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| I have recently got into muskie fishing. Currently I have some smaller bucktails (baby girl, mepps magnum muskie killer, bionic bucktail spinnerbait) and the biggest rapalas they sell at wal-mart, and I've been casting them on my biggest bass (and northern pike) rod, which is a skeet reece spinnerbait rod (7ft medium heavy) and skeet reece 7.0:1 baitcaster. I am thinking that although these baits that I'm currently casting aren't the biggest (1 - 1 1/4oz), they are still going to wear out my reel pretty fast. I don't really want to spend more than $125ish since I'm not sure if I like it (and thats pretty much what I'm limited to for my birthday lol). I've had a good history with abu garicia, and they seem to fit in to my price range. I've heard to stay away from the bcx though because their made in china, so a c3 preferably (MAYBE c4) or a kalex etc... For the rod I was think the berkely big game (at wal-mart for like $20)? I've read really good reviews about them and people say they're really durable and stong, and I could always upgrade to that st croix premier muskie rod in the future. I figure they should be sensitive enough, I haven't really handled one yet though. I hear their are some other muskie rods made by shimino that are around $50. This is just what I've found so far, an suggestions would be appreciated. |
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Posts: 173
| Stick with what you have for the rod/reel combo till you know if you like muskie fishing. DO spent some money on LONG needlenose pliers before you fish ! A decent net and hook cutters should come before more combos too. |
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| Everybody should be sensitive to cost. I don't know the quality of what you are using/suggesting, but I would say the cheapest reels you're going to get much muskie use out of would be the Abu Garcia 6500C3 or the Shimano Corvalus. In rods, you want something rated for lines 15 to 30 lbs. You can haul in a big fish with that rod if it is styled for muskies. If you live near a Gander Mountain store that might be a good place to shop. I would use a superbraid line on my reel, you will have breakoffs if you don't. You don't need to go really big with your baits either. I don't know what rapalas you are referring to, but the Mepps Magnum Muskie Killer is as big as you need to go in bucktails. I would just want to have tandem tails for summer. The net issue is serious. If you're fishing from a boat, you need one big enough to handle a muskie. It doesn't have to be expensive; it just has to be big enough. A walleye, bass, or pike net will not do the job. |
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Posts: 555
Location: Tennessee | Check the Shimano Sojourn. I got one for $30 as a loaner rod for newbies. 7ft hvy and it's suprisingly nice |
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Posts: 149
| BPS has the Muskie trigger rod for ~$50 and the Shimano corvalus is in your price range. I'd suggest a quality leader like Stealth. |
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Posts: 456
Location: Kansas City BBQ Capitol of the world | Guest,
The Modern Day World Record of 50lbs was caught on light weight gear while fishing for Bass and Ken O'brian's beast was caught while fishing for Walley.
Crappie, Walley and Bass fisherman catch Muskie all the time. You'll be fine.
Proper CPR gear are probably more important for the newbie and then you can grow from their.
Ron
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Posts: 504
Location: Ludington, MI | Buy as much rod and as much reel as you can and then put at least 80-pound braid on there. The equipment isn't for the world record fish so much as the heavy lures you'll throw. If you have a cheap reel, you're gonna backlash and lose lures, so spend money on line. There are some awesome values in rods, reels, lines and lures at clearance sales and in the swap meet forum here. Pick away at it. |
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Posts: 37
Location: Freedom, WI | What do you guys think is the best all around muskie rod length and power? I probably wont be casting any big dawgs, at least not yet, and I'll probably stick more to bucktails, and probably get into some crankbaits and jerkbaits too. Also, I'm more than 99% sure I'm going to go for the c3, so what size should I get? Still undecided on the rod, but I'm leaning towards the Sojourn in 7' heavy (only comes in 7' heavy and 7' medium heavy). |
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Posts: 345
Location: Poynette WI. | I used my avid spinning rod for all different kinds of fish. From bluegill to catfish to pike. It wasnt til I got that first follow around 50in did I realize that I needed the right gear if I were ever to fish Muskie. I did what your doing, asked alot of questions and read all sorts of articles. If you pay attention and keep looking you can find some great deals. I like to find garage sales with musky lots. Get there before it opens so your first in line too. My first two muskie rods were 8ft XH and 8'6 XH Tica Musky Telescopic rods. I paid 30$ for the Two. One had a broken eye which I had repaired. I also picked up a New Revo 60 Winch for less than 200$ on the bay. Keep looking til you find a great deal. Also get the long nose pilers, cutters and net! |
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Posts: 750
Location: Minneapolis, MN | My first set up was a Cabelas 8 ft rod and an Abu BCX which I used for top waters, spinners, cranks, and double 8's. If you are just starting out, not throwing double 10's, and only going out every once in awhile, the BCX will be just fine. You want an 8 ft rod at a minimum, 7 ft is too short imo unless you are looking to work jerks and gliders more than anything else. I believe Bass Pro Shop also sells a combo for around $220. |
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Posts: 87
| dont go smaller than 8ft i personally wouldnt go smaller than 8.5 ft rod. Dont but a cheap combo! you will replace it if you like it. Id say go out with a guide on a good lake. Use thier equipement and learn how to fish. If you still like musky fishing at the end of the day spend 300+ dollars on your first combo! I went cheap and wasted money then bought a good combo. The good combo made fishing easier and more fun. Buying cheap first and you like it will end up costing you more in the end.
That is why I would say go out with a guide for the experience then decide if you want to get even more hooked, Muskies arent the fish of 10,000 casts they are the fish of $10,000. |
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Posts: 1360
Location: Lake "y" cause lake"x" got over fished | thewal2 - 8/20/2013 10:45 AM
dont go smaller than 8ft i personally wouldnt go smaller than 8.5 ft rod. Dont but a cheap combo! you will replace it if you like it. Id say go out with a guide on a good lake. Use thier equipement and learn how to fish. If you still like musky fishing at the end of the day spend 300+ dollars on your first combo! I went cheap and wasted money then bought a good combo. The good combo made fishing easier and more fun. Buying cheap first and you like it will end up costing you more in the end.
That is why I would say go out with a guide for the experience then decide if you want to get even more hooked, Muskies arent the fish of 10,000 casts they are the fish of $10,000.
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I did the same thing. I went cheap for my first rod. not for my first reel. but rod yes. It was a 7'6" rod. WAAAAYYY to short. I wont throw anything less than 8'6" now. I think you can get away with a killer set up for $200. But at the $100 price point. Either buy used stuff on here or on ebay. You can get a rod and a reel from someone i'm sure of it for right around that price point. Just make sure you make the right decision before pulling the trigger. Other wise you will end up like us. spend a bunch of money, just to realize you made the wrong decision. and thus go spend more money |
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| even if its for a beginner i would not choose a c3,you better spent your money for a used one at the price of a brand new c3 or just a lil bit more.it's really not pleasant to retrieve a d10 with a c3.look here or at ebay you will find some used luna/calcutta at a price near a c3.
for the rod a 8' compre(4-10oz) will do a good job for a variety of lures,the ones from ti are also supposed to be really good one,i don't know how long are their warranty but the compre ones are life time so its hard to beat.
i don't believe in a noob setup,something pleasant is something pleasant even if you start. |
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Beginner Muskie Setup (around 100)