Technique Specific Rods - Part 4 of a Series

We are going to start talking about very specific tools to target different species of fish.  In this blog the talk will be about Muskie Rods.

The muskie is one of if not the largest fresh water predator in waters of the United States.  Some say a fish of 10,000 casts.  A most humbling fish to target, you will see them, they follow lures, then swim away at the last minute only to turn on a dime and attack the bait.  The strike will send chills up your spine for sure.

Due to the size and power of this fish, the strain on equipment, make muskie fishing like no other.  It absolutely requires special rods, reels and lures.   Generally, the rod should be between 7'6" and 8' in length, medium heavy to heavy action and power.  The rod must be designed to handle mean toothy fish up to 50 pounds or more.  A walleye or bass rod will not fit the bill at all.  There definitely is a trend to use longer fast action heavy powered rods up to 9' - 10' long.  Custom handle length is also an issue with ardent fisherman.

Muskie fishing regulations can be found in 32 states in the US and 4 provinces in Canada.  Groups such as Muskies, Inc. have been instrumental in maintaining and improving the sport of muskie fishing across its range.    MI originated and pioneered the catch and release concept so common in many species today.  Muskies often experience difficulty reproducing successfully.  Stocking efforts and programs are active in 37 of the lower 48 states.  The primary range lies in the Canadian Shield lakes, Minnesota, Wisconsin and down into the Ohio basin.

Heavy duty rods are the only way to successfully land a big fish without damage to the equipment or injuring the fish.  Manufacturers have developed technique specific rods for these monster fish.  The custom builders have taken the blank materials and continue to build even stronger and better fish fighting tools using tried and true techniques to match the power of these beautiful creatures.   The spiral wrap discussed earlier is a technique now being employed by custom builders to help make better muskie rods.  Each muskie fisherman has his/her own story to tell and want/needs in a fishing rod for this species.

(c) copyright - LakeLady Custom Fishing Rods - 2009

Technique Specific Rods - Part 3 of a series

This string deals with the spiral wrap a technique of guide placement on a casting rod.

Even custom builders have difficulty understanding the technique.  If the rod is not properly set up in the beginning of the wrapping process on the spine, the technique will not produce the ultimate desired result and in fact the rod could fail under maximum load.  Friction is removed from the guides to the maximum extent possible thus greater casting distance may be achieved.  It is a straight line from the reel to the tip top in a loaded condition, thus greater accuracy.  The rod actually is turned into a spinning rod so the line "hangs" on the guides and never can touch the blank.  Finally, the rod's "lock-in point" is found on the predominate spine of the rod and creates the stability desired for fighting big fish.   With a properly balanced outfit to the reel and rod, fighting big fish is a joy and untiring.

So the bottom line question remains ... is spiral wrapped rods for everyone.  Possibly not.  But the benefits of the wrap certainly outweigh the negatives, if the rod is set up properly to begin with.

(c) copyright LakeLady Rods - 2009

Technique Specific Rods - Part 2 of a series

The spiral wrap or Roberts wraps is the subject of this posting...A difficult wrap to understand but extremely effective if presented and built properly.

The reason manufacturers have not adapted to this wrapping technique is that the geometry and physics required to set up the blank is too costly for a manufacturing operation.  Time is money, and money is profit. 

Rod manufacturers build rods for the "average" fisherman.  These companies have a profit motive and the "average" consumer does not understand the benefits of the wrap.  There has been an attempt by a couple of manufacturers to introduce the wrap, however sportshop sales people did not grasp the benefits either.  Without the proper explanation, buyers believe the rod is defective in its set-up!

(c) copyright:  LakeLady Custom Fishing Rods - 2009