Dredge Rod Question(s)

[Nimrod]

OK - this has surely been covered before but I am feeling too lazy to go back and search. I'm considering a dredge rod and have a few questions:

1) Should I just use my planner (ala DFA) rod for dredges or have a seperate (shorter) rod made? I am thinking it is very likely that I will NOT be running the planner and dredge at the same time but maybe I am wrong.

2) I will most likely use an 80# class reel. If I have a new rod made should I use an 80# class bent butt or a 130#? Some had recommended a 130# with the 80 reel but that seems wrong to me.

3) Of the reels I have, what should I use for the dredge rod - Penn Int'l 80W, Tiagra 80WA, or Electramate with a 9/0 Senator?

I look forward to the input from you all.

[TROPHY SPORTFISHING]

NIMROD I TRIED THE 80"S THEN THE 130"S IF YOUR PULLING ANY LARGE DREDGES WITH ALOT OF WEIGHT ( 2-3 TEER RUBBER OR BALLHOO-MULLET REAL DREDGES) IT IS A LITTLE TOUGH TO CRANK THEM IN. I EVEN WENT AS FAR AS TO PUT A PULLEY LOW ON THE RIGGER TO RUN THEM THRU TO MAKE IT EASIER. FINNALLY ENDED UP BUYING 2 951 KRISTAL REELS SPOOLED WITH 250 LB JINKAI. THEY ARE THE HEAT LET'S US DROP THOSE DREDGES BACK INTO BAIT BALLS AND BRING THE FISH UP TO THE BOAT. AS FOR RODS I HAD 2 80 LB BENT BUTTS BUILT WITH 3 FT RODS 2 GUIDES THEY WORK GREAT AND ARE EASILY STORED AND FISHED OUT OF 15 DEG SWIVEL ROD HOLDERS CLEAR OUT OF THE WAY EASILY SINCE THEY ARE FISHED CLOSEST TO THE HOUSE THRU THE PULLEYS WIND EM UP AND LET EM HANG FROM THE RIGGERS TO GO BACK ON A FISH IF YOU WANT I CAN GET SOME PICS AND POST EM FOR YOU OF THE RODS AND REELS ALONG WITH THE PULLEY SETUP. GOOD LUCK.

[Nimrod]

Thanks Troph! Anything additional you can post up would certainly be appreciated!!

[Glenn W]

Trophy sure has a nice set up. To add just a little--- My Tiagra 80's have a hard time holding drag on a rough day or in a good size following sea, so I have doubts about a Penn 80 working very well. Regarding the rod--- no doubt a 3' rod is much better than a 4' planer stick. The shorter rod makes it much easier to mess with the weight and clip through the scupper if pulling off the transom. The extra stoutness is also a big asset. Personally, I do not own a 3' dredge stick and my planer rods do double duty, but the 3' dredge poles I use while tournament fishing are superior for the task.
If I ever get off my lazy butt I will have 3' sticks made to fit my planer butts. That way the planer reels can do double duty and I don't have to fork out another grand for a dredge reel. Switching back and forth from planer to dredge, even on the water, is no big deal.

[biebs]

We use 2 LP's. Does not matter how rough, how heavy. Just hit the button and your dredges are coming.

We have 2 custom dredge rods that were built by Chaos. Need to look at them to get the specifics, but they are nice.

[paul708]

this is the NEW 3ft and 4ft planner rods..any way you want...custom to your needs. with Fuji Sic guides dont settle for less..AND a Special feature..we will offer the rod Without the BUTT..if you want to use a old bent butt..

[Bite Me]

Have you guys seen that new electric from Daiwa? Made for Deep dropping but I would suspect that it would make a great dredge reel. It is incredibly small for a reel that holds more than 50 pounds of grag. On a budget, a down rigger spooled with 200# braid will get the job done and fairly easy to clear.
Rod length may vary on where you put them on the boat. My guess is that a 3 footer would not clear the transom on my boat as mine run from the second rod holder. I'm using a 130 Penn two speed on a 4 foot rod. Crank it baby, crank it!
I have seen Trophy's setup and it is sweet.
Post some pics up john.

[gottaflylee]

We use 2 LP's. Does not matter how rough, how heavy. Just hit the button and your dredges are coming.

We have 2 custom dredge rods that were built by Chaos. Need to look at them to get the specifics, but they are nice.

We have this reel on the Predator boat. It will pull the strips off the road but ours is very sloooooooooooo. What amased me was how much drag a dreg has. I keep thinking that the rod will break any time.

[TROPHY SPORTFISHING]

I'LL TRY TO GET BY THE BOAT TODAY AND GET A FEW SHOTS OF MY ROD/REEL SETUPS AND THE PLACMENT OF THE ROD HOLDERS AND PULLEYS ON THE RIGGERS. I'VE FISHED THE LP'S AND THE EPOCHS THE EPOCHS ARE GREAT 0N THE BRIDGE AS OVERHEAD TEASER REELS AND THE LP'S ARE FINE BUT THE 651 KRISTAL IS THE BEST BY FAR IN MY OPINION AND THIS IS JUST MY OPINION NO EXTRA BOXES TO HOOK UP USE A BATTERY OR INSTALL PLUGS I USED TROLLING MOTOR PLUGS FROM MARINCO GOT AT WEST MARINE HAS THE MALE AND FEMALE WITH COVER AND LOCKING O-RING. THESE THINGS ARE BUTES A 3 TEER DREDGE DOESN'T SEEM TO BOTHER THEM VERY MUCH THEY HAVE 2 SWITCHES A ON/OFF CONTINUOS AND A MOMENTARY THAT YOU HAVE TO HOLD IT ALSO OVER RIDES THE FUSE IF IT BLOWS A NICE FEATURE.

[alltackle]

Here is the new Daiwa electric: