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Posts: 186
| Hello everyone, as the name implies I'm a rookie at musky ( an August callup ) lol ?? and was wondering how I should set up a few combos. I appreciate any help along my path of becoming a better angler. Right now I have
3 reels
daiwa lexa 300wn 7.1
daiwa lexa 400hd 7.1, and just got an
Abu revo toro s61 5.3 (from Scheels $150 right now)
3rods,
7'6" shimano sojourn mh
9'3" okuma evx-c-931xh-tb and just got a
9'3" okuma evx-c-931h-tb
I got the revo to toss big blades 9,10,+, and also for bigger crankbaits. I throw some rubber but nothing above 10oz. Poseidon 10", regular medusa shallow, bulldawgs and I really don't plan to go to much heavier.
My ? Is should I pair the revo with the xh and toss big blades,cranks, and rubber with that? or should I pair it with the heavy and keep the higher speed lexa on the xh for the rubber while using the other setup as my big blade and crankbaits combo?
Keep in mind I'm unfortunately a bank yanker  fishing in western Pennsylvania
Thanks in advance I look forward to gaining invaluable knowledge about the ever mysterious muskellunge!!! |
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Posts: 186
| I'll add that my lexa 400 and revo are both spooled with cortland masterbraid 80lb |
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Posts: 268
Location: Central Pennsylvania | Generally you want a high line pickup for rubber, your 7.1s will likely have a bigger line pickup, but i have no experience with either the lexa nor the abu garcia. The lower gear ratio is good for bucktails, it will be good for any bait that has some pull to it. Id say to put that 400 size lexa on the extra heavy for rubber, the abu on the heavy for the big blades and cranks, and the lexa 300 on the mh in case you get the urge to chuck some small baits when they refuse the big stuff. |
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Posts: 1264
Location: E. Tenn | Pa Tigers n trout - 10/11/2020 8:56 PM
Generally you want a high line pickup for rubber, your 7.1s will likely have a bigger line pickup, but i have no experience with either the lexa nor the abu garcia. The lower gear ratio is good for bucktails, it will be good for any bait that has some pull to it. Id say to put that 400 size lexa on the extra heavy for rubber, the abu on the heavy for the big blades and cranks, and the lexa 300 on the mh in case you get the urge to chuck some small baits when they refuse the big stuff.
^^THIS^^ |
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Posts: 186
| Thats pretty much what I was thinking I just wasn't sure if it was better to have more power for the rubber. The 300 and mh are married and I use it for smaller baits as well as jerkbaits. Since I'm limited with what water I can cover I always have 2 lures rigged up and try to have 1 compliment the other as a throwback or followup. I'll usually fancast bank to bank twice then switch rods after each cycle then swap out baits,rinse and repeat. The abu and the heavy rod are new , still waiting on the rod, but now I will have 3 in the rotation to cycle through. Thanks for the input |
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Posts: 186
| The lexa hds are nice reels very smooth and free. You have to watch how free you set the spool or backlash can happen easily. I got my first baitcaster in August and have been cussing every since lol I like to cast very hard for extra distance and have had to retrain myself. The lexa wn is different it is also smooth but not as loose and free feeling. I have not backlash with it much at all, but it doesn't have the casting distance as the other although I think the line ( suffix 832 65lb ) has alot to do with it. It has alot of memory even after using it for over a month now. Plus it isn't really round more like fireline how its kinda flat which had led to one nasty wedge in on the edge of the spool which cost me a brand new mepps. Line broke off at the spool, looked like a tag end. Figured I'd tell you about the reels a little in case you had any interest. Thanks again |
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Posts: 268
Location: Central Pennsylvania | Rubber is a fine balance to me atleast, i love my calcutta 400b for rubber and it only brings 24 inches per turn so i really have to reel quick and pump the rod but it has some real power, and it doesn't struggle with much of anything, biggest ive tried is the storm wild eye shad which the jighead alone is 2 and 3/4 oz plus probably 5 or more oz of plastic around it. However i think you'll much prefer the lexa 400 for the rubber because itll save you the effort of having to really work for it.
The lexas looked very good to me as a beginner, my next reel will be a tranx 300 for smaller stuff. However, id love to try some more brands as i progress into this sport. Im two years in currently, i have always had a love affair with Shimano, never touched a diawa in my entire life but maybe some day haha |
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Posts: 186
| I hear ya on that, being in a boat would change that some but being on shore im ripping and reeling to try and avoid snags with rock,debris, and cribs. The lexa has some nice pickup for that application around 37" per crank.
I never had a daiwa either until July when I bought my all around big fish setup ( catfish, stripers, pike, and musky) I bought the bg8000 a HUGE spinning reel lol. 53" per crank. 33 lbs drag Almost 300yds of 100lb braid. Very powerful!!! I actually snagged a crib at yellow creek lake and just winched til a broke the crib lol reeled in a nice log hahaa Paired that with a big cat fever rod. Used that for a while until I dug deeper into the rabbit hole. Very nice gear just very heavy 30oz reel. Would make for a great sucker rod setup. If I didn't fish alone I would have used it for that, but without someone else around I don't want to loose it in the drink while tossing lures lol |
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Posts: 186
| I was also looking at the tranx 400 and possibly 500 for big blades but after talking to some reelsmiths and hearing that the wear and tear affects all reels bc of the resistance from garbage can lids I figured I'd be better off spending $150 on the abu instead. If it gets me 5-10 years with minimal issues their will be alot more durable reels by then. I got a whole setup with line for less than just the reel. I love sales and value ?? |
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Posts: 268
Location: Central Pennsylvania | Im also a shore guy, but i refuse to use live bait until i get a musky. I looked quite a bit at the ocean spinning reels for chucking baits for downsizing but i decided against it cause of potential for line twist and the thought of casting anything over 1 oz on a spinning reel. |
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Best way to set up my combos