If either of you have a minute to answer a couple of questions regarding your Signature Rods that BPS sells I would greatly appreciate it.

Last year I fished with two fellows that were bouncing Shad Raps off the bottom in the slews on the Mississippi. One was using Lead Core and the other was using PowerPro line.

My questions are these, I want to rig a couple of rods for doing this kind of rigging for areas I fish. What would you suggest as being the best rods for such a setup.

Also Quantum makes a Baitcaster that looks like it would be great for this with a flipping switch or do either of you have a better suggestion for a reel to use. When you choose between running lead core or superlines do you have different Rod/Reel combinations or do you just re-spool the reels with the different kind of lines.

Thanks.

Might want to go to their new web site and ask.

http://www.thenextbite.com/site/index.cfm

Hey, thanks John!

Thats a reel (pun) nice site.

I set up several reels with "straight" lead core just for these situations. By "straight" I mean I put 9 colors of 18# lead on a line counter reel and then added a 10 foot leader of either 10XT or 10-4 Fireline. The reason for so much lead is that I can fish this set up in 6 feet (like at the PWT Championship) or bring it out and speed troll in 25 feet (like at Devil Lake) and use the same reels. Often, in river situations, you will use a lot more lead to get to get baits down because of the current. It may take 3, 4 or even 5 colors just to get a #5 Shad Rap down 10 feet.

I use the 8&1/2 foot Walleye Angler Trolling rod for lead core because the extra length gives it a softer tip to fight fish with the no stretch lead core. The nice thing about the rod is that if you want to hand hold it (often I do this so I can pump the rod and give the lure some action), I telescope the rod down making it much shorter and easier to hold. The long rod is also nice when you put rods in the rod holder because it spreads the lures nicely out behind the boat.

As are as reels, I personally like to use a line counter reel. Even though lead core has colors, I find that as I snag up and break off some of the lead, I still can keep track of how much is let out even though I may have some partial colors.

The nice thing is you can get a Walleye Angler Trolling Rod and a Gold Cup line counter reel for $79.99 - here is a link for more description on the combo: http://www.thenextbite.com/site/prod_pack.cfm?owner=21705D85-9189-42B3-9BDABA03903A2E92.

As far as running no stretch lines (I use 10-4 fireline) I use the same set up. Just remember to back the reel with some mono before adding Fire line.

Keith,
Great suggestions. You reminded me of a couple of things I had seen but forgotten. I will put them to work. I appreciate it.

-Rod-

Gary or Keith

cabelas has lead core line and a non lead core trolling line ?

I know one is lead and one is something else
what is the difference and is one better than the other ?

rebs