Advice on a good walleye rod

[Dances With Fishes]

I am looking to get a decent walley rod for jigging and light casting. Something that will transfer light bites really well. Anybody have some good advice on what is out there
Cheers
Dances

[steve-hamilton]

how much are you looking to spend?

50-75 dollars?

under 100 dollars?

100-150 dollars?

or above that?

that'll help determine a quality rod for ya!

[ady]

me too, been thinnking of posting this for a while.

$100-$150 for me

[Wallyboss]

I have a St.Croix Premier which is in that Price range but mine is a bit on the stiffer side I use it for bottom bouncing. I bought a Shimano Compre for jigging this year but I can't say how it is for jigging yet cause i haven't tried it. But one thing that I noticed last year is that it doesn't matter if you pay big bucks for a rod then you put a reel on it and the whole thing is not balanced. I had a bunch of set ups that were like that. Paid $125.00-$150.00 for a rod and 100.00 for a reel and the combo feels like a $50.00 Walmart combo. I purchased 4 rod balancers last September and I just ordered myself 6 more. Now my combos feel like a million dollars. No light biting eye will get past me now, I hope!!!!

[YakAttack]

Hey Wallyboss, how can you test if your rod/reel combo is balanced properly? And, do you have a link to those rod balancers that you mentioned?

I'd like to see if my $150 setup could feel more expensive....or maybe it already does.

thanks
scott

[eye-tracker]

After trying most rods in the local market I found the G-Looms Walleye Jigging Rods (WJR) series to be outstanding. It is hard to find a very sensitive and fast tipped jigging rod for walleye. You need to be able to feel the walleye suck the bait in so you can quickly set the hook on the soft bite. The G-Loomis WJR-741 is a very sensitive and fast action rod. The purpose of the fast action is so you don't have to lift the rod very far to load up. You do not want a soft mid-section with a jigging rod. Another nice feature of the WJR 741 is the powerful backbone on the rod has enough power to control a 10lb walleye into the net when jigging with light line and jigs.

They are a bit more than the price range mentioned, but you will never want to use another jigging stick once you have tried the WJR's.

-sheldon

[Dances With Fishes]

I new I should have said something about $$$. To be honest I don't have a price range. I would rather get some feedback on what is good and what people like best and then I will try to buy the best I can afford. I have tried buying cheap in the past and often regretted it. That being said I don't want to throw money away buying really expensive if I'm not getting anything extra for it. I really appreciate the recommendations for speific rods. That will allow me to go to the store and try them out a little. I want to her about stuff you don't like or to stay away from too.
Cheers
Dances

[Wallyboss]

Dances with fish, the main thing is that the more sensitive of a rod you get the more you have to pay attention to your setup. Graphite is very sensitive but if your drag on your reel is not properly set the first big fish you get, might cost you a rod tip. Not to say that graphite is is not strong but it's not as flexible as a fiberglass rod.

I used to buy 30.00 rods until I bought my first expensive rod.

[Dances With Fishes]

Eye Tracker, ( or anyone) do you have any recommendations on length Is longer or shorter better and why I would probably be fishing waters that are local to the both of us. So slower rivers and mostly shallower lakes.
Cheers
Dances

[GetTheNet!!!]

I've gotta agree with eye-tracker, the loomis walleye series are incredibly light and sensitive, and you don't have to go to the $$$ GLX model to get an incredible jigging rod. I've used a 6'2" WJR742 for a couple seasons now and I wouldn't have it any other way.

[Wallyboss]

A 6'0" is perfect for jigging up to a 6'6".

[hawgbass]

Dances with Fishes. I have used the manufactures mention in previous replies and they are all great rods, but my personal preference is the WCSP510M Fenwick Walleye Class one piece rod. They are available at Lebarons for around $100.00 taxes included. I like this rod due to the fact of its length as it can be used in either a 14 foot boat or my bassboat. It allows you to have a lower downward angle to the water, which gives you a stronger direct upward hookset, vice a more long sweep with a longer rod. This is my two cents and again another option to answer your question..it boils down to personal preferences.

Cheers, hawgbass

[GetTheNet!!!]

Fenwick is also great to replace broken rods, they have a lifetime warrenty on many of their models. If you tend to break rods that can be the selling point right there.

[eye-tracker]

Eye Tracker, ( or anyone) do you have any recommendations on length Is longer or shorter better and why I would probably be fishing waters that are local to the both of us. So slower rivers and mostly shallower lakes.
Cheers
Dances

Depends on your height, standing or sitting position and hook setting style. In my opinion as the rod gets longer you loose some of the sensitivity, but on the longer rods you can improve the hook setting power and also increase the casting distance if used for casting jigs.

I also like the shorter 6 foot rods for jigging as I am often fishing in States that allow 2 rods per angler, so the shorter lighter rods are easier to use two at a time.

It will come down to personal preference and action, in some situations you will want a longer rod and in others a shorter rod will be the solution.

Happy jig rod hunting...

-sheldon

[Tomcat]

Dances with Fishes:

I use a one piece St Croix Tournament Walleye Series 66MLF rod for my walleye jigging and couldn't be happier (or so I think). Consequently, it doesn't matter what it cost!