salmon rods

[lobo1]

Looking for a little help on my selections for my salmon/steelhead rods this year. Probably will have daiwa 47's on them but am also considering the new Okuma Catalina.

I currently use Daiwa Heartland 8' walleye planer rods and I like em and the price was right so I am considering more of this brand but getting the 8'6" downrigger rods and the and either the 9'6" or 10'6" diver rods.
Do you think these rods are heavy enough ?

Some others in the same price range would be the Penn Power Stick, Okuma Classic Pro, Cannon Power Troll and the Shimano TDR. Any preferances on any of these rods ? The Cannon and the Shimano come in a "medium downrigger" and a "medium/heavy downrigger" rod - all the others are "medium" downrigger rods. Is the heavier rating needed or wanted ?

I am also considering the Cabelas combo with either of the above reels mounted to the Cabelas Depthmaster rods in the medium downrigger 8'6" model - anyone use these rods ?

ANY input will be appreciated.

lobo1

[j9f]

In my opinion, you don't need a MH downrigger rod. M would be the highest you should need. I run all 8.5' ML on riggers. A lighter rod lets you "load up" a downrigger rod and gives you more cushion when a salmon takes a run.

[FreeByrd]

Steve,
I'd advise you to NOT go to the 9 / 10 foot dipsey rods. No need and harder to store and handle for your crew (I know they are getting older but still...) A lot of us (me included) overdid our tackle for salmon for years.

The best salmon Charter Captain I know runs 8 1/2 foot Okuma Dipsey rods every day on Lake Ontario. I believe he may run the 8 footer on his inside wire dipsey.

Also on the reels - if you are using a braided line you don't really need the bigger reels - I have 300 yard spools plus backing on my Okuma 20s and Daiwa 27s. Then again I only get to salmon fish around 10 days a year - if I were doing it all the time I'd probally have the larger reels.

Steve

[lobo1]

Steve - thanks for the reply.

Good point on the shorter rods. Seems like all the salmon guys I know run those huge rods for some reason and I got it in my head. Being a first-timer at dipsies last year I was surprised at how far they DON'T plane away from the boat - I guess an extra foot or two isn't going to make a world of differance.
I think I found the rods you speak of in the Okuma Blue Diamond series but maybe not.....take a look if you have time http://www.okumafishing.com/products/rods/bluediamond/bluediamond2005-a.htm

I need some new reels this year.....you know anyone that has tried out this "NEW for 05" Okuma Catalina reel that Cabela's is offering ?

I'll probly be working the salmon and steelhead from mid-late july thru september or so - till I get tired of it.

thanks again
lobo1

[FreeByrd]

Steve,
The Blue Diamond rods are nice but the ones that are most popular are the Classic Pro series. Specifically the 8 footer CPDR-80M and the 8 foot 6 CPDR-86M. Very reasonably priced and do a fine job.

I've used the Blue Diamond rods as Downrigger rods and also for running cranks on wire line deep on Erie.

I've not used the Catalinas so can't comment on them. I did see the newest version of the Convector CVs and they "felt" good but that was last Sat morning over a cup of coffee at Den's Sportsman's Outpost. 888 855 9032.

Steve

[yknotfrank]

Freebyrd hit it on the nose. The CPDR 80M is the rod I use for dipseys for my Spring King fishing. Later in the summer, I switch to the CPDR 86M for my wire dipseys and braids. I use a Twilli tip on my wires. The Blue Diamond 8'6" downrigger rod by Okuma will give you great service for years. I got mine when they first came out, and haven't regretted buying them. I had a client take the rod from my hand with a big king on, put his thumb on the line, and rip back on the rod, almost bending it in half setting the hook. I have no idea what kept that rod from exploding in pieces when he did that, but it proved to me that they are a tough, well made rod.
My planer board rods are 6' medium heavy for spring kings and walleyes and 7'ers for summer kings.
I used the new Catalinas last year and loved them. Great drag, great feel. A huge step above the old Magdas. The new CV Convectors are built along the same lines as the Catalinas, without the machined aluminum frame. The side plates, where the handle is, is very close the Catalinas. The drags are supposed to be the same, but I haven't put them to the fishing test yet. One more month.
Frank

[lobo1]

thanks guys

[rebs]

has anyone tried the trolling rods from basspro or cabelas that have the telescopic handle ? I heard that the 8.6 footers scope down to about 7 foot for storage ?

rebs

[A Rookie]

Lobo, I too use a lot of the Daiwa Heartland rods, as do a lot of the charters over here on Lk. Mi. side. We fish out of Pentwater and Ludington, and believe me, when you hook into a 20 plus King no rod is to big. I really like the 8 1/2 footers, I also run the 9'6" and 10 ft. for dipseys. The price is right and we've only broken one rod in the past few years on a green 23lbs. er thar deceided he was going under the boat and out the other side. Besides, I like to keep all matched rods on my boat if possible, it looks better and you get use to reading them it's easier to tell when you have a shaker or swimmer on. I think they are a great rod at a great price.

[bob oh]

Per Freebyrd's suggestion I used 7 foot Classic Pros on big boards last year and loved them. I also used Convector 15 linecounters last year and hated them. Haven't used the larger convectors.

rod bender bob

[Airwave(OH)]

I have a variety of rods including the Diawa Heartlands. Most are 8'6" There is nothing wrong with them at all. They work well on Walleye and Salmon.



It is not necessary to change
Survival is not mandatory