Rod recomendation ?

I am looking at buying a couple of new rods and looking for suggestions.I am looking at the St Croix premier but would consider others under $100.I want to use these rods for dual purpose if possible.I want to use them on the river running 3 ways and would also like to use them on Mille Lacs pulling cranks.I will be running bait casting reels and line counter reels on these.Any suggestions? 6-6 or 7 foot? medium or medium heavy? fast or mod? Thanks

Last year I looked around at the different rods. I had a 5’6″ rod that needed replacing. After looking around at the St Croix and others which are might pricey at around $150, I went with the Gander Mountain Guide Series Pro Select 6′ for $70 (6″ longer from the reel seat than my old rod). I would have gone with a 6’6″ rod, but the handle gets longer by 4.5″ so you only have 1.5″ more length from the reel. Next time I’ll look at the 7′ rods even though I hate the longer handle.

I use it mostly for casting/pitching plastics. It was slightly less sensitive to me (light touch to floor in each hand and artery test) than the St. Croix Avids. There was no way I was paying $300 for one really sensitive St Croix Legend Elite fishing rod. However, it sure is a lot more sensitive than the Berkley Lightning rods I have from 10+ years ago.

Overall I like the Gander Mountain rod very well. I do detect and catch a few more fish on it than I did previously with the Lightnings (which some of my friends call big sticks!). Since I’m out for fun, catch more than enough fish, and don’t fish tournaments there’s not a rush to convert all my old rods or pay $$$ for one rod.

Edit: I do like the fast tips and use medium action…even for trolling and casting. They’re a bit more universal in application. For crankbaiting and trolling I saw a lot of mention for more moderate action rods…just not something I wanted to deal with.

the only rods i have are st croix premiers and avids and i do have a fenwick hmx that i realy like for topwater but i highly favor st croix rods and would recomend them to any body

I have Finwicks, AllStar’s and St Croix Avids. Soon there will be nothing but Avids

I have both the St. Croix Premiers and Avids rods. My baitcaster rods are Premiers and most of my spinning rods are Avids. I use the 7ft baitcaster medium rods with a fast tip. They work great.
Thanks, Bill

Castaway,

One of my strong reccomendations might be a St. Croix Wild River Rod in the 8’6″ model. I have been using the 10’6″ Wild River rods for pulling 3-ways and planer boards over the years and have now implimented the 8’6″ model for longlinging cranks at night on Mille Lacs in the spring and fall. Nicest rod I have ever trolled with….hands down!

The 8’6″ model is a very nice length for pulling cranks as well as 3-ways.

Good luck!

I will second the Wild River in 8’6″.

I have used Fenwick for the last 37 years, they were made in the USA and over the years the tip had busted on my main rod a couple of times and the original 7′ rod was down to about 6’6″.

We were going to Arkansas to visit our Son last Fall and had a trip scheduled to fish the White River for Trout. I looked every wheres for a replacement rod and finally was told of a sport store with a going out of business sale in Pequot Lakes. I purchased the rod and it was medium power with fast action.

The rod is awesome and I believe I could tackle about anything with it. I have used it for Pan fish to large Northerns and it is very impressive with it’s sensitivity and strength. When you cast with this rod it’s like coming out of a sling shot, and the distance is something that friends have been amazed at, asking me the make and model of the rod.

I believe that this is a rod that anyone would be satisfied with.

Note: It’s made in the USA,

Ron

Can’t say that I’m a fan of Premier rods. I think that there are many other rods that are cheaper that will serve you better in the application that you are looking for.

If you go Avid or Wild River, then you definitely get my thumbs up! These rods are great.

I would look at the Shimano Clarus rods for $60, with a lifetime over the counter warrenty.

However if you want a great three way rod and trolling rod, the 8’6″ Wild River is the way to go. 2nd place would be the Bass Pro Shops Signature series walleye rods. These rods are great too, especially if you are on a budget. These rods are specifically designed by Parsons and Kavajecz. About the same sensitivity and performance of the Wild River Rods, but not quite.

I already have some 8-6 and 9 foot rods that I use for boards and trolling and was looking for something a little shorter 6-6 to 7.The reason being is the wife and I will be fishing the NTC this year and looking for a couple of rods for rigging and running 3 ways around the wingdams.Those longer rods are just to much to hang onto for 8 hours.Would you guys recommend a medium with a fast action or a medium heavy with a mod?Keep the suggestions coming I know a lot of you guys are river fishermen.Ive fished the river some but primarily a Mille Lacs guy.Thanks

I have various rods from St Croix and Loomis. The rod I really like for slip bottom bouncers and would work great for 3 ways is a Bass Pro Walleye 7 ft bottom Bouncer model. They have a fairly short handle and a fast tip with some back-bone. I think they are perfect for this application. $70