Rods Reels and techniques

Hi everyone.

I’m upgrading some of my rods and reels this year. I was the guy in the classifieds looking for the st.croix Legend Tournament Walleye rod 6’3″ MLXF spinning.

When we’re in Canada walleye fishing, sometimes the bite gets super light. As if they are just getting the jig into their mouth and sitting still. One wrong move, and they’ll spit and go.

So I’m wondering…what rod, reel, line, can eliminate some of the misses. The rod I mentioned above should. If the rod and reel are super light weight, does that help too? It must. However, I read an article the other day from a guy who fishes this light bite often on a lake in Ontario. He uses a light panfish rod when this happens. Is this crazy? He claims to catch 80 fish per day with this set up.

I’m curious to see what you guys have to say on the matter, before I spend all my “man money on some new rods and reels”

Kev

He uses a light panfish rod when this happens. Is this crazy?

Why would it be crazy? I’ve caught a few panfish that fight harder than most walleye. A good drag is key.

After my searching I ended up with a 63mlf omen muse, tatula 20 with 8# fireline crystal.

But it comes down to what feels good to you. Go into a good shop with many options, pick up every rod in that $75-300 range and let that tell you what feels good. Then take that rod and go to the reel section and have them bust out every which one until it feels balanced how you hold it.

Any rod over $100 is going to feel bites the same with braid. Only weight and the fatigue that comes with it makes the lightness come into play imo. Some will argue to justify their $400-500 rods but that’s just my 2 cents.

Personally I’ve gone into stores with intent on purchasing more expensive rods and walk out with cheaper ones cause they feel good to me, past 3 rod combos to be exact.

You mention jigging – and since you’ve been pretty specific about shorter rods, I’m assuming you are specifically vertically jigging during difficult bite windows…

I think the biggest thing for that technique is having a well balanced setup.
Yes, lighter will transmit more sensitivity, but it certainly helps to have a well balanced rod for that as well. Running braid to a floro moderate length floro leader helps. Holding your line with your finger tip helps… lighter jigs help…

I know lots of folks love the Fenwick Elite Tech Walleye rods and St Croix Legend Elites sure are fancy. I love those rods too… but tons of fish have been caught on 100 dollar rods. Pick a reel that doesn’t get in the way of the balance of the rod you choose. Set it up with 6-8lb fireline crystal to a 6lb floro leader. Choose the lightest jigs you can get away with for those days.

Yes, I’m writing about only vertical jigging during a light bite situation. The bluegill rod does make sense. If the fish is on and you raise to detect, the fish may not feel you so much and not spit. Perhaps I should try the st.croix Tourney 6’3″ MLXF, and a light bluegill rod as backup. Match both with the right reels and try them. Thanks guys. I’m new to the IDO forums. It’s great to hear what you all think. Kev

Using braid or mono?

80 fish days don’t happen bc a rod is sensitive, they happen bc the bite is hot. With all due respect he’s blowing some smoke up your @$$.

Who is blowing smoke?

Sean Solberg wrote:

Who is blowing smoke?

The guy who has 80 fish days and attributes it to a panfish rod.

You to Sean, with all your factual information. Who do you really work for?

The article I mentioned can be found at Wilderness North Outposts website. The article is called “secrets revealed”. I’ll try to put the link in here. It’s a good read. Reminds me of the tought bite on Lac Seul at times.

Lolz. Yeah, the panfish rod won’t make or break a bite. Guess I missed that one.

I’m just a manager at a local machine shop. I love fishing. I’m 44 years old, and have been fishing since I was 5. I’m just an avid fisherman. I’ve been to Canada every year since 1998. I’ve never caught 80 in one day on a tough bite myself.
125 is very realistic on a hot bite in Ontario. That’s where you all come in. Let’s figure it out how to get 80 on a slow day. Kev

http://wildernessnorth.com/2018/04/secrets-revealed/

As a heads up, Capra’s Outdoors in Blaine is running a pretty serious sale currently, including some Loomis rods. Might find something that would fit your needs there…

On a super light bite the 6’6″ mlf might work better. The fish shouldent be able to feel u as soon giving u more time to set the hook. The x fast croix rods transfer into the backbone so rapidly that it’s tough to feel for weight without the fish feeling u. The avid 60lf would work great also & ltw70 lxf

Thanks Sean and PmB! I agree the XF tip may be too stiff for a tough bite. The fast tip might just give us a little more flex/feel to set. I like the shorter rods for jigging. It just seems more sensitive. I’ll look into Capra’s to find a deal on something. Thanks guys.

My best rod is 6’3” g loomis glx mlxf. It’s an expensive combo but the sensitivity is unreal.

I only run braid anymore because you can feel anything….6 or 8# suffix 832.

When the bite is tough you won’t even know you have a fish if you have the wrong combo. I’m sure the other high end rods are close, too.

The limit creek rods are a close second to my g loomis and about a third the cost….the smoothie and 5’10 rods they have are really good.

I run Pfluger Presidents on my spinning rods. I always use 8 pound braid main line with a 10 or so foot 8 pound Fluro leader tied with the FG knot. I really like the braid sensitivity and then the invisibility of the fluro up front. The FG knot is thin enough to easily wind up and cast back through the guides.

I have a loomis 6′ 10″ mag light xf…its in between a light and medium light I’m told…i to struggled with feeling light biting walleye while casting until my buddy let me try his and then I had to get one for myself…i paired mine with a pflugar patriarch which is about as light as they come..its a slick setup and the only rod I will use when it comes to jig fishing nowadays…it handles 1/16th and 1/8oz jigs with ease…if you are going heavier it may feel like a wet noodle. I run 8lb powerpro or powerpro super slick and I don’t run a leader of any sort..i was told the model I have has been discontinued but Check out the loomis classic spin jig sjr700 gl3 or the sjr721imx

I will GIVE A THUMBS UP TO THE lOOMIS SJR721IMX. I own a couple and they are the go to vertical jigging. I can even feel the minnow getting excited as he is about to be eaten and can anticipate the no wiggle bite …fish on. My partners hate it when I say I’m about to get a bite …fish on. Spend some time bouncing a jig on the bottom and soon you can tell the bottom composition and transition spots tight line and finger on the line as it drops odes it stick as it comes up…muck or clay does feel like a thud…rock or hard sand does it just sort of settle into nothing…silt or really soft bottom… anything different could be a fish. That’s just vertical jigging and checking bottom content while fishing. Now casting and trying to do that is a little harder.

Mike

Imo, the light power st croix is too light for bigger walleye, even with an extra fast action and even the stiffer legend elites and extreme blanks. There’s far less of a chance of a solid hookset, even using braid and your drag clamped down perfectly, you’ll need an exaggerated hookset. The light st croixs work ok dragging light jigs where the boat’s motion and/or current adds to the hookset.

I still use 20 year old sjr721’s as my go-to for vertical jigging. I’ll use a sjr720 for lighter jigs at times. The 720 has signifcantly more hook set power than the light power legend series st. Croixs.

IMHO.. only 125 a day… find a new lake ! The fish I get in Canada, INHALE the jig… and even hit big spoons so… no help from me. I use Mr Walleye a 2 piece for easier packing to fly in.

If your vertical jigging with a super light bite, break out the slip bobber rod! It’s the same thing, and they will never feel you.