It all depends on what you are fishing for and how you want to troll. I have a lot of money invested in regular light action to med light tackle. I troll all the time and do pretty well. If you are planning on trolling with dipsy divers/jets or lead line the bigger rods would be needed. I wouldn't spend the money until you get use to trolling. If you go out to the cuyahoga to troll the mouth watch for boat traffic. It can be rough to keep the lines straight with wakes from other boats coming across your path. Good luck with your ventures.

promag

 

You can use "regular" fishing rods to troll but then they would be "trolling rods"!
If I were you I would go perch fishing. They have been biting pretty good lately. Try gold coast from shallow (20 fow) all the way out to the crib (48 fow) or anywhere in between. You are pretty sure to find some somewhere in there. Or try off E 72nd from the end of breakwall out to about 48 feet of water. Stop at Shines for minnows and they can point you in the right direction.
If you are hellbent on trolling try off the gold coast , west of Edgewater and troll the 18 - 26 feet area. You will probably need to weave around the perch fishermen though. You have a chance to catgch a walleye or two and probably some sheephead.
Enjoy

 

we used to fake it without trolling rods. it makes knowing where your bait is kind of tough, but some days it doesnt matter. try running a few reef runners or any other crank bait. dont tell anyone, but ive run dipsy divers (with spoons) off spinning gear before and caught fish.

 

I would recommend trolling with trolling rods or you might end up with a few broken rods.

If you just want to get out with the boys take em perchin,just a suggestion.

Get out with someone who has experience trolling and many questions will be answered for ya.Believe it or not you can pick up trolling rods for around 25 to $30 bucks ,the reels start around 30 to $40.

 

Im with BlueMax if your hell bent on trolling try goldcoast but i recommend launching out of the rocky,its muh closer to goldcoast and the shore east and west of the rocky are for walleyes in close,17-22 fow. Recomend rod holder's just for comfort but not necessary, keep em just above parallel with the water,also if you use reef runner 800s casting about 45' will get you 17' down but would venture any deeper then 19 fow for fear of snags,also remember that any line out of the water doesn't count as feet back so adjust and add as many ft.that are out of the water. Hope that wasn't confusing. Just pm me if you have question. Oh and pink is in.

 

Like some of the others said, best chance at "keeper" fish right now is Perch. However, yes you can troll with spinning or casting rods. I've caught 20 lb northerns and snook on Mitchell 300 spinning outfits trolling creek chub pikies and mirrolures (not at the same time in the same body of water mind you ). You greatly lower your odds if you're just going to troll one rod apiece out the back, but that is what we used to do ALL the time when I was younger. If you want to get a little spread to your pattern, hook on an in line board to a couple rods. Check reports (including previous years' from this time of year) and see what works in your area. Reef Runners or other plugs, directly attached to your line or weighted, or worm harnesses weighted are very do-able. Walleyes or Steelies are not out of the question. I personally prefer trolling to bottom fishing for Perch any day of the week. Good luck!

 

If you have not trolled before, be patient, and laugh when you get lines crossed !!! It is gonna happen. In-line weights are an inexpensive way to get your bait down to the fish. Enjoy the time with your sons.