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Posts: 5
| I am just getting into muskie fishing and I am wondering what kind of rod/reel to get. I currently have a 6'6"mh fenwick rod and abu garcia 5500 (I think) w/ a 65 lb super braid on it. This combo works for some smaller lures but won't work well for alot of the musky baits. I live in MN and will be fishing st.louis river and some other lakes in the surrounding areas. I am on a tighter budget due to being laid off but I would really appreciate any info! |
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Posts: 56
Location: Maplewood, MN | I'd suggest getting a Shimano Calcutta 400 for your reel. A bit more expensive but an absolute workhorse that will outlast that Abu. For good bang for the buck rod's, I'd suggest a Tackle Industries rod or a Shimano. |
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Posts: 32927
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Okuma Akena and an Okuma telescoping rod. Great outfit that will treat you well and won't break the bank, great folks to deal with. They have a new reel that I'll shoot at ICAST this week, more on that when we get to the Okuma booth. |
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Location: Northern Wisconsin | If there is a Gander Mountain near I would check out their muskie rods. Most are under $100 and you can probably find them on sale. The only problem is I don't know if they make many longer, more powerful rods for big lures. The ones I have are all MH but are very nice sticks.
I would also recommend the Okuma, look around.. got mine for 114.99 shipped to my door. I have an 8'6" XH and I like it. It is quite tip heavy compared to my other rods but it really tosses the big lures well. Some days I will use it for almost any lure I throw.
As for reels I have had OK success with abu c3's, just the clutch arms have needed replaced so far. And until recently my pflueger trion 66 held up well (worm gear and pawl went out.. should be easy fix if I can find the parts). |
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Posts: 1270
| If you are new to the sport I would not recomend a Calcutta or other expensive reel or rod. For the price of one of these top of the line set ups you can buy 2 or three different maderatly priced combos so you have different set ups for different applications. I would sooner have 3 decnt set ups in different lengths and gear ratios than one really good set up. |
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Posts: 1887
Location: syracuse indiana | i also suggest the ct 400 b with a tackle industries 9ft xh or xxh rod. that is my setups for me and clients.. bill |
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Posts: 709
Location: sun prairie,wi | gander mountain has great rods there...got a split grip for 100.00... |
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Posts: 432
Location: Eagan, MN | reelman - 7/11/2010 12:06 PM
If you are new to the sport I would not recomend a Calcutta or other expensive reel or rod. For the price of one of these top of the line set ups you can buy 2 or three different maderatly priced combos so you have different set ups for different applications. I would sooner have 3 decnt set ups in different lengths and gear ratios than one really good set up.
I see it the other way around... buy quality now, add as you go. As much as we like to nitpick about our gear, muskie rods and reels are not as technique specific as we like to think, compared to say walleye or bass tackle. You don't need to spend a ton on a rod, an 8' compre or 8.5' okuma will work great for bucktails, topwater, crankbaits and smaller jerkbaits. Put a little extra money towards a reel will save you a lot of aggravation... Toro 60, penn 975, or similar can both be had for a little over $200. |
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Posts: 582
| I see it the same way. When i started i bought all cheap stuff and ended up throwing it away. Tackle industries rod with a AC300 St Croix reel, 80# power pro and you are set up with a good set to catch anything and throw most anything. |
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Posts: 1184
Location: Iowa Great Lakes | I would suggest the TI rods to and a Akena or Cardiff. |
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Posts: 717
Location: Grand Rapids, MI | 1 more vote for the Calcutta 400. I'm a strong believer that with a reel, you get what you pay for. |
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Posts: 675
Location: Twin Cities, MN | A nice Used Calcutta B with a TI rod is a very nice start. I have seen used Calcutta's for under $ 150.00, well worth the extra.
Pal |
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Posts: 19
Location: antigo | I would recommend looking and the black river series of rods. They are a very good rod for the money. If you wand to throw bigger baits i would recommend there 8 food heavy or there 8.5ft extra heavy rods. I have a couple of them and they do the job for me. |
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Posts: 267
Location: Right behind you (tap, tap) BOOO | Buy in the range you can afford - (personally I started with cheap stuff and regretted it)
If you have $500-600 get a St.Croix Legend or a Predator with Calcutta or a Toro
If you have $400 - 500 get a St.Croix Premier and Calcutta B or a Saltist maybe a Toro
If you have $300 - 400 get a Okuma or a Tackle industries and a Saltist or a Abu 7000
if you have $200 - 300 get a Gander Guide Series Rod and a Cardiff or Akena or Abu Garcia...
Just keep in mind by this time next year you will have learned a thing or two and your preferences will probably change and you'll be opening your wallet again and dropping the same amount of money if not more... Plus like every other musky guy on the board you'll have to keep up with the Jones and get something new just to have it.
This is your official welcome to the most expensive hobby in the northwoods... haha
have fun...
mattb |
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Posts: 642
Location: Richfield, MN | Pal - 7/11/2010 8:11 PM
A nice Used Calcutta B with a TI rod is a very nice start. I have seen used Calcutta's for under $ 150.00, well worth the extra.
Pal
Been looking for one of these used and never seen them this cheap. Let me know where please!!!! |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | If you are looking for the rod, email me at [email protected] $110 delivered in the USA and $120 delivered in Canada.
Thanks
James
You can see them all on www.tackleindustries.com 9'XH rods will be back in stock in 6 weeks along with telescopic rods with regular 18" handles, split grip handles and also a few in camo skin. Made them for operation Musky but they looked so good I figured to add them to my line up. |
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Posts: 1887
Location: syracuse indiana | yea james cant wait to get my hands on a few of the telescopes in a xh and xxh...bill |
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best rod/reel for the dollar???