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Posts: 125
| I have an Abu Garcia C4 and for what i use it for: cranks, suicks, single blade bucktails, it works great. But over the weekend i was trying to pull double 8s and this reel just does not have enough backbone to efficiently throw those all day like i was doing. lots of effort to reel them in.
Whats a good all around reel that can pull double 8s with ease, but is good with crank baits as well. What should i be looking for?
Thanks! |
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Posts: 1716
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | Revo Toro NaCl 60 5.4:1. You will not be sorry. |
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| Am sure you will get several suggestions.. I warn you to quit using the C4 for heavy pulling baits now. I just blew out my C4 and it no longer will engage to start taking in line after I cast... When I get this repaired, I will also be in the new reel market when funds allow... From my understanding, A Diawa Lexa 400 or Abu NACL are decent and fairly common and both a step up from the round abus.. I plan to try both and choose whichever feels better in hand. There are good and bad reviews of both, but mostly positive. A step up from there will be the Shimano Tranx. It will pull in blades like butter, but it's also almost twice the price and some say it is too large for their hands and/or to use all day. Good luck. |
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Posts: 125
| What specs should i be looking for in a reel for better efficiency? I dont throw double blades a lot, but when i do, it shouldn't be that difficult as it was.
On a budget unfortunately. |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | There are literally hundreds of posts here addressing your question, take a look at many of the recent threads for help. |
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| There is basically spool size, gear ratio, inches per turn, size/comfort, and build quality.. You want a spool capable of holding enough heavy braid. lower gear ratios will make it feel easier to reel, but will give up some inches per turn when comparing apples to apples. size/comfort will depend on the person.. and 'most' reels $200+ are built well enough, though you will find some people giving good and bad reviews of any reel on the market. If you are looking to upgrade from a C4, remember that alone is about a $140 reel new. A lexa 400 and NACL are about $100 and $150 more than that respectively. I might suggest payng a reel guy to swap the gears in your C4 with 5.4:1 or even 4.6:1 gears to get a bit more life out of your current reel... It will be easier to turn, but will bring in less inches of line per turn (will need to turn the reel more/faster to bring in line).. This will allow you to keep fishing, and save some money for one of the above mentioned reels.. There are other options, but these are probably the most common. Opinions will vary. |
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Posts: 125
| trying to figure out what wont mess up current comfort set up. I like my suicks and shallow raiders but need to have the ability to pull the double 8s. if i go with the 6.3 raito, is that too much for jerkbaits? |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | No, it's actually an advantage working Suicks. A C3 might meet your budget and needs if you top out at 8's. |
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Posts: 125
| my quick research is pointing me to the lexa 300... |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Revo NaCl 50or used/new Revo Toro if you are going to go smaller and low profile.
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Posts: 143
| If you go the Lexa route, be sure to check Ebay. Ive gotten both my 400s from Ebay and got $50-$70 off on each! |
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Posts: 125
| I had a go at the abu record 60 over the weekend. Felt smooth while i was taking in double 8s. would this be a upgrade over my C4? |
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Posts: 143
| The record is more than likely an upgrade, you could also try a power handle, for pulling double 8's in a power handle on the C4 should be more then plenty... would save you a few hundred dollars. |
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Posts: 125
| So right now i am scouting ebay and have found the following reels that i think fit what i am looking for and cost. Am I on the right track? Will these have problems pulling 8s while keeping my bread and butter efficient with jerks, cranks, and twitch baits?
Lexa 300H 6.3:1 28" per turn
Abu Record 6600 5.3:1 26" per turn
Abu Revo Winch 5.4:1 22" per turn
Abu C4 6600 6.3:1 30" per turn
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Posts: 167
Location: Tomahawk, WI | The Revo is not a winch if it has a 5.4:1 Ratio. I believe winches have a 4.6:1 ratio. I'm sure someone here knows for sure. |
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Posts: 125
| banditman - 9/15/2014 11:37 AM
The Revo is not a winch if it has a 5.4:1 Ratio. I believe winches have a 4.6:1 ratio. I'm sure someone here knows for sure.
You are thinking of the Revo TORO Winch. |
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Posts: 353
Location: Western U.P. | Revo Toro Winch 4.6:1
Revo Winch 5.4:1 (Bass sized reel)
If you have a C4 already and it is not quite what you are looking for, why do you have it on your list of possibilities?
On your list of the 4 reels, the 6600 5.3:1 Record may be the better choice for throwing up to #8 blades (based on your criteria). A pretty solid reel, and a good all around gear ratio. If it doesn't already have one, putting a power handle on it could help make things easier. |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI |
Reels in my boat this year that would easily handle double 8's and above:
Revo Toro 60 5.4:1 gear ratio (26" line per crank) - handles up to double 10's pretty easy with the double paddle handle and easy as can be with the power handle. Around $279 retail, maybe $230's on Ebay.
Shimano Calcutta 400B - 24" per crank. Reel is about $220. Mine has a power handle (extra $30). 10's are easy, 8's would be cake.
Okuma Isis 400 - 24" per crank. Used to find them on Ebay for $150. Mine has a power handle (used to be free, but I think they are about $15 if you need to buy one). 10's are pretty easy and 8's would be like 'nuthin.
Just about any reel that picks up 24-26" of line with a decent handle (as in not overly short), should treat you just fine for double 8's. Lots of people are liking the 400 Lexa in the 5.1 PWR ratio too. It does 28" line pickup per crank and would be effortless with 8's, but it's a fairly heavy reel, and maybe overkill for what you need. Decent price at about $200 on Ebay though.
Just about any decent musky reel that retrieves 24-26" line per crank should suit you well and have enough power to not wear you out, yet enough speed to put a little heat on bucktails if wanted. I wouldn't go much below 24" or you'll be cranking like crazy all day to maintain a decent speed. |
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Posts: 167
Location: Tomahawk, WI | callworth - 9/15/2014 11:41 AM
banditman - 9/15/2014 11:37 AM
The Revo is not a winch if it has a 5.4:1 Ratio. I believe winches have a 4.6:1 ratio. I'm sure someone here knows for sure.
You are thinking of the Revo TORO Winch.
Well, we are talking Muskie reels. The Toro is a Muskie reel, the other is for bass. |
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Posts: 1283
| If your only going up to 8s I would go NACL 50. 6.4, any thing above that the 60 5.4 is my choice. Both LEXAs will work just fine as well but just are not as nice/good as the NACLs IMO. I say this owning all 4 reels. |
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Posts: 1279
| I've got the Shimano Curado 300 EJ (switched out the power handle for a standard double paddle) on a 7'6" medium heavy, a Abu Garcia Revo Toro 60-HS, on an 8' heavy action rod, a Diawa Lexa 400H, on an 8' 6" extra heavy rod. Gear ratios are all the high speed. I am really happy with each set up. I match the bait size to the appropriate rig. The Curado is great with all the small baits I throw, the Revo Toro is a perfect middle reel. Can handle just about anything. I really like the way the Lexa matches up with the bigger extra heavy rod, and it handles throwing heavy baits really well. I don't throw a lot of big blades, but have thrown a few more 8s and 10s lately, because the Lexa is pretty easy to pull them in with. If I was only going to have one rig, I would put the Revo, on an 8' heavy action rod. You could cover a wide range of baits, and have adequate equipment to throw it. I go with the higher gear ratios because the vast majority of fish I hook, tend to run at the boat. It seems I'm always trying to keep a tight line at some point in the fight. Also, the vast majority of the fishing I do, is 3 to 4 hours at a time, on one of the local metro lakes, so even if I have to crank a little harder on some baits, I'm not out there all day. |
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Posts: 483
Location: NE PA | okuma komodo 350 would get my vote for a balance of quality and price. can be had new for right around 150 and is built like a tank |
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Posts: 624
Location: S.W. WI | Shimano Calcutta 400B
Tacklewarehouse $199
A workhorse. Solid. Best reel for the money.
....In my humble opinion. |
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Posts: 62
Location: Minnetonka MN | We have 2 Calcutta 400B with a couple years of wear and tear on them. This year added the Revo Toro NACL 60 5.4:1 -- this is a great all-around reel for up to double 10s with the power handle. The only minor issue is the sticky thumb button which has often been reported by users. I will be sending mine in to get repaired since it is under warranty. Also added a Revo Toro Winch near the end of the season for burning double-10s. Great reel as well.
Bottom Line: the NACL would be my recommendation. If you wait until the spring musky shows I bet there will be a rod and reel combo deal available again! |
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Posts: 1283
| Used a calcutta 400b for a few hours with a guide last month. Really liked it for a round reel, but did have a couple minor back lashes. Then I used his NACL for a few hours not one single problem, my GF used a NACL the entire time no problems. My brother used his own Curado and backlashed it so hard we had to cut the line despite a few other backlashes. Back lashes are #*^@ near non existent with NACLs. Same with the 3 I own.
Man I really wish Abu would come out with the new reel already. |
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