proper rockfish pole

Just wondering what type and lenght of pole you guys are using for rockfishing.  I have a 14.4 ft scupper pro.
6 1/2 medium action 15-30 lbs????
7      medium           15-30lbs????
or longer???
ugly stick , okuma, penn????
Allan

How much do you want to spend?  How do you want to fish for the rockfish?  Want to catch lingcod too?

Lot's of possibilities for this one.   I have a standard boat rod set up.. tiger stick (saltwater ugly stick) with a Penn 320 GT2 reel on it as my heavy lingcod rod and I use a lighter baitcasting rod (heavy power bass flipping stick really) for shallow water rockfish when I want to actually have some fun with rockfish.

There are many on this site who use something like an Avet SX5.1 with one of those Shimano butterfly jig rods... I forget their brand name Travela or something like that.

Then there is the best option.. get in line and shell out some cash for an Erik "KzReelRods" custom rod.  He'll make it fit your exact needs.  They are the sweetest rods you've ever seen.

http://www.kzreelrods.com/


Brian

I'm using an Okuma Baidarka kayak rod medium action 7'6" with a shimano tld15 lever drag reel. The rod is graphite-pretty sensitive and has built in flotation. A medium light action would be another good choice. The shimano also has a graphite saltwater resistant body, few bearings to corrode, and is very light. The drag is smooth, pretty powerful, and easy to operate and adjust. Before the shimano I was using a Penn 220 gto star drag reel. It was heavy and the drag always felt like it was either 100% locked or too weak. Try putting the reel you will be using on the rod you're looking at buying and see how they feel together. Jim/redyak.

1985 Zebco Ocean Side Combo - booyah!!! Two piece, 7'6", medium heavy action, 12-25 lbs. line weight, 1-4 oz. lure weight, embarrassing red color. Yeah, that's how I roll! For whatever reason, it's a fun stick.

Tough to fight against a Shakespeare tiger stick recommendation though. Seem to be the best rods for under $60. I prefer longer rods (more than 7'), but I tend to fish with long leaders and the extra reach is welcome when bringing a fish up to the side of the boat (I think I'm in the minority on this point). Only reason I can think of for a two piece is ease of stowage in my mid-hatch and the car. Plain ol' steel guides are my preference, but it might be a good idea to match the guide material to your preferred line type, corrosion potential be damned. Others would know far better than I. I can't wait to read more about this from the group. Cheers!

I'm another baidarka convert-- 7'6" M paired with a Daiwa Luna (which i absolutely love).  I've only had that rod for a little while, but am loving it.  The other one, which is new as well, is a 6'6" shimano trevala (the $99 one not the 199), with an Avet SX 5.1.

before that i used a spinning rod as well, and its still my go to rod when i'm tossing swimbaits to schooling fish

I break my rockfish tackle into two groups: light gear for targeting fish off of the bottom, and ling gear. For the more "pelagic" fish, I use a medium or medium light spinning rod, 6 1/2-7 feet in length. Just the ticket for blues. blacks, and olives in the middle of the water column and playing in the kelp. The ling gear is significantly more stout, consisting of a 7' Berkeley Lightning Rod, meant for Muskie. I used to use a 7' Medum Heavy bass rod that had been cut to 6' in order to give it a Heavy action, but it just didn't have the backbone I wanted. The Muskie rod works quite nicely for big and small fish, easily handling a 50 lb plus ling, while sensitive enough to detect bites from sub-pounders at 100'

Regards,
Scott

IMO: SHIMANO TREVALA ROD  Cheap, tough and super light

I have this Dblue rod and love it: http://cgi.ebay.com/Dblue-TC4-Surf-Casting-Fishing-Rod-Fuji-seat-68_W0QQitemZ380041079288QQihZ025QQcategoryZ36167QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262  Handled a 20lbs ling no sweat, and can still cast a 2oz hair raiser.

I also just got a Shimano Trevala rated up to 7oz but it's not any nicer than the dblue.  The trevala ratings are a tad optimistic.  Both are perfect for kayak fishing in fairly shallow water.

Dude Eric, I have that exact same Dblue rod. The construction is very similar to Trevalas, but the components are higher quality. I like mine a lot!
I see that the link to the eBay site has it listed as a Buy It Now item. I got mine from Dblue in a regular auction for only $45 plus 17 shipping. So check their auctions too; might get a better deal than the Buy It Now price.

On another random tip. Right now, the Bargain Cave at Cabelas site has some good deals on inshore casting rods. I have a Quantum Great White model and a Salt Striker model rod and they're great. But I bought them at a slightly higher price than they are currently listed. The Quantum GW is my go-to lightweight rockfish rod (even though I got it for surfperching).

so many rods will work for rockfishing as it is not exactly technically challenging fishing.

I fish from a scupper pro or tarpon 160 and I'm under 6 feet.  I like to fish from either side of the boat and be able to move the lure or fish around to where I want them, around the bow or stern, or any nets or other rods I have on the boat.

so I use a pair of graphite (sensitive!) rods in the 8'3" range with short butts so I can fish sitting down with the butt of the rod against my belt buckle, but still reach around the bow and stern of the boat. they fish 10-30lb line. one has a softer tip and faster action than the other. they also float. mine are two-piece which most do not like, but I can easily stow them in the hatch for launch or landing.  oh yeah, they have spiral wrapped guides which makes them sit reel up when trolling or trooching and means no twisting in your hands when fishing. very comfy. you can cast a long way while sitting with these rods.

given all that it seems these baidarka rods are the most convenient and capable stock rods for all around inshore and bay kayak fishing although I have never tried them. they came out after KZ made my custom rod and had some of the same properties he built into my custom kayak fishing rod (but not all!). this is my custom rod:


they are long. they aren't too expensive. they float.  they have a place to leash them.  get yourself one of those in 7'6" and don't go too heavy if you want to have fun landing blue and olive rockfish. you will still be able to land a ling or halibut.

J, I think I drool every time I see pictures of that rod Erik made you.  Someday I'll get enough WAF piled up to get one myself.  Until then I really need to check out the Baidarkas a little more closely.

Brian

I signed in to ask the same question!

I want a rod with;
1. Metal guides
2. Short butt
3. Lightweight
4. Tough enough for Lings but sensitive enough to make little rockies fun
5. Errrrr......cheap?

An ugly stik tiger is about the closest I've seen but it's so darn heavy.

Anyone got any other suggestions? The most important thing is the metal guides. I've got too many dead rods stacked up in my spare room with cracked or missing ceramic guides.

I have the 7'6" med Baidarka as well, paired with a Shimano Cardiff 400A reel.  It's become my favorite rod.

I signed in to ask the same question!

I want a rod with;
1. Metal guides
2. Short butt
3. Lightweight
4. Tough enough for Lings but sensitive enough to make little rockies fun
5. Errrrr......cheap?

An ugly stik tiger is about the closest I've seen but it's so darn heavy.

Anyone got any other suggestions? The most important thing is the metal guides. I've got too many dead rods stacked up in my spare room with cracked or missing ceramic guides.

the newer ceramic guides do not crack as easily as the older guides, especially if the circle is smaller.

steel corrodes and can groove more easily if the braid is sandy or silty. so it's not so great either.

titanium variations are a cool option.

you should have the guides replaced on those rods with new titanium guides or the harder less likely to crack ceramics. you can get them spiral wrapped while you are at it.

If one of them is graphite and long enough just chop an inch or two off the handle with a hacksaw, epoxy some lead in the hole to counter weight it, but a new butt cap on there, and re-guide it spiral wrap style. put some foam on the underside of the rod ahead of the foregrip for flotation, or have a big floaty foregrip put on there when they re-guide it. my backup rod was created this way, it was actually the prototype for my full custom rod but still gets quite a bit of use.

for what it's worth, to experiment you can remove your own guides with a rasp, then take some marine goop, stick a guide where you want it, tie it on with spectra, put on a little more marine goop and fish it 2 hours later. it wont look pretty, but it'll catch fish just fine. I've done it.

J

Northern Boy, that Dblue I linked to has titanium guides, is VERY lightweight, and about as cheap as they come.

John likes the longer rods, but the 6'6" size allows me to easily clear the bow, and is plenty long enough for the casting I do....  but I'm pretty tall...