Ralph, this is the website I am monitoring for the forecast water levels:
http://www.riverwatch.noaa.gov/u_mississippi.shtml
Looks like the forecasted levels have come down since yesterday. Alma doesn’t peak until after your trip so I think you’ll be okay.
ALL rods have been SOLD … thanks IDO!
All rods have been SOLD … Thanks IDO!!
** CORRECTION ON THE MEDIUM LIGHT ROD … IT IS A 6’6″, NOT 7 FOOT ROD.
Sorry for the confusion.
Thanks!
Rob, give me a call @ 65I-336-891O and we can discuss details. Thanks!
I’m located in Minnesota. I live in the Chisago Lakes Area (by Forest Lake), and work in St. Paul. Where are you located?
TechnaAV w/ Pflueger President XT is SOLD
The Fenwick HMG combo is still available
I’m very interested to hear reports on this as well. Let us know how you like it after giving yours a try. What rod length did you get?
I am a big fan of their Walleye elite tech line. Great rod for the price IMO. I’ve got 2 jigging rods and one for rigging. Considering picking up the 6′ trolling rod.
Picked up my Leadcore setup yesterday … can’t wait to give it a try. Thanks again to everyone for your input.
Went with an 8’3″ Shimano Compre telescoping trolling rod (Med power), and a Diawa Sealine 27LCW. Spooled up 15# leadcore (wanted 18#, but the store did not have it in stock). Was able to squeeze on 9 colors (very little backing) with room for 20′ leader. Spool is very full – with 18# I think it should comfortably fit a full 8 colors, which should be plenty for the depths I will be targeting.
I hope to hit the river in the next couple weeks – probably start out running some new Berkley Flicker Shads & Lindy Shadlings that I just picked up. 
Thanks for the practical advice – sounds like a good approach. How many colors should fit on a 27 sized spool? I’d like to be able to get down to 25′ (maybe 30). I’m thinking the 27′ might be a little boarder line, but I like it’s smaller size.
Thanks all for the feedback. Going to hold off on the Dipsy’s for now (sounds more complicated then I am ready for 
My plan is to make the lead core plunge – way too many good things being said about this technique to ignore 
As for the other techniques, I think this is my current plan:
Reserve three ways for getting cranks out on areas with little room to work the structure, or lots of turns. Bottom bouncers I’ll continue to use for pulling live bait rigs/spinners (in areas with a lot of snags) and possibly floating stick baits.
Thanks Wittsend. I heard about that problem with the lead core and boards. I have not had any experience with running boards, but figure that in the near future I would be. It is going to be a tough sell to the wife having a different reel setup for all the different lengths of lead core for trolling boards. Is there a good compromise option?
I suppose I could use my non-lead core setup for the boards and just attach snap weights (just more stuff to remove on hookups . Then leave the lead core rods for the non-board lines.
Dgoodman, how do you like it? Do you do use the swivel between your leader & core – Does it have any problems with the Compre line guides?
How do you like that Medium for pulling your lead core w/ crankbaits? I looked at the Mediums but with the Shimano TC4 blanks it seemed a bit soft, so I was looking to go with the MH 7’10” blank to handle the extra weight of lead. I like that it also reduces down to less than 7′ (telescoping rod) so easier for storing.
Quote:
Just an FYI – I’m not new to salmon fishing with lead core.
It’s common for us to run 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 colors of lead on different rods. (I don’t much care to run full cores and never run double core)…
After your backing, why would you not want to put on as much lead core as will fit on a particular reel (leaving enough room for you leader)?
Thanks for the great info Shaley … dumb question, but what is “IGL”?
Also, what is the muskie fishing season on Spirt Lakes. My daughter’s boyfriend is entering the armed services on May 18th, and would like to try Muskie fishing before he ships off to basic training. Thinking this might be one of the closer lakes to the Twin Cities that will be open before he leaves. If you have a better suggestion we could take him that would be closer, please shoot me an e-mail to [email protected].
Thanks!
I keep most of my baits in a large softsided tacklebag made for Plano 37xx plastic boxes. I have the Flambeau AZ8. Most baits fit great in the Plano’s. Between my two tackle bags, probably have close to a couple hundred baits.
Before I head out I pull the baits I plan to start out with and hang on the inside lip of a 5 gallon backet, so I don’t have to dig in my boxes so much. As I switch lures, I just toss them back on the lip of the bucket. Can probaby hold at least a couple dozen+ baits in the bucket. Nice thing is the lures dry out nicely out of the way in the bucket, and there not laying all over the floor for you to step on. I still bring my tackle bags, but with that many baits, they fit in a much smaller package than the big hanging boxes.
At the end of the day I can bring the bucket in the house, with all the baits inside still drying. When dry, pack back into the tackle boxes. Helps avoid baits getting all rusty from putting wet lures back in the boxes.
Works GREAT for me!
