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Posts: 776
Location: Ames, Iowa | I am looking for a new rod and reel for my oldest son for Christmas. He uses one 7'6" Scheel's rod with a 6501C3. He throws a lot of bucktails. He'd like to throw more cranks and jerk baits. I'm an ABU guy, and take them apart for cleaning and minor replacement. But I would entertain any suggestions for a great high speed jerkbait reel. I'd put the real money into the reel, and get a great rod at the right price or let him buy his own rod. Looked at a Revo Toro Beast 6.2 online at $330. 6501 C4 in high speed was $180. Are these ABUs still made in Sweden? That's important to me. Suggestions? |
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Posts: 761
| Abu guy here as well. The Toro beast would be the top of the line choice for Abu, and has been around of about ten years already, and is a proven muskie reel. The Toro beast is made in Korea. The 6601 c4 been around for decades and is still made in Sweden. The c3's and c4's along with the international series are Swedish made. The 7000 series are made in China. Another reel you might consider are the Penn Fathom and Squall 400 series. Close resemblance to the Toro Beast but with the ht 100 drag system. Kdawg |
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Posts: 1418
Location: Brighton CO. | If you want to throw cranks watch your gear ratio (keep it low), hi ratio works well for picking up line of you use a jerk. providing they don't pull back too hard witch is usually the case. |
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Posts: 776
Location: Ames, Iowa | Totally understand the need for the lower ratio for everything except jerk baits. It'll be jerk baits for this new rod and reel. Just one more tool for his arsenal. I would like to see him twitch more crank baits with what he has, but he loves those bucktails. |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | IMHO, hard to go wrong with this brand - both on price and quality.
https://tackleindustries.com/collections/fishing-rods
I own. 3.
However, I suggest you take him shopping and see what feels most comfortable to him. If there aren't many good shope in your area, there are shows coming up. m |
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Posts: 776
Location: Ames, Iowa | Thanks for the great lead on the rods Mikie. That XH 7'6" looks good. While you or anyone else is reading this, I came across the St. Croix Triumph rods. They have an extra heavy 7' or a heavy 7' 6'. Do you think the Tackle Industries rods are of the same quality as the St. Croix? Better?? Thank You... |
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Posts: 72
| 7'6" is awfully short for a rod. These days, I wouldn't go shorter than 9'. When you're using log rods with jerkbaits and gliders, you can work the rod across your body instead of down. I fish gliders of all sizes with a 10' XH rod.
Chaos tackle makes the best non-custom rods IMO. I don't think any other brand is even close. |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | I use that 7-6 TI rod for jerkbaits, works great.
A lot depends on how old and tall your son is; you may want to go to 8 ft depending. m |
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Posts: 1418
Location: Brighton CO. | Or is he on a casting deck, bottom of boat or even fishing from shore. I have a 7' 3" I still use that was my dad's and lots of 7' that are retired the three rods that I use now are 7' 11", 8', and a 9'. |
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Posts: 983
| djwilliams - 11/26/2024 7:37 PM
Thanks for the great lead on the rods Mikie. That XH 7'6" looks good. While you or anyone else is reading this, I came across the St. Croix Triumph rods. They have an extra heavy 7' or a heavy 7' 6'. Do you think the Tackle Industries rods are of the same quality as the St. Croix? Better?? Thank You...
The triumph rods are not the same overall quality as the higher end models offered by St Croix. They are an introductory level rod and are very limited in applications IMO - in other words they are fairly easy to "grow out of" as you and your son get more and more into it.
I do agree that 7'6 is awfully short now for a rod to be multifunctional. I'm a big fan of the chaos rods. My $0.02 -> Something like the SWAT in an 8'6"-9'0" length is a really good option for your son.
I would also encourage the revo toro beast in the 6.2. Not sure its made in Sweden like the older C3s. But, its my favorite all purpose reel by far. More durable interior components compared to similar reels. I use mine for everything from 6" phantoms to double 13s and 1.5-pounders. Find a counter-balanced power handle if you can. |
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Posts: 1037
| I love my Beast reels, but they are not for everyone. I love that High Speed as it is similar to what I grew up throwing, so everything feels "natural" for me. But? With the power handle, the weight of the handle can cause the reel to engage on the cast, resulting in damage to the reel. I had a friend blow up one of my Beasts this year, it needs to go into the shop.
If you are looking for a good all around reel, I'd recommend the Shimano 400B. It won't crank bucktails as well as say a Beast with a power handle, but you can put a power handle on it to go a little faster. I have a few of those reels and they are just tanks. I love them.
Rod wise, those new Musky Innovation rods that telescope are really nice and priced right. To me they run a little stiffer than their power rating. I use a Heavy on that rod, 9.5 footer, when typically like XH or XXH rods. Heavy is kind of perfect for tails, topwater, rubber....etc.
Good luck! |
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Posts: 1722
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | I would go 400 Tranx and be done. I had much better luck with the first toro reels and the nacls than I did the beasts. I sent 12 back to Abu in one season due to bearing failures. My Tranx reels were the first shimano reels I ever bought and I have more than 100 revo bass reels. I also used to be a die hard Abu fan, but after using Tranx, there is no going back.
Also a power handle as stated above does nothing for speed, but can make it easier to crank. |
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Posts: 7
| Just a suggestion:I’ve been using this set up for years and love it! I rarely throw double tens & pounders, but all the usual suspect lures work fine. Diawa ProRex rods 7’6” and 8’6” your choice coupled with a Shimano Curado 300. Pretty bullet proof combo IMHO, and does not break the bank! Skibum |
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Posts: 245
Location: Madison | DJ i sent you a pm |
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