

However, some anglers might find the rear grip to be shorter than they’re used to. If you want a more specialized variety, consider its cousin, the St.
Bass pro shops prodigy walleye bottom bouncer casting rod series#
This series also offer versions with medium light power and more. More than that, this rod also has tangle-free guides, aluminum wind checks, a Kigan hook keeper near the handle, and a Fuji reel seat. It also features IPC, or integrated poly curve, which uniquely eliminates transitional points in the rod toĪs such, this rod is very sensitive to bites and can cast very well, even while it can give out the maximum power for fighting with walleye or other similar fish. It’s also made with the company’s proprietary Advanced Reinforcing Technology (ART), which increases strength without adding weight or diameter by adding a layer of extra-strong carbon fiber material. The Legend Tournament Walleye Rod is also the first fishing rod line by this brand that utilizes high-modulus SCIV Graphite: a very strong material with a lot of flex. This beauty is not just for show: the color comes from two coats of Flex-Coat slow cure and Corrosion Control matte finish to keep your rod safe from the elements. It boasts an iridescent cobalt blue coat with fine, retro-style detailing in the blanks that make it rod an interesting visual spectacle as well. Our top contender for the title of the best walleye rod is a premium specimen of what the best walleye fishing rods should be.įirst of all, it’s an elegant number with well-finished aesthetics. The leader length ranges from about 4 to 10 feet with the shortest leaders used in the strongest current.The best walleye fishing rod is one that combines superb build quality and excellent performance, all while maintaining an attainable price, such as the well-loved Legend Tournament Walleye Spinning Rod from St.

“Other times they want that bigger profile and you want the biggest minnow you can find.”ĭepending on the laws in the state where he is fishing, Schmidt might tie two or even three flies on his leader. “Sometimes they want a small profile and really prefer a fly with nothing else on it,” Schmidt said. Schmidt also experiments with tipping bait, and if he is fishing with someone else, they typically begin with one angler fishing a plain fly and the other fishing one that is tipped with a minnow. Schmidt uses a variety of fly colors, and always likes to have several tied and handy so he can make regular changes until the walleyes start biting. Other important aspects include keeping the rig on the bottom and experimenting with specific offerings to find out what the fish want any given day. “Working right on the edges is very important,” he said. No hookset typically is needed with that presentation.Įither way, Schmidt looks for current breaks caused by wing dams and other obstructions and focuses presentations on the seams between currents and eddies. Often he’ll cast 90 degrees to the current, let the rig sink to the bottom, and work the rig with short snaps and drops until the rig is directly downstream. When a fish bites, he sets the hook with a gentle sweep.įor casting applications, he prefers spinning gear and monofilament. He seeks to keep the line at a 45-degree angle and the weight ticking bottom all the time, and moves the boat at a snail’s pace. Additionally, casting allows for more targeted presentations when the walleyes are in known locations.įor pulling flies, Schmidt uses a 6½-foot medium or medium light baitcasting rod, a reel with a flipping button so he can easily release line, and 10-pound-test braid, which allows Schmidt to feel everything. Pulling the fly rigs allows Schmidt to search for fish, but that is considered trolling, which isn’t legal in all states. Schmidt likes flies for river walleye fishing from March through the end of June, and targets fish moving upriver to spawn and downriver after the spawn. Typical presentations are very slow, especially during early spring. Whether cast or pulled behind the boat, the flies offer subtle motion and mimic baitfish. “It’s an extremely effective way to catch fish during the spring,” said Schmidt, a Cabela’s Field Staff team member who lives in Oshkosh, Wis.


2 or 4 hooks, are instead cast or pulled with spinning or baitcasting tackle and delivered close to the bottom with three-way rigs. The flies, which are typically bucktail streamers tied on No. Walleye pro Dave Schmidt commonly uses fishing flies to get the attention of spring walleyes, but no fly rods factor into the equation. Cabela’s Field Staff team member Dave Schmidt shares his proven techniques.
