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Posts: 15
Location: Western Pennsylvania | I I am setting up a rod for single blade bucktails. Currently I am using a Tranx 401 With a 8’-6” sling blade with 80 pound suffix. I cannot seem to cast very far even with adjusting the break. Should I downsize my line or get a long ranger. |
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Posts: 2327
Location: Chisholm, MN | Strange. You should be able to cast 2 miles with that set up. Try cleaning or servicing your reel. |
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Posts: 8782
| Not familiar with the tranx, so maybe a dumb ?? But does the spool have weights?? |
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Posts: 1279
| Spool tension too tight? |
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Posts: 15
Location: Western Pennsylvania | Spoil tension is not too tight. I can turn all the brakes off and still not good. |
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Posts: 1209
| Over tighten the spool knob a bunch cast like 5 times. Loosen back up and be ready for it to rip |
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Posts: 526
| Have you taken the reel apart and cleaned it? Sometimes a spring or retaining clip may get out of place when you reassemble it... That could be causing tension that restricts the spool. Possibly the screws on the side plate are too tight, I've had that cause too much friction/tension and not allow the spool to spin freely. Also, there is a spacer in the tension control cap that may be out of place, that would be a good place to check along with the brakes all being on... |
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Location: Chisholm, MN | Point being, it's not your line. |
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Posts: 489
Location: Northern Illinois | Kirby Budrow - 2/18/2020 11:29 AM
Point being, it's not your line.
True. But that being said, a Long Ranger with that 401 spooled up with 65# Master Braid is a sweet setup for small bucktails. |
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Posts: 15
Location: Western Pennsylvania | I appreciate all the suggestions but I do not think it is a reel tuning issue. I have 4 Tranx 401’s and they all cast the same on that rod. I guess what I am asking is if I downsize my line from 80 lb to 65 or 50lb will it make a big difference on cast length. Also going from a 8-6 heavy to a 8-6 med heavy make a difference worth the price tag of a $400 rod. |
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Posts: 1760
Location: new richmond, wi. & isle, mn | No offense, but what set up are you bomb casting with? Mechanics?
I've had 100# and 80# on a 400 with a sling blade. Casting difference is more or less minimal. Slow rolling depth on a tandem spinner bait is more relevant. I've had no problem bombing and burning show girls with 100#. I know it's overkill but the I like the versatility of the setup. Tandems are the only time I like lighter line. For the sole reason of presentation not so much cast ability. |
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Posts: 15
Location: Western Pennsylvania | No offense taken. I am looking to set up for mepps musky killers, and single 8’s. |
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Location: Hayward WI | So have you oiled the bearings and or brake drum ever? Mine has casted less far a couple times and after a couple drops of oil goes back to casting nicely |
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Posts: 333
Location: SE Wisc | For that size of bucktails I’d run 50 or 65#. I seem to see better casting distances and less backlash once the line breaks in too. |
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Posts: 320
| It could very well be your rod. The long ranger will load up much better than the sling blade on smaller baits and you will likely be able to cast those small baits farther and easier. The long ranger is my favorite rod for most applications I use which are medium blades, top waters and twitch baits. I spool my reel with 80 and have no troubles. Good luck! |
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Posts: 2327
Location: Chisholm, MN | Maybe your standards are higher than mine. But I’ve used the sling blade and big nasty for baits down to baby girl size bucktails and can launch them a mile with 80lb masterbraid. |
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Posts: 1209
| 65 pound for those lures, I can cast a frog on a bass rod nearly as far as most musky lures on musky rods and it is on 65# |
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Posts: 15
Location: Western Pennsylvania | I use suffix. I wonder if master braid casts further. |
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Posts: 358
| i have a 401 Tranx on a long ranger w/65Lb and its great for the single blades you speak of. Love it for those and buzz baits. If you can afford the long ranger id do it. I also have a sling blade and honestly dont love it.
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Posts: 15
Location: Western Pennsylvania | Thanks for your feedback. What type of braid are you using? |
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Posts: 358
| Chasin Giants - 2/23/2020 9:55 PM
Thanks for your feedback. What type of braid are you using?
I am running Diawa J - Braid X8 |
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Posts: 427
| RJ_692 - 2/23/2020 2:46 PM
i have a 401 Tranx on a long ranger w/65Lb and its great for the single blades you speak of. Love it for those and buzz baits. If you can afford the long ranger id do it. I also have a sling blade and honestly dont love it.
100% agree with this recommendation on rods. I had the same results with the Long Ranger and Sling Blade rods. For your application the Long Ranger is the rod IMO also |
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | I don't know what the sling blade lure weight it but those are small bucktails and I would use in St Croix terms a MH 1-3oz rod. You could also try adding weight to the small bucktails with a bell sinker. |
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Location: Vilas | I have that exact setup except right handed...im using 80# Power Pro...I can throw musky killers just fine. Id never say dont buy another rod, especially the lone ranger....if there is no reel issues, than I dont know whats going on. IMO changing to 50#-65# test will make minimal diff |
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Location: Contrarian Island | sling blade should cast em pretty far, that said, I did go from 80 lb masterbraid to 65 on my tranx 500 and it does cast them say 10-15 feet farther w the same effort.... 65 is plenty for bucktails so try it... the spool has 5 brakes on it? do you have them all on/off or a mix, If memory is right I have 2 on and 3 off on my 400 |
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Posts: 176
| A Sling Blade is a heavier action rod than the Long Ranger. The Sling Blade is designed for peak performance for lures from 3-8 ounces, and the Long Ranger is designed to load best with peak performance from 3/4 to 3 ounces. A dressed Mepps Musky Killer weights 3/4 ounce, a dressed Mepps Magnum Musky Killer which is a number 7 blade weights 1 and 1/4 ounces. You aren't fully loading the Sling Blade, whereas you would be right in the sweet spot of the Long Ranger. I do agree that I like using 65lb test when possible with those size lures.
I do have both rods and notice a significant difference when throwing bucktails. I usually use my Long Ranger up to double 8's then I switch over to the Sling Blade, you will feel them load and respond much better that way.
Kevin |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | I do think some of the baits you're throwing are tough to get distance with, no matter the rod. A Mepps musky marabou is a small light bait, but zince the marabou picks up water weight and is compact when wet it casts very well, even on rods that are technically too heavy for it, like a Big Nasty. Small, light bucktails that are made of bucktail basically dry on the cast and catch a lot of wind. I have some unweighted Ghost Tails that dont cast real far, no matter what. I agree with Todd above. Try adding a bell sinker to the rear split ring or split ring one somewhere along the shaft and see if they cast better. A lighter rod and lighter line will help some, but to a degree youre fighting low momentum and high wind resistance with certain small bucktails.
Tucker |
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Posts: 72
| Um your trying to cast 3/4 to 2 ounce lures with a rod rated 3-8. Yea I don't care what line or reel is on there it is never going to cast "great". Top n tail , long ranger or something rated under 4 ounces is gonna work a lot better. |
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Location: Vilas | Chasin Giants - 2/19/2020 6:37 PM
I appreciate all the suggestions but I do not think it is a reel tuning issue. I have 4 Tranx 401’s and they all cast the same on that rod.
If you have 4 Trax 401`s.... then you can afford a spool of 50# for $15.00 and try it
...also, If you have 4 Trax 401`s...you only own the one Sling Blade rod? |
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Posts: 15
Location: Western Pennsylvania | JGlass - 3/1/2020 9:40 AM
Chasin Giants - 2/19/2020 6:37 PM
I appreciate all the suggestions but I do not think it is a reel tuning issue. I have 4 Tranx 401’s and they all cast the same on that rod.
If you have 4 Trax 401`s.... then you can afford a spool of 50# for $15.00 and try it
...also, If you have 4 Trax 401`s...you only own the one Sling Blade rod?
JGlass... I do have 4 tranx’s. And I have 2 sling blades, 1 big nasty, 1 jerk. I am just trying to set up a light bucktail rod. I am not trying to be cheap by not buying $15 worth of line, i am just trying to get help to solve my issue. I will buy a new rod or new line or both if I have too. I am new to the sport and I am trying to get advice from people who may have set up a rod for light bucktails. |
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Posts: 2269
Location: SE, WI. | “Something to think about”.....I can see long casts possibly with a surface bait.....BUT, it’s been proven that most musky eat the first 10’ and last 10’ of retrieve. A simple 45-65’ cast is all you really need. You simply have better presentation/& lure control with a shorter cast. Also your numbers of boated fish will be enhanced. Bucktails, spinnerbaits, jerks, gliders for me are shorter casts. If you want a bait to be in the water longer....let out 10-20’ of line, and start your engine;) JD |
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Posts: 393
| For what its worth ... I have a Tranx 500 on a Big Nasty, Tranx 400 on a Sling Blade and Tranx 400 on Long Ranger. I have the break set up with 2 on and 3 off with the Long Ranger . I have 80lb Master Braid on all 3. I use the Tranx/ Long Ranger for top water and smaller bucktails. I can bomb cast smaller bucktails no problem with that setup. I have tried different brands and weight of line on all my setups and have found negligible difference in casting distance. |
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Posts: 760
| This happened to me once,not on those exact pieces of equipment but on a spinning rod. I could not seem to cast far until I took a close look at the guides on the rod. On two of the guides, there were small pieces of dirt/sand that had built up on the guides. Once the guides were all cleaned, and then went over with q-tips, I was able to cast far again. Just something to look at. Kdawg |
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Posts: 612
| ToddM - 2/27/2020 1:34 PM
I don't know what the sling blade lure weight it but those are small bucktails and I would use in St Croix terms a MH 1-3oz rod. You could also try adding weight to the small bucktails with a bell sinker.
Agreed and am very pleased with the Mojo Musky series from St. Croix. Cabela's has a similar class rod but I didn't care much for the action.BTW the post about most hits on the 1st ~ 15' feet or last ~15' seems to hold true for me as well. It's like they hit soon after Y start reeling or as the bait approaches the boat. |
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Posts: 15
Location: Western Pennsylvania | Thanks to everyone who gave me suggestions. I just picked up a long ranger and I will soon find out if it makes a difference. I will keep you all posted in what I find out. Thanks |
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Posts: 320
| Chasin Giants - 3/8/2020 6:21 PM
Thanks to everyone who gave me suggestions. I just picked up a long ranger and I will soon find out if it makes a difference. I will keep you all posted in what I find out. Thanks
I’ll bet u will like it. I liked mine so much that I now have two of them. Good fishing!!! |
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Posts: 489
Location: Northern Illinois | ToddC - 3/8/2020 6:53 PM
Chasin Giants - 3/8/2020 6:21 PM
Thanks to everyone who gave me suggestions. I just picked up a long ranger and I will soon find out if it makes a difference. I will keep you all posted in what I find out. Thanks
I’ll bet u will like it. I liked mine so much that I now have two of them. Good fishing!!!
^^^^What he said. My LR is my fave. |
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What lb. braid