Berkley Lightning Rod Trout

[MNtransplant]

I'm looking into the Berkley Lighning Rod Trout in a 7' light action. Anyone try one of these yet? Some reviews say they break easy, some folks swear by them...if not this rod, what is another good setup for throwing small jigs a long way?

Looking for something 6'-6" or 7' for a decent price....i really like the pflueger trion rods but i can only find them in a combo.

[Devan S.]

If you can find them....Browning Airstream.....Guys on here highly recommended them. I bought 1 for crappie fishing and then couldn't find them when I wanted another. Finally they showed back up and I now have 5 of them. Use them for crappie, trout, and gills. 

[MrGiggles]

Never had one in light action, but have a few in medium. They're probably my favorite all around, tough, cheap, avaialble anywhere, and sensitive. 

The medium's have a really fast tip, but still have good backbone so they're not whippy. I use them for crappie, I hate how wimpy most crappie poles are.

I did break one, but don't consider them easy to break. I'm a little bit of a meathead, if a rod is easy to break, I'll break it.

[dtrs5kprs]

Lew's makes a 7' "ultralight" in the laser speed stick. It's really more of a light, bordering on mag light. We fish the tar out of two of them throwing Neds at summer fish, and at TR, too. Runs about $50. Great stick.

[fishinwrench]

Once you go 7' you need to either buy a high-end rod, or put an oversized reel on it to balance it out, as all affordable 7 footers are going to be tip heavy.

I mean.... unless you don't mind a tip heavy rig.

[dtrs5kprs]

5 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

Once you go 7' you need to either buy a high-end rod, or put an oversized reel on it to balance it out, as all affordable 7 footers are going to be tip heavy.

I mean.... unless you don't mind a tip heavy rig.

The Lew's are pretty light for the price, but we do run 3000 size Daiwas on just about everything. Simply works better.

[Terrierman]

I've got two 20 - 30 year old lightning rods.  They're 5.5 and 6'.  Still old faves for fishing the creeks.

[MNtransplant]

Went to bass pro and decided spend another $25 and get into another Pfleuger Trion combo rather than just a rod...ive got two already and the new series look just as slick. Got it spooled up with some 4 pound vanish, cant wait to try it on Tuesday.

[MNtransplant]

On 5/20/2020 at 4:54 PM, Devan S. said:

If you can find them....Browning Airstream.....Guys on here highly recommended them. I bought 1 for crappie fishing and then couldn't find them when I wanted another. Finally they showed back up and I now have 5 of them. Use them for crappie, trout, and gills. 

Hey Devan,

Thanks for the tip on the airstream..i ended up trying the lightning rod trout - returned it, a pflueger trion - sold it, and then eventually went with an Airstream which is actually made by bass pro shops now, they must have bought out that design from Browning cuz it's the same stick. I got the 6'-6" UL and I love it. Paired it with a size 25 pflueger reel and 2 pound line and I love the feel it has. I'll probably buy another 6'-6" when i see one again.

[MNtransplant]

On 5/20/2020 at 8:07 PM, fishinwrench said:

Once you go 7' you need to either buy a high-end rod, or put an oversized reel on it to balance it out, as all affordable 7 footers are going to be tip heavy.

I mean.... unless you don't mind a tip heavy rig.

Good call on the tip heavy 7' rods. I think 6-6" is my favorite length on spinning setups.