Rod/Reel combo Trolling Recommendations

[Devan S.]

Looking for Rod/Reel combo recommendations. I have for my entire life used the cheapest walmart combos for trolling. While they have certainly worked and caught their share of fish I would like to buy 2 dedicated setups. Ideally less than $100-150 ea.

Thinking 7+ feet. I'm okay with either bait casting or spinning although bait casting I am a LH retrieve but in the case of trolling I could get by with RH retrieve(thinking line counter reels). 

Duty would be using braid trolling cranks and pulling bottom bouncers. Think whites/crappie in the spring run all the way to Walleye. I am seeing the Cabela's depthmaster series....are these decent? 

[Quillback]

Ugly Sticks aren't bad for trolling.  Cheap and durable.  

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

I use some okuma stratamaster trolling rods i picked up at the BPS outlet, they have worked great

[Devan S.]

One of my current setups is an ugly stick and while not bad....it honestly feels like its more suited for catfishing.....it feels way too big. It was a 29.99 special at walmart years ago so that could be some of the issue. 

Are the trolling rods generally big backboned rods?

[nomolites]

I have some Cabelas trollmasters that I have boated a ton of fish with from 15# hybrids on down that were $30.  They are telescoping 9’, fast enough to take the shock of a viscous strike, but still have enough backbone to work a fish.  Longer rods are a plus for fighting big fish and to help keep your baits separated in case one is out of tune(or to get more rods in the setup).  There are other brands that are similar, pick your poison.  I would spend most of your budget on good line counter reels...the rods are cheap.  Diawa and Okuma make a decent reels or I have the high end ones from Cabelas that work as well...stay away from cheap plastic ones as the counters break.

i usually run four rods without boards2 - 8 footers out the back and 2 - 9 footers on the side and another pair of 9 footers if I have help and want to put boards out.   If I am using lead core I have 2 - 12 footers for the sides for more separation.

Mike

[Quillback]

1 hour ago, Devan S. said:

One of my current setups is an ugly stick and while not bad....it honestly feels like its more suited for catfishing.....it feels way too big. It was a 29.99 special at walmart years ago so that could be some of the issue. 

Are the trolling rods generally big backboned rods?

They've got different models, you can get a lighter Ugly if that's what you want.  

[rps]

Before you commit to a line counter reel, please heed my experience.

1. Line counter reels record spool revolutions. Thus they become inaccurate with spool filling changes. They are only accurate for distance out on a single day, and even then a break off can change things.

2. Lower end line counters are not consistent even at counting revolutions.

3. Line counter reels are bulky.

4. Unless you buy the upper end reels, the drag will not necessarily be smooth or capable of fine adjustment.

My solution was to change to 10/2 or 10/4 metered braid and use a regular bait cast reel with a smooth drag. My distance out is precise within the color segment length, even if I suffer a break off trying to unhang a snag.

I happen to use a low end Lews, but Abu Garcia, Pfluegar, and Daiwa make very serviceable low end reels with smooth drags as well.

Change to the system I suggest will reduce the rod and reel weight, something I think you will appreciate when targeting crappie.

Regardless of whether you follow the above advice, if you use braid, be sure you use a soft, moderate action rod. Stiffer rods combined with braid will tear the lure from the fish mouth.

Good luck!

Randy

[Devan S.]

Thanks RPS...I had hoped you would chime in.....I already use metered braid using power pro depth hunter(I thought I had read sometime ago it was no longer available) nevertheless this is my preferred method.

The real problem I am running into is picking a rod. I am almost positive I pull out of crappie now...It seems I have a lot of misses anyways.

When I look at rods at Bass pro in the trolling category they all seem to me at least to be way too heavy duty. Maybe I'm miss judging since I've never really used a rod designed for such.