what rods

[groucho]

Hello; I'm trying to get a set up trolling with #1 and#2 planers and then another set up using stretch 25's and 30's. My questions are how long should the rod be and what action would be good for each set up. I'm using a baitcaster for a reel. Stripers and a good fight are the goals. Thanks

[Cap't Steve]

6' to 6.5' medium heavy would be my choice for a good fight I have 4 Penn international Rods with 965 reels I use for the same purpose. The Penn Rods are nothing more then overpriced & fancy wrapped ugly sticks though so save yourself some bucks & just get the Ugly Sticks

[capt. dave]

Forget the baitcaster for big stripers. For trolling with planers I would use something like a Penn 320 for #1's with a 25-40lb. rated rod and at least 30# mono line and for the #2 planer I would go up to a Penn 330 outfit with 30-50lb. rod and line. The 330 outfit with 40-50lb. line should work with the Stretch 25's. For Stretch 30's I'd go up to 50-60# line. This may seem like over powering, but here is one thing to keep in mind; if you are trolling any kind of tandem rig, you could get two large fish on at the same time. I've gotten as many as three on at the same time on one umbrella rig (two were 30" fish and the other was 36"). A bait caster in all proability will not have the cranking power that you need to reel the big fish in if you continue making way. If you really want a good fight, try jigging for the big fish rather than trolling for them.

[groucho]

thanks guys. Capt. Dave would you use a 6 to 6.5' medium heavy rod also?

[capt. dave]

I would go with the 6.5, but I also use a few 6.0's since I normally troll six or more lines. Rather than say medium heavy, I'd look at the line test rating that is printed on the rod. It is usually a range such as 25-40lbs. That way you are more likely to match up the rod with the line and reel you plan to use. The best approach is to try to balance your rod, line, reel, and lures so all perform in a complimentery way.

[groucho]

Thanks Capt. Dave

[martineta]

With a baitcaster you would be hard pressed to just reel in a large umbrella rig.

[Scotttb]

I have a couple 15-30 lb heavy action baitcasters rods with a BPS Penn 965 copy on them. 20 lb mono with 50 lb leader. Great fun for trolling stretch 25's when you are in small fish, and you know you are in 99% small fish. Can also pull a #1 planer and spoon or other small bait just fine. I use them a lot for flounder too.

I'd never us them as a primary setup to start the day rockfish trolling though, not that you couldn't. Would just hate to catch a big one on that tackle and risk losing the fish and spending forever landing the fish.

I use Avet LX 3/0 reels with braid and a mono leader on 6.5' 10-60 lb rods I found. Love the setups, very light, very powerful, do lots of things well. Not much heavier or more cumbersome than what you're describing. Expensive,yes. But worth it, to me.


So a 15-30 baitcasting rod and a 6.5' rod with a wide line rating curve would be my suggestion. The brand of rods I have is Barefoot and they are cheap online but really great. $50 at J&H tackle but I scored them for $30 at the richmond bassarama fishing show last year. Plan to buy more of different sizes there this year.

[groucho]

May I ask Scotttb with your setup trolling stretch 25 and 30's how much line out the back will it take to get down the 25 feet and 30 feet. I would be using braid also. know there would be alot of variables included but a general rule. I really didn't mean to eliminate everyone else all opinions would be appreciated. Thanks

[Coan Ranger]

I can add very little to the good advice above. I will say that I have some outfits that I use for both rockfish on the planer board lines where lighter lure sets are used and on blues and spanish using #l planers as well as inlines. This combo of light Okuma level winds and 6' Penn rods can be had at the tackle store in Deltaville for a total of less than $60. I have one of the Okumas on a Barefoot which is really nice. Check J&H Tackle on the internet for lowest prices I have seen, shows excepted.

[Scotttb]

I don't know how deep they are running really. I always set it back far enough so as not to interfere with closer deeper lines. I'm not too scientific and I usually catch fish. 1 mojo rig with trailer close and bouncing off the bottom. Two small 6 arm stormbrellas with inlines and different weights next from outrodders. Then a stretch. then way way back an unweighted 9" storm or tandem bucktail rig. Always catches something for me.