I usually transfer one of my smaller open water troller reals to my laker jig rod for the winter. An Okuma job. I like the line counter and high crank ratio for getting my jig where I want it fast. Usually have braid backing, but as someone else said, you want coated braid of some sort or it's bad news - ices up big time; then to barrel swivel and 12 lb flouro leader. Last year, I had peeled off all my braid backing though and didn't have any on-hand when I went to fish so I just spoiled up all the way with flouro. Ended up working just fine. Loved it actually. Killed the better part of an expensive spool of Seaguar that I usually just use for leaders, but so what? Caught a bunch of nice Lakers and liked the performance ( no memory, ice up, stretch, etc.) enough that I'm leaving it spooled like that this year. LOVE that it doesn't have memory and come off like a slinky.