Dragging techniques – almost that time of year

Dragging on the down run is actually a few months away here in central WI, but most guys are starting to focus on buying gear and many of the spring sales are currently going on.

I had a past client call me and ask for some recommendations based on his outing with me last year. I covered the specific gear/line combo he was using and we ended up discussing a lot more than just a rod/reel. So, that prompted this question:
“is it the action of the rod,or the line, or the combination of both?”

I’ve been a fan of “Feel”. I like to know if I’m ticking clam beds, sand, gravel, and so on. For me personally, I run 7′ medium or medium lites, lighter reels, and braid with 3’mono section. For clients, I like to run the same rods but with all mono. It takes awhile to acquire “the touch” and I find that most people won’t swing until that mono loads up Vs. with braid they swing on everything.
That got me thinking that I should pick up a few 9′ medium lite crappie rods that are a medium action with a much softer tip in the last foot. Pair these with braid/mono leader. Possibly the best of both worlds?? Better feel for bottom content and a softer tip to allow a walleye that final inhale of a bait.

So, what is your favorite combo for dragging jigs?

Is dragging stick baits still considered dragging or am I just trolling really slow?

Mike, I’ld say for the sake of contributing ideas, it easily could be dragging. We drag crawlers, plastics, hair,…I drag stick baits on 3ways on the Wolf river

Randy Wieland wrote:

So, what is your favorite combo for dragging jigs?

That depends on how many rods I have out. I also prefer a quality low stretch #6 mono. Braided line for rods in a rod holder have led to disaster. When a jig snags with that braided line on a rod with a soft tip snapping the bail open often results in line wrapping around tip of the rod. If you didn’t free the snag and the line retightens = broke off rod tip.

For rods in a rod holder I like at least a 6’6″ MLF rod but for that rod in my hand I was surprised when forced to use my 5′ UL Medium action St. Croix Triumph how sensitive it was. It also seemed to help me feel the fish before the fish could feel me and really allowed the rod to load up before popping ’em. This was especially true later in the season when currents slowed and water levels dropped. The rod outperformed others in that situation with finicky bitters. I was dragging 1/16th and 1/8th oz jigs. I’d bet if I had a longer UL rod a it’d be even nicer like those crappie rods you were hinting at.

I just bought 2 avids in 7’6″ medium light xf to drag with. matched with 1000 symmtre reels and power pro. looking forward to trying it out next weekend on pool 4.

I have several longer rods up to 8’6″. I have found that any presentation where you have the Rod in your hand all day long for a long day, the longer rods will fatigue you much quicker. I now moved to shorter rods in the lightest configuration feasible, for any presentation I fish hard all day. At the end of the day, there is an enormous difference on how your arms/wrists feel after using a shorter and lighter setup. This will translate into better bite detection and quicker reaction because you will not be wore out as much.

I do love my longer rods as I like using light lines, but only use them now when I have a presentation I want to offer for a limited amount of time, or when they are dead sticked/in holder.

Rayenestorm you convinced me to stick with my cheap 5′ UL – it works great for what I use it for and it’s in my hand 8+ hours. It’s also just right for when the other rods are hit and I need to toss it aside before securing it. I was never worried of it going overboard though I had to dive for it a few times. Can’t wait for more of that fish frenzied chaos!

>>ALMOST<<

???

Brian Klawitter wrote:

>>ALMOST<<

???

Brian,
go eat your spam. Its 27 degrees and the 6″ of ice covering my deck is melting fast – Spring is ALMOST here

Avid 7’6″ ML rods paired with stradic ci4 2500’s!

WarEagle wrote:

Avid 7’6″ ML rods paired with stradic ci4 2500’s!

Mono or braid with that set up and why? Would it be a better benefit to have softer line or softer action?

braid, the medium light i believe is the best all around action rod with the fast tip. the ml is very forgiving, paired with braid, because I want no other forgiveness then the action of the rod gives it. It has worked well for me.

WarEagle I’m with you. All my medium lights have braid on them and all my mediums have mono on them. I just don’t like the lack of feel with mono on medium lights.

Cold water…7′ mf with low stretch 6# poly flex (hi Viz)…usually working current seams on P-4 with light jigs…1/8-3/16 and 3″ grubs…

My Avids are ML but XF so there’s no forgiveness using braid. For me either the rod or the line has to have a little play in it for an effective dragging setup.