Walleye fishing is one of the most popular types of fishing in North America. Walleye can be found in many lakes and rivers across Canada, Minnesota, Montana, Michigan, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin. In this post, we will go over what you need to know when choosing a rod for walleye fishing.
Best Walleye Fishing Rods
Walleye fishing is one of the most rewarding types of fishing available. The beautiful water, the thrill of catching a fish, and the chance to relax with friends make it an excellent way to spend time outdoors. There are many different styles of rods so be sure you know your preferences before making your purchase
Jigging
Although jigging is often done in the same area as trolling, you’ll need a different style of rod. Jig rods are typically much lighter than their counterparts, to be able to effectively fight the weight of the jig and small fish you might catch. Combine this with fast action sections in the rod, and you have a strong enough little piece of equipment to handle the elements. Jigging rods are less about power and more about accuracy and quickness when setting your line for another drop. Jigging can be done in many terrain types: open water, ice, weedy shallows, flower beds, rocky shorelines, and reefs – you need a rod that has the ultimate freedom of movement and can handle any type of fish. Jigging is one of the most enjoyable ways to catch walleye, and if you’re just starting out it’s probably your best bet: no boat needed, so less equipment cost, easy to learn with good results quickly and you can target the fish wherever they may be. Jigging also requires a lot of finesse, so you’ll need to know how to work your bait without making too much disturbance in the water.
Trolling
For trolling, select an 8’ to 9′ rod – you want your fishing line really floating when there’s life on it otherwise they’ll know right where the hook bait is coming from. And make sure not only do I get my strike but also bring them in! Shifting gears up into gear won’t work either because these guys are quick little buggers so expect some fast action during this time period while using any type of reel setup (bobber/reel + drag).
Spinning
Casting your lure is always fun, but it can be more exciting when conditions are right for spinning. All types of thick weed beds and brushy cover are prime areas for walleyes to be held. They will go into these areas in fall and winter to feed on minnows that are under the protection of the weeds and brush. A lure that spins at a high rate of speed is an excellent choice for fishing in these areas.
Criteria For Choosing the Walleye Fishing Rod
There are many rods to choose from and they all have their own benefits and drawbacks. Some people prefer a more flexible rod, while others need a more rigid rod with a better backbone. The right choice will depend on the type of waters you will be fishing in and what types of fish you plan on targeting.
Length
Walleye rods come in different lengths, with six to six-and-a-half feet being the most common. You should choose based on what you’ll be doing – whether it’s trolling for bigger fish or jigging and spinning around lures near your shoreline. The perfect balance between power and control is important when buying this equipment!
Action
Walleye fishing can be a delicate and subtle art, so it is important to use the right equipment. When jigging or trolling in waters that have walleyes present you will want an action rod with sensitive fiberglass lines that produce little resistance when casting but give way nicely when reeling in your catch. Fast actions offer more sensitivity for this type of work while slower ones provide better stability at distance from the shoreline due to their moderate power rating (or lack thereof). Finally, make sure not only to do what feels good on your end; however, also think about all conditions before setting out!
Line Weight
In order to maximize your success when jigging for walleye, it’s important that you use the right combination of weight and power. The most typical range, in this case, would be anywhere from four pounds up towards a twelve-pound test line with lightning rods or heavy-duty graphite ones (depending on what type of fish you’re after). This will give an excellent experience every time!
Power
Walleye fishing can be a lot of fun, but it takes patience and lightning-fast reactions. When jigging for those fish on your line or near the bottom of lakes they’ll want to look at rods with medium power ratings which will allow them enough backbone without being too heavy due to weightlessness in water as well as provide good sensitivity when using lures down there either way if you’re going after walleyes make sure that whatever rod set up is used has plenty action because these guys always seem like they’re running from one side ot another.
Durability
When it comes to fishing rods, there are a lot of options. You want something that will last for years so you know what material is important and which one isn’t in this case – quality carbon or graphite with strong metal guide materials are all good bets! The handle should also come down to personal preference but if money were no object I would go EVA/cork because they’re tried-and-true types while other people might prefer wooden handles on their new rod instead.
What type of rod is best for walleye?
The KastKing WideEye Walleye Rod is a 7-foot one-piece graphite spinning rod. It has a medium action and is good for walleye, muskie, bass, and panfish. The handle is made from cork grips with a rubber butt cap. It has stainless steel guides and a stainless steel screw on the reel seat. The handle has two holes for some reason and I wish it didn’t, but that’s just my preference.
The cork grips on the rod feel good and supportive with a comfortable sweet spot about halfway down the handle. The rod is light and well-balanced.
The rod has a nice finish to it with good welds on the guides, although it’s finished in an opaque epoxy which I don’t care much for. It reminds me of older fishing rods and has a cool retro look to it.
The reel seat is a screw-on type and I think you can get aftermarket seats that fit it. In fact, the cork handle has two holes in it, so perhaps you could replace the handle with a custom aftermarket one.
There are rubber grommets fitted in each of the guides. These are a nice touch and keep the line from chafing on the guides.
I’d recommend this rod for light to medium fishing. It’s too light for casting lures if that’s what you’re into but would work fine for vertical jigging or ice fishing.
What size rod is best for walleye?
You should use a size 2 spinning reel and an eight-foot fishing rod for walleye fishing. A spinning reel is the type of fishing rod and reel where you attach the fishing line to a metal loop on the front, or “spool.” A spinning reel is the easiest type of fishing rod and reel to use, so that is why I recommend using one for catching walleyes.
An eight-foot fishing rod is a perfect length for walleye fishing because it gives you a lot of space to fish. You can fish from a boat or a dock, or from anywhere on the shore of a pond. The longer rod will be able to reach all around you and give you more room to cast your line.
Conclusion
Which walleye rod is best for your preferences and needs? The key to finding the perfect walleye rod for you is understanding what type of fishing that you plan on doing and your own personal preferences. Walleye Fishing can be a fun, challenging, and rewarding sport no matter who you are or how long you’ve been at it.