Favorite Live Bait Pier Rods

[REG]

Just wanted to get some discussion and opinions you guys have on pier rods that see duty primarily as your live bait (alewife) rods. We do ask alot of these type of rods....having the tip soft enough to cushion a cast with 2 oz of weight and a 3 oz alewife, enough guts to put the metal to steelies and prime of life chins, yet durable enough to hold up against life on a concrete stucture.

For me, my favorite is a 20+ year old 12' Diawa Black Gold. This rod is of composite constuction (probably more glass than graphite, though) and has a soft tip, but a fair amount of guts in the butt section. This ends up being my "out rod", as I can park an alewife and pyramid sinker a fair distance away, moreso than any of my other rigs. In a pinch, it also works fairly well for casting, though not in the same league as a fast, state of the art graphite rod of today. I wish I could find another 1 or 2 more of these.

I still have a fun old 12' Heddon Silver King (for those who remember way back), but really, this stick I find is waaaay too soft for alewifes and lead! Same for the first rod I ever built just after the mammoths became extinct, a 9' 9 weight Fenglass flyrod blank...a bit too short and a bit too soft.

A recent purchase is a Gander Mountain Guide series; 10 1/2 foot rated 8-12 pound test. This rod has some real guts, but, the tip is just a hair fast, resulting in flinging alewifes off the hook if I don't tone my cast down, and the butt handle is obnoxiously long.

The finest rod I have ever laid my hands on for this duty is the new Sage 11'3" 3113. Yowzaa, whether it would be the characteristics of the blank, or the exquisite, expert construction (actually a combination of both), this rod is heaven. The drawback is it's heavenly price and the test of whether Sage Rods and a steady diet of concrete really can co-exist for a long time.

But there's alot more out there,... the 10'6" Croix, Okuma, Rainshadow, Raven ...anyone build out any of the Rogue blanks for pier duty? Perhaps you find the ubiquitous Eagle Claw yellow rods serve this purpose well.

What do you use, and objectively speaking, what's your thoughts???

Thanks and look forward to your replies.

[MPsteelheader]

for bombing massive 1oz. kastmasters into indiana waters from the south pier of the st. joe i bring the infamous 12'3" loomis medium mag action...

i also enjoy the 10'6" guide series for its action and hate it for its ridiculous butt section also a spoon rod if the loomis is not brought out there...

then i have a couple 12' quantum XLs for bottom anchor rigs...

and then the centerpins and a moocher come out on a wide spectrum of float rods (anywhere from 12' up to 16' rods depending on the condition of my rotator cuff)

[Speyday]

As mentioned elsewhere, for bait, I like the 13 foot rainshadows that double as centerpin rods. The soft bouncy tip protects the alewives, and the tip to really wigggles, indicating I have lively bait out there. The only problem is that when a fish gets close to the landing point, its a little clumsy. The direct power to dominate, turn and lift fish is so diluted and slower because of the length and cushion your dealing with.

And landing fish by myself at 3 am from a pier 8 ft above the water is a real treat.

And you know that my favorite casting rod is now that 10 1/2 ft baitcaster you wrapped....

[Jimmy Carl Black]

Where do you get your Rainshadows?

[Alpha Buck]

I have 4 rainshadows tied up into pier sticks. I have 2 13' lite sticks, then I have 2 13' meatsticks tied out of spey blanks. My spoon rod which rarely gets used is a 10'6 croix 8-14lb. I used to bring my float rods out but have had too many rods broken on the pier to warrant the risk anymore.

[MPsteelheader]

bass pro wally marshalls are the way to go!!!

[REG]

Thanks for the replies. For this game, Rainshadows keep popping up. Using a spey blank seems interesting. Alpha, I will assume that 13 is their 8/9, as listed currently in the catalog?

Mark, is there anywhere local to get see those Quantum XL's? Also, what type of action and what is the line rating on them?

Spey, if you are reading this at home this week, I am sorry....'tis the family man's burden,....I know and empathize,:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Alpha Buck]

I know that cabelas sells those Quantums, you used to be able to find them at Meijers every now and then as well, it is a crappie rod.

Yes they are the 8/9 13 spey blanks, good for puttin the breaks on em.

[REG]

Alpha,

Something to put the metal to them is what I had in mind. The Speys are an option I hadn't considered. Certainly, a rod that has enough guts and backbone to stops chins and yet soft enough for throwing 5 oz or so of terminal tackle and stinky shark sized alewifes without flinging them off the hook is what I am looking for.

Just out of curiousity, have you had a chance to fish with any mooching rods?

Thanks,

REG

[fish-on]

i use a pair of 12ft brownings.beat a many of fish with those rods.in the spring i'll flatline them off the boat like out riggers.when those get hit they really slam over.:D:D

[REG]

Fish-On, regarding the brownings, are they noodle rods or do they have some backbone to them?

[MPsteelheader]

Mark, is there anywhere local to get see those Quantum XL's? Also, what type of action and what is the line rating on them?

bob,

bj's sells the 12' and a beefier 11'...

12'ers rating is 4-10, and the 11'ers rating is 6-12...

meijer used to have the 12' rods here in IL for 19.88 back in the day but they dont have them in stock anymore

[REG]

Mark,

Thanks, I'll have to check that out.

[Speyday]

Alpha,

throwing 5 oz or so of terminal tackle and stinky shark sized alewifes without flinging them off the hook is what I am looking for.


REG

Just have to ask what may be obvious, but you are hooking your wifes thru the back, yes? If not, this helps a bunch.

[Alpha Buck]

Alpha,

Something to put the metal to them is what I had in mind. The Speys are an option I hadn't considered. Certainly, a rod that has enough guts and backbone to stops chins and yet soft enough for throwing 5 oz or so of terminal tackle and stinky shark sized alewifes without flinging them off the hook is what I am looking for.

Just out of curiousity, have you had a chance to fish with any mooching rods?

Thanks,

REG

I have not tried any mootching rods from the pier, sounds like it might be a good option though. I usually do not fish with any thing more than a 2 1/2oz of lead but would imagine that a spey could launch alot more than that. Lamiglass makes some nice glass blanks that would probably be pretty sweet for pier aplications. Loomis makes some rods that would be worthy looking into as well.

[REG]

Just have to ask what may be obvious, but you are hooking your wifes thru the back, yes? If not, this helps a bunch.

Ken,

I hook then either in the back crappie minnow style or above the anal fin, depending on what I want the alewife to do (or so I think).

Alpha Buck,

Thanks for the info. I try and not to go over that amount of weight myself.