View Full Version : Bottom Bouncer Rods
Dave in Mpls
08-17-2000, 02:24 PM
I'm in need of a couple new rods for pulling bottom bouncers and spinners. These rods will also pull double duty for occasionally casting for pike. I am currently using Fenwick Legacy 7' Triggersticks which are just plum wore out (duct tape on cork, super glue on guides, the works!). I would prefer St. Croixs, as the company has been very good to me and friends in the past. Recommendations for St. Croixs or others??
Regards
Neal/Co
08-17-2000, 02:45 PM
Hey Dave, I just bought a 7ft MH action XPS extreme rod from Bass Pro Shops. It is rated for lures up to 1 1/2 oz and I have beening pulling bouncers up to 2 oz all summer with it. It also sees double duty as my pike rod. So far it's been an excellent rod, and it didn't cost me a fortune. It's 89 bucks thru Bass Pro Shops.
Dave, I was looking for bottom bouncer rods this year as well. I settled on a couple of the St. Croix Avid rods (AC62MXF) (casting, 6'2", medium action, extra fast tip). So far I've been really impressed. Prior to these I was using a couple of Premiers and there is no comparison. The Avids are lighter, quicker and much more sensitive. Good luck in your search.
Best Regards,
FJH
Dave in Mpls
08-17-2000, 03:09 PM
Dang, Man....
I said they've been "very good", not put me through college!!!
The Avids are sweet. Unfortunately, I just got paid, so I'm a little short! If I only needed one, I'd go that route in a heartbeat. But, I need two for myself, and one for dear 'ol dad (he put me through college, or at least paid for alot of beer!) Are the Premiers half the rod the Avids are?? I have a couple PMS66MLF that I love for rigging, and I can still afford gas for the boat.
Regards
Dave in Mpls
08-17-2000, 03:13 PM
I'll check 'em out, Neil. I would prefer to buy something locally, as I have some gift certificates to burn up for Gander Mountain.
Have fun with the kids at that soccer practice!
Regards
Nodak7mm
08-17-2000, 03:27 PM
Dave, I use the 7' MH St. Croix Premeir for that very purpose, primarily pulling 2oz b/bouncers, works awesome for me. Can't comment on the avids, no experiance.
Rod
You cheapskate! I'm just messing with you Dave - lol. Yes, the Premiers are also excellent rods. The ones that I was using were several years old and the newer version are much nicer (I found them (the new version) to be similar to the old Legend, not quite as light, but close). Dad also put me through college, being I was a bio major I could justify the time spent after classes on Big Green Lake! I picked up a Legend for him a couple years ago and he loves it.
Best Regards,
FJH
Gunga Din
08-17-2000, 04:33 PM
What reel do you have on your Avid?
Steve (CO)
08-17-2000, 04:35 PM
I bought two of the BassPro walleye bottom bouncer rods last year. While they are nice, one broke when I snagged on bottom trolling at less than 1 mph. Might have been a defect. When I called Bass Pro Shops for a replacement (it was less than 3-4 mos old), they insisted that I pay a replacement fee ($9 I think). While this is a small amount, I also had to pay shipping back to them. I felt that if the rod was defective, they should have covered the cost of replacement without any stupid fee. Cabela's sure doesn't do that! Needless to say, I will not purchase rods from them any more.
Just my two cents for what it's worth.
Steve (CO)
Tallmike
08-17-2000, 04:42 PM
If you are pulling bouncers behind planers you can get by with a cheapie rod. I do. I got a graphite series (I'll catch flack over this) 6' 6" medium heavy spinning from Bass Pro that works quite nicely. According to Off Shore, the planer is doing the work for you, so what is the point in sensitivity? Personally, I have found that attaching the planer to the line on a six and a half footer is much easier than on my steelhead rod, 8' 6". Also, should I break this thing, I'm only out $20 plus a little shipping. I'm not a total cheapskate. My jiggin' rod is a 6' 2" Loomis walleye series. High bucks but it is what you want to feel the ticks. If you are just pulling bouncers without planers, my son used my set up and still felt the bites. Another nice rod and lifetime guaranteed is the 6' 6" Fenwick HMG for about $105 but these can be found discounted. Lots of backbone, the seven foot heavy has even more. Keep in mind the trolling bible has everything calibrated according to 10# mono. My Shimano 4000's hold 200 yards of 10# and you can have lots of line out behind the planer as well as to the planer. Once in awhile with a hang-up and a break-off it also does not force you to be respooling out in the boat when you want to be fishing. I hope my comments help. Give your it some thought and see what price the application deserves. Good Luck.
Colin
08-17-2000, 06:36 PM
Dave,
I have some sweet rods at the shop that are on sale I don't know if you can find elsewhere they are garcia cpc661mh-6'6" 3/8-11/2oz. These are Conolon rods IM-8's, they retail for 95.99 reg. price we have them for around 70.00 mail me if your intrested.
Thanks Colin
Try Hookhider they make excellent quality rods at a reasonable price. I prefer their 7ft rods for the bottom bouncers and for heavier bottom bouncers I really like their Planer board rods.
Dan
bob oh
08-18-2000, 06:32 AM
Why would you need a sensitive rod for pulling bottom bouncers??? Wouldn't a heavy duty (make that cheap) glass rod work as well??
Bob
EricCO
08-18-2000, 08:06 AM
Are you running fireline or mono on your BB Rods?
I run fireline on mine and this year I went with a Cabelas XML rod that came with one of them new Quantum Accurist reels that has a flipping switch for $140. This setup is so light that it is scary. I got the medium rod with fast tip. With the fireline I went with a faster tip so I wouldn't jerk the bait out of their mouths. I get way to excited when I feel a fish bite that I need all the help I can get to relax.
I haven't found a reason to go over 2 ounces on the bottom bouncer, so that might be why the medium w/fast tip works for me.
I know you wanted to know about St. Croix rods, but I just like typing.
Good luck and let us know what you decide.
I've got a couple of old Shimano baitcasters, can't remember the name. The most important thing to me is that the reel has a flippin switch. Some day I may upgrade the reels, but their still doing a good job.
Best Regards,
FJH
If you're going to drop the rod in a holder and pull rigs around I suppose a heavy duty glass rod would work fine. I prefer to use lighter bouncers and work some pretty specific spots (I always hold the rods). For this I think a sensitive rod is a must, at the lightest tick I can drop the rod back to the fish - works for me.
Best Regards,
FJH
bob oh
08-18-2000, 01:39 PM
Didn't mean to offend...Actually I don't pull anything around, fish Erie and normally have a bouncer over the side while drifting and working another bait. Also normally 2 to 4 ounce bouncers and it is hard to finesse with that much lead ;-) When I go with light weight I generally go in-line.
Bob
Bob G2
08-18-2000, 08:49 PM
Dave,
Doesn't Gander have their own series of rods which may fill your need. To me, the look like they might be made by St.Croix (look like Premier blanks) and were about 2/3's the cost. Maybe you can use those gift certificates for a couple with
no legal tender outlay of your own. Just a thought.
Bob, no offense taken at all. Sometimes the typed word comes out a little differently than it would have been spoken. My first sentence was meant to have a questioning inflection to it.
Best Regards and Good Fishing,
FJH
Kevin/CO
08-19-2000, 08:20 PM
It might be too much back bone, I don't know, but I like to use medium weight spinning 2pc. UglySticks. They have a 60 lbs. shock strength but incredile flexability and they are pretty sensitive. Those rods are made to last and they have the waranty to back them up. I like them and well I think you should maybe look into them.