punching St Croix 7 foot medium heavy musky rod for punching & frogging

[Cuttdogg]

 Hello guys, looking for any information anybody may have on using a Saint Croix 7 foot two piece medium heavy premier musky rod for a punch rod.  I have to fly every time I bass fish  because I live in Alaska, so a two piece rod is super important to me and getting a lot harder to find these days. 

I’m taking a trip to the California Delta this J i’m taking a trip to the California Delta this June,  I fished in that area last September, there was tons of heavy  floating matt  i’ve never been a frog or punch fisherman generally because I don’t get to fish bass that early in the year. But I’m going to do it this year. Two piece rods are a must for me so much easier flying. Can’t wait to learn this new tactic just need to get the right rods for the job.

[gim]

A designated musky rod is over kill in my opinion. I have a rod just like that except it’s a one piece and I can’t imagine using it for punching. It’s hard enough to to use for a couple hours of actual musky fishing. I’d down size to a heavy action bass rod instead.

[Born 2 fish]

I would say it’s over kill take a look at the Okuma nomad express travel rod. I have the 7’11 heavy it’s a very nice travel rod a should be a great punch rod I never tried throwing a frog on it I could try it and let you know. It’s 4 pieces and comes with a case you can carry it right in the plane.

[Ogandrews]

I like a longer rod for punching, I generally use a 7’10 heavy or extra heavy. A musky rod is not great for most setups and a super short musky rod like that is extremely stout, more so than you would want for being able to detect bites. The other issue with a musky rod like that so that generally they have a much longer handle than your average bass rod which makes it much harder to work a frog effectively. Now I own many musky rods, I musky/pike fish more than i bass fish but I rarely will use a musky setup for bass unless I’m throwing a big single hook swimbait. Okuma travel rods are a good option, there are some good telescoping options. Another thing I have done is just ship the rods to wherever you are going and then ship them back, can cost a little more but in the long run using a one piece rod that is actually meant for the job you are using it for is worth it.

[collinfiske_RFC]

I wouldn't overthink it too much! If you're only fishing for short period of time make what you got work. It might not be perfect setup, but as long as you can send baits down range that's all that matters. If you're going to be there for an extended amount of time maybe pick up something more specialized locally when you arrive. I use a 7'6 XHXF for punching heavier cover and 7'3 HF for flipping around lighter cover (I'm a shorter dude at 5'9ish). Sensitivity is definitely helpful for feeling what your bait its touching down below. Best of luck 

[Fishes in trees]

Maybe telescopic rod could be the ticket?  I have a 7'5" Kistler Flipping/pitching rod.  The blue one - Argon series I think.  I've had it for a few years now, not sure if it is still available.  It is a great heavy duty jig/soft plastic rod and it is easy to store in the truck.  Maybe shipping gear to your destination prior to your flight is an option - or buying gear once you get there and shipping it home after you are done.

 

Maybe getting one custom built would be your best option.  Like a previous post, I also have a 7' Muskie rod and I think it is a little heavy to use for more than a little while.  I use mine for throwing heavier A-rigs, when I get over 2 - 3 ounces.  

[Cuttdogg]

 Thanks guys for the comments it is helpful.  So the verdict is the musky medium heavy is too much rod with too long of a handle. 

So what do y’all think  about the Premier casting rod 7 foot heavy with 1/2-1 1/2 oz  lure weight rating. I can get this in a two piece rod also. I did look at the Okuma  nomad that one of you mentioned above. The handle on that rod was even longer than the musky handle on the Saint Croix. 

[Bass Rutten]

Cabelas makes a 2 piece 7'0" heavy/fast casting rod rated at 3/8-2 1/4oz lure weight, fish eagle series model FE54C706-2-B. I've owned and traveled with mine over ten years, I throw jigs and small swimbaits mostly with it and to this day it's still running about $70.00, great value imo.

[Cuttdogg]

 This is one of the bass I caught in the California delta last September.  I lost a lot of nice fish that tangled themselves in heavy cover, I just didn’t have a heavy enough rod to yank them suckers out.  I’m definitely going back more prepared this June. I will take all of your advice  seriously and to heart.

1 hour ago, Bassjam2000 said:

Cabelas makes a 2 piece 7'0" heavy/fast casting rod rated at 3/8-2 1/4oz lure weight, fish eagle series model FE54C706-2-B. I've owned and traveled with mine over ten years, I throw jigs and small swimbaits mostly with it and to this day it's still running about $70.00, great value imo.

 Thanks bro, I will check that out.

[Cuttdogg]

2 hours ago, Fishes in trees said:

Maybe telescopic rod could be the ticket?  I have a 7'5" Kistler Flipping/pitching rod.  The blue one - Argon series I think.  I've had it for a few years now, not sure if it is still available.  It is a great heavy duty jig/soft plastic rod and it is easy to store in the truck.  Maybe shipping gear to your destination prior to your flight is an option - or buying gear once you get there and shipping it home after you are done.

 

Maybe getting one custom built would be your best option.  Like a previous post, I also have a 7' Muskie rod and I think it is a little heavy to use for more than a little while.  I use mine for throwing heavier A-rigs, when I get over 2 - 3 ounces.  

 Thanks for the info bro. I have several heavy rods like that for northern pike fishing here in Alaska. We have some hog pike here.  I never thought about using one of them for bass fishing till I got back from the Delta last September. I’ve never fished in a place that has so many freaking weeds. LOL. They Did have a lot of bass  though living in them weeds.

13 hours ago, collinfiske_RFC said:

I wouldn't overthink it too much! If you're only fishing for short period of time make what you got work. It might not be perfect setup, but as long as you can send baits down range that's all that matters. If you're going to be there for an extended amount of time maybe pick up something more specialized locally when you arrive. I use a 7'6 XHXF for punching heavier cover and 7'3 HF for flipping around lighter cover (I'm a shorter dude at 5'9ish). Sensitivity is definitely helpful for feeling what your bait its touching down below. Best of luck 

 Thanks for the info man.

[Cuttdogg]

21 hours ago, Ogandrews said:

I like a longer rod for punching, I generally use a 7’10 heavy or extra heavy. A musky rod is not great for most setups and a super short musky rod like that is extremely stout, more so than you would want for being able to detect bites. The other issue with a musky rod like that so that generally they have a much longer handle than your average bass rod which makes it much harder to work a frog effectively. Now I own many musky rods, I musky/pike fish more than i bass fish but I rarely will use a musky setup for bass unless I’m throwing a big single hook swimbait. Okuma travel rods are a good option, there are some good telescoping options. Another thing I have done is just ship the rods to wherever you are going and then ship them back, can cost a little more but in the long run using a one piece rod that is actually meant for the job you are using it for is worth it.

 Thanks man for the info. I like your idea about shipping rods, don’t know why I didn’t think of that before. I haven’t got to go Muskie fishing before but I do a lot of northern pike fishing here in Alaska.

[RichF]

It might not be quite heavy enough, but the Daiwa Ardito travel rod is pretty special.  I brought the 7'0 med heavy down to Lake Okeechobee last winter.  Pitched 3/4 oz jigs on 50lb braid to reed heads all day and smashed'em.  It's definitely on the heavier side of medium heavy.  They have a 7'6 model as well.