trollingrods-glass or graphite?

[Mr. Breeze]

Just snapped an ABU Garcia Tournament planer board rod. It's graphite and broke in half whiler pulling in an in-line planer board. Its going back to ABU, but I am wondering if I shouldn't be using fiberglass rods for this application. Any thoughts???

[RANGER]

Personally, for the big boards, dipsy divers and the downriggers I use glass - minimum 8' rods. Flat lining, out the back, I use the graphite as well as when I drift and bottom bounce.


RANGER


"KEEP YOUR LINES WET, YOUR POWDER DRY and THE BEER COLD"!

[REELMAN]

I use the P&K trolling rods. They seem to hold up well under the stress of the planners.
I have always used graphite rods.

[oilman]

I have using Cabelas E-glass 8ft.rods this year.They so far are doing a good job.The cost of the rods are $30.00. For that price I don't think you can go wrong.

[groovymoe]

I agree with ranger. If I'm forced to pull boards I prefere to use a glass rod. However on Lake Erie I prefere to long line. I think that the more distance I put between the bait, and the boat the better off I am. For my long line applications I use 6' Fenwick Black hawk graphite casting rods. The reason I like the graphite is because I like to pump, or sweep the long line rods. It seems to me that this tactic out performs the boards by quite a bit. That's just my opinion. Good Luck

Groovymoe

[Boatnut]

The first two daiwa line counters I bought from bass pro were as a "combo" , matched with their "gold cup" downrigger rods. I love the rods and bought two more a few years later. Last year I found two more on ebay. I use them for all my dipsy divin' and inline boards. They are a combination glass/graphite.
For downrigging, I use the eagle claw yellow downrigger rods.
I think you're better off using all glass or combination glass/graphite rods for boards/dipsy's.
my 2 cents.
Mike(boatnut)

[vetspet(ind)]

graphite is most important for the feel when you are jigging or working a lure whereas with planer boards the whole "feel" thing is moot...so you would want to have a rod which can hold up under the x-tra stress of the planer boards....fiberglass would probably be second to none for durability...low price...and whatever else i can think of with trolling....i use the 8 1/2 ft yellow eagle claws and they last forever and are a great trolling rod...i fish primarily salmon not walleye however...steve

[Cangl]

Both in one rod = Ugly Stik. 7ft one piece ml, m mh they all handle well. BPS sell 7ft's at $27.95 I have every Ugly Stik I (12) own and right now one of them needs an eyelet other than that there all ready to go. Some of these are over 20 years old!

[Gumbo]

My only gripe with Ugly Sticks is that they're too heavy.

[EricCO]

And the butts are way too short for a rod that is 7'.

[Cangl]

Yeah some of the Models do have short buts, casting ease no doubt the 7.5ft have CAL 1100'S one piece have 12 inch handles.
The heavy weave in the glass is what gives you the weight and more creaking and ticking before they break. Straight graphite doesn't say much more than ka-pow, and glass less sometimes. I have yet to test these rods with Michigan Tuna (Kings) If I ever break an Ugly Stik I will post it up pronto, but then maybe not. Kick my dog but do not break my rods.