Favorite trout rod/reel setups

[TroutFiend]

Hey guys, what size/length rods/reels are you using for midrange trout fishing? I usually use small reel and 4 lb. with 5' ultralight. Do you think 6' light would create better hookups? Usually throwin roosters, spoons and TM's.

[browntrout]

Hey guys, what size/length rods/reels are you using for midrange trout fishing? I usually use small reel and 4 lb. with 5' ultralight. Do you think 6' light would create better hookups? Usually throwin roosters, spoons and TM's.

Alpha would be the rod expert. While he has been laid up with the bum knee I know he has been researching a lot about rods. I believe he is a certified rodologist.

Roy

[TroutFiend]

I think your right Browntrout. I was checking out the Microwave thread, good stuff. My kids are graduating from Barbie/Batman rods/reels and inheriting mine. So I am looking to change my game up a little?

[Alphahawk]

The first year I fished for trout....in a serious manner...I used a 7 foot UL with a slow tip. I missed a lot of trout with that setup. For the past couple of years I have been using a 7 foot UL with a fast tip. My catch rate has increased and I just prefer it. My reels are Shimano Stradics....1000 series.....spooled with 2# test. If you are a weekend fisherman you can get by with a Sedona 1000 spooled with 2# test. I will try out the new rod with the waveguide on the Caney but I think it may be a little too soft for trout. Seasoned trout fisherman differ on soft or fast tip. I hate missing any fish but when using a soft rod for trout it just happened too much. For the past 3 years I had my eye on a Phenix Elixir but it took me this long to get the money and pull the trigger. I am ready to hit the pond and try it out as soon as the knee is better. This is just my opinion...you will find very good trout guys that will tell you a soft tip is the way to go. tcintn uses a very soft action rod and he catches more trout than anyone I know.


Regards

[Travis C.]

My favorite is a 9ft TFO 5wt paired with an Orvis Battenkill Barstock III reel and Rio Line.

The spinning setup I have used for a while is a Pro Qualifier P020X Reel on a 6'6" Berkley Lightning Rod UL fast tip and 2lb SOS line. I really like this setup but wish it was a 7ft rod.

Also, I have multiple spools for the same reel spooled with 2lb test and 4lb test. Which ever route I'd suggest taking any extra spool or two with you to the river. One good run and breakoff, bad wind knot or anything on 2lb could really hurt your distance casting with lots of line off the reel.

[blink]

I just bought a BPS microlight 6'0" UL that has a pretty soft tip. I have a 1000 weight daiwa reel spooled with 4lb on it. I hope to try it out soon!

I have always used short, cheap UL setups. 4'6" and 5'0" rods. Always left me wanting more....I broke the last one recently while moving so i decided to upgrade. hopefully this extra length and a nicer rod will do the trick.

[Alphahawk]

My favorite is a 9ft TFO 5wt paired with an Orvis Battenkill Barstock III reel and Rio Line.

The spinning setup I have used for a while is a Pro Qualifier P020X Reel on a 6'6" Berkley Lightning Rod UL fast tip and 2lb SOS line. I really like this setup but wish it was a 7ft rod.

Also, I have multiple spools for the same reel spooled with 2lb test and 4lb test. Which ever route I'd suggest taking any extra spool or two with you to the river. One good run and breakoff, bad wind knot or anything on 2lb could really hurt your distance casting with lots of line off the reel.

You are right about the spare spools. Unfortunately if one uses Shimano reels spare spools are a thing of the past. The Pflueger Supreme XT I got last year came with spare spool and the clicker broke on it and I tried to get a another spool. If you can get one they want 40 bucks for the thing...ridiculous. This is the reason I have two rods on the Caney.....both are same but it is along just in case.


Regards

[Alphahawk]

I just bought a BPS microlight 6'0" UL that has a pretty soft tip. I have a 1000 weight daiwa reel spooled with 4lb on it. I hope to try it out soon!

I have always used short, cheap UL setups. 4'6" and 5'0" rods. Always left me wanting more....I broke the last one recently while moving so i decided to upgrade. hopefully this extra length and a nicer rod will do the trick.

Those BPS micro lights are good.....just a little too soft for me. I used to own about 4 of them...gave them to my son.

Regards

[bfish]

5 wt for flyfishing

For roostertails on spinning rod, like you asked. Fenwick Eagle GT 7' Light power, moderate (almost fast) action with Diawa SS Tournament 1300 reel (or Exceler 2000 or Pluegar Supreme 8230MG). 4lb test, usually AN40 but that varies.

[Alphahawk]

5 wt for flyfishing

For roostertails on spinning rod, like you asked. Fenwick Eagle GT 7' Light power, moderate (almost fast) action with Diawa SS Tournament 1300 reel (or Exceler 2000 or Pluegar Supreme 8230MG). 4lb test, usually AN40 but that varies.

You'll never have to replace that Diawa SS. Those things are made to last.

Regards

[TroutFiend]

I would typically use 5' ultralight rod. The last few times I went I used a Mitchell 6.5' with 4lb. and small phlueger reel. This is a light fast tip rod and I am landing more fish. It seems with a little stiffer action I can get a better hookset and keep fish on. What the preference of going to the 7'?

[Alphahawk]

I would typically use 5' ultralight rod. The last few times I went I used a Mitchell 6.5' with 4lb. and small phlueger reel. This is a light fast tip rod and I am landing more fish. It seems with a little stiffer action I can get a better hookset and keep fish on. What the preference of going to the 7'?

Maybe more casting difference.....maybe a little better balance depending on your reel.....and in a kayak it is hard fighting a fish around the front of you if the rod won't stick out past the bow a little.


Regards

[commdd]

Hey Alpha I was just thinkin the other day about asking your opinion on rods and then this thread popped up. I do have one question.. if you had equivalent length rods and reels with 2# test which would cast a 1/64th oz lure better, soft tip or fast tip. thanks, always enjoy your posts. regards

[Alphahawk]

Hey Alpha I was just thinkin the other day about asking your opinion on rods and then this thread popped up. I do have one question.. if you had equivalent length rods and reels with 2# test which would cast a 1/64th oz lure better, soft tip or fast tip. thanks, always enjoy your posts. regards

You are going to get both sides of that as an answer. I have always been able to cast the Trout Magnet farther with an UL with a fast tip. I had a Shimano Compre given to me about 5 years ago. It was an UL with soft tip. I never could get any distance with that rod. When I finally started using rods with fast tips my casting distance increased. I just had a rod made for me from a 2wt fly rod blank. I wanted it to give me a good fight when I am into only 6 and 7 inch Gills. There is no doubt it will do that. I wanted it to cast as far as all the other rods I have. Standing on my front porch and using same reel and casting 7 different rods it does not cast as far as the ones with the fast tip. Now it casts far enough and it may take me a while to get used to such a whippy rod and cast it correctly. But if I could only pick one rod it would be a 7 foot UL with a fast tip. The rod I have with that microwave guide outcasts them all....it is a 6' 6" UL with a moderate fast tip. It casts like a dream. I have no clue as to what the feel of the rod will be but I sure enjoy casting with it. My goal is to be at Nickajack casting for crappie with it no later than March 1st....then I can give a good report how those guides are.

Regards

[commdd]

Alpha, great information! I have a 6 1/2 ft UL with fast tip so I should be right in the zone for both distance and hook setting capability. Thanks again for your detailed response. look forward to your reports when your back out there. regards.

[tcintn]

Alpha, great information! I have a 6 1/2 ft UL with fast tip so I should be right in the zone for both distance and hook setting capability. Thanks again for your detailed response. look forward to your reports when your back out there. regards.

I believe you were one that bought one of the rods I had at show at New Vision.I wish I had had more to sell. Plus extra reels.I could have sold more.
I thank you for your purchase.
Ed

[TroutFiend]

Alpha, great information! I have a 6 1/2 ft UL with fast tip so I should be right in the zone for both distance and hook setting capability. Thanks again for your detailed response. look forward to your reports when your back out there. regards.

What brand is this?

[tcintn]

We sell a great 6 1/2' rod which is designed for trout and a lot of folks find it to be and excellent rod for trout.
troutmagnet.com

[TroutFiend]

I have been looking at those on the website. Are they carried anywhere local or just online?

[commdd]

tcintn... I am sure you have very good rods and would like to compare to yours.. mine is an inexpensive quantum UL with the lightweight metal guides that were so cheap and sharp they kept cutting my line so I replaced all the guides with FUGI blvog's. i gained a few grams weight but am certain they won't cut my line like the cheap ones.. regards.

[Alphahawk]

tcintn... I am sure you have very good rods and would like to compare to yours.. mine is an inexpensive quantum UL with the lightweight metal guides that were so cheap and sharp they kept cutting my line so I replaced all the guides with FUGI blvog's. i gained a few grams weight but am certain they won't cut my line like the cheap ones.. regards.

The TM Rods are a great rod....for the price. I keep two of them for spares for when I break one of my better rods.....which I have done. I have never broke a TM rod. It too has metal guides but they are good guides. The action on them is great for trout and Gills. I fished at a local lake with one a few years back and the folks all wanted one of them....good rod at a cheap price. A tackle shop sold 10 in a few days and then I think he ordered 36 more and sold them in a few days also....LOL. If you ever see me out I will probably have one in the car just in case I need a spare. If you want I would let you try it out.


Regards

[commdd]

Alpha you are correct the very good ultralight metal guides are very expensive and what I would have gone with to replace mine.. but the budget allowed for the Fugi's.. I appreciate the offer to try out the TM rod..hope to see you out there..regards..

[hillbilly]

Do you think the truot magnet Trinity Series SLS-108 is a good real for the money.

[Alphahawk]

Do you think the truot magnet Trinity Series SLS-108 is a good real for the money.

I have one of those rods...the SLS-108 is a rod.....and I paid for it. It is well worth the money for what it is. It is a 9 foot float rod made from a 9' 6" fly rod blank....it has 14 guides to take the pressure off the line. The rod only weighs 3 ounces. I have a ball with it when I fish the Trout Magnet under the float. browntrout and tcintn also have that rod and hopefully will put in their two cents on it. If you fish for trout and want a good float rod I would say get it. That rod comes with some kind of guarantee if you break it they replace it for a minimal cost.

Regards

[tcintn]

[QUOTE=Alphahawk;29224]I have one of those rods...the SLS-108 is a rod.....and I paid for it. It is well worth the money for what it is. It is a 9 foot float rod made from a 9' 6" fly rod blank....it has 14 guides to take the pressure off the line. The rod only weighs 3 ounces. I have a ball with it when I fish the Trout Magnet under the float. browntrout and tcintn also have that rod and hopefully will put in their two cents on it. If you fish for trout and want a good float rod I would say get it. That rod comes with some kind of guarantee if you break it they replace it for a minimal cost.

I have two of the 9' Trinity rods and love it for when I am using the TM under the float. I have used it when I went Steel Head fishing on Salmon River and it did the job getting big fish in.And that is with 2 lb test from TM called SOS.
On my trip to 8 different states out west where I fish some great rivers and streams,it did the job.I like the rod so much I had the man who makes them make me a fly rod out of them.
When he makes these rods he goes to great detail in making sure they are balanced.
You want go wrong with the rod.
The bet combo is that rod with the Stradic reel.

[browntrout]

I have one of those rods...the SLS-108 is a rod.....and I paid for it. It is well worth the money for what it is. It is a 9 foot float rod made from a 9' 6" fly rod blank....it has 14 guides to take the pressure off the line. The rod only weighs 3 ounces. I have a ball with it when I fish the Trout Magnet under the float. browntrout and tcintn also have that rod and hopefully will put in their two cents on it. If you fish for trout and want a good float rod I would say get it. That rod comes with some kind of guarantee if you break it they replace it for a minimal cost.

Regards

That is 1 of the best rods that I have ever fished with. I really like it for fishing out of a yak with. Not only can you use it for trout it makes a great rod for fishing the "Float and Fly" setup using the Trout Magnet for smallmouth. That is a deadly setup that doesnt get mentioned much. Very productive on Centerhill and Dale Hollow.
That rod is on the pricey side but you WILL NOT BE SORRY if you get one.

Roy

[hillbilly]

Thanks for the info guys. I'm going to get one an give it a try.

[TroutFiend]

I was looking into getting the TM Trinity rod since I have been using the float technique for trout a lot lately, but I still go back to the twitch method when I get into swifter water. Had anyone tried this method with the Trinity Rod?

Andy

[Alphahawk]

I was looking into getting the TM Trinity rod since I have been using the float technique for trout a lot lately, but I still go back to the twitch method when I get into swifter water. Had anyone tried this method with the Trinity Rod?

Andy


I'm on TM Pro Staff and I promote their products. But I will also tell you my honest opinion. The Trinity rod is great for fishing the float.....none better. But I wouldn't twitch with it. I have one and use it when float fishing. To me the Trinity rid is too long to twitch properly......although many do it. You will get tired real quick twitching with that rod. Just my opinion.

Regards


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[TroutFiend]

Gotcha, thank you for your help. I had a feeling that was the case, just making sure. I have no problem carrying 2 rods in the boat or down to the Riverside.

Andy