Planer Board/Downrigger Rods

[Eyejacker]

Need some advice on the best planer board rods. What length, brand, etc. Will a good planer board rod make a good downrigger rod? Are linear rods(i.e. no rod guides as line runs through center of the rod)good for this type of fishing?
Thanks,
Eyejacker

[cisco]

I would probably once more buy Shakespeare Ugly Stiks. Their Big Water (BH) and downrigger models are superb. They are less pricey than most others, and are durable as ****. With a composite construction they do not break so easily as graphite. The downrigger models I have are wood handle, making them more durable for rod holder use. The spongy-foam (??) handles on the Dipsy and planer board Ugly Stiks also hold up much better than cork. Mine have been used much more than is probably normal -- mostly on trout and salmon in Lake Michigan, but also on inland lakes and reservoirs. I own a lot of rods, but Shakespeare is my choice for downriggers and boards. (I don't know from my own experience, but the thru-blank line rods seem like a good idea, especially when traveling from site to site and wanting to avoid tangle.) Good fishing.

[RickTK]

I've been using ugly sticks for both applications and have been pretty happy with them. They're durable rods. I did have to replace the tip eye because the plastic insert holding the oxide guide to the eye developed grooves from the strain of deep running cranks on planar boards. I had noticed rough spots on my #10 XT. Maybe the newer model rods don't have the same type of eyes.