Trolling Rods? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

taggermike · 08-26-2015, 07:31 AM

A few years ago I had most of my grat stollen. A Buddy loaned me a kencor Baja baby boomer with a 4/0 Penn senator on it to use while reassembled my quiver. The rod was like your troller. 30-80, super stiff, and only 5' I think. The shortest rod id used till that point was 6-6 and I was concerned about the length cause I was fishing out of 16' kayak. But the trouble I had with the rod came from it being so stiff and fast action. It was difficult from a kayak to pull hard enough to even bend the rod to its sweet spot. You may have the same issue with the rods you have. As for going around the bow, no way. Because of this stumpy rod I learned how to fight fish w/o ever moving the roddl around the bow. Instead of of moving the rod i put the rod tip a foot or so under water and the fish will drag the yak around and back over the fish. I now have 7' bait rods but still use the short rod tecnique.

The rods you have are definitely not ideal but they will work will you look for some thing else. Mike

Dave Legacy · 08-29-2015, 03:58 PM

Thanks for the advice, guys! Now that I know that short rods can be hazardous I'm gonna stick to my 7'+ rods and forget about the short trollers all together. After doing some more reading I'm not sure I want to deal with all the mess of multiple treble-equipped hardbaits either, so if I'm gonn troll around I'm gonna pull a Kroc or swimbait on a lighter rod; Maybe a bonito or something will take it.

I've got a lot to learn. Thanks for not letting me learn the short rod deal the hard way.

08-26-2015, 07:31 AM	#1
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	A few years ago I had most of my grat stollen. A Buddy loaned me a kencor Baja baby boomer with a 4/0 Penn senator on it to use while reassembled my quiver. The rod was like your troller. 30-80, super stiff, and only 5' I think. The shortest rod id used till that point was 6-6 and I was concerned about the length cause I was fishing out of 16' kayak. But the trouble I had with the rod came from it being so stiff and fast action. It was difficult from a kayak to pull hard enough to even bend the rod to its sweet spot. You may have the same issue with the rods you have. As for going around the bow, no way. Because of this stumpy rod I learned how to fight fish w/o ever moving the roddl around the bow. Instead of of moving the rod i put the rod tip a foot or so under water and the fish will drag the yak around and back over the fish. I now have 7' bait rods but still use the short rod tecnique. The rods you have are definitely not ideal but they will work will you look for some thing else. Mike

08-29-2015, 03:58 PM	#2
Dave Legacy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Hacienda Heights, CA Posts: 427	Thanks for the advice, guys! Now that I know that short rods can be hazardous I'm gonna stick to my 7'+ rods and forget about the short trollers all together. After doing some more reading I'm not sure I want to deal with all the mess of multiple treble-equipped hardbaits either, so if I'm gonn troll around I'm gonna pull a Kroc or swimbait on a lighter rod; Maybe a bonito or something will take it. I've got a lot to learn. Thanks for not letting me learn the short rod deal the hard way.