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Posts: 735
Location: Apparently where the Muskie aren't | I apologize in advance, this might be long
So, my "planned" major investments for next year are a dedicated buck tail setup and a dedicated "jumbo lure" setup (pounders, 2lbers, monster dussa etc)
My bucktail setup (finalized) is going to be a custom thorne rod and a 500 tranx
My jumbo bait rod (finalized) is going to be a TI XXXH tele with a abu beast 60
Here's where I need some opinions and advice,
Since this is going to add up to some big $$$ I'm trying to make it as painless as possible. Here's my idea, I was thinking about ordering the bucktail rod first, around February so I can have it by spring (where I'll be throwing a bunch of small bucks) and since this rod (shipped) will be pushing $600 (if I spending the cash I'm going all out) I was thinking about pairing it with the beast for the summer so that I can save a little money (at the moment) instead of blowing $600 on the rod and another $500 on the reel in one sitting. Do you think the beast will do alright (and not get damaged) with dbl 10s and up for about 7 months until I get the tranx and other rod (just in time for big rubber in the fall)?
Then once I get that tranx, the tranx will go on the thorne bucktail rod and the beast will get moved to the TI rod.
I just want to make sure I won't burn out/ruin the beast by doing that. It will be about 7 months of throwing 8s and up (mostly 10s and up once June hits) at least twice a week. Or would I be better off just spending the extra money right off the bat on the tranx? Just don't want to ruin a reel because then I'll be out more money.
Hopefully that made sense, thank you for your advice! |
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | I assume you plan on getting a high speed beast for rubber. I dont think you will enjoy throwing 10's with this reel. I dont with mine. It can be done though. |
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Posts: 213
Location: Wisconsin | Buy the Thornes XH 9' with Tranx PG/HG and you could most likely fish every bait except real small stuff. Have you ever casted a 2 pounder? I would recommend trying it before you buy a rod for it as the XH could cast all of those baits mentioned except the 2 pounder. |
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Posts: 983
| they exactly right you dont want to cast a 2lber...Casting a Pounder is plenty adn the Thorne XH handle a pounder like it not even there...I use a thorne XH 9ft6in for pounders with a Revo Toro Rocket to pick up slack Line its Killer...I have the Beast 60HS on a 8ft6inch ELK RIVER Custom Blade and Rubber Rod and you can roll Tens with it I have power crank handle on it but not for extended periods...I then switch to The 8ft 7inch OMEN Musky Rod 4-12oz with the BEAST 60 4.9 and you dont even feel double 10s |
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Posts: 2381
Location: Chisholm, MN | I can pretty much do anything with my 9'6" XH Predator and Tranx HG. I wouldn't throw a 2 pounder anyway, but I've seen it done with this rod. If you're worried about blowing to much cash, which is understandable, I'd just get this rod that will do just about anything you ask of it. |
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Posts: 735
Location: Apparently where the Muskie aren't | Thanks everyone! Yes the beast would be a high speed
I get what you guys are saying about the XH being good for everything and it is something I am going to consider. Now in your guys opinion what model predator would be the best for throwing 8s and 10s? I know it sounds somewhat counterintuitive but I would rather spend $600 on a rod that does one task perfect then on a rod that does most tasks good. Hope that makes sense.
Even though the largest bait I will regularly throw will be a pounder I do want the capability to throw 2lbers and I also plan on using the TI XXXH as a super heavy trolling rod.
But I'm interested, if the XH will throw pounders than what would I want for a bucktail only rod (mostly 8sand 10s)? A Heavy? |
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Posts: 213
Location: Wisconsin | 9' Heavy predator or ST Croix Big Nasty would cover those bucktail bases well along with everything except pounders and above. |
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Posts: 293
| Get the XH predator...the H is too soft for anything aside from small bucktails, and small topwater. |
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Posts: 983
| The XH predator will handle 8 and 10s with no issue at all and are killer for the 8....ID watch using the TI Rod to Troll especially if you using Rod Holders..I know its XXXH but a big girl hits that trolling 5mph its gonna explode IMO...get a $30 TDR for Trolling cant beat it...you talking about dedicated Rods then talking about using a TI for Trolling just spend $30 get TDR... |
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Posts: 735
Location: Apparently where the Muskie aren't | 25homes - 7/6/2017 11:50 AM
The XH predator will handle 8 and 10s with no issue at all and are killer for the 8....ID watch using the TI Rod to Troll especially if you using Rod Holders..I know its XXXH but a big girl hits that trolling 5mph its gonna explode IMO...get a $30 TDR for Trolling cant beat it...you talking about dedicated Rods then talking about using a TI for Trolling just spend $30 get TDR...
I do have one TDR. And most of the time when I'm trolling, I am with other people and we generally just hold one rod each and just troll two rods like that. It makes life easier for now. I might get more advanced in the future. If I'm alone I put the TDR in the rod holder and hold my regular rod and I always make sure my drag is setup right before I even put a bait in the water. For trolling the xxxh I will probaly take the beast off and put a different reel on as well.
How do the predator rods compare to the st.croix premier rods? Not as far as overall quality but action. Do they compare to any of the st.croix musky rods? |
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Posts: 983
| I dont have a premier but I have a Legend and are comparable...The Predator is a ST. Croix Blank specially made for Thornes to Specs...you can have the Thornes built on any ST. Croix Blank you want as well |
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Posts: 8
| I have both the XH 9'6" with a 500 PG tranx and a H 9'6" with 2" of the tip with a low speed beast. As others have stated the XH with a 500 tranx will do almost everything but it is extremely heavy. It's not too bad when fishing a day here and there but after 3-4 days in a row I get wore out.
I bought the 9'6" h-2 and beast combo this year for double 10 and smaller. The weight reduction is huge (mostly from the reel), feels like a bass rod. It is still a little light in the tip for the heavier double 10s like spankys but it handles the cowgirls and lighter double tens just fine.
Other opinions that are free and worth every penny. Syncork: wrap course grit sand paper around one of you rods and fish with it before you buy syncork. If it doesn't rub you the wrong way syncork should be ok. Rubbed my under arm raw every time I tucked it in after casting. Better after sanding but still rough. Split grip vs full: Full grip if I plan to use the rod to jerk or rip any lures. Split grip works fine if I only use it for straight retrieve. Digs into my ribs ripping lures. |
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Posts: 2894
Location: Yahara River Chain | Id save some of that money to buy a real good walleye outfit. After throwing pounder plus you are going to need some major surgery to repair all those joints and the doc is going to tell you no more muskie fishing.  |
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Posts: 735
Location: Apparently where the Muskie aren't | It sounds like the XH might be best for me, even though it will only be throwing blades. Mostly 8s and 10s with the occasionally 6 or 12.
25homes, what legend is most comparable to a predator XH?
And back to the reel, could the beast handle the abuse from the double 10s until I got the tranx? |
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Posts: 213
Location: Wisconsin | Tranx 400pg with predator xh and your all set. Nice light set up that will cover all bases. Just buy the power handle for it. I have the 400 hg on a st croix big dawg and the 400 pg on the big nasty and can throw everything out there but 2 pounders. If you really want to throw 2 pound baits I would suggest a muscrat or a farm cat anyways. |
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Posts: 735
Location: Apparently where the Muskie aren't | muskie! nut - 7/6/2017 3:38 PM
Id save some of that money to buy a real good walleye outfit. After throwing pounder plus you are going to need some major surgery to repair all those joints and the doc is going to tell you no more muskie fishing. : )
I suppose it does pose some health problems but being a young and fairly in shape guy I think I'll be ok, at least for a hour or two at a time. All that work chucking pounders and two pounders should help keep me warm when it is sleeting in December  |
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Posts: 735
Location: Apparently where the Muskie aren't | dirtybird - 7/6/2017 9:08 PM
Tranx 400pg with predator xh and your all set. Nice light set up that will cover all bases. Just buy the power handle for it. I have the 400 hg on a st croix big dawg and the 400 pg on the big nasty and can throw everything out there but 2 pounders. If you really want to throw 2 pound baits I would suggest a muscrat or a farm cat anyways.
I was considering the 400 but after thinking about it I decided to stick with the 500. Mainly because the 400 has only been out for a short while and hasn't been heavily used for multiple years (tested) like the 500. And when reeling in big blades I want something that is going to be nearly impossible to burn out. Also, like I already mentioned, I'm not really looking for a everything rod. The thorne rod and tranx will be strictly bucktails. (Don't mid spending big bucks on a bucktail rod since I fish that 80% of the time anyway.) I already have a 8'9" st. Croix premier XH that I feel works jerkbaits, gliders and small to mid size rubber great. |
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Posts: 332
Location: Michigan | H Predator = MH St. Croix Legend Elite
XH Predator = H St. Croix Legend Elite
The Legend Elite blanks have a faster action and are lighter in weight than the predator. If you want a dedicated bucktail rod for 8's and 10's I would get one built on the Legend Elite heavy blank.
Call Lonnie at Thornes and see what he recommends. |
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Posts: 983
| Musky_Mo16 - 7/6/2017 5:43 PM
It sounds like the XH might be best for me, even though it will only be throwing blades. Mostly 8s and 10s with the occasionally 6 or 12.
25homes, what legend is most comparable to a predator XH?
And back to the reel, could the beast handle the abuse from the double 10s until I got the tranx?
Beast 60hs will roll dbl 10s all day just will you get sick of cranking them has some decent resisitance but will do the Job no issue...Ive rolled dbl 10s on my HS tons of time its my dbl ten burning Rod and use beast 4.9 to slow roll or take break from burning them...its no issue...ID think the XH be closest to the Big dawg but ft longer and lil stiffer as well....The XH Predator will handle 8's, 10's and 12's like a dream and the figure 8 is unreal...Hell Ive thrown dbl 6s on it and no issue just have to leave 3-4ft line out to cast but will still launch that small bait and turn it no issue obviously...great set UP |
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| the problem with pounder rod happen exactly when you want to cast light lure like d10 or some topwater.your cast distance will be reduce and you will get a lot more fatigue just because the rod will not doing is job normally,when the rod stay straight during a cast it mean that your lures is too light,but i think everybody know that.imo a reel like a calcutta 401 cte can deal whit all the lures but a good rod for everything doesn't exist and can't exist |
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Posts: 119
| Hey brother I'm not going to rain on your parade at all but $600 bucks sounds like a rip for a musky rod. I know for a fact that you can get some excellent rods for half that and probably cheaper. I spin my own rods and I make mine for a fraction of the price. If I were you I'd get the size and blank you wanted and find someone with a wrapper and some knowledge and get one exactly how you want it for WAY cheaper and its more personal. That's just my 2 cents. As far a the reel prices go ... we are all at the mercy of shimano, abu, ect. lol. But if you got cash-flow-dollars like that then have at it dude. Your set ups are going to be top notch! |
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Posts: 735
Location: Apparently where the Muskie aren't | River2Stream - 7/8/2017 2:13 PM
Hey brother I'm not going to rain on your parade at all but $600 bucks sounds like a rip for a musky rod. I know for a fact that you can get some excellent rods for half that and probably cheaper. I spin my own rods and I make mine for a fraction of the price. If I were you I'd get the size and blank you wanted and find someone with a wrapper and some knowledge and get one exactly how you want it for WAY cheaper and its more personal. That's just my 2 cents. As far a the reel prices go ... we are all at the mercy of shimano, abu, ect. lol. But if you got cash-flow-dollars like that then have at it dude. Your set ups are going to be top notch!
I wish a had some major cash flow. Lol. There will be a ton of penny pinching and time put into saving up for these setups. But my father once told me "buy for life" and that's exactly what I will do, not that other cheaper rods won't catch fish but if I spend the money now on a top notch setup I won't be disappointed any time soon (or at least until something else better comes out).
Back to the main topic. I think that the XH predator will be the best for me, mostly 8 and 10s with the occasional 6 and 12-13. (Although this 10ft st.croix is making me think. Lol. It's alright I've got at least 5 months until I order still)
So now that I think I've got my blank picked out, do you guys think I should still take the 2" off the tip even though it is a heavier blank? |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | I have a st. Croix big nasty that does a great job with double 10s and mag dawg sized plastic. It does other things like cranks etc quite well too. It even throws Pounders ok if you don't go nuts trying to launch them too hard. My understNding is the predator xh is a notch heavier than the big nasty. I'm planning to get one next year for pounders and 2nd big blade rod.
I would not take 2 inches off the xh predator. I think you'll lose the tip you need to cast bucktails. You may want to call Thorne Bros and get their input before spending a lot of money.
I use a high speed Beast for big blades and rubber. Use the unbalanced power handle on the middle setting and blades are not hard. Pretty fast too. The balanced handle on this reel isn't quite powerful enough for me.
I'll say what others have. You may want to just hold off on the 2 pounder rod. That's a heck of a bait to throw and I'm not sure it gains you much. I also feel that a rod stiff enough to throw a 2 pounder isn't what you want for trolling unless your dragging 22 inch deep divers around. And then it still might be toi fast in action to troll well.
Just my thoughts. Good luck!
Tucker |
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Posts: 735
Location: Apparently where the Muskie aren't | curleytail - 7/9/2017 10:45 PM
I have a st. Croix big nasty that does a great job with double 10s and mag dawg sized plastic. It does other things like cranks etc quite well too. It even throws Pounders ok if you don't go nuts trying to launch them too hard. My understNding is the predator xh is a notch heavier than the big nasty. I'm planning to get one next year for pounders and 2nd big blade rod.
I would not take 2 inches off the xh predator. I think you'll lose the tip you need to cast bucktails. You may want to call Thorne Bros and get their input before spending a lot of money.
I use a high speed Beast for big blades and rubber. Use the unbalanced power handle on the middle setting and blades are not hard. Pretty fast too. The balanced handle on this reel isn't quite powerful enough for me.
I'll say what others have. You may want to just hold off on the 2 pounder rod. That's a heck of a bait to throw and I'm not sure it gains you much. I also feel that a rod stiff enough to throw a 2 pounder isn't what you want for trolling unless your dragging 22 inch deep divers around. And then it still might be toi fast in action to troll well.
Just my thoughts. Good luck!
Tucker
Thanks tucker. I am defiantly going to be talking to the guys at Thorne but I just wanted to get as many opinions as possible. I know people have different preferences but I'm sort of shocked to be hearing how many people think the XH predator is just right and how many think it's to heavy. I thought it would lean more one way but it's pretty evenly split.
As for the XXXH rod, I guess you could call that more of a novelty rod. That's why I'm not busting out another $600 for it. Even though it's sort of a novelty rod I think it has some very practical uses. You could cast giant baits with it but you can also use it to jig giant baits. I was thinking that even if I'm jigging a large (but not massive) bait, like a pounder, I can use that extra backbone to help get better hook sets, since we all know how hard it is to get hooks in on large rubber. Might even be able to jig the big bondy's with it. The novelty use is the casting but I see real potential in jigging. |
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Posts: 39
Location: Lawrenceburg,IN | TI makes a great XXXH rod , some mismarked for less than $140.00 shipped?
Can only use for a shirt time , late St Clair use . Throws mag shadzilas and jigging.
being sold on TI website. |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | Keep in mind I've never used a Predator xh. I think part of the even split is some guys want their blade rod to cast well at the expense of the rod loading up more in the figure 8. Some want the rod to load very little but it won't cast Cowgirls as well. It's part personal preference and part style. If not fishing too fast or doing hard figure 8s a softer and lighter rod can be nice as it make casting these light yet high wind resistant baits easier. |
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