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Thoughts on Tarpon Trolling Rods

4K views 4 replies 4 participants last post by  Hunter 
#1 ·
Just wanted to pick everyones brains on trolling rods for Texas Tarpon. TLD 20s with 40lb mono trolling **** pops. Suggestions?
 
#2 ·
Don Savage built mine, so I'm not sure which blank he used for the rods. You want at least six foot rods. Flexible tips, with lots of back-bone. Mine are 50-80 lb rods but with a fast action tip, like a jigging tip. I have a roller tip as well. On the reels, I use Shimano TI16s on 5-20 second lines. 40 lb mono on the short lines (5-10 second) and 80 lb braid on the middle lines (15-20 second). On my 25 and 30 second lines I use Penn 30s, but that's probably too much reel. Will eventually replace them with TI20A's at some point. Since I have the 30's I put 50 lb test on those.



There are probably better set-ups than mine but it works.



The biggest keys are (1) flexible tip rods with plenty of length to them; (2) be sure and have enough line capacity for the reel. I like having two speed reels too.


I'm all about getting the fish to the boat ASAP and going to get the next one!
 
#3 ·
Scott is on the money. As far as rods go 6' med Heavy 60-100 lb with a fast tip with a lots of back bone, but you don't need that big of reels. I had talica II 25's with 100 braided line then about 100 yds of Mono 80lb test. I loved them but the where just to big for everyone on the boat (kids and the girls). I now have talica II 16's with 80 lb braid and still the 100 yd top shot of 80Lb mono. I can put 30 plus pounds of drag and that is all want and more fighting stand up. The only time I was worried about the size of the reel is during a 3-4 fish hook up and every fish is going in a different directions. With that said I have not gotten spooled by any of the tarpon to date. This setup is much lighter and easier to handle for me and all my guest.
 
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