I use the Tuffline micro leadcore it’s a lot thinner than the normal stuff. I still like a line counter reel though cause I lose track of how many colors I have out sometimes.

Thanks FishBlood&RiverMud that’s very helpful information. I am definitely on the lighter side of things when it comes to lures. I don’t use a swivel but was thinking of using one for a braid leader for my Limit Creek rod. Looks like I’ll be looking more into another casting rod for my situation. I would also love to use a smaller reel and like to have a line counter but line counter reels all seem to be bigger.

“Broomsticks to the tips” exactly! Spinning and casting rods get thinner the further towards the tip you go but not most of these trolling rods. I may just try the Limit Creek rod in the mean time until I get something better. I looked at the Mr. Walleye rods and they look like they have much thinner tips like a traditional casting rod so I might go with one of those. I could also just get a decent casting rod that would do the job as well. The only thing I’m concerned about are the guides do they need to be special for leadcore?

Buckybadger I’ll check out those Cabela’s rods they sound good. I think the problem I’m having is the lures I use are on the light side and they don’t put enough bend in these thick trolling rods. If I was fishing deep diving lures then maybe I could tell what’s going on. Think Shad Rap they are super light and won’t even come close to bending these thicker trolling rods. I use casting rods for trolling without leadcore and I can tell what’s going on with those rods. Do you need special guides for leadcore or can you use regular ones?

Well I finally got my Limit Creek shorty trolling rod. First one they sent out the rod tube was nearly cut in half with the rod exposed and bent. I refused it at the post office talked to Limit Creek and they said it happens every so often. They sent me out another one right away and I received it Friday. Well don’t you know the second rod tube is also damaged it has a small hole at the bottom half of the tube. I didn’t think it was a big deal but when I got the rod out I noticed the fore grip was damaged and that happened to be right where the hole was. I don’t know what kind of rod tubes they are using but they are way to weak for shipping.

My disappointment only increased as I found the rod to be just as stiff and thick as my Talora rod. Not sure about it’s sensitivity but I’m not very optimistic at this point. I wish I had known this beforehand. I should’ve gotten one of the Mr. Walleye Rods they have way thinner tips or I could’ve just gone with a casting rod. If anyone wants it I’ll sell it for cheap plus shipping cost.

Flanders do you have any experience with the other rods I mentioned earlier? Also how thick is that shorty Limit Creek rod would it be good for stickbaits/crankbaits under 3/4 of an ounce?

flanders51 wrote:

For leadcore, no doubt, my favorite rods are:

1. Limit Creek shorty rods
2. Cabelas shorty rod

I like the Limit Creek rods better, they have a little more sensitivity. Both are good rods.

I believe the shorty rods give the leadcore better action. Also, they detect bites extremely well.

I have caught <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>walleye and sauger from .5 pounds to 8 pounds. I have caught lake trout up to 12 pounds. Great trolling rods and more fun than their big bothers to fight fish on.

Thanks for the info that’s exactly what I’m looking for! Right now Limit Creek’s shorty rod is sold out he said they would be getting more in in a couple weeks. It’s not that expensive either which is nice. The lure rating on that rod is perfect for what I’m using as well and if it’s more fun fighting the fish that’s exactly what I want. I knew it was probably a good rod when I saw it was sold out and the others weren’t.

Sounds like your a fan. They have a shorty trolling rod as well. I called and talked to them and the guy I spoke with said they’re rods are designed to read the action of the lure with a lot of line out. He also said the shorty was a little more sensitive than the 8’6” version which surprises me because the shorty has an E glass blank and the 8’6” has a high modulus graphite blank.

“They stretch the same, some may even prove it stretches more. However it is more dense so it does transfer vibrations better than mono. Google “2nd annual line stretch test”

I’ve heard this as well didn’t know if it was true or not. Talk about false advertising wow! They’ve also done abrasion tests with mono vs fluorocarbon and the mono won every time even with thinner line. Fluorocarbon isn’t all it’s cracked up to be imo it’s only good for one thing and that’s invisibility and I’m not even sure that’s what they claim and makes any difference compared to mono. I know plenty of guys that use mono leaders for line shy fish like trout and walleye in clear water and have no trouble getting bit I can tell you that.

I’m surprised no one has any intel on those Limit Creek rods they seem like the real deal.

I don’t have any other trolling rods besides a Talora planner board rod but I have several casting rods. I’m thinking of using my St.Croix Eyecon casting rod that might be perfect for what I’m looking for. Maybe I could also go with a shorter leader I use fluorocarbon so it’s not as stretchy as mono. What would you recommend for my leader length? I know what you mean about being hard to tell if a high wobble lure has weeds on it. I deal with that on my other trolling setups and sweep the rod forward like you say.

I would say that’s accurate there is very little bend in the rod with most of the lures I use. I can somewhat feel the lure vibrate when I pull on the rod but nowhere near some of my other rods and I have to pull on it pretty good. I’m running a 30 foot leader.

Tuma wrote:

Also Scott, what depth are you fishing?

Usually from 15 to 45 feet

“Do you fish lakes?
What speeds and baits do you primarily run?”

I fish Lake Ontario. Braided leader isn’t an option with the water being so clear. I fish anywhere from 1.5 to 2.5 mph according to my Lowrance and I use stickbaits and crankbaits only.

I think even with only 100 feet out I lose all contact with the lure. I only run one leadcore rod. If I’m not going to get a significant boost in sensitivity and a rod that isn’t a pool stick with these other rods mentioned then I’m going to a casting rod for better sensitivity and fight of the fish.

Everyone seems to mention getting a longer 9’6”- 10’ rod instead of something shorter like a 7’6”- 8’6” is there any reason for this? I’m only going to be running one leadcore setup so a longer rod isn’t necessary is it?

This is straight from Limit Creeks website when talking about they’re 8’6” trolling rod. “This rod was designed to feel the lures vibration with 250 feet of leadline out!” That’s what they claim with that rod does anyone else have one to confirm this is true?

nhamm wrote:

Scott which talora model do you have? I’ve used one in a buds boat and thing was ridiculously sensitive. Like a piece of weed on a small husky jerk trolling the Croix in 20-25′ deep sensitive way.

Fishblood comment on his shorty depthmaster blows me away. I also have that model and thing is a freaking broomstick, sure it catches fish but sensitivity wise it sux ars.

To each his own.

It’s a broomstick lol!

I have the leadcore version Talora I believe it’s 7’ possibly 8’ med power. Talk about a broomstick the thing has no sensitivity whatsoever and is as thick as a shark rod haha!

tomr wrote:

I figured lead core didn’t need much and bought a couple of ugly sticks. Work good and have caught a lot of fish. What I don’t like and maybe nothing that can be done is even on big fish a few head shakes and the fight is pretty much over, Seems they can’t fight that lead. The ugly sticks seem to translate what’s going on good enough, would be interested in investing in a better rod if it improve the fish’s ability to fight.

This is also the problem with my Shimano Talora it’s waaay to thick a rod for any walleye to put up any kinda fight which I hate. The rod is rated a medium power but it’s more the size of an extra heavy. I would like to find a true medium or medium heavy rod so I can actually have fun catching the fish while also knowing what’s going on with the lure. Trolling rod power ratings are on a whole other scale vs casting & spinning rods. This is exactly why I refuse to use trolling rods for my braid & fluorocarbon setups when I’m trolling for bass or whatever else. In fact I’m actually considering just using a regular casting rod with a smaller non line counter reel for leadcore.