Use em all the time no issues...fishing for steel your drag should be set so that they can take line out steady without the rod bouncing from line going out in spurts...thats true with any rod you use

 

Oh and you can use it for jigs, spawn or hardware ...i spool mine with either 6 or 8 pound mono when casting hardware and 15 or 20 pound braid for float fishing the rivers..
Yes, you can use briad with hardware i just prefer mono in that situation.
Those rods are made for steelhead fishing and you shouldnt have to worry about it breaking while fighting a steelhead..
As it is a high modules graphite you dont want to be bouncing it off a hard surface that will put an indent in it and create a weak spot for it to break...
Personally i think you will grow to love that rod over the ugly stik especially for drift fishing...but everyone has there own preference as to what they like

 

I just bought my brother a bass pro micro lite 9'6" medium light for his birthday for 59.99. Seems to be a nice rod kind of a cool army green color. No fish caught on it yet, but it seems like a nice float rod for jigs. Plus I just looked and they are on sale now for $44. I have been using a 10'6" Riversider rod that I got at Dicks probably 10 years ago or so and am happy with it.

 

If you like everything about the rod…then you bought the RIGHT rod…them trout don’t know…sounds good to me…ENJOY 👍

 

X2 if you like the rod thats all that matters

 

I use a ML for my jigging/ low and clear set up. Do I notice a difference between the ML and M? Yes, but it works and is fun as hell!

 

Yep, tie up and "hook" a 5, 10 # barbell, set the drag accordingly and have at it.

Drag is probably most important but can go too light to where the rod does not have back bone to pull a fish.

 

The Riversider 10' noodle is a great rod
Caught many shad, trout, steelhead etc on that rod.
Can use light hardware or float
Spin or centerpin
Riversider also has a few very reasonable combos in 8'6" and 9'

 

I'll agree that the 10' Riversider is a great all around rod. The tip is soft enough to be easy on light line yet great hooksets and enough backbone to be in control of them. Its pretty lightweight too. They came with a reel too but i always pitched them for a better one. I got a few of them from Dicks back when they actually had a sporting goods section too. But with a coach's pack they were like 25 bucks lol. The 10 footer was awkward at first but it really works well.
When you get a fish on that new rod I think you'll enjoy it.

 

Thanks for replies... I landed 2 outta 4 this late afternoon. Rod handled quite well as far as I could tell. Only issue is the lack of the hooky eyelet thingy, never realized how much I love those things.

I'd post pics, but assuming they won't show

 

Sounds good. I always aim for higher landing % but that's about where we end up, it's good to get a few in the net!

 

2 that came off were due to a bent hook on a jig I didn't notice til I lost the 2nd fish and then I saw how jacked out it was Put a new jig on and was golden.

 

Glad your rod is working out for you…sounds like you had a great day…your hooked eyelet thing may be a thing of the past…read an article about manufactures are going to eliminate them…we’ll see

 

I just put my hook in the gap where the reel is mounted by the reel seat...works better i think cause the hook tip is covered by the reel seat so no exposed hook points

 

If you mean the hook keeper,
They sell removable ones that are basically a mini clamp held on by o rings. they work ok and can be placed anywhere
I have also seen mini cable ties on the rod to a small split ring
Search DIY Hook keeper, sure there's lots of other creative ideas.

 

They actually have wire ties with a round loop at the end that would work good also

 

Yes they are Mountable or screw mount cable ties
, even better if you can find them in proper size