Lake Winnipeg rod/reel setups

Looking for some advice from those who have fished big windy before. Obviously the potential is there for hooking into big fish. I am planning a trip there this winter and am assessing my equipment. I fish in central MN and run 32” medium action tuned up custom inferno rods with shimano sienna reels for spoons and rattle baits. I Love the setup but I don’t have the realistic big fish potential on the lakes I fish. Will these rod/reel combos be sufficient to for big Winnipeg walleyes?

I would probably grab a 36″ MH rod as your main rod and use the 32″ M as a backup with a smaller bait on it. That’s what i did my first year, and of course caught my biggest fish on the 32″ M rod with a 1/4oz blade bait.

I do use all 34-40″ MH rods now though as i have bought more gear over the years. Those rods are just much better for hole hopping and jigging big rattle baits.

Thanks. Are 500 series reels enough reel or should I upsize those as well?

You will be fine with a 500 sized reel. I use 10# braid on mine up there. It’s weird fishing, you’re in 10 feet of water but you have 4 feet of ice. The fight is really fast before the fish is coming up the hole. The Rapala fish grip is really useful finally getting the fish on the ice.
Dan

for the money, the 36″ Fenwick rods are really nice, I prefer to use a 1000 size shimano sienna on it.

500 or 1000 size reels are fine, whatever you have.

I run a 32 m st Croix w a pfluegar president and a 34 med light cabelas brand rod and prefer that one honestly…pfluegar on that as well…i just pull my summer reels off to put on my Winnipeg rods…deff opt for a longer rod to keep hooks pinned

Mediums are fine, even on big fish. A med/hvy with a fast tip for cranks, your good.

I really appreciate the input Dan!

Thanks! For the advice.

Your set up would be just fine in my opinion. I’ve used $30 ugly stick combos up there and pulled in fish just fine. Just remember even though the walleyes are typically fatter up there they are still just walleyes. In my opinion the gear the “pros” recommend gets a little over hyped.

I caught 2 -28″ plus walleyes last year on a 32″ ml panfish rod with 500 series reel on.
In my opinion you are good to go.