Fiberglass vs. Graphite Muskie Rods

I’ve always used fiberglass rods for my muskie setup. Probably because I’m old fashioned, or maybe because I’m cheap. Can someone give me the pros and cons of graphite when I’m fishing big fish? I really don’t need any “feel” since I’m throwing 1-3 oz lures, and I always know when I have “a bite” . Is it really worth the extra cash for a St. Croix Graphite when a low cost Ugly Stick will work? Thanks.

Dave

Weight and fatigue would be my main reason for going graphite. When I’m throwing tree trunk sized rods, I get tired fast, and graphite is much, much lighter than glass.

I agree on the casting, I started with glass but switched after using my buddys set up. I now run either Fenwick HMX’s or Pete Mania rods with Shimano reels. Balance is the key for casting. For trolling theres nothing wrong with glass.

I like glass soaking suckers when it’s cold. Much less chance of shattering when trying to set the hook with quick strike rigs.

Its warm here by opener plus we dont use live bait, so that isnt an issue. Only ones we catch on livebait is while fishing eyes, mostly leeches.

I can’t help but be curious on this one…

How many people on this website have actually shattered a graphite rod because it was too cold outside? I like to fish late in the fall and have not yet had an issue with this.

It’s never happened to me but was related by a pretty well known guide in Hayward WI. I fish with him all the time.
I guess his thought is if you are hunting for a fish of a lifetime why take the chance?

The rod building experts discount this as being an urban legend. Graphite is used and in fact was developed for use in aircraft that experiences extremes in temperatures beyond what we put our rods through and at levels of greater stress. I have personally never heard a firsthand report of this happening and believe it is purely story material… 95% of all rod breakage is due to damage the owner has caused to the blank in same fashion or another – either knowingly or unknowingly – after the first couple of uses… your results may vary, Chuckles

I agree with Chuckles, and I am sure folks from St. Croix and Loomis would agree. But I have a funny story from back in the late 70’s when the Lighting Rod first came out. I was at a local Kmart and a sporting goods guy was showing me how you could touch the rod tip to the handle like they did in the commercials. He started his bend with the rod guides on the outside, basically backward of a normal operation. Well trust me, graphite can shatter! I remember zillions of chards of graphite and glass and rod eyes dancing across the floor!
I grabbed a new one off the shelf and bought it so the guy wouldn’t feel so bad…

There are two factors for using graphite today over glass:

1) Weight. When you come right down to it, glass is heavy. It wears on a person over the course of the day. Even though your are throwing 3oz baits…..that light weight makes a true difference in fatigue.

2) Pretty basic…..Most “good rods” today for muskie fishing are built with graphite. When musky rods are being designed today for a specific appliction (top water, buctails, jerks/gliders), those specific rods are made out of graphite. There aren’t many $20 Ugly sticks designed specifically for throwing jerk-baits.

While you can get away with using the $20 Berkley “Big Game” rod……..When it comes down to finessing the performance of your lure, a good rod is needed……Those good rods are made out of graphite……

You don’t need to spend $200 on a muskie rod. While yes they are nice and light…….It truely isn’t needed…

Gander, Tony Rizo, Cabela’s, Rapala, South Bend, and many other graphite rod manufactures all produce a decent musky rod for as little as $40……Up to $60……

You can purchase a VERY good Gander or Cabela’s muskie rod for $80!!!! Those rods are comparable to the $200 St. Croix or Loomis rods…..

Lastly, get a “good graphite” rod for throwing baits. The feel can make a difference……For you can tell if you fouled up your bucktail or jerkbait due to a small weed. You can feel the grinding of rocks. You can “feel” what the lure is doing under the water!!!