New Musky Rod

[SEAN LEARY]

Hey everybody,

I've been talking with James over at Tackle Industries. I was complaining that he hasn't updated their Musky line up for two years. He's responded asking what I'd like to see in a new rod. Other than updating the sensitivity/weight of his current lineup, i'm drawing blanks.

Figured I'd ask you guys what you'd like to see in a Musky Rod (features, guides, etc) keep in mind their current lineup already has IM8 one piece 9ft rods.

Any thoughts or ideas I could pass along to this rod builder?

Thanks,

Sean 

[3r18sb1ehgc6k]

9ft 2pc Trolling rods at a reasonable price. Happy with the ti casting rods otherwise, no much I would change, maybe the backwards style trigger found on legend tournaments.

[SEAN LEARY]

What constitutes a "trolling rod," as opposed to any of his other 2 pc rods? Last time he made a trolling rod he just changed the cork to foam, then put stainless guides instead of ceramic inserts. I thought he just made it worse.

[Scott McKee]

What makes a trolling rod? Good question. I guess having the motor in gear and a lure attached to the rod's leader in the drink behind the boat.

In the river and open water trolling I prefer a long rod with a soft tip that will load up to about three feet above the reel seat. I use 10'6" down rigger rods for my outside rods in the river and lake.

When using Jojo Balls I prefer a 7 to 8 foot heavy rod with very little tip flex. This makes handling the Jojo much easier.

When trolling weeds where really big fish might live (take a guess where) I use an 8'6" heavy action rod in case a hooked fish tries to bury itself in heavy cabbage. I use a higher speed reel for this application because the fish tend to fly at the boat.

If I had a custom trolling rod made, I would want an 11 foot, two piece graphite rod that would never break and the ferrules would never get stuck. It would have a long, full cork rear grip up to 4 inches below the real seat. The last 4 inches would be made from very durable foam as would the fore grip. The reel seat would be a triple washer locking bad boy that wouldn't ever come loose unless I wanted it to. The rod would load up to 4 feet above the reel seat. The tip would be sensitive enough to see spinnerbait blades working. It would have a lot of guides that would never, ever break or come loose from the rod with inserts that would never, ever pop out. The guides would never freeze. The tip would glow in the dark for hours and hours after exposing it to just sunlight or a match, and the insert would never break or become dislodged despite how many swivels I reeled into it. The hook hanger would be made out titanium. It would have a large opening so even large Stringease would fit through easily. The hanger would never bend or break or come loose from the rod. As for colors I would want the rod to be marroon with red and gold wrapping. And it would be nice if it was autographed as well, "Good luck, Scott! Go Phillies!!!" - Michael Jack Schmidt & Steve "Lefty" Carlton. It would be really great if these two Hall of Famers paid for and presented me the rod and then went fishing with me and picked up dinner at EB Green's afterward...

[John Pensyl]

Glass

[jojo wilczewski]

Happy happy holidays brother
What Scott said plus,
A light in the tip so we can see it wiggle in the black of night.
And a switch on the rod ( for casters also) that's allows the rod to be stiff to start and as soon as we set the hook
HARD a few times , hit the switch and the rods releases into a slow action to fight the fish. Unless using jojo balls.
Mad scientist out

[SEAN LEARY]

I had a terrible time with his two piece rods. Broke three at the joint; not overloaded, not trolling. Maybe I'm too snappy with the cast, but I won't trust a two piece since.

[SEAN LEARY]

This discussion turned into quite the clinic on trolling.
Part of me contacting James was trying to find a way to not have to go buy the new St Croix for my casting and Jigging. Jigging especially I'm in a never ending quest for a more sensitive rod. I've tried looking to saltwater- but jigging big metal open water dosnt need the same feel as slow drifting a tube and detecting those little slack line bites. I'd give hand-lining a shot if I didn't know a snag would pull me out of my seat.

[jojo wilczewski]

Happy holidays
Sean my all time favorite jigging
Rod is the Loomis BBR series, I never leave home without them!
A lot of back and a soft tip, they go up to ten oz.
Jojoout