Best Walleye Rods ?

[bussman]

Have older rods I will replace soon. All are 6' medium action. See several guys on this board opting for 7' rods. Any opinions on length and stiffness for best all around walleye rod would be much appreciated.

[REW]

Several manufacturers are making "walleye specific" rods.

G Loomis, St. Croix, Bass Pro, Cabella's all have new rods this year that are "walleye specific".

It is interesting in all of their lines that there seems to be an overwelming tendency toward "lighter and longer".

A few years ago, it would seem that the "expected best " jigging rod, was a 5'10' medium, extra fast tip rod. In recent years -- this seems to be a 6'3" medium extra fast tip rod.

A few years ago, the rigging rod of choice was a 6'6" fast medium rod. Today the rod of choice is a 7' medium light - moderate action. The moderate action allows for the tip to be used a strike indicator and allows the fisherman to drop the line and feed line, without the fish feeling the line.

For trolling the rod of choice today seems to be a medium light 7, 7'6, 8' or 8'6 inch rod -- often in a bait caster.

For bottom bouncing - a 6'6" or 7' in a medium with a fast or extra fast tip is the rod of choice.

The above manufacturers all make excellent rods.

In fact, you can check out some of the imported rods that go for $50 - $125 and often represent a very good value with lots of sensitivity.

For jigging -- as well as all of my rods -- I very much prefer a "balanced" rod. i.e. with the reel in place - the rod should sit level on a finger at the normal place that the rod is held. The balance allows a less sensitive rod to fish much better.

In many of the current run of "walleye" rods, you will find more guides, and the guides will be smaller. This is the case, since most walleye fishing is with 4-14 lb test line, and reduces the need for large guides to accomodate heavy line line looping.
"More guides" allow more of the rod vibrations to be transferred to the hand of the fisherman. Cork handles, with excellent reel seats are a must -- to couple the walleye "thump" into the fishermans hands.

Silicon carbide guides are nice to help defray "grooving" with super line -- but in all actaulity are not really necessary. Many folks use a silicon carbide tip only -- to accomodate the possiblity of severe line wear and stress.

Go into a good rod shop - try your rod with reel of choice and lightly drag the tip across the carpet. Then compare the feelings that you get with a very inexpensive rod -- doing the same thing. I think that you wil find -- that you will quicly tell the difference in transmitted vibrations -- between various rods.

Take care

REW

[rawburt]

Berkley offers the Gary Roach Signature Series. Can't go wrong with Mr.Walleye himself. I think they have 4 models. Good fishing . rawburt