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| Hello all,
Just started getting serious on musky fishing last spring. The guys I go with all use older equipment, mostly C3 reels on a variety of rods.. I bought a Gander Mountain Guide Series Classic Medium Heavy 8 foot rod with an Abu Garcia Ambassadeur C4 6600 reel with 6.3:1 gears last spring. Over the last year, I've also invested in a variety of lures inclduding several topwaters, glidebaits, jerkbaits, bucktails, plastics, crank baits, etc.. everything from baby depthraiders and mepps musky killer to double tens and pounder bulldawgs... My current C4 and medium heavy rod work great for the lighter stuff and for burning smaller lures... but the rod is too light and gearing too high to really be the most effective for the bigger gear.. I'd like to keep the cost reasonable.. comparable to what I have or a little more... Will be doing mostly casting, with occasional trolling use.. I'm thinking an extra heavy gander guide series rod with an abu record 6600 HC with a 4.7:1 gear ratio. Would the combination of this and what I have be my best option.. thinking do this then next year get a heavy rod with abu record 6600 with 5.3:1? Once I've got this first set of gear, I can look into getting nicer equipment and still have these for back up/suckers/trolling/catfish/etc.. Any input is appreciated. Thanks! |
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Posts: 216
| Look down thru the t&e forum here,see all the tackle industries posts? That's cuz there a heck of a rod for the money.Get ya one of those in an xheavy and put a 5.4 revo toro or a winch on it. Youll love it.You've already got a good high speed jerk rod setup.Ive got a few gander mtn rods that have caught a lot of fish and there's nothing wrong with em if your dead set on one of them than I wouldn't steer you away but for a few bucks more the Ti would b my choice.and you gotta try a revo toro of your an Abu fan |
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| I'm certainly not partial to any brand.. just want the best bang for the buck without breaking the bank. New to musky gear.. my other gear includes everything.. a lot of pflueger spinning reels and several brands of rods. Thanks for the input. |
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | as long as your just getting started Ill keep it simple if your happy with your Gander MT rod get another one you can up grade latter. |
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Posts: 32884
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Buy used. Watch the Buy, Sell, Trade forum, some unreal deals there this time of year as folks upgrade gear. |
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Posts: 35
| Cabelas has their Tourney Trail Rods on sale for $32.49 online. I went to the store and picked up an 8' extra heavy 2-6 oz rated rod, they matched the online price.
I know that it's not the best gear in the world, but I'm just getting started also. |
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Posts: 216
| Hey, whatever gets you on the water. I used to catch fish on $20 cabelas whopping sticks.Robly just as many as I do now. Makes me wonder why I really need a $380 rod |
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Posts: 345
Location: Poynette WI. | I agree with steve, I have also bought used gear on this site and havnet had any problems. I'd look for a TI Rod and a revo winch, since you already have a higher gear ratio reel. I have the 4:6:1, which I like to say will pull in a boat, makes reeling D10's feel like a trout spinner, a little on the slow side, but a strong well built reel IMO. |
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Posts: 1000
| 8'6" to 9' TI XH
Used Calcutta 400B, Revo Toro, Curado 300, or Lexa 300
Shouldn't be anymore than $325. |
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Posts: 1242
Location: Walker, MN | There is a 400b in the buy/sell right now for $145. Put in on a TI or Okuma EVX 8'6" XH and you are all set for about three hundred. |
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| Appreciate all the feedback guys.. While I like the idea of saving money by buying used, I've had bad experiences with buying used in past fishing gear purchases.. now will only buy used from people I know and even then I prefer to just spend a little more and get new. |
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Posts: 219
| ToothTamer rods are a great rod! Well balanced and priced right. Good warranty...check them out for sure. If you go to one of the Musky Shows they usually have prostaff rods for purchase. They go fast however, as they are discounted after a year of on-the-water-service for Pro Staffers. Just an idea.... |
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Posts: 256
Location: plant earth | I wish I was only looking for a second rod. HA HA. go to shops and shows put them in your hands get a feel for what you like then get it. good luck. |
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | bljc30 - 3/10/2014 9:19 AM
Cabelas has their Tourney Trail Rods on sale for $32.49 online. I went to the store and picked up an 8' extra heavy 2-6 oz rated rod, they matched the online price.
I know that it's not the best gear in the world, but I'm just getting started also.
That's a heck of a deal ! I would buy one for sure. |
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Posts: 392
| I would second the suggestion to look at Cabela's rods on-line sale. Start with 8'5 xtra heavy. I started off using those poles and they worked great. It would allow you to spend more on a reel - maybe revo winch that would give you a combination that allows you to pitch big blades and other bigger baits. |
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Posts: 149
| tackle industries XH 86 with a Revo Toro. Will be the best rod/reel in your boat. |
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| Picked up a Cabelas Tourney Trail 8 foot Extra Heavy for the sale price and paired it with a low gear Abu Record 6600. Now have this and a Gander Guide Series Classic 8 foot Med Heavy with high gear C4 6600. Should allow me to throw light lures and heavy ones, and will still work well for trolling/sucker fishing/catfishing and be good backups if/when I can afford to upgrade. Will update when am able to compare the rods on the water, thanks for the advice! |
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Posts: 717
Location: Grand Rapids, MI | If you're looking for new, I would go with a Lexa 300 ($135) and either an Okuma or Tackle Industries ($100-125). At worst case would only be $260 and would make a great setup for anything even as heavy as Pounders. |
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Posts: 1283
| Ill add if you do get a Revo Toro get the NACL60 5.4 ratio and put a power handle on it. It will pull DB10s like nothing on a 8ft St Croix Premier xh compared to my NACL50 6.4 with the standard handle on a 7'6" premier MH rod. Seriously its night and day difference. Pounders come in pretty easy with either set up but the bigger rod makes casting them much easier. |
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Second Rod and Reel Combo