hello all,

im a complete NEWBIE with fishing. I'm looking to a nice rod/reel set up for this years BWCA trip.

I'm thinking it's a good idea to go with a 2, 3, or 4 piece rod? any thoughts or recommendations?

the guy at the fishing store was steering me towars a 2 piece St. Croix rod for $110. sound about right?

thanks

St Croix is a very good rod, was it a combo with a reel or just the rod. Theres many good combos out there, I use mainly 2 piece rods, im not a fan of 3 or 4 piece rods at all. If you search some of the older fishing threads you should be able to find some good info there also.p.s. Welcome to the site theres alot of people that can help you out here.

thanks BassPro! I've got a couple other threads started too. there is definitely a vast amount of knowledge floating around here.

It was $110 for just the rod. He said he'd recommend a reel around $60. It was the Triumph travel series.

He then added his rod/reel is over $1000 combined, but for the $170 I'd have a great set up for the BWCA...

I would stick with 2 piece rods. I myself do not take my expensive rods on my trips to the B.W.C.A. I have found that there are some great rods in the 30 to 50 dollar range that are just as capable of catching fish as my expensive St. Croix and Loomis rods.

I like Ugly Sticks in various actions, Berkely Lightning rods and Cabelas Fish Eagle rods. All great rods that are tough and I won't cry if they break.

These trips can be tough on rods. I do not skimp on my reels. I use Shimano Symetre reels in various sizes. They have a great drag system which is my number one criteria in a reel.

I use a two piece 6 foot 8 St. Croix. They make good rods with a good warranty.

I have only used two piece rods for spinning and one piece for bait casting. You will be fine with your St Croix Two piece.
Edit new addition is a 6'6" one piece rod.

So I'll ask the question, starting from the basics and not assuming anything. Do you plan to use this rod for any other fishing or is this a once a year I'll dust it off and take it to the Boundary Waters? The answer to what kind of rod and reel to get and how much to spend on it depends on how serious of a fisher you are or plan to be. If you're using this once a year for a trip to the Boundary Waters, spending $110 for the rod and $60 for the reel may be overkill for you. I've gone the last 2 years with a 2 piece $30 rod/reel combos from Walmart (not the Barbie and Spiderman ones :) the Shakespeare spinning reel combos) and they've done just fine for me, I've caught fish, I've had fun doing it. I maybe get out 5 or 6 other times in the summer in addition to that. There are much more serious fisherman on this board than I am and some of the responses will be geared toward what they would do but maybe not what you should do. Feel free to ask more questions, the only stupid question is the one not asked.

I use two or three pc rods from St.Croix and Temple Fork Outfitters. Two pc is the way to go most of the time but the three pc are really nice if you ever travel on a plane as you can easily carry them on. I probably wouldn't recommend a three pc unless you are willing to spend $150 or more as the quality might not be great.

TFO 3pc.

Check out the St. Croix Tidemaster rods which are 3-piece. Orvis also makes a 3-piece spinning rod. Two piece rods are still too long broken down to transport easily. The three piece rods store in tubes about the same length as a 4-piece fly rod and can strap to the side of a portage pack. The are easy carry on items attached to a bag rather than an awkward second item. I have the Orvis and it is excellent.

I think that both the SC Tidemaster and Orvis are made in USA.

St. Croix Tidemaster

Orvis travel rod

I take bot 1 and 2 piece rods. For long travel days, we keep all rods in a PVC tube for safe, fast traveling.

As for brand, I really like St Croix. They are top of the line, truely one of the best rods made in the world. But the best part is that they are hand made in a little factory in Northern Wisconsin. My dad lives just down the road and I try to stop by the St Croix shop every chance I get...

I'm a happy St. Croix rod owner, too, but...

You're a newbie angler. Don't go crazy. Buy yourself a 6' or 6'6" Ugly Stick with a decent Shimano reel and, after spending about $60-$70 on the combo, you'll never look back.

If you enjoy fishing and want to do more of it with a little better quality gear, THEN go buy yourself a St. Croix.

On the other hand, if you want to like driving, don't buy a Pinto.

Get the best rod you can afford. You could get a nice rod plus an Ugly Stick which you could use as a fire poker if you like the good rod.

An Ugly Stick is hardly "fire poker" quality. It's a decent quality fishing rod with decent sensitivity and action, one that any beginning or occasional angler would have success with for years.

Sure, everyone has different tastes and expectations from fishing gear or any other product they buy, but people don't decide that they want to start canoeing and immediately go out and buy a $2500 kevlar canoe either. Some people do, but most start off with lesser expensive gear before going all out on top quality stuff.

I agree.
Get yourself a 7 foot, 2 piece, Ugly Stik, and a decent reel which you can get for about $30-$40.
Total cost will be less than $100 and you'll have an outfit that will serve you as well as any "quality outfit!" (as the salesman call them!)

I'm just kidding around, but I do think an ugly stick is a dog. Mine feels like mush and it feels heavy in the hand. But I think I could pole vault with it or even lash a piece of wood to it and use it as a paddle.

Of course, I am your example of trying one and then moving on.

Fox, you need to balance between durability and performance. While that St Croix might have nice action, it may not stand up to the rigors of the BWCA. Last trip, of the four rods I took, 3 ended up with the tips snapped off. I've replaced those rods with the Ugly Stick Lite. The Lite version seems to have a decent action.

The reason everyone is recommending the Ugly Stick is they are tough and can take more abuse that the portages of the BWCA can dish out. I would definitely use a 2 piece as they can break down smaller for portages. Also, I usually take two rod/reel combos, a bait caster for trolling and a spinning for casting.

I would say you could purchase a decent rod & reel for that $110 that the St Croix is costing. Once you decide on the rod/reel, your next step is what kind of line to use, that is a whole other thread....

Yes, go with a 2 piece rod, stay away from the single, three and four piece rods. You don't have to go with a St. Croix rod for your first rod, but they are nice as long as you purchase the right one.

I would shop around and buy the one that is best balanced with your reel. So first things first, purchase the reel you are going to use. If it were me I would get a nice spinning reel in the $60 to $80 range that will hold line between 6 and 12 pound test. Typically these are the middle makes of the model.

You will see reels maybe marked with a 10, 20 or 30 size model, get the middle one in a 20 as an example. Once you have the reel, then take it with you and put it on each rod you like to test for feel and balance. I would look for a 2 piece rod, around 6'6" long, in a medium strength, that doesn't have a lot of play at the end of the rod. You don't want it stiff, but you also don't want to act like a piece of spaghetti when you whip it around. Find one that you feel comfortable with that is balanced with your reel.

You might find a less expensive rod that feels better than the St. Croix. Just my thoughts on how I go about this process.

I own 8 Ugly Stiks, and learned something after buying the first one. Those with the foam handle do not feel right, as jeroldharter posted earlier(too bulky, cumbersome, out of balance, etc.).

Make sure to purchase the Ugly Stik with a cork handle. Compare the two and you'll understand what we mean.

wow! you all are great! LOTS of good advise :) thank everyone for taking the time to reply.

Seems like everyone agrees a 2 piece St Croix is a good rod for the bwca.

gsfisher13, i live on the fox river in illinois. i just moved there a couple months ago. I now have 50 ft of shoreline and a private pier :) So...I do plan on fishing often at home (BIG catfish come out of that river). plus, there are other camping trips i go on, where i could fish, but just haven't since i currently have no gear.

given that I will use this rod/reel much more than for 1 bwca trip a year, i don't mind spending and extra $100 or so for higher quality gear.

about the tip snapping (as Fishbones mentioned) I do also plan on getting the hard shell cases for them, so that should do the trick right?

to QueticoMike, thanks for the insight on the "steps" in buying them. I plan on buying everything at one store. The owner said if I come back and buy 2 rods, 2 reals, lures, lines all from him that he'd hook me up with 20% off everything.... I like supporting mom and pop stores, and this guy really took the time to explain a lot too me. he also has a "test pond" and said he should me how to "work" the lures. he was a cool guy.

MadAngler, the shop owner mentioned they were made in WI and said I'm paying an extra $50 for that vs. some overseas competition made in Japan. I also like to support the USA so the extra $50 it is!

GreatOutdoors, I actually might get an Ugly stick set up for home as I've got some teenage cousins looking to come by and catch some catfish. I think im giong to spoil myself witht eh St Croix though :)

so the 3 piece is $210 a rod? at that point i might opt for something less expense. I've also got to buy 2 of everything. 1 set for my soon to be wifey.

(hey if she's cool enough to go to the bwca, i figure i can buy her some fishing gear right? haha)

I have been to the Boundary Waters now 7 times and i have never bought a new rod specifically for the trip.

I just use the same rods i use at home here in northern Indiana. I dont have anything super expensive either. i think each rod and reel together cost me no more than $75. i dont think the rod and reels will get me the better fish. the line and lures are what i spend my money on.

I ALWAYS TAKE 2 RODS AND REELS WITH ME AND THEY MUST BE TWO PIECE RODS. I would not want a 3 or 4 piece.

I like to have one set up for bass and one for pike so i dont have to mess with changing the lures. then when we are walleye fishing i only change one over and the other is set ready to roll.

Portaging two doenst take much more time and effort if any. i usually break them apart for the tough/longer portages and leave them together for the short ones.

hope that helps.

Thanks Marshall,

So, this is a whole new thread im sure, but you change lures for each type of fish huh? I mean, I figured you'd need to I guess, but is it like really hard to catch a walleye if you have pike lure on? are the fishes feeding habits that different?

Also, Could I buy those "leads" or what not, so I can "clip" no a new lure and not have to re-tie anything?

thanks!

I use two piece Cabella brand rods, and they're just fine. Made from the same graphite blanks as either the Loomis or St. Croix rods (cannot recall which one), and the warranty cannot be beat: liftime. They also do not cost as much money as the Loomis nor St. Croix rods.

Been buying two piece graphite rods and seem to break one a year with the rough and tumble of the BWCA. Never broke the old stand by. The ugly stick and it catches fish also

I don't know why anyone would want a 2 piece spinning rod over a 3 piece (apart from cost). The tube on a 2 piece is over 3 feet long, heavier, and unwieldy. The 3 piece rods come with a tube just like a fly rod. The Orvis 3 piece is ~$160 and includes its own rod tube and a good warranty. Someone advised matching the reel to the rod which is very good advice.

Those Flambeau type spinning rod cases cost $70 themselves and are heavy. You could make your own ABS tube from plumbing parts but those things are really heavy. You end up with a 4 pound tube for a 4 oz rod.

If you want an American product with a good warranty, are willing to pay the premium, and want a compact package that is durable and reasonably lightweight for BWCA travel...then St. Croix, Orvis (or Loomis for even more money).

Or you want a cheap rod that is essentially a throwaway that you won't mind breaking...then an Ugly Stick.

Or you want to split the middle then get a two piece mid-level rod from just about any manufacturer.

I've never used a rod holder, and I've never broken a rod. I use BDB's to secure them during portages. And if I did break a rod, I would be okay with that as I love buying new gear!

I can see why jeroldharter likes the lower quality rods, and really doesn't need the strength of an Ugly Stik. It shows in the picture of the 2 lb Bass he's holding in his photo! Don't need anything too strong to pull those things in! :)

Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!

Well deserved, good one. But I don't use a broomstick and a rope. I just fly fish.

Fly fish?
House, Horse, or TseTse?? :)

I too like a 2 pc 7'. I currently use an avid st croix, but a better choice to start with (I still get nervous portaging a $150 rod, let alone chancing someone stepping on it or something). Ugly stick makes a 'Pro-Lite' model that is lightweight and cork handled for around $35. Cabelas Gold Label (in their bargain barn for 30) is a decent starter rod too. I have a 7' 2 piece 'light action' Gold Label that I love for slab crappie and have bent it double on several 3-4 lb. smallies and wallys. I string it with 4-6 lb. line and go with it. They have different lenths and actions. With kids fishing, I swear I'd get a couple Zeb 33's or a 733 for trolling and match them with Light or Medium Light actions (maybe a Medium action for 733 reel), strip the new reels of line and put on some trilene xl in 6 or 8lb and MAYBE 10 lb on 733. You should get your money's worth of fun out of these and spend serious money later. If you get serious about fishing ALOT later, they still make good back-ups.Just my 2 cents on cheap; but not trash. oth

OH!....and reels? if you go open face 'spinning reel'..at least look at the Phleuger Pesident in say size/model 35. (735 or 1135-I forget but holds around 140 yds. of 8 lb. test line) a smooth reel for around 60 bucks with a spare spool. sorry to rant....exited!

I went to Mills Fleet farm and bought a $30-$40 combo and I am good to go. I might upgrade the line. I bought my 8yr son an Ugly Stik to use with a closed face reel. Came with 10lb test. It cast just as good as my open face reel. It was easy for him to use and its tough. Buy what your used to and you will be happy. don't need the most expensive unit to catch fish.

What I would do is set yourself a budget target, then go to the fishing shows, and get the best you can for your budget. The sales at the shows, which are starting around now, sometimes will get you an awesome rod for a great price. You can see from the replies that there are varying opinions out there. Rods and canoes are personal choices - only you can determine the cost/performance ratio and importance. Also, ask yourself what kind of fishing you'll be doing. Live baiting, a lot of rods will work as long is they can set the hook. Other techniques require different characteristics.Stiffer and more sensitive for jigging for example.

Don't bypass multi piece rods without investigating them. The quality can be very good, in fact better than many two piece rods. Some guys pay 600-800 bucks for 4 and 5 piece fly rods so that tells you that multi piece does not mean bad. It could mean poor quality though, you have to examine them, but that goes for many 2 piece rods as well. A lot of the ferule technology from fly rods has found its way into spinning rods so some of these rods can be light, strong and sensitive.

Almost all rods today, even some lower end ones, are better than most top quality rods from 10-15 years ago - and back then, those rods were the cats meow.

Moonman.

Gander Mountain Im8 is as sensitive as any rod ive ever used, and that includes the top end G Loomis spinnig rods and the top end St Croixs. The action is a little stiffer on the Im8 so it really makes the perfect jigging rod and its about 60 bucks. The main question overall is how do you like to fish, do you like to cast alot, do you like to troll, do you like to jig or bobber fish. I have rods that can be used for alot of different fishing techniques (Rapala Extreme Ultralight) and its about 35 bucks, and a few that are for a very specific kind of fishing. In my experience Ive never seen a 3 or 4 piece rod that even comes close to a two piece, but then again I havent fished with Sage or Orvis 3 piece rods that are between 300 and 800 bucks.

IMHO, 3 piece rods are a PITA. Speaking from experience here as I do own a couple. The biggest issue I have with 3 piece rods are clumsy and prone to breakage if you are just breaking them down with the reel,line and lure attached. If you remove just one piece, the lone long end is more prone to breakage. By breaking down to it's 3 pieces, the line wants to wrap around the blanks, also you get the dangling piece that begs to get broken.

It's fine if you are going to transport it in it's tube and leave it together when you fish.

Otherwise, you are better off with a 2 piece or 4 piece. Again, just my humble opinion.

I've got my cheap set up that is an ugly stick with a shakespeare spinning reel. Been agood rod and the reel has a very smooth feel to it. Whole set up was less than 100 dollars.

Combo

I went with a 1 piece rod that gets bdb to my canoe. I like the 1 piece I think they have a little better feel. Anyway 1 or 2 piece rod will do you just fine. I listened to my ol' pal TGO who spends more time on the water fishing and guiding than anyone else I know. He told me to spend under a Hundo for the gear and I'll do just fine. So i did.

JB

Not sure if anyone has recommended this but I would not go up to the boundary waters without an extra rod and reel so get the st. Croix and an ugly stick and you will be golden. I have seen to many accidents occur with fishing gear up there to trust even the most careful of anglers with the situation. Rods breaking, rods falling out of canoes and sinking to the bottom of the lake, gears getting stripped out of reels from a big pike... Etc. Just to much that can happen and if fishing is a priority an accident can ruin your trip. Have a great time!

I will also be bringing my four piece fly rod this year. Most fly rods now days are 3-4 piece. They are made out of quality graphite.

Ugly stick set-up is a great low-cost option - I've been using mine in the Q for past 20 years. Still holding up.

I take two two-pice rods. One for trolling: 6' Ugly Stick with 30# braid and a Shimano spinning reel. I've been using it both in the BWCA and fishing here at home since 1997. It has served admirally and has handled any fish I've been able to catch. The second rod is usually a decent 2-piece graphite rod with a higher-end reel that I use for jigging and such. I've managed to break a few of these over the years (well people I've been tripping with managed to step on them). And if you step on them they break, when they step on the ugly stick . . . nothing bad happens.

Nothing wrong with buying nice stuff. I do think that my Ugly Stick will outlast me if I don't deep six it someday. Can't say that for my more spendy rods.

You need a sensitive rod for jigging, a durable rod for trolling and any rod for bobber fishing. If you are not doing a lot of verticle jigging, then $110 is too much for a rod. If you are doing a lot of vertical jigging, then I'd say $110 is a good starting point. I used to work at Gander Mountain, and I remember how disappointed guys were when they found out that the long trolling rods were inexpensive, glass rods. "Don't you have anything more expensive?" I don't really get that one.
The Gander store brand is an decent rod at a reasonable price, + comes with a guarantee. I'd recommend a 6'6" M or MH two piece combo in the $60 range for a "complete newbie." Until you have more experience, the advantages of a "good" rod might be hard for you to recognize. (Unless you are vertically jigging-then they are obvious.)

I have had my St.Croix Tidemaster (TS70MF3) on probably 20 BWCA trips and it's still going strong. This is a durable rod made for inshore fishing and travel. I usually leave it in the case on travel days and leave it assembled when it's not in the case. I really don't think it is any more fragile than a 1pc rod or any less sensitive. I bought a TFO 3pc a couple of years ago but I kind of wish I would have went with another Tidemaster. Tough rod.

I've take both one and two piece rods. At home I only use one piece, but the 2-piece were more convenient in the BW. They are easier to carry on portages and everywhere else. But, you may find yourself threading line and re-tying more often if you portage. Some people find that inconvenient. It's difficult to know ahead of time whether you will prefer carrying long rods on portages to breaking down and re-rigging, but I found it easier to break them down and put them in a pack.

I take two rods and reels per person. All my rods are two piece and I pack them in a drawing tube that a Architect would use. The tube come with a shoulder strap and you can buy one at a fraction that a rod tube costs.

Hey! I thought I was the only mope carrying rods in a drawing tube! It works fantastic, and is conveniently small. Not to mention cheap, since I got it from my dad's garage.
And you don't look like this idiot. (my brother :-) )

In his defense, inside that 20lb monstrosity of a cannon he's carrying is a super expensive loomis one piece rod he bought just for the trip. At least he didn't pick up the cast iron sewer pipes you see alongside construction sites! ha, ha...

I don't like 2 piece rods. The connection point creates a weak point and seems to diminish the sensitivity of the rod. One piece rods are a little harder to portage, but about the time you hook a 5 lb smallmouth or a 40in. northern, the last thing you want to worry about is the rod breaking or if the walleyes are biting real light, you don't want to miss out because you lost some sensitivity with a 2 piece rod. I have taken 2 6'6" rods on every trip to the BWCA I've taken, you need to be careful, but I've never broken a rod.

quote jfunk: "I don't like 2 piece rods. The connection point creates a weak point and seems to diminish the sensitivity of the rod. One piece rods are a little harder to portage, but about the time you hook a 5 lb smallmouth or a 40in. northern, the last thing you want to worry about is the rod breaking or if the walleyes are biting real light, you don't want to miss out because you lost some sensitivity with a 2 piece rod. I have taken 2 6'6" rods on every trip to the BWCA I've taken, you need to be careful, but I've never broken a rod."

I've caught many 5 pound smallmouth, many pike over 40 inches and my biggest walleye was 32 inches, all caught with a 2 piece rod and never had any issue.

I also designed my own rod wrap for portaging the rods. It is canvas on the outside, padding sewn on the inside, with velcro strips at the top and bottom across the length of the wrap about 6 inches from the top and 6 inches from the bottom. I can strap in 8 rods easy. After you roll it up there are velcro straps on the outside that wrap around the roll. There is also a heavy duty strap connected to both ends of the roll so you can sling it on your shoulder for portaging. Works for me.

quote jfunk: "I don't like 2 piece rods. The connection point creates a weak point and seems to diminish the sensitivity of the rod. One piece rods are a little harder to portage, but about the time you hook a 5 lb smallmouth or a 40in. northern, the last thing you want to worry about is the rod breaking or if the walleyes are biting real light, you don't want to miss out because you lost some sensitivity with a 2 piece rod. I have taken 2 6'6" rods on every trip to the BWCA I've taken, you need to be careful, but I've never broken a rod."

funk:
I shied away from 2-piece rods for decades, having convinced myself that there is a huge drop-off in sensitivity. Still won't use one around home. I insisted that my G-Loomis was what I was bringing, end of story. So, for years, I was the only guy with a 1-piece on our BW trips and it really presented no problem BDBing it into the canoe just like the other rods. The biggest concern was actually watching out that guys weren't careless with the rods when packing and unpacking gear in the vehicle.

Lately, I have become aware of high quality 2-piece rods that are wonderfully sensitive. I'm still pretty fanatical about it, yet a well-built IM8 2-piece has served me just fine on my BW trips for the past few years now, and everyone's happy.

I have used the top end gloomis one piece rods and the top st croix rods, and believe it or not there is absolutely no difference in sensitivity that I can feel between them and a gander IM8 . p.s. I have never had a two piece rod break .

quote Basspro69: "I have used the top end gloomis one piece rods and the top st croix rods, and believe it or not there is absolutely no difference in sensitivity that I can feel between them and a gander IM8 . p.s. I have never had a two piece rod break ."

Yeah, I neglected to specify that the 2-piece to which I was referring is indeed a Gander Mountain Guide Series IM8 rod. (Bought a second one last fall, too, so I'm all set.)