What's the 'best' salmon trolling rod?

07-25-2003, 05:58 PM

I've seen quite a few - I'm curious as to what people believe is the 'best' trolling rod for salmon? Always looking for a little info before I need to buy more stuff..

Ramstrong · 07-25-2003, 06:21 PM

I'm real happy with my Berkley Buzz Ramsey 15-50# 8'6" meat stick. It's beefy enough to handle a diver, but soft enough to enjoy fighting them. Sometimes I'm worried that the graphite will give on it, and it'll blow up. But it hasn't happened yet, so I'm pretty happy.

Streetwalker · 07-25-2003, 07:12 PM

Look at Finclipped's story & picture on the main board of the 46 lb Chinook he got last Sat, before you spend to much.

[ 07-25-2003, 08:15 PM: Message edited by: Streetwalker ]

07-25-2003, 08:09 PM

Finclipped's story is great. I think we all have similar stories that include that 'one old rod'. I have an old Eagle Claw that I've had since I was ten that I literally grew up with. Great stories there, but here I'm looking to get into a few good rods for the boat at economical prices. I like the Berkeley's and have heard nothing but good things about them.

Flyguy · 07-25-2003, 08:38 PM

I would recommend a North River 9ft 20-50 for the big hogs and ocean trolling. IT handles divers well and I feel it's the most bang for your buck.

Lepper · 07-25-2003, 08:46 PM

Well You want to know the BEST rod EVER for trolling??

It's the one with the FISH ON IT!!

I personally like my 8'6 shakespear ugly stick.. 12-20lb rod.. Use it in the ocean in the river.. You can catch any size salmon on it.. jus tsome you need to be more patient with.. :smile:
dave

WP · 07-25-2003, 09:15 PM

Lepper,
That is my stick for ocean salmon too! I use a shorter version for bottom fishing though, for easier handling. Great flex and backbone with enough sensitivity to be a blast. I love graphite for a lot of fishing but for ocean fishing I stick with uglysticks or similar rods...tough and durable while being fun.
WP

Mr. Fisherman · 07-25-2003, 09:20 PM

I am partial to the bent rod

I am growing rather partial to the NorthRiver rods for the money. I have seen them catch everything from Coho to 78# Halibut. I have 2.

crabbait · 07-25-2003, 09:31 PM

While the Northriver and other graphite rods are great river rods, or for fishing anywhere that sensitivity is an issue, there is a lot to be said for soft glass tips on a trolling rod.

I, too, like the Uglysticks. I have two med/heavy and one heavy 8 1/2'. In my opinion, the soft tip is much better than the stiff North River rods for feeding bait on the troll. Much less likely to pull the hook out with the softer tip.

The Uglystick is also my #1 choice for plunking spin'n glos. The soft tip lets you "load" the rod in the holder and you can see every little twitch.

My #2 choice would be the Berkley Buzz Ramseys. A great rod for trolling big divers and catching big chinook on the troll. Again, the tip is much softer than the North River and the butt still has the strength to play a big fish. The 7'9" one-piece is a great rod for the money.

[ 07-25-2003, 10:32 PM: Message edited by: crabbait ]

Streetwalker · 07-25-2003, 09:45 PM

Seriously though I like the Lami 1326-T "Salmon Moocher" they load through the whole rod & work great w/ divers. We broke one recently on a big Chinook (still got the fish) & I walked in to Lamiglass the following Monday & they handed me a new one. They were not overly expensive either, $125 ea.

HOGGEMIN · 07-25-2003, 10:55 PM

Check out the Allstar rods at Sportsman Wharhouse a great rod for less than a loomis or lami, still made in America and lifetime warrienty

Mr. Fisherman · 07-25-2003, 11:36 PM

Oops, trolling rod....
I must admit that we were mooching with these rods...

Scaup · 07-26-2003, 06:20 AM

I'm in the one that catches fish crowd :smile: . I don't believe you need an expensive rod for ocean trolling for salmon.

My father has a couple of cheap 35 year old Sears Special trolling rods with Penn 209s of the same age. He's too cheap to buy new ones, and why not they work. They have caught an incalcuable number of fish on them including a 36lb Chinook last week.

I like the Ugly Sticks myself.

Fish Slayer · 07-26-2003, 11:15 PM

I'm really happy using my Buzz Ramsey 7'9" 15-50 lb for salmon. I've caught lots of fish on it using a diver. Like last time I was out I caught a 28 lbs. chinook with 10 pulls of line out. I could see my stuff down there flashing. It works good for sturgeon and other stuff too. :smile:

DAB · 07-27-2003, 04:42 PM

My favorite ocean trolling rod is Lamiglaas 9ft.Ex-HVY G 1344-T .. Line 15 to 40 lb.
Kenai Series Witha OKUMA MAGDA PRO 200X reel and power pro 50lb test line I have been using this setup for a while. Reel has a smooth drag the handle has 2 holes in it one for power and one for speed. And I do catch fish on it (Beeg juans).
Can not rember what I paid for the rod the reel was not as pricey as the other reels that are of the same quality. Landed a 10 lb. Coho Yesterday out in the ocean on this setup and many NATES

Can't keep them all.
DAB

[ 07-27-2003, 05:43 PM: Message edited by: DAB ]

Capin' Dan · 07-27-2003, 10:51 PM

North River, North River, North River, North River,

Did I say NORTH RIVER I have caught way over 300 salmon on mine, They pull the divers great, are a good luck charm like a rabbits foot. Bait boy has caught a 78 lb Halibut, Mr. Fisherman has caught a 70+ lb halibut on one of mine. several in the 50 lb range and two 30 lb kings with divers. They handle them great and for all the abuse I throw at them they still have held up good. All of my friends and fishing partners own them now.

Did I say NORTH RIVER. Try one you will love it.
8'6" heavy 15 to 40 with a ambu garcia 6500 c4 and a penn 320 GTI for rock pile monsters. they have also slaughtered the lings up to 30 lbs. They are my go to rod.

Of course the one day while fishing sturgeon Baitboy picks up the rod and sets the hook. Quote [OHHHH My god Danny what have you done] luckily the leader parted or we would have seen what they do on a 9 foot sturgeon.
North rivers are sold by fishermans marine

Dan

[ 07-27-2003, 11:52 PM: Message edited by: Capin' Dan ]

GutZ · 07-29-2003, 12:37 PM

I have been having a blast with a new 10 1/2 foot Shimano Convergence. The one I have is rated 12 to 25 with 4 to 8 ounce lures. My buddies have the one below and the one above, 12 -17 1 to 4 and 12 -25 6 to 10. These are really sweet rods. We mostly troll off of Penn 600's. We all have these matched up with Shimano GT4000's. Yeah, knucklebusters. I don't think there is a more exciting trolling combination anywhere for less than $150.00. I have heard that Walmart has these rods for around $45.00. I paid $65.00 and do not regret it.

I also have been running the 65# Spiderline. The 4000 held 250 yards of Ande 25 and 300 yards of the Spiderline. I haven't got spooled yet!

Threemuch · 07-29-2003, 12:59 PM

Downrigger, I use a 8'6" shakespeare intrepid, 12-20lb test, diver 7' ugly stick tiger in light mode. Both less than 50 bucks, both have landed 25 pound albacore.

Popeye · 07-29-2003, 01:13 PM

G Loomis G3 med/heavy w/Calcutta 400 :grin:

Threemuch · 07-29-2003, 01:27 PM

Popeye has the right setup if you have the cash.

Popeye · 07-29-2003, 01:39 PM

Hey Kurt....4Reel has a Loomis Palaegic that he brought with him for Tuna! Well....He left it behind...MAN I had a hard time dialing my cell phone to tell him ta come back and get it! :grin:

Pilar · 07-29-2003, 01:54 PM

G Loomis 932C hotshot rod in GL2. Buy it once and you have a rod for life. One piece, 8'6" medium heavy with extra fast tip. This rod will mooch, run a spinner in T-bay, drag a diver, fake out a light biting sturgeon and even catch a steelhead. If there is a one rod fits all this is it.

About $190.