SPENCE PETROS SIGNATURE SERIES RODS

Musky Rods

I’ve been musky fishing for almost 35-years, and I’ve seen rods change from short, stiff fiberglass rods to longer lightweight graphite rods with exceptional feel. But during this time recommended line weights on rods haven’t changed, despite a high percentage of musky anglers using the newer "super braid" lines. "If a rod has the suggested ‘normal’ line use rating of 15 to 30-pound test can 65 to 100-pound test super braids be used?" is a question I’ve been asked many times. And what about rod length, action, and flex? And how should a trolling rod differ from a rod used for casting? No rod manufacturer has really given these answers to prospective buyers…until now!

In April of 2006 I came out with a line of high-quality musky rods designed for specific lures, weight ranges and fishing situations. Line strength ratings for BOTH monofilament and super braids are listed on each rod. I also wrote copy on the accompanying warranty card that tells you what type lures the rod handles best, plus why you should choose a 7, 7 ½ or 8-foot long rod. Besides this extra information, these rods were computer designed so the correct amount of guides were placed in the best positions to minimize breakage. During our research we found out that a particular high end brand of rods were breaking at a rate of over 30%!

Our goal was to create a high quality graphite musky rod at a reasonable price. The final product actually came out better than I expected! Pick one up and you’ll see how it’s at least as good or better than rods selling for 50 to 100% percent more. All casting rods are constructed with 54 million modulus graphite for ultimate lightness and feel, and they all sell for about $100 dollars (8-ft. rod a few bucks more). Trolling rods consist of 20% fiberglass core inside the graphite for maximum strength under trolling conditions. Pick one up at one of the dealers listed and you’ll be impressed!

7 ½ ft. Bucktail/Jig Rod

This rod has the perfect tip action for making long and/or accurate casts with lighter musky lures such as bucktails and jigs. The sensitive tip section with that just right amount of bend, gives you a perfect combination of feel and flex that will help you see or feel a soft pickup, yet you’ll have plenty of power to snap free from weeds or to drive the hook home into the tough jaw of a big musky. Another added bonus to this type of softer tip is that it easily loads up, which will enable you to make a short, fast, accurate flip back at a following fish. Rig one of these rods up with a tube or soft plastic swim bait and have it handy for a quick reaction to a following fish.

8 ft. Bucktail/Jig Rod

This rod has the perfect tip action for making long and/or accurate casts with lighter musky lures such as bucktails and jigs. The sensitive tip section with that just right amount of bend, gives you a perfect combination of feel and flex that will help you see or feel a soft pick up, yet you’ll have plenty of power to snap free from weeds or drive the hook into the tough jaw of a big musky. The length of this rod makes it ideal for firing out longer casts, something that may be needed in clearer waters. It also lends itself to making deeper ":figure 8’s", a tactic that could be the key to triggering following muskies in clearer or more pressured waters. The extra length can also be a bonus when fishing from a deck in a boat, as it let’s you get the tip closer to the water.

7 ½ ft. Crankbait/Topwater Rod

This is the ultimate "all around" musky rod! It works great on crankbaits, whether using slower retrieves sprinkled with twitches to tease neutral muskies, or ripping lures to trigger strikes. All types of topwater lures are easily handled, plus the rod is perfect for grinding L-armed spinnerbaits through vegetation, or bulging them right under the surface. Soft-bodied swim baits are red hot for muskies, and these rods have just the right amount of power and feel to pull these lures through the muskies teeth for a positive hook-set. Smaller to medium-size jerkbaits also match up perfectly with this rod’s action, especially when using these rods from a deck or raised portion of a boat.

7 ft. Crankbait/Topwater Rod

This is the "all around" musky rod I would recommend when fishing from floor level in a boat (not the deck) and for adults of shorter stature or children, because it won’t slap on the water as easily as a longer rod. This rod is designed for the ultimate performance on crankbaits, topwaters, soft-plastic swim baits, and bladed lures. It has enough flex to fire a lure out far and accurately, yet enough power to rip a lure through vegetation, or move a soft-plastic lure through the jaws of a musky for a positive hook-set. Smaller to medium-size jerkbaits also match up perfectly with this rod.

7 ½ ft. Heavy-Duty Musky Rod

Here’s the rod you need for the heaviest lures, biggest live baits, and roughest fishing conditions where extra power is needed to hook or control a powerful fish. The rod is idea for tossing the biggest topwaters, crankbaits, 10-inch plus soft-plastic swim baits and jerkbaits, especially from a boat’s deck. It will also give you a riveting hook-set when a musky digs its teeth into a big sucker and won’t let go. Anglers will also find this to be an excellent "slop rod" when tossing weed-resistant lures back into a jungle of vegetation to get at a lunker hiding in the skinny water. If you fish around wood in reservoirs or lakes, this rod will help you control the big ones.

7 ft. Jerk/Rip Bait Special

Often jerks and rips can trigger muskies that just follow in conventional presentations. And often the best lures to use to provoke strike are large, erratically-fished jerkbaits or crankbaits. This rod has the perfect blend of power, balance and durability to rip a jerkbait through cabbage weeds, or to glance a crankbait off rocks to make that predator react to the "easy injured meal". Big soft-plastic swim baits are the rage, but you need a need a powerful rod like this to tear them through muskies teeth for a positive hook-set. When you want the utmost in power for fishing any larger lures or live bait, look no farther than this rod!

Trolling Rods 7, 7 ½ & 8 foot

The most efficient trolling rods are a combination of graphite and fiberglass. The perfect blend of these materials creates the best combination of feel, power, and durability. Feel lets you know if the lure is running free of debris and its action is true, plus signals when an occasional high spot is lightly tapped or contact is made with weed or wood cover. Power is needed to drive the hook home and to control a large musky, especially when traveling at faster trolling speeds. The addition of glass into the rods blank makes it much more durable and much less likely to snap after lodging a lure into a big muskies mouth or line-stopping snag. This becomes an even bigger concern in cold weather when expensive graphite rods become brittle and commonly snap. The right amount of flex allows this rod to flex on the strike (or snag), which aids in hooking and holding muskies.

• 7 ft. Rod may be preferred when tightly following a contour, or running lures close to the boat.
• 7 ½ ft. Rod is the best all around length preferred by most trollers.
• 8 ft. Rod lets you keep the lure farther away from the boat to give you a wider spread. It may also be a plus in clearer water or for negative fish.

WHERE RODS ARE SOLD