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Posts: 3
| Hi guys, just like to introduce myself my names kevin and this summer I recently cought musky "fever" after I lost a fifty+ on the Chippewa flowage this past summer.
We got a guide for my birthday and used his tackle. What is the best gear that is inexpensive and durable? And have any of you guys fished in the Hayward area?
Kevin | |
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Posts: 145
| A few suggestions would be abu C3 ($85ish)it is pretty well the standard, if you want a thumbbar go with an abu SSC3 you can get them for about $50-70 because they are discontinued but they are a great reel, same basic guts as a C3 just with a thumbbar.
I have a gander mtn rod that I love, they run $80 and are a good starter and all around rod I will add another when I am able.
As for line I like spiderwire stealth but it is up to you just make sure it's braided line and you put some mono on the spool as backing before filling the reel. I am just starting to transition from where you are at now needing to maximize the bang for your buck, I am not making anymore money I am just slowly aquiring items and upgrading my equipment. Good luck!
Jacob | |
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Posts: 582
| you can start cheap, and i would also recommend a gander rod. i have a few of them that i still use. However, you can also go a little bit better and end up having it for a long time without "respending money" the way you should have the first time. I would suggest a rod for about $125 or less. In that catagory you can look at Okuma, Black River, Shimano Compre or St Croix's legend or premier rods. Get at least a 7'6" rod or 8 foot. Start out with a heavy action rod. Rods in this lengh can be used for anything from bucktails to crankbaits and topwaters. Then go to the reel. I would never suggest a Abu reel to be honest. i just break them and end up spending aonther $85 to get a new one. A few years ago i moved to the more expensive reels like the SC AC300, Luna's and Calcuttas. For about $220 you can have any of these reels. I know it's alot of money but you get what you pay for. I have used these reels for 3+ years now and none of them have failed (unlike my Abu's) which needed alot of care and feeding especially with todays bigger baits. I don't want to be forced NOT to use a lure because i am afraid my reel will be toast. If you start out with $350, you can get a very good setup that will last for many years without worry. As far as line, 80# Powerpro or stealth is fantastic. Don't bother with mono. Get a good braid and that will last 3+ years as well.
if i was starting all over again, this is exactly what i would have done. I started out "cheap" and ended up spending 3x the money as i would have if i started out a little better. With all the money i spent replacing, i could have 4 custom rods with Calcutta TE's on all of them.
Edited by jackson 10/16/2009 9:10 AM
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Location: Des Moines IA | Okuma Rods are tought to beat for the money. Lifetime gaurentee, one of the reps is a regular on this board, (California_Muskie) and they are durable, and come in a wide array of sizes and weights. I would reccomend the 8'6 XH as an all around musky rod. Atleast 80 pound braided line. As far as reels go, Abu Garcia, C3's, and 7000's are real popular in the musky world, and are affordable. The most important piece of gear you can buy though, is a set of Knipex Bolt Cutters, and a long set of pliers. Release tools are vital in this game!
Edited by MuskieMike 10/16/2009 10:48 AM
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Location: Oswego, IL | "The most important piece of gear you can buy though, is a set of Knipex Bolt Cutters, and a long set of pliers. Release tools are vital in this game!"
DITO
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Posts: 8781
| You'll get hundreds of opinions on what gear to buy, and if you let yourself you'll spends thousands of dollars on stuff you don't need. Your best bet is to fish as much as you can, with as many people as you can, until you learn what rods and what reels you like for what applications and why. Then buy the best equipment you can afford. If you're looking to save money? There are ALWAYS rods and reels for sale here, and mostly it's stuff that someone else bought and found out they didn't need or didn't like, or it didn't suit their type of fishing. | |
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| I second Gander Mountain rods for the cost. I have three of them and have no regrets--of course I am an amateur and don't fish every day. Indeed I hardly fished at all this summer.
I have three Shimano Corvalus 400 reels that cost about $85 and seem to do the job. I also have an Abu Garcia 6500C3, and it does the job as well. Cost about $80. It may be that I don't know any better on the reels.
I may be retarded in this, but I still use mono line. But only Extra Tough; and it must be changed every spring. Believe me, it weakens with age. I use 20 lb. test.
One thing you must have is an adequate net. Ranger of Detroit makes two relatively cheap nets that will handle a musky with no problem. Make sure your net is big enough.
Make sure you have 8" long nose pliers for pulling hooks. It is crazy to go out without them.
Gloves are also helpful. Simple cotton garden gloves are all I use or need.
Good luck. | |
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