Hi Italo I have just purchaced a 17\’ fishing boat complete with downriggers. I have not done much of this type of fishing. can you suggest a good rod/reel comb.for me. without selling the farm? Thanks for all the great info you kindly share with all us rookies. yours in Him Peter Kubassek.
Posted on February 11th, 2008Hi Peter….Nice to hear from you. Sounds like you purchased the right boat to catch those Erie walleye, trout, salmon and channel catfish. For the last 2-yrs. I have been testing the new Rapala downrigger rods and counter reels which have worked very well for Great Lakes open-water trolling. I would encourage you to check out their new 8\’, heavy-action downrigger rods and their counter reels. That combination will work well with monofilament line (Flea Flicker line & Braid). If you choose to load one or more of the counter reels with either lead-core, brass, or stranded/coated stainless steel line, I would suggest you match the reel with the lightweight Rapala “roller-guide” trolling rods in the 8-9\’ length. I believe you can get the rods and the reels for around $49. each. To find out where you can check them out, or purchase them I would suggest you contact Chip Jaggard at Normak Canada (distributors of Rapala products & more), at, (905) 571-3001. I will be at the Spring Fishing Show all four days and hope you and your brothers can make it out. If you talk to Chip before-hand, he can make sure that one of the retailers have a good stock of all the specialy Great Lakes trolling rods and reels. Please pass my regards to all of the Kubasseks….God bless you and your family, Italo
