Trolling Rods...

Can you use trolling rods for spider rigging? Or are you better off using just a regular jig pole?

What about longlining? Can you use a regular jig pole to longline? Or are trolling rods better?

DoubleG

I use B&M PST's for cranking and slow trolling. You can use jig poles also.

I'm with Speck, use BnM PST for both but I do vary the length, ie, 8', 12' & 16' for pulling cranks and 10', 12' and 16' for slow trolling, spider rigging.

It all depends on the action you want. For a stiffer action go with the Brush Cutter (I use 12' BC's in the early spring). For a medium action go with either PST's or BGJP's (Jack will kill me for saying that). For light action go with the C&C's. Maj is right on about using different lengths. For pulling, I ain't got a clue.

Those 16 foot trolling poles should be left home for Spider rigging. Try it a couple times and you'll see. You can't set the hook hard nor quick enough unless you're dang he man. It's not as bad in the winter or fall with more line out but NEVER do it in the spring with 4 foot of line out. Just don't work and it cost me 3 good fish at the Grenada tourney. Had 3 good bites and I didn't get the hook set right so they got off at the boat. Remember this to, You're dipnet needs to be almost as long as your longest pole for spider rigging with a short line And those are your tips of the day from DonDOn

Thanks fellas.. I got 6 BGJP 11 and 12 footers from Yikes and wanted to see how much I can do with them... I figured I would use them strictly for spider rigging but seems like I could at least long line with them also. They are probably not stiff enough for pulling cranks. I could not pass up the deal tho.. The new PST are pretty steep to buy 6 of them from 8 to 16 feet.

What all do yall use your BGJP for?

DoubleG

You want 14's and 16's for slow trolling. Just makke ssure you stick with BnM's. I might have some older PST's for sale later.

I use 10 and 12 footers personally but still need to pick up a couple 14 footers. Just hadn't broke down and bought them yet

Its all about personal preferance and what you get used to....I don't use any longer than 12 ft. Just easier for me to handle and transport etc.

Thanks for the info... I don't have any rod holders on the boat so the 11 and 12s will be easier for me to deal with also. Might have to get some trolling rods next year for pulling cranks.

Crappiholic - If you sell em let me know... I am interested for sure.

DoubleG

This is one of my fav times of year. I do spider rig alot but also ease around with a rod in each hand a good bit as well. LOVE the Thump when a bigun slams it

Double, listen to Hollic. The rest of these folks are just legends in their own minds......well.....Hollic is too, but in this case, he's spot on, despite the odds.

Wannabe...

Just to follow up on the 16' rods, I caught more on them (at the Boutla tourney) than the 10 or 12'ers. Not sure if it was because they were straight out the front or what. Did have to develop a new technique for using the net though. Driscoll saw me horse in a nice one and commented on the net maneuver, must have been amusing. BTW Zack, you need to get with EZ and let him custom make you some pole holders, I use them and they are great, you don't pay for them unless you like them.

Thanks for the info Major.. I appreciate it. Since I already got the 11 and 12 footers I am going to give them a try before I spend more $$$. If spider rigging don't work with them I am going to long line. I am going to try to use the pole holders I got for now. It would be nice to get some more to put in the front of the boat. I met up with EZ and checked out his pole holders. They are really nice! He makes some great stuff...

DoubleG

I have a question for you guys that use 11 & 12 ft poles for trolling. What do you do if you are fishing 16-18' deep and catch a fish. What do you do with the line? I have found that when fishing deeper that the length of the pole, it is easier to net the fish and you don't loose the strike zone with your line. Just curious.

Bait caster and crank 'em up to proper length. Reset to depth using a marker on the pole.

Wannabe...

Yeah I okuma line counter reels on my rods as of yesterday.... Just reset to the proper line length after reeling the fish in.

DoubleG

I had to learn to release the bail after setting the hook to let out enough line to steer the fish back to the boat.

Holic, I fly fish a good bit and just pull the line towards the reel and hold it with my finger, then pull more line and hold it with my finger. Really easy but like I said, I love to fly fish so it's a normal action for me doing that