Tuna Rod Question?

Chinook Nut · 06-29-2005, 04:51 PM

I'm eyeballing a couple of rods for tuna right now. I'm looking at a Okuma 7' 20-50 lb. and a 30-80 lb. Also looking a ugly stick Tiger 7' 30-60 lb. Looking for one of these for fishing live bait (what pound line you would reccomend) and one for trolling, would one of these work for that? Thanks Kurt

RJ · 06-29-2005, 05:02 PM

Nut, The Tiger Rod in 30-60 is my Favorite tuna Troll Rod there tuff and they have the back bone you need if you want to pitch bait or metal and you want another Tiger Rod the 12 to 30 7' or the 15 to 40 6 1/2 is a great choice... yes there are better rods out there but for the price and as hard as we work them I have never had one fail yet....RJ

Chinook Nut · 06-29-2005, 05:20 PM

On the tiger rods for trolling, what kinds of reels are you using with what type line? Kurt

retaliate · 06-29-2005, 05:45 PM

My favorite rod is a 7' 20 #to 50# ugly stick big water boat rod, seems to work well for Halibut & Tuna as well, I did demo my 10 1/2' 20# to 40# outside rods(cabelas cheep-o 10$ rods) & they worked good, a little more work, but with the fighting belt it was alot easier, I am considering shorting these rod's 1 to 2 eye-let's, to make it a stiffer 10'rod.A 10' rod is still a long rod, & shoud help keep tangles down. No tangles at all on the outside lines, which was my goal.

RJ · 06-29-2005, 06:47 PM

Nut, WE Run mostly 6/0 penns but the 4/0's , 330's 320's will all work, we have ran for the last few years 80lb Tuff and Powerpro ....RJ

Bluefinn · 06-29-2005, 07:22 PM

Ugly stick Tiger rods best bang for the buck.Just a all around good rod for Tuna.IMHO Rick

crabbait · 06-29-2005, 07:28 PM

At the other end of the spectrum you find the Calstar and Seeker rods (google either). Nearly 100% of the rods you see on the long range tuna boats are one or the other.

On the big boats, where one foot one way or the other won't help you keep the line off the hull, the typical "stand-up" rod is 5 1/2'. On the advice of Mark and Tom, I went with 6 1/2' trolling/live bait rods and 7' jig/bait rods rated from 15-30lb to 40-80lb. For albacore, rods with an upper rating of 40 or 50 and a tip-top size no larger than 9 are optimum.

These are the blank numbers I am working with, from the lightest recommended, up, in either Seeker or Calstar (even their blank numbering is very similar):

270-7 This is a 7' glass rod rated 12(20)30 and is the lightest I would use for livebait/fishtraps for albies and a great salmon rod.

870 This is also a 7' glass rod rated 15(25)40. An excellent livebait/fishtrap rod and the lightest trolling or jig rod I would use.

665 This is a 6'6" glass "livebait" rod that I think may be ther perfect albie trolling rod. For those of you at the last TA meetings, this was the blank I used for the rod I made for Jen. This one's big brother, the 665H is rated 30(50)80 (the black and gold rod was a 665H) and the poppa is the 665XH rated to 100lbs (Ragnar has one with Aftco rollers on the first guide and tip-top).

670 Like the 665 but 7' long. Many, including Tuna Tom, think this is the premium jig pitcher and will troll all day.

If you like glass/graphite composites, check out the Calstar 700XL, L and M. I also just today picked up a Calstar Graphiter 765XL blank.

If you plan to build one, Angler's Workshop has some blanks on hand. If you order a blank, Calstar seems to come through in a reasonable amount of time and Seeker seems to take 8-10 weeks, from my experience.

I will know a lot more after this season. I am in the process of building at least one of all the rods I listed.

Mark Mc · 06-29-2005, 08:24 PM

Gee Crabbait, it didn't take long for you to become a saltwater rod snob like me did it

?

Now if you'll excuse me, I promised Glen I'd fix his failing Ugly stick for him tonight

Really.

p.s. Crabbait....I guess I haven't told you how well a 196 blank w/20# works.....that rod kicks arse with light line & a Newell 229.

crabbait · 06-29-2005, 08:36 PM

Hey Mark, I'm just spearaminting. I hope to pick thru and find the one's I really like.

What do you think...I am seriously considering tying the 670/870/765L "deckhand" style with a cordwrapped or corktape handle and no reel seat, spiral guides (black sictics). Think I am going to try some of the new cushioned handle wrap on them. Huh?

Mark Mc · 06-29-2005, 08:47 PM

On the deckhand style.....I have a couple, and they have their advantages esp. on the longer rods. There is something I've seen but not tried...that I think is interesting. That is, use the cork tape on the butt side of the reel seat (or seat area), and use a hypolan / EVA for the foregrip. So you get the cushion of the foam only where you really need it.

BTW thanks for showing us your spiral "acid" wrap in Corvallis. That's the first one I'd ever seen in person. Very cool.

Reel Creel · 06-29-2005, 10:53 PM

Lamiglas 20/50 BFC 66H is what i use, i have a set for the boat. and its a nice rod for silver bullits. About $85 so its not out of range in price. Nice soft tip and plenty of back bone for the ones you need to lean on.

06-30-2005, 07:55 AM

During but season one of my Penn 5'6" 20lb-50lb butt rods was broken by one of the guys on the boat. I sent it back to the manufacture (not Penn but a company called Bimini Bay Outfiters) and they sent back a real nice Ande Graphite/Glass composit "Tournament Stand Up" ASU-561A SBH 5'6" 50lb-80lb rod to replace it. I put my Avet EXW on it and hefted the 20lb cannon ball a few hundred times and REALLY AM IMPRESSED with this rod! For a low end rod I feel they are a good buy and I'm thinking about trying a pair of lighter 20lb-50lb ASU-561A SBMH.