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Rig size for Maumee walleye?

6.4K views 23 replies 13 participants last post by  Jmsteele187  
#1 ·
Hey guys, I'm a little bored and a little curious. What size rod/reel set up are you guys using in the river, particularly when the river is fairly high? I have been using a 4000 reel with a 7 ft medium rod (I'm a shimano person in most set ups).

I tried a 2500 with a 6' 3" pole a few years back but a decent fish and high water made it feel like a boat anchor. Combined with a crowded line that doesn't want to wait for you to finesse a fish in and I went back to my big rig.

This kind of question has been out here before and a lot of responses for smaller set ups seems to be a common answer...... But for those days where you have to throw 3/4.........

Thoughts?
 
#23 ·
I broke a rod one time on a snag, and yes it happened on the maumee. It was definitely my fault though. I grabbed the wrong rod in a hurry that morning, so I was using a casting rod with a spinning reel. I was fishing the rod in a way it wasn't designed obviously. I went to pull back on a snag and the rod just shattered. Oh well, last time i'll try that dumbness again
 
#19 · (Edited)
SlogDog: Allow me to suggest a 6' medium heavy lightning rod by Berkley. The older models run $30 and the newer ones are $40. I beat the crap out of them, and they last about 3 years until the rod seat breaks. But they're inexpensive. I like the shorter length because I can land fish quickly by swinging them in. And the stoutness allows me to whip out of bottom snags. Plus, when the inevitable snagged fish happens, I can either pop the jighead out of it or muscle in the T-bones (to release of course). And DeathFromAbove: I think your conceal carry comment is so true!

Follow the action this spring and every Maumee River Walleye Season at walleyerun.blogspot.com fellas. There are new posts from myself or my members every day during the run. This time of year my blog is slow, but you can also look back at the past 4-5 years of comments to gauge the conversations.
 
#11 ·
A minimum of medium is required, with the crowds you need to reel the fish in as quickly as possible or the yahoo next to you will cast over you and knock your fish off. Heavy gear rigged with light line to have success with the combat fishing.

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I've had that happen to me. One of the reasons I always leave the concealed carry at home. I'm afraid I'll use it down there.
 
#9 ·
Thanks for some feedback, guys. I hate to move up to medium heavy but a few of my mediums Shimanos seem pretty light. I like the Shimanos for the warranty. My Ugly is pretty much reserved for trolling. Unbreakable but not much feedback.

Just got a new Symetre 3000 and looking for a rod so I can have one bigger and one smaller set up. Right now my back up rod is a POS.....plus, I'm slightly addicted to getting one or two new toys each spring.:D
 
#8 ·
I use a 6.5ft medium rod with a Mitchell 300xe reel and have a 7ft ugly stick lite with a pflueger trion in the car for backup. I switched up to a 6.5ft graphite medium power, fast action rod last year, from the ugly stick. And, man what a difference in feel. Paired with braided main line, you can really feel the difference between your weight rolling over rocks and a fish taking your bait.