd81]

I would certainly consider getting yourself a dedicated muskie stick and go with the lighter rod for eyes seperately. For about 200 you can get yourself a pretty decent combo that will be quite versitile for skies. That would leave you with some budjet left over for some lures and whatnot. A pretty decent combo would be a Shimano Compre rod paired with an Abu 6500C4 reel to get you started. If you want more lures and a little less rod, the Triumph would be a good option as well. If you are ever up in the cities, a stop by Thorne Bros and a talk with Matt will do you a lot of good.

Be careful, once the muskie bug bites, it wont go away.

[Nick Kuhn]

Most use a 6500c3 as the heavy baits will wear out the c4's gears too fast.

[Team Otter]

Lots of good information on rod selection here:

Rods

[polarsusd81]

Thats it Vahn, I am not too up on the Abus as I throw Shimanos, couldn't remember whether it was the C4 or C3. Thanks.

[caseymcq]

 Originally Posted By: Sandmannd

 Originally Posted By: NCLaker

Sandmannd, are you talking about St. Croix "Legend" series rods??

They are normally over $200, if Joe's is selling them for $50, that is an incredible price.

Yea, wasn't the Legend was the Triumph series. Sorry. Probably just got them a ton of business though.

Yeah, you gave me some serious heart palpatations there.

[matthothand]

Problem solved: Get an Ugly Stick.

Ok, not really. If you want to try a St. Croix I'd spend the extra bucks and get one of their top rods such as the legend tournament (blue) or legend elite (brown). They have a lifetime warranty. The avid series is awesome too but I don't know if they have the lifetime warranty anymore. That is my suggestion for a walleye rod. Also stick to something between 6'-7' with a L, ML, or M action. The tournament series has rods that cater to particular fishing styles/applications such as vertical jigging, rigging, cranking, etc. As far as a musky rod goes wait a month and save some change and buy the cheapest stout rod you can find. Graphite quality isn't as important with muskies as it is with walleyes and with skis you don't need the finesse etc or need to feel the bite...pretty much. Just find a cheap starter rod after dishing out for a premium walleye rod that you will never leave home without. Without having fished muskies before I wouldn't invest to much to start. Maybe it just won't be for you and you don't want to waste a bunch of dough on something you won't ever use again.

[Nick Kuhn]

Matholand you don't want a cheap muskie rod. I had a situation where one of my setups failed and I had to use my cheap backup. The casting distance sucked and I could only fish jerkbait/WTD topwaters for a short time before I got too tired and had to throw a straight retrieve bait. After many hours of casting you will appreciate a rod that can do most of the work for you.

[Spazzums08]

Another reccomendation against spending cheaply for a musky rod. One of the cheaper ones I know of is the Guide Series Advantage IM6 rods, and I've seen plenty of those defected out. I'd reccomend a St. Croix Premiere ($160), or if you want to save some moeny, a Shimano Compre ($100). As far as reels go, Abu Garcia Ambassador 6500C3, best all-around reel for the money you'll ever buy.