Best trout rod

[shimano]

Hey all,

  I'm planning to head down to Big Bear lake this or next week. I will use a spoons, rapala trout lure, and martin panthers, copper john, or wooly bugger with a water bubble. I may even use a Carolina rig with some power bait. Just general trout stuff.

    What rod power, action, and size should I use? Any good brands to get them from?  Any reel recommendation? My budget is under $60.

[GaryH]

You can get a ugly stick combo rod and reel in that price range. I personally use ultra light for trout Pflueger supreme. Trilene 4lb. xl.

[shimano]

Any other?

[bulldog1935]

Stream fishing is one thing - short UL rods fit better.  

 

But Lake fishing, I would think any ML or bass finesse rod would do the job just fine 

I have inshore 7'7" ML spinning that is rated for 1/8 oz on the low end, and would plug right in.  

[shimano]

11 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

Stream fishing is one thing - short UL rods fit better.  

 

But Lake fishing, I would think any ML or bass finesse rod would do the job just fine 

I have inshore 7'7" ML spinning that is rated for 1/8 oz on the low end, and would plug right in.  

How about for streams?

And what size reel?

 

[bulldog1935]

For stream fishing, you can't get too small on either.  

The Japanese have been fishing BFS for stream trout for a decade.  

The rod I show is a Tailwalk Troutia, and found a great ebay buy from a Japan vendor (better price than AP or Digitaka).  They offer a spinning version, as well.  

 

In the US market, it will be easier to find traditional UL spinning tackle.  

You usually want 5-1/2' or less.  

 

I bet @redmeansdistortion can recommend a half-dozen rods.  

 

Most of my trout fishing for more than 20 years has been in vintage cane.  

[ATA]

What I understand from your budget and place you going you need two set ups and I would go with any Walmart brands, They have combos like abs Garcia there only $20 and they will do the job, Only thing you need to do get $25 Seaguar 4lb invizX 200 yards spool and half and half and use 100 yards on each of your rod.

Dont forget rod stands and bells.

and remember in big bear yellow and chartreuse working great.

You can PM me and I can help you  a lot.

 

 https://www.walmart.com/search?q=spinning+combo&typeahead=spinning+combo&max_price=60&catId=4125

 

Check this list, and remember you need light or ultra light rod with 5'6" to 7'6" depends on you.

[WRB]

Pick up,a copy of WON 9/17 issue Vol 69, with Big Bear lake trout fest Oct 2-3. Good info.

Do you plan on renting a boat? Or shore fishing?

Shore fishing your best bet is the dam area.

A lake rig may work depending on how deep the trout are.

My educated guess is a Thill Slip bobber rig set at 15” using 2 to 3 lb leader, gold size 16 treble hook with Power Bait is your best bet.

Trolling is very effective at Big Bear Using 6 lb mono or FC main line direct to spoons like Thomas Boyant, 503 Super Duper or Gold phebe are standby’, plus the lures outlined in the WON paper.

Tom

 

[shimano]

16 minutes ago, WRB said:

Pick up,a copy of WON 9/17 issue Vol 69, with Big Bear lake trout fest Oct 2-3. Good info.

Do you plan on renting a boat? Or shore fishing?

Shore fishing your best bet is the dam area.

A lake rig may work depending on how deep the trout are.

My educated guess is a Thill Slip bobber rig set at 15” using 2 to 3 lb leader, gold size 16 treble hook with Power Bait is your best bet.

Trolling is very effective at Big Bear Using 6 lb mono or FC main line direct to spoons like Thomas Boyant, 503 Super Duper or Gold phebe are standby’, plus the lures outlined in the WON paper.

Tom

 

Trout fest? What's that? I might rent a boat but most likely at shore.

[islandbass]

Look up the okuma celilo light action rod. They come in variety of sizes. I have the 7’ model but there are versions shorter and longer. It states light action but for all

intents, I call it my UL. This rod has caught me the most fish hands down out if ALL my rods combined. 
 
The rod runs about $40 and you can spend $30 on a fair reel and just be $10 over, and that should be doable. 
 

Can’t really recommend a reel brand but a 1000-2000 would be what I use on it. 
 

[WRB]

53 minutes ago, shimano said:

Trout fest? What's that? I might rent a boat but most likely at shore.

It’s part of Big Bears October Fest, a 2 day contest with a boat & motor with several age group prizes. 

Do you have a spinning outfit now? If you have a medium or ML bass rod-reel combo you don’t need anything else. Just add about 3’ leader 2lb to 3 lb for bait and 4 to 6 lb for lures.

Big Bear is a good trout lake with average 1 1/2 lbs to trout pushing 10 lbs. 

I grew up at Big Bear, managed Holloway’s landing for a few years and know this lake well.

Tom

PS, BB is a decent smallmouth and Largemouth lake.

[new2BC4bass]

Here you go.

https://www.amazon.com/Fishing-Sections-Carbon-Blanks-Medium-Fast/dp/B07SBRD7DS/ref=asc_df_B07SBRD7DS/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=532595494462&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9826174794070496332&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9006935&hvtargid=pla-1429606100615&psc=1

 

https://www.piscifun.com/products/piscifun-sword-4-pcs-fly-rod?currency=USD&variant=40282779664&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google Shopping&gclid=CjwKCAjw7rWKBhAtEiwAJ3CWLCkmkvvVAZ0EMbSLn5smvuo_3Nj_DUBI79o86B2IDjdagp49QREJkxoCLQoQAvD_BwE

 

https://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Claw-Featherlight-Weight-Yellow/dp/B00019NAOS/ref=asc_df_B00019NAOS/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312142476371&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10918672985138169041&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9006935&hvtargid=pla-435491025515&psc=1

 

[shimano]

4 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

Here you go.

https://www.amazon.com/Fishing-Sections-Carbon-Blanks-Medium-Fast/dp/B07SBRD7DS/ref=asc_df_B07SBRD7DS/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=532595494462&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9826174794070496332&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9006935&hvtargid=pla-1429606100615&psc=1

 

https://www.piscifun.com/products/piscifun-sword-4-pcs-fly-rod?currency=USD&variant=40282779664&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google Shopping&gclid=CjwKCAjw7rWKBhAtEiwAJ3CWLCkmkvvVAZ0EMbSLn5smvuo_3Nj_DUBI79o86B2IDjdagp49QREJkxoCLQoQAvD_BwE

 

https://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Claw-Featherlight-Weight-Yellow/dp/B00019NAOS/ref=asc_df_B00019NAOS/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312142476371&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10918672985138169041&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9006935&hvtargid=pla-435491025515&psc=1

 

Thanks, I needed a new fly rod since I just lost my orvis encounter. What reel would you recommend for Eagle Claw Featherlight 3/4 Line Weight Fly Rod, 2 Piece (Yellow, 6-Feet 6-Inch), 4/5 Weight?

[new2BC4bass]

Some companies sell 3/4, some 4/5.  I am just getting into fly fishing even though I had a couple older rods laying around.  One is a 7'6" 3wt.  I recently purchased a 5wt Echo Carbon XL.  Mistakenly ordered a 3/4 reel instead of the 5/6.  Was my fault for not paying close enough attention.  Being a relative of the Bait Monkey, instead of exchanging the reel for the proper one, I ordered a 4wt XL and the proper 5/6 reel. 

 

Anyhoo...I went with Piscifun Sword reels. Got the first 3/4 (the mistakenly ordered reel) for $40 in Gunmetal w/green trim from Amazon and ordered a pink 3/4 for $30 from Piscifun website.  Guess I bought at the right time because the best price I can find now is $45 from Amazon. Well....74 cents cheaper from aliexpress, but I'd go Amazon as I have Prime so I get 2nd day free shipping.

 

Haven't used them yet, but reviews are quite good.  They don't hold much backing.  $23 for spare spools.

 

Shouldn't have done it, but I purchased a Sage ZXL.  Wanted a better reel for it, but couldn't find the reel I wanted at a good price, so I bought the Echo Bravo LT instead.  $20 off what everyone else was asking....$100 instead of $120...from reelflyrod.  It holds a lot more backing and comes in a 4/5 instead of 3/4.  So new that the only reviews I could find on it were from fly shops, but it appears to be good value for the money.

 

If $45 is more than you want to spend, here is one for $20.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Croch-Fishing-CNC-machined-Aluminum-Alloy/dp/B01M1LFHRU/ref=asc_df_B01LWPOVCM/?tag=&linkCode=df0&hvadid=311998322334&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4977750179664565474&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9006935&hvtargid=pla-572254796783&ref=&adgrpid=62421706072&th=1&psc=1

 

Search 'cheap fly reels' and you can find some for less than $10.  But would they hold up for more than a month?  Much better to look at an Echo Base (4/5) for $35 from here.

 

https://uglybugflyshop.crazyrainbow.net/echo-base-reel.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwkbuKBhDRARIsAALysV6SPzR_HmYvJvgIdyNb_7gr25GC3Y8wd6FPNa9CPt6l-Kx10kzLRtAaAoZ8EALw_wcB

 

[redmeansdistortion]

Trout fishing, much like bass fishing works best with rods suited to different environments and presentations.  For general purpose stocker trout in a lake, something long and a more moderate action will be best.  This will allow for long distance casting of smaller live baits, spoons, and spinners.  Look for something in the 7' to 8' range or UL power.  

 

Streams and creeks are a different animal.  This is where you want to be picky about the rod you're using.  For small brush choked water, something under 6' will be the ticket, and under 5' if you're going to be bush whacking.  While UL is often recommended, you would do best with a L or even ML.  A 20"+ wild brown or rainbow can run like a raging bull, and a UL will be severely under powered if you have root wads and logjams to contend with.  Wild fish seek refuge in them and will not miss the chance to run to cover and break you off.  A L or ML will help steer the fish away from those obstacle.  

 

Lastly, rod action.  Moderate works best for spoons and spinners as it's more conducive to sweeping those types of baits through the current.  For plugs and jigs, a fast action will be best since they make those styles of baits twitch better as you work them.  Unfortunately, most USDM trout rods are moderate action, even though they may be labeled as fast or even extra fast.  It has to do with spoons and spinners being the predominant bait for those fish on this side of the globe.  With JDM rods, a fast action is truly fast action.  My 4'10" Major Craft Troutino is much faster with a far stiffer backbone than my St Croix Trout 4'10" even though both blanks measure similarly at their tip and butt.  Both are sold as fast action, but the St Croix bends like a wet noodle.  In Japan, rods are sold as minnow rods or spoon/spinner rods and their actions reflect that accordingly.

[mrpao]

^^^^ Great info.

My stream trout rods are 6' and 6'6" ultralight rods.

My pond trout rods are 7' lite action rods 

Different lures and lines for both applications.

[spokey9]

The okuma sst trout spinning rods have worked well for me

[Sphynx]

I have a Shakespeare Micro Series 7ft Light rod paired with a Daiwa Regal LT in the 2000 size that I have lined with Berkley Nanofil in 4lb test that I find works well enough as an "all-rounder" that probably costs less than $100 all in, they make the rod in UL as well but I find that it's a bit too noodly for my preference, it's way too light to deal with big 20+in trout with plentiful cover, but this set up can handle most 12-18in fish in reasonably open water competently and still makes the fight feel like fun, I normally fish either trout magnets or spinners (blue foxes, panther Martin's, Mepps and CP Swings depending on what I'm trying to do) but it also can handle a live bait or powerbait rig either suspended under a float or set up with split shot to get deep, I have some higher end trout rods, but this one is very solid, and the price just makes it that much better. 

[PressuredFishing]

On 9/24/2021 at 8:35 AM, shimano said:

Hey all,

  I'm planning to head down to Big Bear lake this or next week. I will use a spoons, rapala trout lure, and martin panthers, copper john, or wooly bugger with a water bubble. I may even use a Carolina rig with some power bait. Just general trout stuff.

    What rod power, action, and size should I use? Any good brands to get them from?  Any reel recommendation? My budget is under $60.

Ultralight or light for trout, anything graphite is good, line is more important, 2lb no more than 4lb, unless you want 6lb to a leader, try fishing mornings and evenings, bite gets killed after about 10-11am and picks back up 3-sunset. If you want to save yourself trouble, take a boat or kayak out, the shoreline is covered in people and can be a head ache with crossing lines, because alot of the water is landlocked privately. 

[Sphynx]

On 10/24/2021 at 1:50 PM, PressuredFishing said:

Ultralight or light for trout, anything graphite is good, line is more important, 2lb no more than 4lb, unless you want 6lb to a leader, try fishing mornings and evenings, bite gets killed after about 10-11am and picks back up 3-sunset. If you want to save yourself trouble, take a boat or kayak out, the shoreline is covered in people and can be a head ache with crossing lines, because alot of the water is landlocked privately. 

I'd have to say that the line sizes you mention are dependent upon fish size, you go somewhere like Crane Prairie Reservoir and you'll be glad you went heavier, those "Cranebows" are freaking monstrosities and will laugh as they swim away with whateveris left of your 4lb line lol, for stockers/wilds in heavy catch/release areas where the average fish is sub 20in, 6 or 8 is pushing it, if your after rarely pursued fish you can get away with a bit more, same with trophy class trout.

[PressuredFishing]

13 hours ago, Sphynx said:

I'd have to say that the line sizes you mention are dependent upon fish size, you go somewhere like Crane Prairie Reservoir and you'll be glad you went heavier, those "Cranebows" are freaking monstrosities and will laugh as they swim away with whateveris left of your 4lb line lol, for stockers/wilds in heavy catch/release areas where the average fish is sub 20in, 6 or 8 is pushing it, if your after rarely pursued fish you can get away with a bit more, same with trophy class trout.

Fishing on the west coast, a lot of people do this, but I dont. If  I have open water which is where 90% of trout fishing is done in our lakes and rivers/streams, I fish 2lb line and it is plenty. If you properly set your drag you can catch 15+ pound fish on 2lb line. I have caught a 9lb rainbow on 2lb line and fought it for around four minutes, I just let him swim around a ton and let drag peel, I also caught a 7lb trout (palamino) that fought even harder than the 9lber, and he took around five minutes. Then on top of all this, look at fly fishing, people catch big brown trout during hatches on 8x tippet and size 20-22 drys, 8x tippet is  1-1.5 pound line. Personally the fishing industry has made it this big statement that you need rods and heavy line to wrench in fish.

 

This is not related to trout but it seems silly to fish 65lb braid on a rod that can only handle 20lbs of weight.  the only reason I fish heavy braid like 65lb is because it doesnt dig into the spool and its easier to tie.

[Sphynx]

I've never personally used 8X on a size 22, that's 7X territory to me, bumped up to 6X if I feel like I might need it, I also don't fly fish in the same places I fish with a spinning rod, obstructions/brush are just easier to manage with a spinning rod for me, and most of the time the trout have every kind of stick, rock, and other line destroying cover available so the 6lb-8lb line gives me a fighting chance with big fish to keep them out of it, open water if I'm using spinning gear is 4lb territory, never had a problem limiting when I'm fishing for dinner, plenty more than my 5 fish limit if I'm just having fun, I can't say that I have ever felt like I have caught less because of line size.

[Seaworthy81]

You got some really good info here. I fished big bear a lot almost year round for many years. 

 

Couple tips: 

 

Get a 2 rod stamp and if you want to fish lures definitely fish power bait on the other rod. 

 

Colder the water and weather up there the shallower the trout will be. Warmer the deeper they will be to a point (that point is how deep the oxygenated water gets). In the dead of summer the bulk of the trout will be near the dam and sandwiched between the hot surface water and the deep limit of the oxygen. A slip bobber fished at that depth will be your best bet. 

 

In the winter the fish spread out and a lot move to the East side of the lake and can be fished there with either small lures or power bait on a carolina rig. 

 

Light line is super essential. I use 2lb for everything. I also use a heavier weight than most would suggest because when it gets windy I like my line to be tight to the sinker without the wind moving it around. Typically 3/8th or 1/2 oz where most would tell you 1/8th or 1/4 is more than enough. 

 

My wife and I would fish 4 rods (2 per person) and spread them out in different depths with different colored powerbait until we hopefully found a pattern. Usually Garlic Chartreuse, Peach Salmon Egg and then 2 other colors if we have them. 

 

Stop in or call Big Bear Sporting Goods to find what areas and techniques have been hottest. They will give you a map of the lake with the different areas highlighted that have been best recently.