While the cold weather is ending, you are indeed targeting the walleyes to be in your inventory immediately. Trolling reels are the best way to drag those walleyes out of water for their nature and hunting techniques. Now the priority of gears comes first before finding the best place to hunt those walleyes down.
In our gear list, one of the significant budgets we must put in is the walleye rod. Different types of rids have other actions, different radius, and also different weights. For these specifications, the experience changes from rods to rods. We have described a variety of rods that have been designed to work on walleyes most of the time.
Table could not be displayed.Reviews of the Top 7 Best Walleye Trolling Rod
There are many options for walleye trolling available in the market. We have to choose the 17 most popular walleye trolling rods in the market for reviewing first hand. The experiences and our research findings helped us pick the top 7 trolling rods for walleye fishing.
Let us get straight in-depth to the study.
St.Croix Rod PS66MF Premier Rod – Best Overall
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The first one we are looking at is a classic walleye rod that many of the anglers have been using for a long time. Most people love this fishing rod because of the value of the money. You will not have to pay a lot to get a lot out of this instrument. It is by far in the affordable range and has a lot of premium features.
In the premium section, the handle is worth mentioning part. It has a lightweight handle that is made of cork despite the heavy power it can handle. Despite being a powerful walleye jigging rod, I have been impressed with its ability to cope with light setups and medium setups. The versatility is very impressive.
I have been suffering from some flexibility issues with this rod. This is not very helpful if you are used to the soft handles. But this is a perfect choice if you prefer a stiff and stable handle with a solid grip.
The 6.6 feet length is not too big for a trolling rod for walleye anglers. Being a shorter rod has a fast action that is ideal for big fishes like walleyes and bass.
Suppose you take a closer look at the st. Croix rod is thinner than most of the rods out there. This is why it is lightweight, and the graphite gives it the strength to keep up with the big fish. You can use it with a planer board and other heavier setups.
Pros
- A lightweight graphite rod good for maneuvering around
- Has sleek finish on the outer layer that prevents decaying
- Perfect for trolling and jigging walleye with fast action options
- Great rod to use with better reel for a combo
- Super-fast Action makes it easy to fight with big fishes
Cons
- The sensitivity is not good enough to feel minimal vibrations
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Okuma Great Lakes – Best Walleye Trolling Rod and Reel Combo
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In all-black construction, there is no alternative walleye rod to the Okuma Great Lakes combo package. This is a combo package that has been made especially for the walleyes. In this inexpensive package, you will get all the necessary things for the big fish underwater.
This is an excellent walleye trolling combo setup for anyone who is starting into the angling community and wants a fresh start as a walleye hunter. This is also good for you if you wish multiple sets of walleye trolling fishing rods on your boat.
The two-piece Okuma rod configuration is an excellent thing for you if you plan to travel with it. If you look over the features and configuration, you will see that it is an 8.8 feet walleye fishing rod comparatively long for walleyes.
You can still use it on different types of fish like bass and trouts using crankbaits and other baits. Compared with the Okuma Dead Eye, this model is easier to use in trolling for walleyes.
Overall this is a versatile combo for anyone who is looking for a headstart in angling. What makes it the best walleye trolling combo is that it is solid, has value for the money, and is all black. This looks cool when holding.
Pros
- It does not cost a lot for a rod and reel combo
- A versatile rod for different fishing conditions
- Medium Action is suitable for both small and big fishes
- It can also be used as a fly rod and with crankbaits
- Okuma is a perfect rod for walleye trolling
Cons
- The reel can not handle large fishes above 10 to 12 lbs.
- Needs precision trolling to use this rod properly
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Fiblink Bent Butt Offshore Trolling Rod – Best Trolling Rod for Big Fishes
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If you are looking for the mightiest beast of a weapon for taking over big fishes, this is a deal for you. This does not cost a lot and still gives you a sporty combination of things that most professional anglers love to have in their boats.
The Fiblink butt fishing rod is a perfect tool if you are planning for a relaxed fishing session. You can set it up on the rails of your boat, and it will be on there solidly. Because of the bent butt design, it maneuvers around the boat shores, and thus you can cover a lot of areas with a single cast. The capacity of this trolling and jigging rod is insane.
The line mainly rolls over the roller guide on the upper side of the fishing rod, and this feels smooth and sturdier to hold the line straight while trolling for walleye. The casting rod can be dismounted from the bent arm, and you can use this on your hand holding the rod straight. Also, it comes with the best walleye trolling rod holders in this list making it easier to use in intensed situations.
Compared to the weight and capacity, the grips have been provided soft. It can be used with various bait options and medium power to light power in any trolling setup, and this eases the hassle that gives cramping fists.
Pros
- A heavyweight fighter rod for big fishes
- The arm can be detached from the rod to hold on hand
- Reasonable price for a sturdy rod
- It comes with a strong rod holder for fighting with fish
- All aluminum built gives it a solid feel that makes it more rigid and solid
Cons
- This is dedicated for sports purposes, not usable in traditional style
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Fenwick Elite Tech Walleye Spinning Rod – Best Walleye Crankbait Trolling Rod
Fenwick is a versatile rod series that comes in different variants and has a lot to offer in a single package. When ordering, you can easily choose different options in length, power, and Action. This is a good choice if you are not only targetting the walleyes.
The category we can consider about this Fenwick fishing rod is a mid-range product that makes sense. This is mainly because it is explicitly designed for walleyes, and the Action seems right for fishing walleyes. I have been using this rod with crankbaits, and this one is my personal favorite for trolling with crankbaits.
Overall, this is a thin rod that has a lot of sensitivity. You can not only use a trolling reel; you can also use spinning reels and play with a bunch of fishing techniques.
Another nice feature this model has is the titanium line guides. Comparing this with the Ugly Stik Bigwater model, I like the sturdiness of this model. This material never wears off, and it performs like a pro for years and years of use and remains in shape. This is also smoother than most other elements.
The handle feels super lovely, better than the Ugly Stik Shakespeare model. Though this is made of cork, it has no seams or finishing flaws, making it a nice handle to use all day long.
Pros
- A very lightweight fishing rod with versatile sensitivity
- Compatible for various types of reels
- Can use crankbaits for trolling for walleye fishing
- Can work with medium power action and planer board
- It comes at a reasonable price for walleye trollers
- Line glides through the line roller guides like butter
Cons
- This rod might choke on bigger walleyes
KastKing WideEye Rods – Good Lightweight Walleye Trolling Rod
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WideEye is the ultimate beast of a fishing rod for sensitivity. The overall weight of this fishing rod is so light that you might not find an alternative. It has also been claimed that this is a rod that has been designed specifically for walleye fishing.
This is so lightweight because the materials it has been made of several composite materials and 64 million modulus graphite blank. But those components are still vital. It is mentioned in the spec sheet is that it has four glass and graphite layers that are strong and sturdy for the volume of the material.
The place where you have to install the trolling reel on these wideeye walleye rods is made of Fuji IPS steel fishing reel seats. The steel of this reel seat is the most rigid metal that has to use to avoid any kind of corrosion and decaying.
The stainless steel guides of these must have walleye rods are specifically designed for lightweight lines. There are low-profile frames that make your experience tangle-free. It has been recommended by most professional anglers is because of the storage spaces it needs. In your supply bag, this feels close to having nothing.
Pros
- A professional fishing rod for the professionals
- The low profile line guides are a nice touch for a tangle-free experience
- Very lightweight to carry and store
- The reel seat is sturdy enough with stainless steel
- Very easy to use for the most walleye angler
- The overall quality feels premium
Cons
- This is comparatively expensive than most of the mediocre fishing rods
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Daiwa Telescopic Accudepth Trolling Rod – Best Budget Walleye Trolling Rod
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If you want to go for a very inexpensive trolling rod, Daiwa Telescopic is the one you might be interested in. The finish on these rods is phenomenal. The light purple color shines, and with the lighting conditions, the color changes drastically.
What makes this the best cheap walleye trolling rod is the excellent price point around $50 without compromising quality and features.
The whole package comes in a long box as it is a single-piece element. The handle is super long, and the ergonomics are on point for better grip on the handles, and it has an extended part that makes it more grippy on hand. The Action seems just right for the walleyes, and medium to fast Action will also be suitable for other fishes like bass and trout. By considering the length, you can say this is an excellent value for the money as a sub 7 feet fishing rod. You can also go for longer rods like 8.6 feet which is suitable for long-distance casting.
You might expect other metal elements that decay over time in contact with water. But this does not have anything like that, and it has a steel reel intake that makes sense.
Pros
- It does not cost a lot of money for a fishing rod this long
- This type of rod can work with a planer board
- Perfect budget walleye trolling rod despites of the quality
- This Daiwa rod can work with different bait type
- Cork handles are suitable for tight and solid grips
- Has longer choosing options for long-distance casting
Cons
- As a single piece rod, this might be a little hassle to carry
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St. Croix Eyecon Spinning Fishing Rod
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This is another fishing rod from St. Croix, and this is also a good choice if your budget is around a hundred dollars. You will get a variety of handle options while purchasing this specific fishing rod.
The sensitivity of this specific rod is on point. This is lightweight and easy to carry if you are an angler who moves a lot. The most interesting design aspect of this fishing rod is the handle, and it is a split grip with both cork and EVA grip parts on it. It can also cope with the planer board with its medium power fish casting performance.
You can either hold on to the cork for stability and move on to the EVA foams for long-term fishing sessions. Another interesting thing about this rod is the length. These are not super long, and you can buy these up to 7.6 feet. But on a short length, you get a perfect action and perfect power to fight walleye.
From overall inspection, it is clear that this is a very lightweight machine with a lot of power to handle all the fights and still outperform all the expensive options.
Pros
- It has a short length with moderate Action to heavy Action, which is good for walleye
- Split grips are a nice thing to have for dynamic grip positions
- You can use live bait for catching large fish
- Can cope vertical jigging for catching walleye
- It comes with a warranty which is amazing for a walleye jigging rod rod
Cons
- The sensitivity might be too sharp for big fishes
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What to Look for When Buying the Best Walleye Trolling Rod
We all know that not all anglers have the same fishing techniques, and requirements vary when it comes to fishing in different conditions. This is why when you buy a set of fishing rods for walleyes, you must keep in mind that there are certain criteria.
The length, Action, and power should match what these fishes are used to. And that’s why we have a large list of things that you will have to consider before making the purchase.
Make Sure you Got the Right Action with the Right Action
We measure the rod acts as the force you need to bend the fishing rod at the angle it is supposed to bend. When looking for the perfect fishing rod, you will find four variants of power choices.
X-fast is the most powerful fishing rod that most people don’t use nowadays because of the stiffed rod handle. The heavier setup is not ideal because you might tear the hooks from the fishes’ mouths, and this is why fast, medium power ratings, and slow rods are sold mostly in the market.
The slow and medium setup rod options are mostly used for catching small fishes like trout, bass. When you are buying the rod for trolling for walleyes, you should go for fast or medium rods.
Power is the way a walleye rod bends, and you will find three variants among all the rods. When a rod is bent, you must observe the angle of bending the backbone to determine the fishing rod’s power.
If you buy a light-powered fishing rod, you will see the bend closer to the handle and flat lines. The overall judgment on quality rods depends on how you are targeting the fish. If you target the big fishes from deep under, you should get a heavy rod, which is better for fighting big fish.
Is it Too Long?
Indeed, the length of the rod does not matter a lot. But still, the length will be responsible for the rod action and power. Try getting the smaller rods that are easy to handle and store in a rod locker. When you get a big fish on your line, you might want to have the best control over the rod and reel.
The length can vary from 6 feet to 8 feet. The advantage of the longer fishing rod is that you can reach a long distance and cast further. A rod around 7 feet can do the job just right.
How Nice is the Grip?
In most fishing rods, you will find three types of grips. EVA grips and the cork grips. These are two different elements, and both have advantages and drawbacks. EVA grips are soft and comfortable in hand. But these materials will fade off if they contact water and humidity and also in the intensity when you are fishing in deeper water.
Cork handles have fewer chances of decaying, and thus you can get a good performance out of these handles. These are hard and stable to hold and feel the vibration of your fishing line. Most experienced anglers love to have cork handles for classic feelings and stability.
Is it Portable Enough?
The portability depends not only on the weight but also on the piece configuration of the fishing rod. You will realize that if the fishing rod is a 2-piece rod element, it will be easier to carry.
Try not to get a bulky fishing rod that is made of metal composite materials. Carbon fiber shielding materials are the best options here if you are concerned about the weight much.
How is the Sensitivity?
This part of a fishing rod is a dynamic option, and different people are used to a different kind of sensitivity according to personal preference. Still, you will need a moderate sensitivity if you are targeting walleye.
It will be a friendly reminder that most lightweight fishing rods are super sensitive to fish bites.
Line Guides Should be Smooth Enough
People often face the issue of line guides when the rod gets used for several years, and the material can decay off more often due to the line gliding through the guides.
Some of the rods come with materials like titanium and harder metals, and you can invest more in these elements if you plan to get a rod for a long time.
Versatility & Warranty
We all know that companies design their products with a target. And for rods, those are made to be used in specific water and specific fishes.
But if you are a versatile angler, you might want to get a versatile fishing rod that suits your need. Also, check if the rod comes with a decent warranty or not.
Types of Walley Rod
We can find three types of walleye rods in the market.
Trolling Rods
Trolling rods are mainly recommended for those planning to go for the fishes deeper than average should get a trolling reel. There may be many kinds of trolling reels for walleye, but personal favorites are strong ones. Trolling reels are robust, tough, and have more power to pull fishes out of the water with more effort.
Trolling reels are generally heavier and have more powerful pulls, and this power fluctuates from medium to heavy. This is why it becomes easier for an angler to cope up with big fish. If you are looking for one fishing rod with trolling reel support, that will be the best for you. We have mentioned a few of those here in this review.
Spinning Rods
If you are trained and experienced in catching bog fishes with spinning rods, you should choose a lightweight yet moderate-powered spinning rod. Spinning reels are specially designed to pull out fishes smoother than a trolling reel. A sudden force on a stiff rod can not be a good force to fight with big fishes.
For walleye, you can choose a rod that weights the lowest. Also, you have to choose a lightweight spinning reel that does not weigh a lot.
Jigging Rods
For jigging, most experienced anglers choose to go for the most sensitive fishing rods. All the fishing rods we have mentioned have high sensitivity and lightweight design aesthetics, making them a good candidate for a jigging rod.
The tips here generally make all the differences, and thus with the right tip, you can easily manage to get a quality fishing time.
Walleye Trolling Secrets
In this part of the review, we will be walking through some of the fishing hacks that most of the valley anglers follow. These are not the main trick that you will have to follow, and these are some of the reminders that might help you in the long run.
Don’t rush it when you sense it.
Don’t be too quick to pull out the fishing line as soon as you feel the vibration through the fishing rod. We all know that walleye rods are made to be more sensitive than most of the other fishing rods, and this is why you might get an early response from the fishes when a walleye might start getting interested in the lures.
This is why you have to be patient and give it more time to consume the lure and then do the pull you need. If you pull out too soon, the hook might tear the lips of the fish, and that is an injury you want to avoid.
Make the lures more interesting to the fishes.
If you are in a situation where you are not getting a good result from a specific space or area, you might have a chance to change the lure. But changing the way you are luring the fish can also be a good idea, which is why you can change your playing pattern.
If you were going in a zig-zag motion with the fishing line, you could change it to an S pattern, which might change the result. You can also change the speed of your chase, and both work well from time to time.
Get used to it
This might be the best hack almost all of the anglers suggest for most beginner anglers. Make sure that you are open up to new ways and get used to them. This might be a good initiative to learn all the techniques and change them often.
Use fishfinders if necessary.
Fishfinders are the best tool that you can get nowadays. There are different types of fish finders out there, and you can easily get one within a hundred dollars. If you can spend more, you can also get better features like GPS tagging, heatmaps, and many more.
If you can get used to the system, you can get a good result in finding fish effortlessly.
Conclusion
As we have gone through several of the choices of fishing rods, now we can say that we have the idea of what to get. Different companies have different features and different services to offer. For different anglers, the choices might also be different because of fishing techniques.
Before you place your order, you should be aware that the most expensive ones are not the best.
While experiencing the new rod, you should also make sure that you are practicing enough to get the best result from your fishing rod.
Hello there! I am Justine. I love traveling to different places, mountains, and rivers. Here are some of the tips about my all in one guide.
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