Looking for advice on pole selection for an early June trip to the Quetico.

If I wanted to bring just one pole that would work for jigging, slip bobber and bottom bouncing, but also work for trolling while cruising, what length, power and action would be recommended?

I would bring a Shakespeare ugly stick. Anything 6' or longer. It's all I use on my trips.

I like 6.5 to 7 foot medium light action rod. Not particular about brand as long as it's reputable. I generally use 6 lb line. I've only ever brought one rod.

I use a Fenwick 3 piece take down rod. Comes with multiple front sections so I can choose light thru medium heavy action. Breaks down and carries in a rod case not over 30” long. Did a grand slam with this pole.

I use a 6'6" Fenwick 2-piece medium action. Fantastic rod, I can't say anything bad about it. Personally I'm not a fan of Ugly Stik. Just don't care for the way they feel in my hands. But they do have a good reputation.

Holehopper: "I would bring a Shakespeare ugly stick. Anything 6' or longer. It's all I use on my trips. "

Ditto. That said, I would not bring just one pole. I was looking to save weight on my Hunters Island trip a few years back, and I brought just one pole. Tip broke on day 1 (must admit; careless error on my part), and I really wished I had a backup!

Holehopper: "I would bring a Shakespeare ugly stick. Anything 6' or longer. It's all I use on my trips. "

Exactly.

Holehopper: "I would bring a Shakespeare ugly stick. Anything 6' or longer. It's all I use on my trips. "

Same here, but I would get the Ugly Stick lite. It has a bit more backbone and a cork handle. I would get a 6 foot two piece and transport it in a rod case.

If I only brought one, which I wouldn't, I'd bring a M or MH 6'6" or 7' something something with two spools of line, one 6 and one ten lb test (or 8 and 12.)

As an aside, although it's not what you asked: two rods aren't harder to being than one. Bring a 6' ML with 6# for jigging and something longer and heavier for trolling and bobber fishing.

Just 1 pole? Silly Silly.

I bring 3 on every trip. I always have 2 poles rigged at a time and the 3rd is either for walleye or just a backup rod just in case. Did have a rod tip get broken on 1 trip so needed the backup.
I want to be ready to throw that spinner when I see the pike in the shallows.
Want to be ready to throw that tube or twister tail into the moving water.
It isn't THAT much more to carry 3 vs 2 on a portage.
If you want to argue that 3 is too many, fine, it might be but I would NEVER trip without 2.

I always use 2 piece rods and break them down for longer portages or lately I have been leaving them together and just lashing them up inside UNDER the canoe. I've never broken any on a portage, even those that are more bushy.
Also, I put LOTs of things up in the canoe, which makes it heavier but way less loose things to portage. Leave canoe seats in, poles, sometimes paddles (non wood), sometimes life jackets, sometimes bait bag.

Just my 2 cents...17 trips down, 1 mid june this year

RunningFox: "

Holehopper: "I would bring a Shakespeare ugly stick. Anything 6' or longer. It's all I use on my trips. "

Same here, but I would get the Ugly Stick lite. It has a bit more backbone and a cork handle. I would get a 6 foot two piece and transport it in a rod case."

+1. Switched after I snapped the tip off my brand new St. Croix. That was a sad morning.

G.Loomis GLX 6ft Medium Fast.

Yeah, I leave the St. Croix rods at home after I broke the tip off on a trip. I like 6’ medium to medium heavy action with a fast tip. A 6’ fits perfectly on a thwart to just under the bow of my Prism. Always take 2 myself. One with fire line for trolling, another with mono.

Let me elaborate a bit on my quandary.
I usually take three rods for me and the wife. I set hers up for casting or slip bobber or what ever. She usually won't be trolling.
I have one of my poles set up for trolling, and my other, lighter set up for method of the day. Walleyes are our primary target.
My issue is this year we are paddling with my son and daughter-in-law who have minimal BW experience, and even less fishing experience. And no fishing gear.
So to get everyone set up to fish we'll need to purchase at least two more rods plus all the tackle and other stuff that needs to be in each canoe for efficient fishing.
It would be cost prohibitive to bring two (or three) rods for each person. That would significantly raise the price per pound of our (hopeful) harvest.
But what I am hearing, and the probable answer, is to get a couple of Ugly Stick 6'6" medium power rods for general use fishing. Makes sense.

lundojam: "If I only brought one, which I wouldn't, I'd bring a M or MH 6'6" or 7' something something with two spools of line, one 6 and one ten lb test (or 8 and 12.)


As an aside, although it's not what you asked: two rods aren't harder to being than one. Bring a 6' ML with 6# for jigging and something longer and heavier for trolling and bobber fishing."

Yep

Holehopper: "I would bring a Shakespeare ugly stick. Anything 6' or longer. It's all I use on my trips. "

Yes a cheap ugly stick will do great and will not self-destruct. I must of broke 3 graphite rods in Quetico over the years. Not good.

Holehopper: "I would bring a Shakespeare ugly stick. Anything 6' or longer. It's all I use on my trips. "

After breaking two expensive rods, ^^^^^^... I bought 5 of them and every rod we take is an Ugly Stick. Have never had one break yet.

There are 3 or 4 different type of rods by Ugly Stik. The carbon are very nice followed by the elite.

I would love to only take one rod but I could never forgive myself for not taking three. Two ML spinning and one M casting. Will always have a jig on one, a jerkbait on one and then a blade on the baitcaster.

Admittedly I have lost a few good rods over the years. Broken a few on fast rivers…lost a few overboard…but I continue to take the best rod that I can afford.

Graybeard: "I use a Fenwick 3 piece take down rod. Comes with multiple front sections so I can choose light thru medium heavy action. Breaks down and carries in a rod case not over 30” long. Did a grand slam with this pole. "

Same here. I take a Fenwick HMG travel spinning rod. I highly recommend this rod. In fact, we've purchased our boys this rod for both of their birthdays this year.
Fenwick HMG Travel Rod

Similar to the others I bring 3 but if you limited me to one it would be a 6’6” medium power fast action graphite rod with 8 lb mono.

For what it’s worth live bait is illegal in Quetico so I don’t think you need to worry about slip bobbering or bottom bouncing much.

If only trolling and not jigging I would use a 7 foot medium ugly stick with 10 lb mono.

Since you only want to bring one rod, you have to decide what type of fishing you're going to do the most. Our group has spent 30+ trips fishing in Quetico and we've generally used 6' rods for jigging and 6'6" rods for casting and trolling for a little extra length from the boat and a little extra distance casting. Back in the day when live bait was still allowed in Quetico, I would use the longer rods for bottom bouncing crawler harnesses.

We jig probably 75% of the time so, in our case, I'd opt for the 6' rod. Jigging all day with a longer rod can get cumbersome. However, if you're going to cast / troll a lot and only jig occasionally, I'd suggest a 6'6" rod.

Some folks like 7' rods (or even longer). Those are acceptable for casting / trolling, but I'd hate to jig very long with a rod that long.

Lots of opinions when it comes to fishing, but this is the way I'd do it IF I was only bringing one rod. Like others have said, bringing two (one shorter and one longer) gives you more flexibility and you're not changing lures all the time.

NEIowapaddler: "I use a 6'6" Fenwick 2-piece medium action. Fantastic rod, I can't say anything bad about it. Personally I'm not a fan of Ugly Stik. Just don't care for the way they feel in my hands. But they do have a good reputation. "

+1

Just noticed on MidwayUSA.com they are selling Abu Garcia Vendetta rods (some two piece) for $30 normally $90

There is your one ugly stick, but yes that rod has been around for awhile.

shock: "

NEIowapaddler: "I use a 6'6" Fenwick 2-piece medium action. Fantastic rod, I can't say anything bad about it. Personally I'm not a fan of Ugly Stik. Just don't care for the way they feel in my hands. But they do have a good reputation. "

+1"

+2

preacherdave: "Just noticed on MidwayUSA.com they are selling Abu Garcia Vendetta rods (some two piece) for $30 normally $90"

Thanks for the tip!

What is your price range?

Jackfish: "Since you only want to bring one rod, you have to decide what type of fishing you're going to do the most."

Couldn't agree more with this statement. In the BW, a ML, M or MH power rod will all catch pretty much any fish you'll come in contact with. For me, their main difference is how they each perform with different lures/techniques.

That said, my typical suggestion for friends with similar questions is to go with a Medium power Fast action in a 6'6 - 7' length. This type of rod will work generally well with a huge array of lures.

I also agree with all the comments in support of Ugly Stik being super durable. My only problem with Ugly Stik is they don't properly declare their power and action. The rods only list the power, yet label it as the action....

Trolling throws a bit of a wrench into the "one pole" thing.

If I could take one pole - it would be a 7-0 [Medium-Lite Fast]. Great for Crappie, Gills, Walleye, Smallies, Largies, and Lakers... and the occasional big pike or laker.

Two Brothers Ceres - 7-0 ML-F 2-piece rod

But with trolling, ...I'd be more inclined to go with a [Medium-Fast], just because I'd want something a bit more stiff when dragging a lure through the water -- especially a deep diver...

Two Brothers Ceres 6-8 M-F 1-piece rod

What I ended up getting was three new poles. Now each person will have a pole, plus one extra for me. I always take two.
New poles are an Ugly Stik Elite Medium Fast (7') , and two Abu Garcia Vendetta medium fast (6'6"). I outfitted each with a Piscifun Carbon X 3000 reel.
I did note that even though both new rods are rated medium fast, the Ugly Stik is much, much softer in the tip compared to the Vendetta.
Thanks for all the input.

grand806: "What I ended up getting was three new poles. Now each person will have a pole, plus one extra for me. I always take two.
New poles are an Ugly Stik Elite Medium Fast (7') , and two Abu Garcia Vendetta medium fast (6'6"). I outfitted each with a Piscifun Carbon X 3000 reel.
I did note that even though both new rods are rated medium fast, the Ugly Stik is much, much softer in the tip compared to the Vendetta.
Thanks for all the input."

Congrats on the new rods! Tight lines! :)

Good call!

I like having two rod and reel combos that are exactly the same.

If I had to go with one pole ( let’s be honest that would never happen), but if I did it would be a two piece 7 foot medium light and it would most likely be a St Croix rod .

Riiiiiiisky business there, my friend. I snapped a rod on a snag my 2nd day one year. There are way too many good ways to break rod tips, or worse, up there for you to only be bringing one rod.

I've got the Fenwick HMG travel rod, which comes with a small travel case that will protect the rods during portages. Then, I stuff a cheaper 2 piece rod from Scheels in that same case along with the HMG. Two rods easily and safely packed. Fool proof system thats a mainstay on my trips.