Rod/Reel/Line Recommendations for Lake Trout

[HunterDave]

I'm in the market for a dedicated lake trout rod, reel and line combo to use with a downrigger and any suggestions from the experienced folks out there would be appreciated. I don't need fancy or expensive, just something decent and reliable. My Uglystik with a $50 Abu Garcia (spinning reel) is my preferred rod/reel combo for my other fishing so that might give you an idea of what quality I'm fine with using. Thanks in advance for your input. :)

[AppleJax]

Dave, I use an uglystick mooching rod with a Shimano GT??? mooching reel, spooled with 20lb big game mono. Has served me well through the years fresh and saltwater...

[HunterDave]

Dave, I use an uglystick mooching rod with a Shimano GT??? mooching reel, spooled with 20lb big game mono. Has served me well through the years fresh and saltwater...

What is a good length rod keeping in mind that I may have to land my own fish in a boat?

What is the advantage of a mooching reel (I've never owned one) as opposed to a spinning reel with a bigger sized spool or is it just a preference thing?

[AppleJax]

What is a good length rod keeping in mind that I may have to land my own fish in a boat?

What is the advantage of a mooching reel (I've never owned one) as opposed to a spinning reel with a bigger sized spool or is it just a preference thing?

9-11 feet, Mooching reel uses the straight line advantage, larger line capacity, as well as its ease of use (drag system) with using a downrigger..

[cube]

I'm in the market for a dedicated lake trout rod, reel and line combo to use with a downrigger and any suggestions from the experienced folks out there would be appreciated. I don't need fancy or expensive, just something decent and reliable. My Uglystik with a $50 Abu Garcia (spinning reel) is my preferred rod/reel combo for my other fishing so that might give you an idea of what quality I'm fine with using. Thanks in advance for your input. :)

For what it's worth I use Shakespeare® Ugly Stik® Big Water Downrigger Rods and Penn 320GT2LC* reels. The LC stands for line counter on the reel which I find helpful.

The equipment was recommended to me by a Downrigger rep that I met at the Fishing Hole May field sale.

I have had zero problems fishing this system for lakers.

Now if someone would give me a pair of Islander reels I could be convinced to switch. Not that I think I would catch anymore fish, it's that I have always like the look and feel of those Islander reels

Standard line for downriggers is mono in around 20 lb or so. You can certainly use others though.

Good Luck with what ever you get

You might find the thread below useful

http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=168310

[The Fisherman Guy]

Hi Dave

I would suggest different setups for different ways of angling for Lakers.

If you will be jigging primarily, a stiff rod with a fast action tip has been good for me. My biggest Laker to date, 22lbs, was caught on a 6ft ugly stick, jigging in 24FOW with a spinning reel and 15lb braid on a 3/8oz jig.
Braided line works wonders at feeling bites in deep water while jigging. It also helps get a good hook set, as there is no stretch to braided line. No need in going over 20lb braid, with a good rod and a fast action tip, you will be able to maintain pressure on the fish easily.

If you are trolling, a level wind reel with a line counter is key at getting your exact distances from your downrigger ball. Okuma makes a good, inexpensive reel, but the best would be the Shimano Tekota in LC (line counter).

[FishHunterPro]

I use a ugly stick 9ft big water and a rapala andros 400 round baitcaster that worked good last year. I picked up a calcutta 400b round baitcaster cause I liked the size and feel of the andros so much compared to other more bulky reels. Have a look into a round baitcast reel in the 400 size , there is so many options to choose from.

[HunterDave]

Thanks fellas. Now to do my homework. I heard that there might be a sale at The Fishin Hole tomorrow so I think that I'll drop in. I had a look at the products suggested and I like the ideas of a Big Water Ugly Stik 9' with a Okuma Convector line counter reel and 20 lb mono. That would be about the right price range for me but I'll do more research.

The line counter reel would come in useful to figure out how deep my lure is when trolling for pike without a down rigger.

[new LT]

Rapala Magnum 9' rod and line counter reel combo $149 95 all in

[Stally77]

http://www.daiwa.com/reel/detail.aspx?id=643



9' Meduim action ugly stick. 20# power pro braid (no stretch better hook set) with a 4" leader of 20# Berkley Trilene Transoptic mono. Regards and good luck!

[LCCFisherman]

Use braid.

[HunterDave]

Rapala Magnum 9' rod and line counter reel combo $149 95 all in

Thanks. This is the combo that I bought today but in 8' length Med Heavy action. That was the only length that they had in the combo and I figured that 1' shorter in a 14' tinny would work better for me. I got the reel spooled with 20lb Maxima monofilament. I swung a deal....$120 + $7 gst. :sHa_shakeshout:

[davegrant]

Always happy to swing a deal for fellow AO members and a fellow DAVE.
CHEERS :)

[HunterDave]

Always happy to swing a deal for fellow AO members and a fellow DAVE.
CHEERS :)

Outstanding Dave......Great job! :happy0034:

[EZM]

The key, in my opinion, for down-riggers, is having a type of rod with a parabolic action (even bend throughout) the entire blank.

Ugly Sticks, by design, fit this bill well. If you can find a decent 8' medium action down-rigger or dipsy diver rod (there are many out there) you are 90% of the way to a good set up.

Both my Shimano rods, used for riggers or dipsy's are somewhat parabolic in design.

I run one setup with braid and the other with a 20lb mono. The mono will not require a snubber as there is some stretch. A snubber is a good idea if you are running braid and the fish tend to be smaller.

I use Okuma Magda Pro line counters on both set ups and for $60 a crack they have been great for Lakers, big Gerhards, Bulls etc...

I have not used a mooching reel much, so I can't comment on the advantages. All the guys on the west coast use them so they must have some advantages.

[huntsfurfish]

The key, in my opinion, for down-riggers, is having a type of rod with a parabolic action (even bend throughout) the entire blank.

Ugly Sticks, by design, fit this bill well. If you can find a decent 8' medium action down-rigger or dipsy diver rod (there are many out there) you are 90% of the way to a good set up.

Both my Shimano rods, used for riggers or dipsy's are somewhat parabolic in design.

I run one setup with braid and the other with a 20lb mono. The mono will not require a snubber as there is some stretch. A snubber is a good idea if you are running braid and the fish tend to be smaller.

I use Okuma Magda Pro line counters on both set ups and for $60 a crack they have been great for Lakers, big Gerhards, Bulls etc...

I have not used a mooching reel much, so I can't comment on the advantages. All the guys on the west coast use them so they must have some advantages.

?:);)