WPBTH

I am looking for some live bait/ troll rods to pair with my penn fathoms. I only want 6ft rods. I am having a hard time trying to find something I like. Someone suggested to go custom. I really cant justify the cost for that right now. suggestions?

swellhunter

Depends on target species.

I would consider going with a modern reasonable priced reputable jig rod like a Black Hole Cape Cod Special or a Jigging World Ghost Hunter. Yes they are engineered to jig but they really are do it all rods and make excellent live and dead bait rods.

I actually troll all 350g Cape Cod Special conventionals and we use them for live bait, and chunk fishing too. I jig with spinning rods.

They are going to be more in the 5'6" class.

Honestly - if money is an issue you simply cannot beat a Shimano Trevala or Okuma Cedros. I used Trevalas for years before moving up in class and never broke one.

WPBTH

I will be live baiting with kites, so no tsure if jig rod is the way to go.

CNBarron

Which fathoms, and what are your target species?

evanP220

I don't know if you're going to be able to get the action of a live bait rod in a 6ft set up. i think the shortest I've seen that are live bait rods have been 6'6". and even then I don't think they have the same action a 7-7'6" rod has.

a jigging rod is a definite no for kite fishing

here's a good explanation of rods and whats what
might take a little time to watch tho

Seacraft1974

WPBTH

swellhunter

Tarpun

Star Handcrafted kingfish rod. 7' 15 - 30# . $100. Or Star Aerial live bait. 6'6" or 7' same specs $70. The HC rods have better components. Have had a set of the HC rods for twenty years with no problems. Any particular reason to use 6' rods. Note that most kingfish pros stick with 7' rods for live bait trolling.

Fiveoh

evanP220

yup I use the handcrafted rods. lifetime warranty you can't beat it

WPBTH

tat2

Order Connley7' live bait rods and have them cut a foot off the butt?

WPBTH

hamma job

Endorse a local builder. Visit their shop and pull on some stuff. Whatever you come up with will be better than what you can buy off the shelf.

Bluewater352

Check out pinnacle. Scroll down to #3 for Live Bait. They are 6 foot. I bought them thinking they'd get me through a season. Several seasons later after hard use they have proven to be some of the best rods I've bought, considering the low price.

Pinnacle Marine Outfitters - Catalog

FishHarder

Star Handcrafter rods are a great deal.

rods by DRU..crazy pricing. Connelly , there are a lot of used one on here for sale. Pinncle know nothing about them.


Barrett Rod Company

EricF

Ande Tournament ATCJ-661MH are my all around rods that go between live baiting for kings, light jigging duty, light trolling duty, and some bottom fishing. 20-40 rating, have the right grip length and blank action that I prefer. They use some cheap components, but I've used them for quite awhile now with no inserts popping out, gimbal caps cracking, seats cracking, grips tearing, etc. At the price, you can't really go wrong. Definitely feel good in the hand with reels similar to what you are using (I have Pro Gear Oceanus 30's, they are a 300yds of 30# mono capacity lever drag that isn't made any longer, and a Marquesa 30T that is similar in size).

Have read some reviews about out of the box issues, which is what I would expect with a cheap rod like this. I buy from a local tackle shop, so hopefully there is an extra level of QC by going that route.

N2theblue

The Black Hole Cape Cod Special is $445 at Tackledirect. The Jigging World Ghost Hunter is 7'-6" and $300.

Your idea of reasonably priced and mine differs significantly.


The Star Aerial will do the job
https://www.tackledirect.com/star-ro...nd-up-rod.html

swellhunter

Did you read my whole post? Listed Trevala $119 and Cedros (on sale at tackle direct for $69)

But now that you said that consider in that class of rod with Star Aerial, Shimano Trevala, Okuma Cedros being the base $100 class rod and say a Carpenter over $1000 being very expensive the ones I mentioned are moderate. Has nothing to do with what your "idea" of moderate is. They fall in the mid range for that class of rod. Based on my understanding of statistical analysis that quantifies out as "moderate"

Have a nice day.

Your suggest is "inexpensive" and I believe I listed a Trevala and a Cedros as my choice for inexpensive in which case I agree with you that something like that or the Star Aerial will get the job done.

That being said the OP said nothing about target species and just said live bait and troll. In my experience that could quickly equal a 150# tuna on the other end. Having a lot of experience with $100 class rods I wouldn't even consider them a viable option for someone regularly fishing for large gamefish.

I still think based on what he said some of the suggestions in the 7' range more of a true live bait rod that he could troll if he had to is a better option for him. I think a Terez can do that well.