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Posts: 1185
Location: Wishin I Was Fishin' | I want to get a smaller bait casting set up for pitching small spinnerbaits, cranks, and jigs. I don't have a clue about bass gear.
Do I have to go crazy and get a Calcutta 250? or will a 5500C3 be small enough? Is there a different bass reel that is the best? less money?
What rod would be best? I like St. Croix.
What line would be best? 50# micro braid?
Thanks for all your help. |
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Posts: 5230
| I like the Shimano curado,and a medium hevy falcon or falcon/cortland flippin stick.The cortland is a nice rod for the money. Line 17 pound test or 20 pound in the braided lines.I like using the low profile reels for bass stuff,instead of the musky/circle reels.0723
Edited by 0723 3/29/2003 12:01 PM
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Posts: 1023
Location: Lafayette, IN | Jo, After weeks of assessing my own tackle situation I finally decided to use my Shimano Curado as a dual purpose reel. I now have 2 spools for it so when bassing, I can insert my 12# mono and when "sking, I can use my 80# Power Pro (on a musky rod of course!). Granted, I'm giving up spool capacity but the smooth, high quality performance of the Curado and the fact I already own it made the decision a little easier. If you can part with $120 you should be pleased with the Curado as a big fish feel. Certainly, the ABU's are cheaper and have a good track record so I would do a little research there too and get some feelers out on the pros and cons of each. I certainly got my share of opinions on both. Ya know,... brand loyalty is a funny thing. Makes buying stuff a little confusing at times. Either one should work fine. Just take care of it, like anything. Good luck! |
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Posts: 375
Location: In the slop! | The curado is hard to beat in a smaller real. I have 4 of them and use them for everything from no.5 shad raps to 2 oz. spinnerbaits. On the two I have set up for muskie, I have 50 lb. tuff line, and run 10 or 14 on my bass rods. I have one rigged up on an 8' St. Croix tidemaster inshore, this works great for 1/2 to 1 1/2 oz. spinnerbaits. Good luck, Mike Jensen. |
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Posts: 3926
| Boy, we're a loyal bunch. I have 2 Curados, both with many miles on them, and never a single problem. Seems they're not built to crank lots of weight, like big bucktails, but great for smaller stuff. I have 65# PowerPro on the one I use for muskies.
I had an expensive Quaantums (both baitcaster and spinning reel) and wouldn't recommend them at all. |
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Posts: 7115
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | JoMusky,
I have a 4600C4 that I would part with for say....a Hughes River?
Slamr |
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Posts: 1536
Location: God's Country......USA..... Western Wisconsin | I use a Shimano Curado, as well, for smaller cranks and almost all of my jig fishing. 7' Loomis MH IMX with 65# Tuff XP for my larger jigs with the 7/0 and 8/0 hooks. Shimano Citica with 20# "P" line mono on a 7' Loomis MH for smaller jigs with 5/0 & 6/0 hooks. I guess we really like those Curados huh? |
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Posts: 328
Location: MN | Ditto on the Curado..doubles as a nice Musky reel too!
If you want to save cash, the Abu 4600 C3 is a classic for half the price...
Good Luck! |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | If the Curados are holding up for muskie then I will be safe using my Calais right?? I love the thing dearly and plan to use it for casting the lighter stuff at large esox targets. I spooled it up with 50 power pro and can put a casting spoon about 120 feet across the lawn. That seems far to me, is it? Do I sound like I have cabin feaver bad or what?
lobi |
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Posts: 1023
Location: Lafayette, IN | Hey Lobi, That's not a reel. That's a work of art!!! But, it should work even though it retails for only $330.....(LOL) did I say "Uncle Lobi?"... |
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Posts: 328
Location: MN | Lobi - trade ya my curado for your calais..... |
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Posts: 1023
Location: Lafayette, IN | Heck, Tahoe....I'll trade him for my daughter's spincast if we're talkin even trades!....
ain't that right, Uncle Lobi?
Edited by stephendawg 3/29/2003 10:42 PM
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Posts: 47
Location: The Land of Lincoln | If you want a bass-only reel go with the Curado because they are excellent reels. But if you want a double-duty reel, the ultimate reel for a very reasonable amount of money is the Abu C5 Mag-X 5600. Cabela's has them for only $80 and the C5's are very good for casting bass sized lures as well as bigger baits! And they have the tough as nails "C" frame and guts but can be finesse, too! I cannot say enough about this reel.
As far as rods, it all depends on what you're goin to do with it.
Check out http://www.wmi.org/bassfish/bassboard/rods_reels/index.html
This is the ultimate site/page for bass gear where Shimano and Abu reign.
mclarkin777 |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | Jeez you guys..I paid less than half retail on eBay. Then when I got it, it was in poor shape. Put $75 more bucks into rebuild job including 3 bearings. Convinced the seller from ebay to foot the bill and got my money back.
I love my Abu also..and it has a line out alarm too so it will troll. Last year I was trollling alone with the calais about 6 feet out in the wash and hooked a fish but didn't know. When I went to check the rods I had a ski flopping on the surface about 175 feet behind the boat. Wasn't able to put the wood to him and he got off and left me with a long crank back in pullin' a cranes that fought like a 4 lb smallie (or 10 lb wally) as I was still at troll speed. Taught me somthin' tho that musky did. |
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Posts: 585
Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland | Jomusky: You also may check out spinning equipment for Bass fishing. I have baitcasting gear and took it to Maine with me for a Smallmouth trip. I discovered #1 that my LM Bass lures were too big and my equipment too heavy. With spinning equipment (with some exceptions), I believe you can cast lighter lures (spinners, cranks & plastics) and get the distance you need. I'm presently looking to purchase a couple of new rods (I have the reels) for my next Maine trip to the Kennebec River. I decided to go with two-piece rods (easier to store in small tubes). I think I will go with the Falcon 6'6" (or 7') med. hvy rod (for worms & jigs)and probably a med. rod for everything else. I use Shimano Stradic reels in the 2000 and 4000 sizes. I like Stren flourescent line for plastics (easily seen above water) and Trilene XT for everything else. |
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Bass Rod and Reel?