How good are the Okuma GLT rods?

[justtracytrolling]

I have 15 glt rods from downrigger med lt to planer to dipsey...they work just fine for the money. 3 tip sections have broken but thru no fault of the rod....

[Chas0218]

I actually had my 128 quart igloo cooler seat (filled with my electronics, rain gear, downrigger weights, terminal tackle, hooks, extra reels) come undone on a drive to find it riding on my poles for 110 miles. I thought for sure Thy were all going to be broke. My one copper rod is roughed up on the back but only some scratches to the clear coat. I have ran the Cabela's rods, couple ugly sticks, wilderness, and diawa rods but my Okuma's see regular duty. I am a teacher and my summers are filled with trolling for eyes, trout, and salmon.

 

The medium 8'-6" downrigger rod is great for inline planers and big boards. I have caught hundreds of fish on these no issues.

 

One thing I will mention is I don't leave my rods and reels in the sun or weather day after day. After everyday they get put back into the barn until the next day.

Edited February 4, 2016 by Chas0218

[TyeeTanic]

GLT's are good for the money. Having said that I sold all mine and switched up to Taloras.

[TileMan Dan]

I own about 30 of them and use them for everything from Browns to salmon. The few breaks I had were due to my own stupidty. For the price you cant beat them.

[brucehookedup]

Thanks guys. I have 14 stiks some older look bad work good. I will get some new ones to replace the ugly. The action on the 8'3 ugly stiks has not been matched by anything I have had in my hands yet

[reeldilemma33]

I was at the Niagra show a few weeks back and ordered 2 of the dipsy cold water series Okuma rods ( didn't have any at booth) I got them in the mail yesterday and they are 8 ft medium downrigger rods. Anyone use these ? Should I return or keep wasn't sure how much different they are? My biggest concern is I run 4 dipsy rods. 4 - 10' dipsy rods I thought if I had my inside one 2 feet shorter might help the chance of tangles. These rods will also be lined with 20-30 lb mono and not steel.

Thanks in advance

[Sk8man]

John you have a PM

[Legacy]

I was at the Niagra show a few weeks back and ordered 2 of the dipsy cold water series Okuma rods ( didn't have any at booth) I got them in the mail yesterday and they are 8 ft medium downrigger rods. Anyone use these ? Should I return or keep wasn't sure how much different they are? My biggest concern is I run 4 dipsy rods. 4 - 10' dipsy rods I thought if I had my inside one 2 feet shorter might help the chance of tangles. These rods will also be lined with 20-30 lb mono and not steel.

Thanks in advance

 

The action really isnt heavy enough for running divers. A medium heavy or heavy is what you need. They would be ok (not great) for slide divers though.

[Silver Fox]

I was at the Niagra show a few weeks back and ordered 2 of the dipsy cold water series Okuma rods ( didn't have any at booth) I got them in the mail yesterday and they are 8 ft medium downrigger rods. Anyone use these ? Should I return or keep wasn't sure how much different they are? My biggest concern is I run 4 dipsy rods. 4 - 10' dipsy rods I thought if I had my inside one 2 feet shorter might help the chance of tangles. These rods will also be lined with 20-30 lb mono and not steel.

Thanks in advance

I have mediums for my inside divers and my slides. They are the cats ass for the slides and do a very good jobs with my 107 fish hawk divers. I wouldn't be too concerned at all.

[JakeyBaby]

I have mediums for my inside divers and my slides. They are the cats ass for the slides and do a very good jobs with my 107 fish hawk divers. I wouldn't be too concerned at all.[/quote

You run the deeper divers with wire or mono with those rods Scott? If with wire a king doesn't snap that rod in a medium 8 6' ? Seems light for a diver.....

[reeldilemma33]

Great thanks! Yes I'm also curious.... You guys normally run your inside or outside with mono or steel line

[Legacy]

Great thanks! Yes I'm also curious.... You guys normally run your inside or outside with mono or steel line

 

my diver setups are exactly the same. Same rods. Same action. Same 30# wire. Same divers (of course on different settings). 

If im fishing a shallow high diver then Ill run my slide diver instead.

[reeldilemma33]

my diver setups are exactly the same. Same rods. Same action. Same 30# wire. Same divers (of course on different settings).

If im fishing a shallow high diver then Ill run my slide diver instead.

Lol thanks me too that's how I've always done it. Just trying to spice it up and try different things this year

[Silver Fox]

I have mediums for my inside divers and my slides. They are the cats ass for the slides and do a very good jobs with my 107 fish hawk divers. I wouldn't be too concerned at all.[/quote

You run the deeper divers with wire or mono with those rods Scott? If with wire a king doesn't snap that rod in a medium 8 6' ? Seems light for a diver.....

I have a set with wire and slides with mono. Matt, its a medium action salmon rod, not a barbie pole. My rigger rods are 1101 9' light ugly sticks and haven't broken one in 30 years.

[BAZOOKAJOE]

Those GLT rods aren't bad. A little stiff for my taste. I like a whippey light to medium rod for all applications. Ugly stik 8' 3" for riggers, 10" star fires for dipseys and 9" ugly sticks for copper.

[Gator]

And I can't stand whippy light rods 

 

Les has got it right, it's about personal preference. My preference is short rods with some backbone to them. I'm all for going light when the conditions favor it...I own 2 and 3-wt rods for fly fishing the Oatka,..but I hate feeling like I can't gain line against the boat's moving and I like the maneuverability of a short rod when the fish is close. I'd love to stop and fight fish from a standstill, but with 10+ rods out, that's not always possible. Still, light stuff is fun...

 

We run Talora 7' rods on the riggers, and 8' / 9 1/2' for the inside and outside wires. But for years our go-to was the ole' reliable TDR, 8' M or ML, and they were  bulletproof. And cheap. 

[Patriot]

I checked out the Talora rods and thought the handles were a bit on the narrow side.

 

So I picked up a set of Daiwa DXT Trolling Rods last year and couldn't be happier. They were $55 ea. but the price jumped to $63. I haven't looked around for pricing since I bought these.

 

http://www.superiortackle.com/product/daiwa-dxt-trolling-rods-198898-1.htm

 

Daiwa DXT Trolling Rods DXT862MR 8 6 2PC M R 10-20#

 

Don't laugh about the Shakespeare Catfish rods. They're 7.5' and are a 1-piece rod. Great for wire divers. Sometimes cheap is just as good

Edited February 17, 2016 by Patriot

[joe g]

the triangular fore grip on the okuma classic pro glt rods as well as the copper series is a must for me.  would be hard for me to buy a rod without it

[justtracytrolling]

the triangular fore grip on the okuma classic pro glt rods as well as the copper series is a must for me. would be hard for me to buy a rod without it

Funny you say that...ive had a several customers and guests say they liked the fore grip after using mine...

[joe g]

Funny you say that...ive had a several customers and guests say they liked the fore grip after using mine...

the rod does not twist at all during the fight due to the ergonomic shape