What’s a good muskie rod to start with?

Hey guys, I finally have my walleye rod collection where I want it. I was looking into muskie fishing. With the great job the Iowa DNR is doing with stocking, I figured why not go after them? Anyway, I am now looking for a muskie stick that would hold me over until I start fishing them more. The St. Croix Premier 8′ Heavy rod has caught my attention and was just wondering if it would be a good rod to start with. Any suggestions as always are appreciated! Steve

I wouldn’t recommend buying an expensive rod until you find out how much you like the sport. Tackle industries and okuma make high quality rods at reasonable prices. I also wouldn’t recommend anything under 8′. This will enable you to throw all types of baits large or small. Thorne bros should be able to hook you up nicely.

I bought the $20.00 dollar no name special and caught a musky 15 casts later. Upgraded to the $180.00 St croix and have hooked one since(3 years). Good luck.

It’s kind of not so funny I caught more muskies on my Rhino rod then I got a St.Croix Legend Tournament musky rod and haven’t caught one with it. I think I was relying to much on the rod rather than on the fishing instead. I have caught plenty of bass on the rod though. I’m think of just getting a Premiere 8′ to launch some lures a bit further.

I’ll 2nd the Tackle Industries rods, since buying my first a couple years ago I now have 4 and have sold my St Croixs and selling my G Loomis,I do have a Thorne Brothers custom Predator I keep for the wife and daughter to use but the TI are the rods I use day in day out. Tackle Industries is also based in Iowa and the owner is a great guy and stands behide all his products 110% for $110 to your door right now you won’t find a better rod for twice the price.

Latest Musky rod I bought was a Tooth tamer 8’6″ rod that’s worked well for me, I have 8′ rod lockers so my next one will be 8′..:)

I divide Musky rods into two basic groups, heavy and really heavy tackle rods.

Personally I’d find a rod designed for just heavy lures like buck tails, Suick’s, 7″ Believers and such, if your just starting tossing them huge very heavy baits is going to get boring pretty quick.

Thorne Bros is good. but a decent rod can be found cheaper and will work quite well from either Tooth Tamer or Cabala’s.

Stick a Shimano Cardiff with 60# line on it and your good to go.
Not a lot of sensitivity needed with a 50″ fish..imho

Al

9′ TI telescoping fits in a 7’6 locker. As far as 60# line you will break it on a professional overrun, no fun watching a $20 bait sail away and sink out of sight….

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9′ TI telescoping fits in a 7’6 locker. As far as 60# line you will break it on a professional overrun, no fun watching a $20 bait sail away and sink out of sight….

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If a professional over run is a backlash, never loss any of the listed baits in many years of fishing, all personal choice but if your losing them, might want to check your line a bit more often for wear maybe?

Al

Well the baits you list are to me considered small and you might get away with that but throwing the good stuff like mag dawgs, 11″ curlies, pounders, 8-10oz gliders ect you will sooner or later break something off, as far as big baits being boring, maybe you need to fish them more. I’ll start the season throwing nothing smaller than a mag dawg and at times will toss super modles,10″Weagls and yes they catch fish even in the spring.

Bought into the bigger is better huh….maybe, but more to the point I said if HE was just starting, the big baits will get boring sooner than a lure he can handle easier.

btw I do just fine, and have for over thirty years with my “smaller” baits thank you..:)

Al

Down here bigger works, I do throw small stuff on MN waters, just use what works…We hold our own to…