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Posts: 10
| First I will say I have read enough to know the optimal set up for muskies and large pike is a casting rig. I unfortunately have never taken the time to learn and we are headed on a Canadian trip in two weeks. All of us will be using some sort of spinning rig. The guide said we will mostly cast regular bulldawgs and possibly Suicks. So..............
1) I have settled in on a spinning rod by Musky Innovations. What I am not sure of is should I buy the heavy rod rated for lures 2 to 10 ozs or the medium heavy rated for 3/4 to 4 oz? I read a bit about ripping the jerk baits and am not sure if the medium heavy has a stiff enough tip for that. I ordered a heavy and an outlet mistakenly sent me a pro casting magnum heavy instead of the spinning for $120 so will have to return that. Any advice on this GREATLY appreciated lol.
2) The guide said he uses a heavy bass rod with his bait caster spooled with 80 lb braid. I am wondering if I truly need 80 lb braid or if I can get away with 50 lb braid. If I can use 50 then many of the freshwater 4000 or 5000 series reels hold plenty. If I really need 80 I will likely look at a Penn Battle reel. The other thing on reels is that most of the freshwater in that range have 18 lbs of drag vs. 25 or more on the saltwater reels. Again any advice appreciated. I need to put together 4 rigs pretty quick like. |
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Posts: 80
| Do NOT use 50lb. Go with the heavy rod as well. |
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Posts: 10
| Also the heavy rod is available in 7.5 or 8 ft. Which would be best do you suppose? |
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Posts: 32883
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Why not use 50# on a spinning rod? If you select lures to 4 ounces and go with the lighter outfits, you should do just fine; set your drag and 50# is plenty on a spinning outfit. You will be able to zip a Dawg along pretty fast using the reel. |
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Posts: 10
| Thanks all for your replies. Our lure weights will be max 4oz.
So Steve do you think if I pick up a nice light body graphite freshwater reel capable of holding between 150 and 200 yds of 50 lb test it should be ok? Also most of those have about 18 lbs drag. I was for example considering the largest Daiwa Ballistic.
If I go with a larger reel perhaps a Penn Conflict.
I have a CI4 Stradic 4000 but I dont really think it can handle enough 50 lb braid. |
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Posts: 483
Location: NE PA | my first 3 seasons I used 50lb braid exclusively and had no issues. That being said, I didn't throw anything larger than a reg dawg. If you were going to throw mag dawgs or bigger I would go 80-100lb, but for what you are throwing it should be fine. |
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Posts: 353
Location: Western U.P. | Either the 7.5' or the 8' rod will work. I might go with the 8' if they both have the same weight capacity. The longer rod will load more, and give you a little more to work the fish. The Stradic you have should work fine for what you're doing. Unless you are going to be long line trolling, you really don't need 150-200 yds of line for Musky fishing. One hundred yards or so of 50 or 65 lb braid is all you need. I have a Daiwa Exceler 4000 spinning reel that I have on hand (for my wife or guests that don't know how to use baitcasters) loaded up with 65 lb Power Pro. I even use it once in a while just to mix things up. Have a good trip. |
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Posts: 1283
| A casting set up isnt that hard to get used to. My buddy would only use a spinning rod for the longest time and I made him try one of my casting set ups. After about an hour he was used to it and wont use the spinning set up anymore. Get a good reel and backlashes are almost non existent. |
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Posts: 10
| Thanks again for all your replies. Cedar I was actually looking at both the Daiwa Exceler 4000 and the Ballistic 4000. Achotrod we actually will try the guides gear for baitcasting but want the spinning gear on hand. I can assure you that by next years trip I will be a baitcaster guy.
Just to clarify as well. Does everyone agree the 2 to 10 oz heavy is the rod to go with over the medium heavy 1 to 4 oz rod? Heaviest lure we will throw are regular dawgs. Lighter will be bucktails and suicks. |
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Posts: 149
| I'd go with the 2-10 and use the Stradic. That should hold plenty of 50lb and probably enough 65lb. |
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Posts: 353
Location: Western U.P. | X2 SixBowls - 7/3/2014 8:24 PM
I'd go with the 2-10 and use the Stradic. That should hold plenty of 50lb and probably enough 65lb. |
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Posts: 427
Location: Planet Meltdown | You would be surprised how easy it is to learn to cast a bait caster. With all the fancy new reels out, there is not reason to be intimidated. My student for musky school this season never even picked up a bait caster in his life and had absolutely no issues at all casting a Curado 301e. Not one backlash the entire day. Plus I would not want to be in a situation were you lose a nice musky because you couldn't "thumb the spool" on a big musky boatside. Just food for thought since you're talking about buying one eventually. |
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Posts: 337
Location: Watersmeet, Michigan | Dittos on learning to use a baitcaster, but not everyone can. As my dad has gotten older it's become difficult for him to use a baitcaster, so much so that he was having more backlashes than "successful" casts. I rigged up a spinning outfit for him with a 4000 Symetre on a heavy Fenwick rod and it works just fine for throwing lighter baits. Spool with PowerPro Super 8 Slick line and you'll have a rig that will serve you well.
Fr. K |
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Posts: 13
Location: OP. Kansas | I have friends who don't do (stink at) baitcasting. They bring me along on Manitoba flyins( big pike) and also fish Naples Fla. I bought two spinning outfits for them to use. One is a Stradic fj for the light rod, the other is a Quantum Cabo pt 60 for the heavy. The cabo is a tank, heavy, holds about 290 yds. of 50, has 45 lbs. of drag, and brings in 37 inches of line per crank. I went with the two piece 8 ft. 10 oz. for air travel on one, and a saltwater 30 to 50 rod on the other. My daughter will use the light one latter this month in Wi. Good luck on your trip.
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Posts: 1000
| If you are dead set on spinning, get a Cabo. They're generally bullet proof.
With that said, baitcasting setups are intimidating until you actually use one. I have introduced many friends to them and they love them now. You simply set all the brakes very high to the point where you can't backlash. Then have them back things off progressively as they get more comfortable. Very simple. |
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Posts: 12
| I just bought two new rods from Abu Garica
8' 6" 50-100LB extra heavy fast Lures: 6-16 11+Tip
And Now Im looking for a reel.
Anybody ever use DIAWA SALTIST LEVERWIND for musky?
http://daiwa.com/reel/detail.aspx?id=442
Here are the LEVELWIND reels I have been looking at:
SHIMANO Calcutta B (700B)
PENN Fathom FTH60LW
DAIWA Saltist STTLW50HA
I took extensive notes on these and others.
The PENN isn't that fast at 4.3 , So that leaves the other two....
The DIAWA Saltist is 6.4 , While the SHIMANO Calcutta is a mere 4.7
http://fish.shimano.com/publish/content/global_fish/en/us/index/pro...
The other thing is LINE CAPACITY (in braid only):
SALTIST: is 50/630 and my calculated estimation for 80LB is 80/530
CALCUTTA: is 50/620 and 80/330
Bearings: Calcutta 3 Saltist 4
So now that you have all the facts, Here is my reasoning:
I would like to get an all around reel, that can be used for bass and trout while I'm not going after musky.
Musky is my goal, But I'd like to use the same reel so I don't have a collection of reels, JUST YET (Pending wife's approval in the future).
I ALSO want to BE ABLE to do saltwater fishing from time to time on trips.
I also figure that if a machine is designed for the harsh abuse of saltwater spray, then it will last longer while being used in a lake or river.
The higher capacity is important to me, as well as the number of bearings used. -The SALTIST uses corrosion resistant bearings.
To some, this may seem like too much for musky, But I stepped DOWN to the saltiest....From originally looking at the SALTIGA HYPER SPEED which has 7.1:1!
WITH six bearings!
But it is also NOT a level wind, which means a lot more learning on how to properly reel the line back in. ... for right now, too much hassle. I want to FISH, not PRACTICE.
Now you know what I have in mind, and the facts. So please give me any advice.
Has anyone used DAIWA SALTIST for musky? |
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Posts: 483
Location: NE PA | if you want an all around casting reel in the same price point, get a lexa 400 5.1. saltist works well for rubber, but can be tough casting blades, esp into the wind. very prone to backlashes if you dont have a good thumb.
i have a black 20 lw saltist and a lexa 400, and prefer the lexa for everything but big rubber. lexa has cast control and fits my hand better as well. |
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Need gear advice please