What is everyone using for a dedicated dead stick rod? Fishing South Dakota, they allow 4 rods. So I would like to get a few dedicated dead stick rods to go with the Okuma Ceymar 500 BF reels I have on the way. I would prefer not to spend a fortune on a glorified bobber rod. I am also thinking about getting a couple Finicky Foolers.
I have become a big fan of the JT Custom Snare rods, but they are on the pricey side as with most of the rods builders. I thought there were a few guys on this side that build rods, maybe they might be an option?
With a baitfeeder reel I don’t think it really matters. I’d just go look at Scheel or FF and pick out a winner.
I use either a Medium-Light or Light rod for a dead stick. Assuming you’re targeting walleye.
You want a ML moderate action with some back bone, lots of people making dead stick rods now days. Mine go for $90 but JT and TUCR sell for $129. Guessing you can buy a Chinese built for less.
I have a beaver dam 32″ noodle rod that I use for a deadstick with a ceymar bait feeder and it is a perfect setup that doesn’t break the bank. I use it with a finicky fooler and its just right.
I built my Fooler rod on a Basskhang lake trout blank. 32″ trips the fooler nicely. Light enough for Walleye but loads up really nice on 25″-40″ pike. I would recommend a straight grip handle not the split grip they tend to slide around in the foolers rod holder. I use a reel seat instead of the bands or tape on holders for this rod. If your using a larger reel it is nice to take it off to put in bag or case. Can not beat a circle hook and a pike sucker for big walleye or northern.
Tip Downs are great, you can see them from distance and they catch a lot of fish!
I’ve sold quite a few to people on here from WI.
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With a baitfeeder reel I don’t think it really matters. I’d just go look at Scheel or FF and pick out a winner.
^This
I’d go find any store brand decently priced rod that fits the action you’re looking for. Spending $100 on a deadstick rod is a waste in my opinion.
I took a few deep dives into these questions the last 5 years, like I do much stuff, and below is what I learned and works for me. Many ways to cook a filet, but this is my way…for now :).
Deadstick rod: I went with a 32 in TUCR Deadstick. I did not want a parobolic deadstick rod, and didn’t even know what that meant prior to diving in on this topic. I want a deadstick rod that has some tip bend/sensitivity but transfers the “load” to the baitfeeder as to audibly tell me to pay attention. The parabolics put the load on the road for too long and render the baitfeeder not as successful as the TUCR deadstick does, IMO. I use this in the shack but also with a firststrike rod flag and rod holder when I’m fishing outside. I’ve recently added a Frostbite drench, which is longer and half the price, that I use outside with the firstrike flag and holder also, and have found that to work well with the baitfeeder. I have friends with the JT snare rods and they haven’t come out of the rod case for 5+ years. Some love the snare rods, I have other JT Rods that are awesome, those just aren’t for me.
Finniky Fooler: I have two of these (hookset version) and my son has 1 and 1 jawjacker. As we use the hookset version I bought $10-15 Berkley Cherrywood med action rods for these with shimano sienna reels. DOn’t want/need baitfeeders for hookset version. WIth the rods under a good amount of strain I didn’t see any need to invest anything more. That was 4 years ago and they’re still going strong.
The Jason Mitchell Meat stick and Dead stick rods are great for this application. I have 2 bait feeders on them myself. I have owned a walleye snare and a panfish snare from JT… they are great rods no doubt, but they are north of $100 each and made me nervous they would break or get damaged in transport or getting kicked or something while fishing in the shack.
The snare rods will catch you more fish if you do not have the bait feeder reels and MAYBE even if you do. But I think for shy biting fish, the okuma bait feeders set properly on a broom stick handle will out fish a Snare rod with whatever other reel there is out there.
The Jason Mitchell rods are often on sale somewhere for $35. I have found the Dead Meat is better for true dead sticking, but I like the Meat stick almost as well, and it does have a better tip for strike indication if you decide to jig with that rod on occasion as well. I bought one of each when I sold the snare rods and figured I would see what one I liked better and buy another of it. I am still undecided. I guess I cannot advise what one to get over the other, But a slight nod to the Dead Meat as it sets off the bait feeder audible clicking faster than the meat stick. If you don’t want to mess the reel settings very much at all (adjusting drag) then go with the Meat stick, as some of the larger minnows will be able to work the rod tip, but not pull line. Mine are both 36 inch rods, but wish I had 32 inch sometimes. I have hit the top of a shack or 2 setting the hook with the 36 inch rod.
Beaver Dam 32″ custom noodle rod
St. Croix 36″ Light Mojo/Premier rod
Whoops I forget the days of the $20 Premier rods don’t exist anymore and the Mojo is now $50.
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