Bottom bouncer rod

Having a bit of “paralysis from analysis” on this. I’m looking for a dedicated bottom bouncer rod. Weight is typically 1-1/2oz while occasionally going all the way to 3oz. It will be paired with an Okuma Convector line counter with a flipping switch. My thought is with a MH/F, I would spool my reel with mono so the give is in the line, not the rod. My other option would be to go with something like the Eyecon MH/M and spool my reel with braid. Lastly, looking for full cork grip. I’d say I’m 50/50 between rod holder and holding it in my hands. Any suggestions or recommendations?

I love my 10ft Medium action cabelas trolling rods. They’re a variety of the depth- master series that are no longer made. Very forgiving, parabolic bend. I use braid, so I need the rod to absorb the head shakes. I put my rod in the holder 90% of the time.
You can’t really go wrong. It’s definitely not a presentation that you need to have specific rods for. Everyone just uses what they have or what works for them.

I use the Scheels walleye series 8’ medium moderate action with braid and leave the rods in the rod holders most of the time. I’ve been a big fan of these rods for the price point. They hook up the fish well and handle the head shakes. I’ve used them trolling many times as well with zero complaints

Seems like you would want a softer rod for this. Between the trolling, and the action of a bottom bouncer I would want fast tip to show any change in bottom and soft spine to absorb strikes and snags. A heavy rod with Mod/Fast action. Okuma SST seems to fit the bill.

Legend tournament walleye
7’ mhm
Bounce and troll

Full cork, heavy enough for 3oz no problem, love the rod, very sensitive, doubles well for trolling

I’m a big believer in mono over braid for walleyes but a bouncer rod I recommend braid

Softer tip and braid they should set themselves in the rod holder and just a slow sweep in hand.

I’ve always used a medium heavy bass rod. When I’ve used a dedicated 8 foot 6 trolling medium rod seems like there’s 5 lbs on the end of that long rod putting leverage on your wrist all day.

Scheel has a 7’ Walleye Series rod that works perfectly for this application. It will handle a 3 oz. bouncer. When I’m fishing I usually hold the rod, but my guide clients typically put them in the rod holders. Scheels also has similar rods in their less expensive series that work well too.

If I was exclusively putting them in a rod holder, something a little longer would work. I’ve tried to hold onto a 7’6” or 8’ all day and I found it uncomfortable.

Definitely don’t break the bank on bottom bouncer rods. Hell I think some of my favorite ones are some version of 7’ Ugly Sticks.

I’m a braid to the bouncer guy and prefer something with a softer tip. I probably hold them in my hand 75% of the time and rod holders 25%

In my experience rod holders chew up cork. I have some older Garcia telescopic rods that I really like with foam grips. Also have some clam rods with foam and rubber mixed grips. I have run the plums and quantum accurists as they both have flipper switches. I tend to prefer braid on a more moderate rod.

CBMN wrote:

In my experience rod holders chew up cork. I have some older Garcia telescopic rods that I really like with foam grips. Also have some clam rods with foam and rubber mixed grips. I have run the plums and quantum accurists as they both have flipper switches. I tend to prefer braid on a more moderate rod.

Folbe rod holders won’t chew up cork. I’ve been using them for 15 years. However, I have a few hook keepers that have been compromised from a Folbe rod holder.

A buddy neatly wraps his foam handles with bat tape (I think he calls it tiger grip). He is an old college baseball guy and swears it is what feels best and then holds up in rod holders too. I might start doing the same this summer for my cheaper bouncer rods.

Charlie W wrote:

Legend tournament walleye
7’ mhm
Bounce and troll

Full cork, heavy enough for 3oz no problem, love the rod, very sensitive, doubles well for trolling

I’m a big believer in mono over braid for walleyes but a bouncer rod I recommend braid

I actually have the model above in an eyecon, that I don’t use much as I mostly fish rivers and jig. Think I used it 4 or 5 times. Message me if interested, I might be willing to part with it.

If you hold the rod in your hand I would not go bigger then 7′ longer rods will cause more arm fatigue. I prefer a rod with a slower action so when the bite happens you can load on the fish slowly not quick like a jigging rod.

Thank you all for your input. That Scheels Walleye Series rod has me curious. If I were to use this rod for pulling crankbaits (rarely), would braid still be the best choice? What test of braid do you recommend? I’ve always thought 20 is the best all around.

I use Scheel’s Walleye Series rods and troll cranks with them alot. I think they’re really good rods for trolling cranks and I’ve been using them for years.
I’ve been using braid to troll cranks now for over 15 years. I’ve never found the need to troll with any any other type of line.
I use 15 lb. Power Pro because it has the equivalent diameter of 4 lb. test mono so that it matches up with Precision Trolling dive curves. Precision Trolling shows the dive curves of most of the cranks that I use with both 10 lb. mono dive curves and a 4 lb. mono dive curves. Many of the dive curves were originally made using both 10 lb. mono as well as 10/4 Fireline and since 10/4 Fireline and 15/4 Power Pro both have equivalent diameters of 4 lb. mono, they are interchangeable on the Precision Trolling dive curves.
At one time I did use 10/4 Fireline but found that it frayed so I switched to 15/4 Power Pro.
I generally tie my cranks directly to the Power Pro but one can also use a leader of some kind if you prefer but it will affect your dive curve slightly depending upon it’s diamter and how long your leader might be (unless it has the same diameter as your main line).
It’s a simple process to use the Precision Trolling App (I still have the original book as well as the app) to calculate how deep your crank is running at the published speed. I’ve been using the Precision Trolling App for at least 10 years and it works and very well.
20 lb. braid will work also for trolling cranks but I find that it’s so easy to use line diameters that match the published dive curves in the app that why not? There’s no need to reinvent the wheel.

My favorite rod for this is the JT snare rod. Its 9’3″ and telescoping. I think it catches more while in the rod holder than when i have it in my hand.

Have an okuma 86 that is fantastic, it does get some fatigue tho. I do feel I connect more with it having such a soft tip it allows the fish to take a spinner more.

Gamechanger is the flippin switch for the reel. Must have afaic.

chris Witherow wrote:

Having a bit of “paralysis from analysis” on this. I’m looking for a dedicated bottom bouncer rod. Weight is typically 1-1/2oz while occasionally going all the way to 3oz. It will be paired with an Okuma Convector line counter with a flipping switch. My thought is with a MH/F, I would spool my reel with mono so the give is in the line, not the rod. My other option would be to go with something like the Eyecon MH/M and spool my reel with braid. Lastly, looking for full cork grip. I’d say I’m 50/50 between rod holder and holding it in my hands. Any suggestions or recommendations?

the last few years i’ve run EyeCon Bounce-n-Troll rods (70MHM), Daiwa 100 LC reels, and 17lb mono. initially i spooled up with braid and that was great for aggressive fish, but on light-bite days it was obvious that i was missing more bites than with the stretch of mono.

similar to you, mostly 1-2oz bouncers and some time in hand mixed with some time in rod holders. when i need more than 2oz of weight the Bounce-n-Troll gets overloaded so for that i use an 8′ Okuma bass swimbait rod, still has a nice moderate action but with a bit more beef.

we’re heading up to Lac Seul again in late June and mid-September this year, can’t wait for the snow and ice to go away!