This I can agree with as I'm typically fishing out of a 16'er and my fish on to in box ratio is probably 50% better with the short rod vs. the moocher.

But it still makes no damn sense to me to use a perfectly good mooching rod in a downrigger. Especailly one that costs over $100.

I have been fishing a Convergence moocher for 20 years now. As I stated above it sucks on the DR when it's rigged for mooching. I guess if one wants to load it with 30# test it would work just fine on the DR. But then it now sucks as a moocher and I'm simply not ready to retire my moocher yet. Sure trolling is extremely effective, especally over stale, estuary fish but mooching over feeding Kings is saltwater fishing at it's very finist.

Used to be my favorite trolling was in the San Juan's as there was so much less traffic that it could actualy be considered enjoyable but now there are just tons of crackers in thier 100K boats who's only goal it seems is to run over smaller boats. It's like EB without the buildings.

[begin rant]
And then there are the traditional mooching areas like West Point. Just because me and one other guy are the only one's mooching out there does not mean that the 100 boats trolling have the right away. I'M NOT UNDER POWER! WATCH WHERE THE HELL YOUR TROLLING!!! AND THEN WHEN I YELL AT YOU SO YOU DON'T RUN MY ASS OVER DON'T GIVE ME SOME STUPID ASS LOOK LIKE YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHY I'M THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
[end rant]

I agree with everything said,all the way to the Rainshadow 1264.

To the solo guys that can't net a fish with a longer rod,go buy a net with more than 4' of handle.

Even with the slop and wind at Sekiu over the weekend I netted every fish I got to the boat without issue.

I've netted fish alone several times, and don't understand why a perception exists that a longer rod is more difficult than a shorter rod. Long rods and short rods are the same length off the side of the boat when they are pointing straight up, which is where it should be pointing as you are attempting to land a fish. get what I'm saying here?...Point the rod up, and draw the fish's head towards yourself. If the fish doesnt come in, it isnt ready. Reading some of this... I get the feeling some of you have the rod pointed straight out across the water while you are landing a fish alone.

As you get older sometimes it's hard to keep your rod pointed straight up.

Ryley: Please never let Posey hear you tell someone to hold the rod straight up with a fish on. It's one of his pet peeves.

...Known as "high sticking" -as in a hockey game- it can get you five minutes in the penalty box...

Dave and Tom-

"Rod tip Up" to bring a fish towards the boat while landing isn't the same as high sticking in my book...it's just fundamentals.

I'll stick with my DR 1264 or my XST 1264, thanks. I mooched for years with a Lami 10.5' "Salmon Moocher" rod and don't recall any horrer stories landing/netting fish while out solo. I miss those rods.

Just about every king I've seen lost by a solo angler was user error. Learn how to fight a fish and use a BIG net properly and it shouldn't be an issue.

Ryley; That’s one of the problems with the written word vs. spoken. I doubt you actually point your rod straight up whne trying to land a fish. But that's what you typed. “when they are pointing straight up, which is where it should be pointing as you are attempting to land a fish."

Newbies might think you really should point your rod straight up with a fish at the boat, and of course that will result in broken rods and probably lost fish. I know you would never do that . . But one of my steelheading buddies swore he never did that till I showed him a photo.

...messin' with ya Sky,
Thanks for puttin' the "fun" back into the fundamentals....

Daiwa CLNC-SS1062MRB G Coastal Specialty North Pacific Saltwater Casting Rod

These came highly recommended, I've added a set this year. Havent caught enough fish to rate them compared to my current Lami CG90 rods. They feel great though.

Price is very good ~$45