deadstick rod ?

[fatboy]

what's a good rod for deadsticking ?

[Walleye Express]

Fatboy.
Get one that has the most light/sensitive tip. One you can see your live minnows every twitch, yet with enough backbone to play a nice fish into the hole. That live minnow often alerts me even before the FL-8 tells me something down there. And I can read every one of his subtle movements and the lightest of takes from that rod tip. Ugly Stick makes a nice ice rod for this application, but I've forgotten the exact name and rod number.

[Dutchman]

I've used 9' Ugly Stick spinning rods for my dead sticks for years. Very soft tip, but enough backbone to fight a good sized fish. Usually the fish are hooked by the time I get to the rod. Then rod has enough play in it to hold them, then it's my turn...


" Fishing is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope "

[Todd_NE]

For spinning rods I like 8.5' or two piece St. Croix rods in "Moderate" action, either premier or avid (you. They are parabolic action rods that are very effective for deadsticking.

Crappie jigging rods can work very well and aren't expensive.

Bass Pro also has some walleye specialty rods for just this application though I haven't used them.

You really don't need to spend a bunch of money on these rods in my opinion. It is nice to have a rod that show you what's going on but let's the fish take the bait without much resistance.

Todd
Yup, got her... feel that head shake!

[T-Mac]

I use a 9' "noodle" rod I built, originally for trout and steelies.
This has a level wind (Penn 920) on it with 12lb Berkley Xt and a very loose set drag. The walleyes have it well inhaled before they feel anything. When I hear the rod slapping on the water, I know it is time to reel in.

So much for skill...eh?

[Dutchman]

I hear ya, my buddy's call my deadsticks "buggy whips". They quite down when I pull in a piggy off of one though :)



" Fishing is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope "

[Dave C]

Cabelas has (had?) a 7 foot walleye/zander rod that I have used with good results. Very similar to a B&M jig rod, but a little more stout.

[Dodge1]

Todd’s suggestion about using a crappie rod is an excellent idea. My old 9’ Berkley crappie rod works great for deadsticking and cost me less then $20. It even has an bright orange glow tip, which sure comes in handy.

[T-Mac]

Yah.. I get more biggies on that noodle than the rig in my hand, many days. Must be the "touch", eh?
:)

[Walleye Express]

Fatboy.
Sorry, I thought you were talking about an ice fishng dead rod.

[Joe Duck]

UGLY STICK Gets my vote

[Ambler]

If you are looking for a noodle rod with a soft tip, you need to give the eagle claw fl-209 a try. It is a 9 foot fiberglass rod that is an unsightly looking thing. The tip is extraordinarily soft, yet at nine feet there is enough line sweep and backbone to set a hook. Landing a pig on one of these is a riot. We use them for live bait smallies and walleyes all the time. The In-fisherman region five largest live release smallie was caught this year on one of these rods. At one ounce under seven pounds, that fish was quite the struggle to watch on a noodle rod. They also make a 7 and 1/2 foot rod in this series. Give em a try, at under $30 per rod it does not cost much to add a new tool to your aresenal.

Ambler

[SD Boy]

> what's a good rod for deadsticking ?

I love my Walleye Angler deadsticks from BassPro. I bought one three years ago and picked up another last year. They were designed by Parsons and Kavajecz, who know a thing or two about walleye fishing, and they work like a charm. I use mine with bouncers, jigs, or rigs whenever I'm drifting or using a slow presentation and just love them. With bouncers they seem snag up far less frequently in the rocks that regular rods, probably because their soft action. Their model number is WX86DT-T if you're interested.