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Posts: 5
Location: Palmyra, NJ | Me & my 12 year old son are new to muskie fishing & I’m trying to get some reliable info from “seasoned” Muskie Hunters on reel selection. I want to purchase a reel for my son just for Muskie fishing and he would like a low profile bait caster. So far I’ve been told, stay away from LP Baitcasters, go to the round models. I question this because in Jim Saric’s videos I see him using LP Bait Casters, so they must work! Which reels he was using I couldn’t tell. My son was looking at the Shimano CURADO and the Pflueger Presidential, both LP bait casters, both well constructed reels. Anyone have any suggestions or recommendations on what reel to buy (mfg & model #)? And with what matching rod, a rod for all around Muskie Fishing (bucktails, crankbaits, etc)? Any info greatly appreciated. |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | Don't save a few bucks to have a musky detonate your new reel. Getting what you pay for is never more important than when fishing for the mighty king at the top of the food chain. Are you looking for low pro to fit his smaller hands? Just be sure to buy high quality. If you want to save a few bucks buy a good used reel, probably wont cost any more than a new cheaper reel. I have a low profile caster in the Shimano Calais that I love and trust to hold up to muskies but they are spendy. I bought mine used then had a certified repair shop go thru it.
I also use an Abu in the 5601 (01's are lefties), this is not a lo pro but has a fast cast thumb bar that I'm sure he could reach comfortably.
Welcome to the nut house. I'm sorry in advance for your wife, job, bank account, and non fishing buddies 
I hope you have been warned that Muskie fishing is an un-curable disease. There is no cure..only lots of treatment needed (heh heh) |
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Posts: 5
Location: Palmyra, NJ | Lobi, thanks for the input! While I'm not Rockefeller, I will not skimp when it comes to buying tackle, even for a 12 year old. So I'm not thinking of a LP Bait Caster to save money, but rather to just satisfy my son, and I think it'll fit his hand better. That said, which reel would you buy, if money were no object! |
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Posts: 1189
Location: Bagley,MN 56621 | I would check out the Abu garcia Eon.I have played with this one a little, Steve cady has some and do they do fit nice in your hand and are lightweight, yet durable.
The only issue would be on casting, the level wind does not go back and forth wehn csting, but it does when reeling in. Sounds kind of funny as the line goes off the reel and might lead to a few more backlashes if you are inexperienced casting with a bait caster......it's usually only a problem casting INTO the wind, other wise they cast great!
I'm looking for a reel to replace my line counters on my glass rods. I want to cast with these rods in cold weather as well, not just use em for suckers and trolling.
This reel is at the top of my list! |
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Posts: 1023
Location: Lafayette, IN | Mel, I use the Curado with 85# Power Pro for bucktails mostly and I love it. I also bought an extra spool for it and keep 12# mono on it for bass fishing. I'm probably going to by another Curado for musky fishing as well. They are excellent reels and Shimano (like all other reputable tackle companies) will take good care of their customers. Good luck next year and keep us posted on your experiences! |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | With unlimited funds the Shimano Calais is awesome! 11 bearings. Smooth as a babys butt. Shimano has others in the $100 range that are nice too.
On the calais the level wind also does not go back and forth on the cast but only on the retrieve, as I think. I think it is supposet to extend casting distance by lowering friction and moving parts. On a reel with a wide spool it is nessecesary for the levelwind to travel back and forth as the angle the line comes off would be extreem. On the smaller (narrow spool)reels it does not seem to be a problem. When I first got mine and noticed this I actually thought I would always try to leave the levelwind thingy in the center for each cast to cut down on the angle of the line peeling off the spool. This was almost immediatly forgotten and didn't seem to matter. I am casting with 60 lb power pro line and love it for strength, toughness and castability. |
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Posts: 20281
Location: oswego, il | Get the torno as I responded to your other posts. All aluminum frame, same insides as the round reel and will outcast any reel you own. Get a new one on ebay and you will save about 20 bucks. Can't beat the bass pro sale on those all star rods to compliment that reel. |
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Posts: 91
Location: Oshawa, Ontario | I have used Abu 6500C3/C4's exclusively for several years now and they are bulletproof, low maintenance, etc. As for your price and purchase you cannot go wrong when buying from Jackson Lures. Their service and price cannot be beat, and they have factory reconditioned reels that many muskie nuts have been very pleased with. |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | Curado is a very good choice, Castaic. I only like Shimano for low profile reels. If you go with round go with Calcutta 400 or Garcia 6500 |
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Posts: 364
Location: Kentucky | I came to musky fishing from bass fishing 4 years ago and have tried all kinds of reels. It comes down to personal preference, but musky fishing brings some new challenges. I tried the low profile thing and found I wasn't as happy with my hook sets while palming the reel. So I switched to the "Pete Maina" style of holding the foregrip after the cast. This works great for me. Also, some of the smaller reels (even in high gear ratios) couldn't seem to keep up with some of the musky tactics like burning bucktails or working a jerk bait. I'd recommend rods over 7' and an Abu Mag5 or Abu Morrum or Shimano 400. Just my $.02! |
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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Mel,
Earlier this season I purchased a Garcia Torno primarily for my wife/daughter to use. I spooled it up with 65lb Tuff Line XP and attached it to a 7'6" Gander Mt. IM7 Guide Series rod that I had C4 on.
This has turned out to be one of the best combinations for 5-7" bucktails and Tinsel Tails, smaller twitch/cranks like Slammer 5-6 inch, 6" Jakes, and for lighter topwaters such as Mouldy's Topper Stopper, Holcombe Stomper, Le Lure Thumpers, and creepers.
This combination was fished hard throughout the season by myself, my wife and my daughter. It handled probably 12+ fish in the 30"-40" range and I am very happy with its performance.
Having any new angler, youth or adult, feel comfortable with the gear they are using will be a key element to the success they have. When your son's hands get large enough for him to comfortably handle a more traditional sized reel then and only then should you move him up to one. This is no different than teaching them to play a musical instrument or shoot a gun...that's why they youth model in those as well.
Garcia Torno or Shimano will serve you well... |
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Posts: 1
| Look out for the new Abu 5601JB, not cheap but bullet proof, thumbar is easy to use, stainless gears, bronze bushes ets |
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Posts: 96
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Posts: 96
| The Calais is the shiznit when it comes to low profile reels. It is worth every penny. I figure I'll use it for many years. Most of the other low profiles will get trashed fishing for musky. The other Shimano's are good too. |
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Posts: 116
Location: winnipeg manitoba | use what ever you are comfortable with, for trolling i use an abu 7000 huge line capasity and functions well uder big fish load. i have used abu 5000/5500 and have had good luck. my calcutta also performs like a champ.my low profile quantum energy pt has also been satisfactory in casting situations.match you equipment to you style of angling and what you are comfortable with. the key is to keep all equipment in top shape grease and clean you reels yearly..........good fishin' and my the muskie god shine upon you. |
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| There are some good low profile baitcasters that will withstand the punishment of muskie fishing and have the capacity for larger diameter lines. Unfortunately, most are no longer made, but can be found used on E-Bay, etc. The Quantum QD1420, Abu Mag or Ultramag II or III, Shimano BSM2200W and Shimano Bantam 50 (still made) are just a few. The problem with the "bass sized" baitcasters like Chronarch, Calais, Daiwa 33, etc is that a good cast will dump half the line off the reel. These smaller baitcasters don't retreve much line with a FULL spool, let alone a half spool. Most of the larger low profile reels that I listed will retrieve a more generous amount of line, even with their approx 4.7 to 5.1:1 ratios. (The BSM is 6:1). All have solid, metal frames. Another plus is that most have magnetic cast control, a definite benefit to youngsters or less experienced casters. |
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HELP! Reel Selection???