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Posts: 33
| Hey all... I am pretty new to all of this (muskie addiction that is)... I read everyone saying to buy the best... don't scrimp to save $$$... its not worth losing a monster fish to poor tackle... and so on.
Well, I am a poor fisherman (more ways than one)- mostly due to filling up with gas to GO fishing, so buying 5 or 6 St. Croix Premiers, with Shimano Calcuttas or some other similar combo... regardless of how much I WANT to.. is out of the question. Sooo... I recently purchased a pair of Cabela's Tourney Trail XH, 7'6" casting rods that I plan to top off with a pair of older Penn Peer trolling reels. I do plan to run 80 lb. Power Pro... Oh, and the reason I chose these rods is because they were on clearance in Cabelas for $32, down from $70...
Anybody else use those rods or reels? Or have suggestions for other less expensive rods/reels that a poor guy could look into? |
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Posts: 32880
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Sounds like you have it headed in the right direction. If the reels are well maintained, and the lures you select match the outfits, you will be fine.
Specs look like this:
TTCM767-1 7'6" 2 to 6 ounce lures XH action 20-50 pound test line |
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Posts: 63
Location: Minnesota | Those are great rods, my first rods where those same ones from Cabela's. I don't know about the reels, but like sworrall said, if their i shape there's no reason to doubt their fishing ability. |
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| havent used them models but I started with cabeelas fish eagle II series muskie rods and did well with them also check out shimano compre muskie series |
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Posts: 1405
Location: Detroit River | I have the Cabela's Tourney Trail 7'6" rated up to 3oz lures. I didn't use the rod that much but did land a few pike & muskies with it up to 48". The rod now sits in my basement collecting dust. |
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Posts: 33
| Y'all are putting my mind at ease ... thanks! I don't live in GIANT musky territory... a monster for me is going to be upper 40s. I throw regular dawgs, bucktails, spinnerbaits, and 6-8" cranks... typically smaller stuff... definitley no pounders, etc.
The reels are very well maintained... very rarely used, just a few years old.
Oh and the specs on the rods are as follows;
7'6", XH, fast action, 2-6 oz. lures, 20-50 lb line...IM7 graphite, aluminum oxide guides, here is the link;
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Fishing-Rods/Casting-Rods%7C... |
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| You will know whether the reels you have are treating you right. You don't need Calcuttas to catch fish. Shimano alone offers two musky size reels that are much less in price. Abu Garcia also makes competent reels. Do you really need 80 lb. test line? So far as rods are concerned, again, you know whether what you have is doing the job. You can always look at Gander Mountain brand rods. I'm satisfied with mine. Don't bust yourself financially to catch fish unless you make your living at it. |
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Posts: 33
| Swan... I do have a C3 and love it... I would love to put them on all of my rods. Garcia also makes a cheaper reel, a BCX i believe? They aren't the Swiss-made reels, but are around 60 bucks...more my speed! Also, I fish 80 lb braid, not primarily that I am afraid of a fish breaking it, but rather, ive been told that lesser lb test braids will bite into themselves on the reels on hard hooksets when the drag is locked down. |
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Posts: 1710
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | Gasman - 12/16/2012 4:09 PM
Swan... I do have a C3 and love it... I would love to put them on all of my rods. Garcia also makes a cheaper reel, a BCX i believe? They aren't the Swiss-made reels, but are around 60 bucks...more my speed! Also, I fish 80 lb braid, not primarily that I am afraid of a fish breaking it, but rather, ive been told that lesser lb test braids will bite into themselves on the reels on hard hooksets when the drag is locked down.
While I am a die hard Abu fan, stay away from the BCX. Stick with the C3 or higher. You will replace the BCX in less than a year if you fish often or with baits over 5" long.
If you don't lock the drag on your C3's, they last much longer. The spool shaft bends under locked drag. |
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| I wouldn't go below the C3 if I was buying a new reel. I'd rather have fewer set ups with at least C3 performance. |
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Posts: 33
| 10-4... I was warned of the BCX and y'all have confirmed it... another C3 it is! |
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Posts: 260
Location: Almost Heaven | +1 on the BCX. They are made in another Asian country and the last time i looked, they don't fish for muskies over there. 6500C3 are the ones you want that are made in Sweden. I have seen some new for 90.00 a couple times and if you catch Gander or some of the other chains they run 10 to 20 bucks off for 100.00 spent and ship free. Can always pick up a good used one on Ebay. Catch a big un' |
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Posts: 32880
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | They don't fish Muskies in Sweden, either. Nor do they in Japan. |
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Posts: 32880
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | The point was clear. A reel manufacturer doesn't need to be in a country where Muskies are to build a great Muskie reel. There are a number of reels sold that are perfect for the intended use that won't hold up to the abuse Muskie anglers hand out.
Buy a reel you can afford that matches as closely as is possible to what you intend to throw.
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Posts: 833
| I would pay strong attention to what Steve is saying about matching the lures to your gear. Nothing wrong with starting out on the cheap, just understand that there are some lures out there that have the potential to decimate the gear you are using. (think 10 and 13 sized bucktails and big rubber) Avoid those and you should be good to go. Besides, the fish don't care if they get caught on a $20 rod or a $400 rod. |
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