Downrigger rod and reel advice

[Jimmy_1]

Who sells a decent combo?

I have the Shimano TDR combo and it sucks!
You cannot tighten the drag on the junk reels, the will not cast anymore than 6 ft....

Oh that and one snapped in two....Complete BS!

Rant over....

Thanks guys!

[Dartee]

I have a Diawa Heartlands medium 8.5ft with an okuma convector.. The combination has worked well for me .

[RJ]

Why would you be casting a down rigger rod setup?

RJ

[Jimmy_1]

Why would you be casting a down rigger rod setup?

RJ

Just to get the line out 20 - 30 feet before attaching to the clip.

[bostonwhaler]

ive never casted to set up rod on a rigger. mess up your gang troll or loose your minnow that way

[RJ]

Why would you be casting a down rigger rod setup?

RJ

Just to get the line out 20 - 30 feet before attaching to the clip.

Turn the clicker off and feed line. Should take about 20 seconds.

RJ

[iankrzyzanowski]

Rj's right about letting the line out..

If you plan on rigging lakers on inland lakes like Big R, skrat etc.. I think guys use far to heavy rods for the size of the fish. I have two set ups for the lakers .. 8'6 clarus rods and st croix river runners that are 9fters I believe! Wicked rods

[Grizzly Grub]

I own the Shimano TDR as well, running an Okuma Magda Pro MA 30DLX reel on it...have to say love both rod and reel, not to mention relatively inexpensive...certainly did the trick on the opener for me this year with one 5.5lb'er and one 8lb'er.

[DropShot’r]

will not cast anymore than 6 ft....

No no no......We don't cast with downrigger rods...ever.

We let the line out. That way you can check the lures action and make any boat speed adjustments to maximize the lures action prior to letting out the line.

I have two cheap downrigger rods I bought in Henderson Harbor, NY many, many moons ago. For a downrigger reel I use whatever bass reel has 12lb test on it. If you're trolling for trout you don't need the reel for bass fishing.