I almost never have my rod out of the water (as it were ) while muskie fishing. When trolling, the rod is always a down rod (in the water) cause I don't see the use of injuring or possibly killing a muskie by fighting it an extra 100 or more feet in the water. Casting of course is the exception but even then, the last several feet approaching the boat, the rod is always in the water for the customary figure 8, L or what have you.