Bouncer Combos - Need Opinions

[Morton]

I got the banker to agree to a couple new bouncer rigs and I am trying to figure out what I want and will work together well. I have about $300 to spend.

I am considering the following rods and reels:

Shimano Clarus 9' steelhead spinning rod Ml Fast
Shimano Spirex SR4000RE spinning reel

Any opinions or suggestions others are using that may even be an improvemnt?
Thanks in advance for your responses.
Morton

[yarcraft91]

I prefer using line counter levelwind reels for bottom bouncers- Daiwa Sealine size 27.

[Adam Bomb]

Im not sure what kind of water your fishing or your approach, but on the Great Lakes i troll deep water basins, bars and rocky humps. Most of my BB is done flat lined off the corners of the boat or off of boards on occassion. For this kind of fishing i use a 7'6" M action BPS Walleye Angler Trolling rod. For the reel i run a Daiwa SG27LCA w/15# Power Pro to the bouncer. The reason i use the braid is so i have less blow back, because of its thin diameter, as well as outstanding feel. Between the graphite rod and the braid it really telegraphs whats happening down below. I can tell when im ticking bottom or see or feel the light bites in situations when i manipulate the rod manually. And because of the braid and blow back is limited, i rarely have to clear that rod should i get a fish on an inline or BB off the boards. And as for the line counter is concerned, its obvious...consistancy.

Good luck with your deciscion, whatever you decide on.

[Unregistered]

I generally am fishing the big MO in South Dakota and rarely fish in deeper than 25'.
Actually this year I have not fished deeper than 10' and the fish are still are going strong.
I generally backtroll and dead stick one rod while working the other.
The longer rods will give me a chance to "spread" my presentation a little more.
These rods will also double for jigging the stilling basin below Gavins Point Dam during the winter and thus I prefer the spinning reel.

[tracker 1]

Im not sure what kind of water your fishing or your approach, but on the Great Lakes i troll deep water basins, bars and rocky humps. Most of my BB is done flat lined off the corners of the boat or off of boards on occassion. For this kind of fishing i use a 7'6" M action BPS Walleye Angler Trolling rod. For the reel i run a Daiwa SG27LCA w/15# Power Pro to the bouncer. The reason i use the braid is so i have less blow back, because of its thin diameter, as well as outstanding feel. Between the graphite rod and the braid it really telegraphs whats happening down below. I can tell when im ticking bottom or see or feel the light bites in situations when i manipulate the rod manually. And because of the braid and blow back is limited, i rarely have to clear that rod should i get a fish on an inline or BB off the boards. And as for the line counter is concerned, its obvious...consistancy.

Good luck with your deciscion, whatever you decide on.

I was just going to ask that question of wether you can use a BB off a board. Do you have a tatle tail flag on the board ? Is it hard to tell when you have a fish on ? How much line do you have coming of the board ?

[Adam Bomb]

If i run a bb on a board i dont go over a 2 oz because anything more than that sinks the rear of the board pretty badly because of the severe angle of the line along with the heavy weight and drag a BB has. As it is a 2 oz. will pull your flag down about half way.

In regaurds to the flag system, yes it works great for your slower or lighter puling applications, however, if your pulling deep diving cranks at a good clip itll burry the flag.(You could replace the stock spring with a stiffer one to eliminate this) Other than that, when a fish hits or you snag a weed the flag pulls down easily and is a great visual indicator. As time goes on you'll understand how to read the boards. When you do youll find that the flag system is allot less nescessary IMO. Many angles acutually do away with the flag system all together and just use the flag to help keep track of their boards in rougher waters.

As far as the amount of line out, thats hard to say. It all depends on how deep the water is and how fast your going. The deeper and faster, more line, the shallower and slower, less line. I like to try and keep my BB line at a 45 degree angle.

[2Labs]

I got the banker to agree to a couple new bouncer rigs and I am trying to figure out what I want and will work together well. I have about $300 to spend.

I am considering the following rods and reels:

Shimano Clarus 9' steelhead spinning rod Ml Fast
Shimano Spirex SR4000RE spinning reel

Any opinions or suggestions others are using that may even be an improvemnt?
Thanks in advance for your responses.
Morton


I don't use spinning rods nor spinning reels for my bouncing. I prefer a bait casting rod and a reel with a flipping switch. I use a 6'8" M St. Croix rod with an XF tip coupled with a Quantum Accurist reel.

I leave the flipping switch "on". To let out more line one just pushes the release and thumbs the line as it goes out. When the proper depth is reached, one then lets up on the release and the reel is in gear and ready to set the hook without having to turn the reel handle.

Is there a particular reason you like the spinning rig? I have tried bouncing with such a setup and didn't like it at all.

[blueroof]

I don't use spinning rods nor spinning reels for my bouncing. I prefer a bait casting rod and a reel with a flipping switch. I use a 6'8" M St. Croix rod with an XF tip coupled with a Quantum Accurist reel.

I use a similar setup as 2Labs. Accurist reels for the flip switch and Croix TWC70mm rods. You can get those combos right at $300.

LB