Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Fishing Forum :: Rod/reel for absolute ignoramus!
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georgelesley |
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walllee |
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walllee |
quote Bushwacker: "Shouldn't everyone's first setup be a Zebco 202? Ah, the memories." My dad must of liked me better then your dad liked you, I got a Zebco 33. |
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dpreiner21 |
quote Bushwacker: "Shouldn't everyone's first setup be a Zebco 202? Ah, the memories." lol! What about the zebco Kids Snoopy Rod!? common now! |
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toddhunter |
quote DCLoafer: "Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll definitely look into the Ugly Stick - seems to be a great price. I've also been looking at store-brand combos, which are comparable or cheaper than the Ugly Stick/Shimano combos. LL Bean should be fine. Any medium combo in whatever your price range should work as well. The biggest problem you (and most anglers) will have will be line problems (mostly caused by twist). Definitely get new line, a soft (limp) line, like 8 or 10 lb trilene xl. Braided line is also limp and will last a long time, but it can be expensive and you need to use some mono backing and know how to tie a palomar knot. Spincast (close faced) reels are the easiest to use, and most problems stay inside the reel, but spinning (open faced) are usually better quality and not difficult to learn. |
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mastertangler |
I also would not advocate any braided or super lines for novice anglers. Lots of bad things can happen.......from slicing your hand, to bad knots, to pulling a snag free and having said lure rocket at you at 80mph and losing a few teeth (again don't laugh as that has also happened). Besides, why use "here I am" line (very visible to the fish)? If you do get a spin cast your first job is to remove the line it comes with and replace with fresh 10lb trilene XL. Use any extra line to practice your knots. The 10b will help you bridge any diameter gaps (mono likes to tie to diameters which are similar to itself). If you opt to get a spinning reel try not to get one which is tiny. A 2500 series is about right. Also be advised to seek out a reel which allows you to switch the handles from one side to another. Some people like to reel with their right hand and other folk like to reel with their left. Store your reels off your rods. If you leave them on, and strap them into the boat a handle may inadvertently become loose and drop off. No good! Fishing can be fun but it can also be a hassle at times. Avoid lures which can spin your line and cause immense tangles. Spoons and spinners come to mind. Get some Shad Raps and some Chatterbaits and you will be good to go. Fish near the bottom.........if you get hung paddle over to it, get behind and give a slight tug, 90% of the time you will get your stuff back. Do not fish with tiny lures.........fish in the north are quite savage and will attack prey which is only slightly smaller than themselves. The larger sizes in the Shad Rap and 1/4 and 3/8 in the Chatterbait. A plastic trailer (like a fake crawdad) threaded onto the shank of the hook helps double the Chatterbaits effectiveness. Make sure it is straight and not curled. A drop of super glue really helps keep your trailer in place. Apply where the trailer meets the lures head, hold tightly for several seconds and your good all day. Other wise your trailer may start sliding down and on a continual basis (can you say "hassle") Both of these lure options are merely cast and retrieve. Remember, near the bottom is good. The Chatterbait is more versatile, you can jig it (like a yo-yo) in the weeds as you drift along (it is snag resistant) you can reel it 10ft and then let it sink down only to repeat the process or you can just throw it out and reel it in. It puts out massive vibration which calls fish from far and wide. I like natural colors........they are quite reasonably priced. Chatterbait Here is the trailer I like to use but with a twist. Rig it up sideways.........secure with a drop of super glue. The two little flippers wiggle like mad as the water is washed over it via the action of the lure. It is a can't miss option for you and will catch pretty much everything (I even caught a lake trout with one trolling in West Lake LOL). Throw in a single stout super sharp hook and it is custom tailored for the novice and the pro alike. Trailer |
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mapsguy1955 |
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Basspro69 |
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QueticoMike |
quote Basspro69: "Propeil pocket fisherman :-)" Never heard of that brand, are they better than the Ronco version? |
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johndku |
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johndku |
quote : "quote Savage Voyageur: "Who is the guest paddler who keeps bringing back 4 year old threads and then not say anything? " Just noticed myself this was 4 years old. Wonder how it turned out? |
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QueticoMike |
quote QueticoMike: "quote Basspro69: "Propeil pocket fisherman :-)" I just looked it up, they go by a different name called Popeil, they look very similar. :) |
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Savage Voyageur |
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quote Savage Voyageur: "Who is the guest paddler who keeps bringing back 4 year old threads and then not say anything? " Kind of makes you wonder doesn't it? |
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QueticoMike |
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overthehill |
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dpreiner21 |
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Old Hoosier |
Also agree with the $30 spinner. They are a good value - not the best for sure - but more than adequate quality for "amateur" fishermen. The work smoothly, are easy to learn, and can land large fish (if you don't tighten the drag too tight) Also agree with braided line. And small diameter 10-15 lb is plenty. It is very "forgiving" as you don't have to re-tie often, it takes the rock/boulder abuse, and is tough enough that you can avoid leaders. But you can still land toothy critters like pike and walleye with little fear of break-off. Good luck on your trip. Hope you all do well fishing. Give us a report back after the trip. Old Hoosier |
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Jackfish |
You could go with a 6'6" rod for a little more leverage with crank baits or trolling, but a longer rod gets cumbersome (IMO) when jigging for long periods of time. |
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joefbtg28 |
Option 1 (6'6" medium action, 6930 president): http://www.basspro.com/Shakespeare-Ugly-Stik-Spinning-Rods/product/303/ and http://www.basspro.com/Pflueger-President-6900-Series-Spinning-Reels/product/10213341/ Option 2 (6'6" medium) http://www.basspro.com/Pflueger-President-Spinning-Reel/Bass-Pro-Shops-Graphite-Series-Rod-Spinning-Combos/product/1212040610323/ In my experience if you go much cheaper than the pflueger president. You get what you pay for and it will not last you too many trips. Happy paddling! |
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schweady |
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fishnnut |
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DCLoafer |
I'm taking my 5th BWCA adventure next month, and my group of urban-dwelling 20-somethings is thinking about going at a relaxed pace and fishing this time around. My question: Any suggestions for a cheap rod/reel combo? I'll probably only use this once per year in the Boundary Waters - normally I spend my time backpacking around the AT or doing city-person things like drinking PBR on the stoop, not fishing. I love me some Walleye but I'll eat anything! Really I just think fishing will be a nice way to kick back and spend some time relaxing this year (though I do actually want to catch stuff). Thanks in advance for the expert advice! |
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Arlo Pankook |
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Captn Tony |
I also use short rods ( 5 ft.)as they are easier to cast in a canoe, I've been smacked a couple of times by my canoe partner when he tried to cast with a long rod. |
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shaniac |
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DCLoafer |
Anyone have any experience with LL Bean fishing products? Good price, and at least they've got a good guarantee, so I can get my money back if it breaks on me (or if I don't catch any fish - "Guys, your rod doesn't work!") |
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Bushwacker |
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tyh |
I bring one pack rod (St. Croix) and one spinning reel (Daiwa) with fresh 8lb line and a small assortment of tackle, catch all the fish I care to. |
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Bushwacker |
quote dpreiner21: "quote Bushwacker: "Shouldn't everyone's first setup be a Zebco 202? Ah, the memories." My son has one of those. He's new school. |
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BearWhisperer |
-Good luck! |
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FOG51 |
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TeamTuna06 |
There are some good options without dropping a ton of cash. I'd head to Bass Pro, Cabela's, or Gander Mtn and check out their house brand spinning (Im assuming youll want spinning) combos. Usually the house brand reels are made by some of the bigger reel makers so they're decent for the money. You can probably find something of good quality for $35-$50. Tuna |
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Moonman |
quote Jackfish: "I would recommend buying a 6 foot, two-piece Ugly Stick spinning rod (around $30) and about a $30 Shimano spinning reel to go with it. Both are decent quality and will be more than adequate for jigging or casting. I would agree with Jackfish on this one. An Ugly Stick will work for you and won't break the bank. Ditto on reel target price. Mind you, I wouldn't recommend this if you were more serious about fishing as while they are strong rods generally, they are not at all sensitive. Sometimes you can get decent combos on sale for half price if you see anything like that, I would go that route instead. Just make sure you put good line on the reel, like Trilene XL 8 lb mentioned above. Moonman |