rod selection for leadcore

[Reelmn]

I want to attempt using leadcore and need suggestions on good dollar value rods. Cabela's has a 5 foot Depthmaster, other than that I am at a loss.

[Gilligan]

You will want a soft tip rod, no stretch to core. I mostly use what would be considered downrigger rods. I have them in Penns, Okumas, and Shimmano.

[bare]

I would steer clear of the Cabela's 5 foot lead core rod. Both myself and my tournament partner bought two of them last year and are unhappy with them, we will not be using them this year. The handles are not long enough to get the power you need, also the action is too light to reel any sizable fish in, we also had problems with the reel seats.

I wish I had a good alternative for a short rod, we are now looking for the same thing.

For longer rods I have been using 9 foot downrigger rods with sucess for the past 9 or 10 years, they are cheap and have the power and flexability you need.

[Sunshine]

BARE:

have you checked out the Scheels Shorty rod that Johnnie Candle designed?

It works!!!

[bare]

Thanks Sunshine,
That was one I was going to look at, I'm glad to hear they work.
Bare

[TEX]

I have been using the Berkley Cherrywood 5`6" casting rods for several years and they work well for me. The handle is a little short but these rods can handle 10# fish and they read good also. $19-$22 depending on where you get them.

Good Fishing,
Dan

[T Mac]

I want to attempt using leadcore and need suggestions on good dollar value rods. Cabela's has a 5 foot Depthmaster, other than that I am at a loss.



Go Long and soft.

[ldj002]

Another vote for the five foot shorty from Scheel's. It's excellent for your inside rods. The long handle allows you to hold all day by tucking it between your bicep and ribs without much fatigue.

For the outside rods, the Pro Tackle rod designed by John Bader from Aderdeen, SD is one of the hottest tickets for the dedicated leadcore guy. They come in 12 ft.

A couple important features are the good backbone to handle the weight of the line and soft tip for the non-stretch features of leadcore or superlines. The soft tip acts as your shock absorber to prevent less ripped lips. I think they were around $100 at the sport's show a couple years ago.

Lynn Jurrens

[Mille Lacs Guy]

I would steer clear of the Cabela's 5 foot lead core rod. Both myself and my tournament partner bought two of them last year and are unhappy with them, we will not be using them this year. The handles are not long enough to get the power you need, also the action is too light to reel any sizable fish in, we also had problems with the reel seats.

I wish I had a good alternative for a short rod, we are now looking for the same thing.

For longer rods I have been using 9 foot downrigger rods with sucess for the past 9 or 10 years, they are cheap and have the power and flexability you need.

I looked at the Cabelas Depth Master 5 foot rods and I agree they are too light for leadcore. Overall I was not impressed with the Depthmaster 5 footer. However, I picked up a Cabelas TXS 5 footer and it is every bit as good as the 5 foot Scheels rod and it is the perfect action for leadcore in my opinion. I was trolling with about 6 or 7 colors of lead out this fall with no problem.

Also, I believe the 5 foot TXS rods are on sale at Cabelas right now.

[jd otis]

I would check out The 5' jason mitchell lead core rods. I picked two up last year and love them. Light enought for the action of the lure but heavy enought to land big fish.

[threewayguy]

I use the 9ft depthmaster as my outside rods and the Peregrine 5 ftr for my inside rods. Nice thingabout the Cabelas rods is that it telescopes.