Tog Rod Recommedation

[Shady]

I think this has been covered once before, but I'm looking to get a new rod for Tog this year. I've been using an old berkley lightning rod and wonder if I've missed more bites than I should because of the medium action. Thinking about getting a Trevala. What does everyone else like? Looking to spend up to $150.

[Redfish12]

jIf you can swing it a Trevala or Trevala S is pretty awesome for feeling bites. If you've only fished the ships then you have probably been find with the lightning but in deeper water like the bridge tunnel with 5-10oz you need something else. I have the 6'6'' M Trevala and I have been very happy with it. I received a bunch of Bass Pro gift cards between my birthday and christmas so I upgraded to the Trevala S this year. I cut the butt down a few inches on each to make it more comfortable in the kayak. You are welcome to check mine out first if you'd like?

[Grilled]

^ +1

[ronaultmtd]

I've caught togs in the 12-13 # range at the CBBT- I used a Abu 6500-C with 30# Ande, a very stiff 6' boat rod and a single hook rig made up of 80# Pink Ande mono and a long shank Aberdeen 2/0 hook baited with half a cut blue crag with 16 oz of lead- You free spool with your thumb on the reel lowering the bait util it hits the wreck then two turns on the handle to hold just above the wreck- any thump whatsoever, you try to break the rod to set the hook on a fully locked drag- the first three turns of the handle on a big tog are the hardest but the most important part of the fight- you have to get them off the wreck or you are hung up and lose the fish, rig and sinker-

[Shady]

This is probably why I've only caught tog at the ships and toads at the bridge tunnel. How hard is it to shorten the handle? Is there much difference between the Trevala and Trevala S?

[Pinch]

Trevala s mh !!!

[Redfish12]

The trevala s is lighter, has smaller grips, and an exposed blank in the handle. The regular trevala has big grips and they are pretty comfortable. I haven't fished with the S yet so I can't tell you if it is significantly more sensitive. The trevala is more sensitive than my bass pro musky rod (which was sensitive and suitable togging!), so I am hoping the S is even more. It's pretty easy to shorten the handle, I think Chex did a nice write up on how he did his.

I measure where I want the rod butt to be, put a rubber band in the spot, take a razor blade and cut out around the foam and then hacksaw off slowly. I then take abou 3/4 of an inch of foam off the new bottom of foam with the razor blade. Then I measure the 3/4 of foam from the old end, use the razor to remove the excess, and then use a sharpened screwdriver to scrape the glue off the old foam and separate it from the piece of blank. This is slow going but if you take your time, you'll have a nice factory looking rod. I glue it back on with goop. On the S I went a different route (because I screwed up and cut the foam too short) and I used a rubber fuji butt cap I had on an old surf rod that broke. I think other guys get the butt end from mudhole, but you can definitely reuse.

[kayakjoe]

Trevala for sure! I also have another shimano musky rod its called the sojourn nice and stiff if you haven't already looked at them avet makes an awesome pairing for any tog rod I have an mxl 5.8 lh retrieve its a lever drag amazing reels for the price I think they have two speeds now for deeper drops too

[Shady]

Thanks for the info, I might pick up a new Trevala this weekend and see whether I want to shorten the handle or not.

[tufnik]

Realize the Trevala S is $170. You can get good rods for less than $100 (e.g., musky rods). I've caught many a tog on my Cabelas Magtouch (2 oz rating), a light and stout rod. If you do a search on the internet, you'll find serious toggers using St Croix and Lamiglas for dedicated tog rods. But these rods are in the hundreds of $.

[tufnik]

Oh.... the Magtouch is on sale for $60 (reg $100), the cheapest I've seen it.......and you don't have to cut the butt.

[kayakjoe]

Keep the handle long! Trust me on this one I shortened one of my tog rods a tica surf rod 6'6" with the cork tape took 5" off the butt the next day I fished it and was not happy with it at all its nice to be able to keep the butt under your arm while one hand paddling to stay in place or even just to have the extra leverage. I'll be building a new rod soon for tog using a carbon fiber butt peice so the bite resonates through the entire grip for sensitivity but with all this said if you don't like the length its all about what you like none of us are the same! Good luck!

[chex]

Love my travalas. I shortened both of them. I'll bring them to the M&G so you can feel the shortened version.

[Shady]

Im actually not going to make the M&G this weekend. Work at home and for my job are piling up (probably because Im on here too much).

I've actually felt that the handle on my lightning rod is too short, so maybe I would prefer the longer handle of the trevalla.

I have an Alltackle gift certificate that will bring me down closer to $100 for the S.

[chex]

Im actually not going to make the M&G this weekend. Work at home and for my job are piling up (probably because Im on here too much).

Shoot... good luck with that.

I'll bring it anyway in case you change your mind or I spot a tog.