Could someone recommend to me a two-piece 6-1/2' or 7' medium heavy spinning rod that I might find helpful in catching larger northern pike? I'm interested in a rod that I could use for trolling super Shad Raps and other lures that size. It seems that Sportsman's Warehouse and Cabela's have a very limited supply of 2-piece spinning rods in their stores presently.

I have the 7’ MH cabelas fish eagle from a few years back. It works well for the purpose you describe. Does double duty throwing heavy bass lures in thick slop around home.

Also they pretty much always go on sale at one point or another so the price is right.

tarnkt: "I have the 7’ MH cabelas fish eagle from a few years back. It works well for the purpose you describe. Does double duty throwing heavy bass lures in thick slop around home. +1

Also they pretty much always go on sale at one point or another so the price is right."

+1

Ugly Stik GX2. Strongest, most sensitive. Virtually unbreakable. It’s what I use and will handle the largest brutes.;)

Agreed these are difficult to find. I bought one before my 2018 trip for the same reasons and ended up getting the Fenwick Eagle MH 6’-6” 2-piece. Had to order it, but with free shipping that worked very well. Could find similar in stores, but not that exact rod. I already had the same medium action and was happy with it too. Nicer rods, but not so nice that I won’t take them into the back country.

Thank you for the suggestions. Much appreciated.

7 foot medium heavy sounds great. I've trolled some super shad raps but I think mine is a 6'7" ugly stick medium heavy action and its also 1 piece and it has a bait caster on it right now :/

Abbey: "Agreed these are difficult to find. I bought one before my 2018 trip for the same reasons and ended up getting the Fenwick Eagle MH 6’-6” 2-piece. Had to order it, but with free shipping, that worked very well. Could find similar in stores, but not that exact rod. I already had the same medium action and was happy with it too. Nicer rods, but not so nice that I won’t take them into the back country. "

+1... big Fenwick fan. ;)

old_salt: "Ugly Stik GX2. Strongest, most sensitive. Virtually unbreakable. It’s what I use and will handle the largest brutes.;)"

I use the Ugly Stik Elite up North. More sensitive.

AmarilloJim: "

old_salt: "Ugly Stik GX2. Strongest, most sensitive. Virtually unbreakable. It’s what I use and will handle the largest brutes.;)"

I use the Ugly Stik Elite up North. More sensitive."

I meant to say Ugly Stik Elite GX2. Thanks.

old_salt: "

AmarilloJim: "

old_salt: "Ugly Stik GX2. Strongest, most sensitive. Virtually unbreakable. It’s what I use and will handle the largest brutes.;)"

I use the Ugly Stik Elite up North. More sensitive."

I meant to say Ugly Stik Elite GX2. Thanks."

Ugly Stik has basically 2 models. The Elite or the GX2. They are separate and different.
Not trying to be a smart ass. Just trying to clarify for others.

Do people really use 2 piece rods? I have avoided them as much as possible thinking they were junk and the convenience of breaking down was not worth the loss of "feeling". I like heavier, stiffer rods that transfer the vibration of the lure to my hand so I can tell if I have weeds, am bouncing on the bottom, or if it is a fish. Don't you lose most of that with a 2 piece?

I think the finesse issue really doesn’t come into play , especially when trolling for Northerns and Lakers. They hit so hard, that it’s basically grab the rod and the fight is on! That being said, I use all 2 piece rods in canoe country, and depending on rod choice there are some pretty nice sensitive rods out there.

walllee: "I think the finesse issue really doesn’t come into play , especially when trolling for Northerns and Lakers. They hit so hard, that it’s basically grab the rod and the fight is on! That being said, I use all 2 piece rods in canoe country, and depending on rod choice there are some pretty nice sensitive rods out there. "

I know what you mean about hitting hard, but sometimes they don't and if I'm fishing deeper with lots of line out, it can be hard to know within the first few seconds if it is a fish or bottom. Similar for fishing a weed line. Those few seconds can make the difference between setting the hook and it spitting it out.

More important for me though, is feeling the action of my lure so I can tell by feel if I have weeds or not. Sometimes a little piece will slip my notice, but usually you can tell that it isn't quite right.

I like the 2 piece rods simply for transportation to and from the Q. I think switching to a super line will help with sensitivity more than the rod. I have no problem detecting a leaf on my lure with the Ugly Stik Elites and fireline. For vertical applications I always have my finger on the line for sensitivity.

A1t2o: "Do people really use 2 piece rods? I have avoided them as much as possible thinking they were junk and the convenience of breaking down was not worth the loss of "feeling". I like heavier, stiffer rods that transfer the vibration of the lure to my hand so I can tell if I have weeds, am bouncing on the bottom, or if it is a fish. Don't you lose most of that with a 2 piece?"

I personally can't tell much (if any) difference between the same model from a manufacturer that is one piece or two and am about 1/2 and 1/2 in my rod arsenal. Something that also takes me to that conclusion is fly rods.....purchase the most expensive line of fly rod a manufacturer offers, and it likely still breaks down into 2, 3, or 4 pieces.

Just where does marketing stop and functionality truly reach a maximum anyways? I say that and yet I've invested in some nice rods (not elitist rods) and have no regrets having done so.

AmarilloJim: "

old_salt: "

AmarilloJim: "

old_salt: "Ugly Stik GX2. Strongest, most sensitive. Virtually unbreakable. It’s what I use and will handle the largest brutes.;)"

I use the Ugly Stik Elite up North. More sensitive."

I meant to say Ugly Stik Elite GX2. Thanks."

Ugly Stik has basically 2 models. The Elite or the GX2. They are separate and different.
Not trying to be a smart ass. Just trying to clarify for others."

My bad. I have and use both.

old_salt: "

AmarilloJim: "

old_salt: "

AmarilloJim: "

old_salt: "Ugly Stik GX2. Strongest, most sensitive. Virtually unbreakable. It’s what I use and will handle the largest brutes.;)"

I use the Ugly Stik Elite up North. More sensitive."

I meant to say Ugly Stik Elite GX2. Thanks."

Ugly Stik has basically 2 models. The Elite or the GX2. They are separate and different.
Not trying to be a smart ass. Just trying to clarify for others."

My bad. I have and use both."

+1 for the ugly sticks. I have a GX2 and a couple Elites and they all work well. I thought the only difference was the cork handle. They do not break when portaging... I snapped a $100 fenwick on the portage from seagull into alpine a couple of years ago (read: first portage of the trip) and it almost ruined the trip. Snapped my ultralight 4 days later and came closer to having a ruined trip. Still landed the fish that snapped it, a 19" smallie. Good thing my partner and I brought in two rods each. I exclusively pack UglyStiks now but I'm considering buying one (or two because they're cheap) of Shakespeare's many-piece pack rods that come with a hard tube to transport them in. I cannot tell the difference in feel between my single piece and multiple piece rods.

I do not care to go heavier than a medium rod with 8 lb mono very often. That being said it is often difficult to detect a laker hit in the summer when I'm trolling deep with a full oz of weight ahead of the spoon. I'm sure a heavier rod and heavier line with less stretch would help this out, but I'm still catching fish. I've never hooked into anything bigger than a 36" northern with any rod, but I have landed a half dozen between 34" and 36" on a medium or medium-light rod and 8 pound mono. Steel leader, of course.

Edit: I think USESP702M will serve you well. 7 foot, medium power, fast action, two piece. This will be the next Ugly Stik I purchase. Just looked at ugly stiks at cabelas.com quickly and there is a difference between the GX2 and the Elite other than the handle. Spend the extra money on an Elite if you can. Compared to other manufacturers where the sky is the limit, $50 is not that much to spend on a rod.

These are supposed to be excellent rods. I don't own one but my best friend has this specific rod and it has pretty good touch for a 2-piece. landed 3 40"+ pike on a Fly in trip in Canada this summer. I believe most Cabelas and Scheels stores carries this line now.

Favorite Fishing Defender

Just got my new Cabela's Fish Eagle 7ft 2-piece medium-heavy rod in the mail today. Beautiful rod and only $69. We'll try it out in June on Cranberry Lake up in the Adirondacks. Then up on crooked in the fall. Thanks for all the help.

Wow I was just going to reply and recommend that same rod but in Heavy, not medium heavy. Two Piece 7’ or longer heavy rods are even more rare than medium heavy. That fish eagle is awesome for a lot of reasons. Mainly the action I find is not super fast which is better for casting large lures...you want some bend near the tip to allow the rod to load nicely with bigger lures. Many medium heavy rods are just very fast and stiff, which is great for a lot of presentations but not everything. Also, I like to throw small gliders for big pike. You would be amazed at what a 6” glider can do to get a big pike moving. The heavy fish eagle can throw up to 3 ounce lures which is great for super shad raps and similar small Muskie sized lures but still let’s you feel the lures working and give you a great fight with smaller pike and walleyes. Very versatile rod. At the price point, utility for this specific use, and quality, it’s hard to beat. The medium heavy will be fine for shad raps but that will be the top end. I have both those rods and they are great, but use the heavy action the most for what you have described.

Moonman.

I too was going to suggest the Fish Eagle, I have several. They are unbeatable for the money. I say that while owning quite a few G Loomis, Fenwick, St. Croix, etc.