Down Rod for trolling Muskies (Recommendations)

I have always run a 7 ft – 1 piece St. Croix heavy action pole as my down rod. I started using a Shimano TDR 9ft – MED Heavy – mod fast (2 piece) for my two outside rods last year. I have really never used two piece rods, but made the exception for the TDR because it was cheap, had length, decent reviews and I was able to somewhat appease the wife with cost. For the most part I have been happy with rods and small investment the action.

I am now looking to replace my down rod now and for the price a TDR would be an easy investment. I was looking at 8 ft TDR but it is two pieces. Does any run a two piece down rod? Recommendation for or against? What would be the group’s recommendations for down rod power and action? Lastly, does anyone have the perfect down rod rig, if so, are you willing to share?

Thanks in advance.

Some 1-piece rod options that I’ve used and like:
– Berkley Lightning Rod 7’0 Heavy $40
– Black River Live n’ Troll 8’0″ Heavy $100
– St. Croix Premier Glass 8’0″ Heavy $210

I save the 2-piece Shimano TDRs and Cabela’s downrigger rods for my planer boards. They work great for that, and are very inexpensive.

By far my favorite is a custom that I had built by Paul Amberg of Venture Custom Rods on a Lamiglas blank (all glass, no graphite), 8’10” Heavy

Home

I agree with you 100% that the TDR rods make great planer board rods and for the price you can’t go wrong. I really never thought of the Lamiglas option, as I was stuck in cheap mode, but Lamiglas looks to be a fairly moderate costing pole. Lamiglas would definitely be ideal for the bite in the prop wash.

Did you get your custom Lamiglas in a 1 piece? I have searched around the Net and it looks they are two pieces unless you do a custom build. I am heading to MN musky show in two weeks, maybe Venture will have a booth there so I can get hands on feel.

My gut feeling tells me to stick with a 1 piece for down rod. Thanks for the Lamiglas rod idea.

Michael C. Winther wrote:

By far my favorite is a custom that I had built by Paul Amberg of Venture Custom Rods on a Lamiglas blank (all glass, no graphite), 8’10” Heavy

Do you know what blank he used?

Yes, a 1-piece: BT108-3M. (“BT” = “Boat and Trolling”)
We shortened the 9’0″ blank just a touch for a slightly faster action in the tip. I found it to be just right for 8-12″ lures with a moderate pull, which was my goal as we pull a lot of minnowbaits like Jakes in the fall. Plenty of bounce left in the rod to be able to read the lure and some give to help them skip over rocks. For heavier pulling lures like Headlocks, I know Paul built a few with more taken off the tip.

He said he won’t be at the MN Muskie Expo as he’ll be in Sioux Falls for a show, but he will be at the Northwest Sportsman Show 3/22-26. (Venture Custom Rods booth)

Thanks for heads up on NW sportman show. Was it a pretty short turn around after ordering poles?

Don LeDoux wrote:

Was it a pretty short turn around after ordering poles?

Yes, shorter than I’d expected. I ordered mine mid-season which might have helped; I imagine he’s taking quite a few orders throughout the show season right now.
I’m sure if you talked to him he could give you a ballpark on it. When I’ve messaged him on Facebook I usually hear back within an hour.