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Posts: 10
| I'm in the market for a 300 series reel to put on a St. Croix 7'6" MH Musky rod and was wondering what everyone's preference is reel-wise. Looks like Calcutta's are the favorite most of the time. Price seems the same or about the same on both. I was also wondering about braking systems, does one change the pin setting on reels with the centrifugal brakes whenever you change lure sizes, or just choose one setting for most applications.
I'm kind of a baitcasting novice, been fishing since I was 4, but just started with my first baitcaster last year ( An abu 6000 rocket from Wal-Mart, Orange!) and do pretty well avoiding backlashes and getting long casts, and this reel I'm using now only has the spool tension adjustment, no pin system.
Thanks for you help, any 50's I catch this fall will go back to become 54's next year!
Whit |
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| The Abu Garcia 7000 is the only reel I have purchased over 25 years of Muskie fishing that I still own and use every one I ever purchased. Many others have come and gone. Take it for what it's worth.
Steve |
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Posts: 96
Location: Eden Prairie, Mn. |
Whit,
I own both, a Calcutta 400 on it's 8th season, and a new Diawa- rebadged for St. Croix , the AVID 300 something.
The Calcuttas have a lower gear ratio 4.7, a little bit larger spool dia. and are larger - better for retrieving hard pulling baits- deep cranks, big bladed hair or heavy weight baits.
The Diawa/St.Croix has a higher ratio 5.3 smaller spool and are smaller, easy to 'palm' - great for light baits, shallow
cranks, topwaters and smaller bladed thin hair. The reel is fantatically smooth, I hope it lasts as long as my Calcutta,
and I think it will, you cannot go wrong with either. One of each and you won't need to buy a reel for the next ten+ years
and be smmoth as silk to boot.
Regarding spool braking- both are fully adjustable. Spend a couple days casting and you won'tneed to make any tweaks.
The 'pin' systems are a crutch - Just educate the thumb and you will be able to cast a 1 oz. bait into a gale 1 ft. from shore.
Mother
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Posts: 39
| I have a Millionaire, which I bought 2 seasons ago and I think it is great. It fits well in my palmand is VERY smooth. I also have a Moreum and have been disappointed in it. I had to send it back after just a month because the gears were stripped. I also have the old stand by ABU's which I clean in the fall and they never let me down.
Land O Lakes Dennis |
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| I dont know about you guys but the Millionaire seems to me to be a bit slow. It has a 5:1.1 gear ratio.
I guess Im just used to the 6:3.1 C4 reels. They are great reels but I would prefer at least a 5:3.1 or even
like a 5:8.1. I use my millionaire for hard pulling baits like big spinners and cranks. Pulls them in without killing
yourself. It wont burn anything though.
I would buy an Abu Garcia 6600 SSC3 for $74 bucks. You can get 3 of them for the price of a millionaire and 5 of them
for the price of a shimano calcutta te.
I still think Abu is the best bang for the buck. The millionaire is a great reel however. I think I would rather have
3 reels instead of only 1. You can use them for casting or trolling. They have a thumbar and a line clicker.
My 2 cents.. |
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| The only thing I don't like about the Calcutta is the lower gear ratio. Other than that it is very smooth. |
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| i love my caltuttas but my only complaint is the side screws seem to loosen often. some more than otheres. not a big deal just a little annoying... other than that its been great to me for 3 years |
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Posts: 10
| Thanks for all the input, I think I need to put my hands on a few of these and make the decision. I'm leaning towards the Calcutta or the Abu 7000 because of the lower gear ratios, i plan to use this rig for big cranks and divers, stuff that pulls hard.
Best of luck!
Whit |
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| stuff that pulls hard you would be better off with 5:1 or lower...bigger spool...go with the 7000 or find the 7000 CS Pro Rocket..made in Sweden by Abu, 4.1:1, big spool, i have one...LOVE it for big cranks...Or look into the Tica Gemini 300, can be had for about 118 online...4.7:1
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Calcutta VS. Daiwa Millionaire