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| Sorry to ask but I'm new to musky fishing.
Can you seasoned musky vets give me your opinions about your dream gear combos(rod/reel) and your favorite fishing line for whatever applications you want to address. Then I'll know what to buy before opening day so I can get started. Thanks![;)]
McLarkin |
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| My first piece of advice would be to check some of the old threads concerning equipment, line, rods, reels etc. Most of the guys here have their own preferences. I personally have a Loomis bucktail rod, a St. Croix for my crank baits, a Falcon for my jerks and gliders, another St. Croix for my topwaters. The list goes on and on,the one constant is that I have Shimano Calcuttas on all my rods. I use both Power Pro line and Tuff line. I like each of them for certain applications. I would give the nod to Tuff line to start out with however as it seems to not backlash as easily and has just a little bit of stretch so it is more forgiving around the boat. Direct your question at Rob Meyers, who posts on this board as well. He works at St. Croix rods and can give you all of the specifics including model numbers that you should look for.
Let Em Go...Let Em Grow.....Mike
www.ilikeslimepackedwienies.com[:bigsmile:] |
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| Forgot to include a big welcome to you from those of us at Muskiefirst. You have now found the best web site for Muskie info that youu will ever see. You don't have to be "sorry" to ask any questions here, this is exactly why this web site was founded. Welcome you can feel at home here. Mike |
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| McKlarkin, welcome. For equiptment you can't beat a garcia 6500 or a st. croix rod. That would be good for starters. Ideally to throw the gamut of musky baits you would need three rods, you could get away with two. If you want just one, I would reccomend the st. croix 6.5 or 7ft 3/4 to 3 oz. premere series rod. You can just about throw anything with it.
For mono line I like magnathin 20-40lb and excalibur by silver thread in the same range. For superline I like tuff line plus 100lb., gives me no troubles.
be sure to respond to the "where are you from thread and also check out the chat area, a load of fun.[:)] |
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| This is not a black & white question - What part of the country are you in? Are you casting or trolling for Muskies? This does make a difference in equipment selection. In addition, don't get hung up in purchasing big baits only. You need a combination of different sizes to meet the conditions of the year and where you fish. Also...do you have "Naturals" or "Tigers" (hybrids) where you are going to fish - it does make a difference. There are some great books and videos around to help you in addition to the bulletin boards (this is a great one). Keep it simple, view a couple of tapes, books, Muskie boards, and keep your purchases down until you really know what you want. Otherwise you will end up with twice the equipment you need.
I have all the tapes and books. If were going to purchase them as a newby I would get: (tapes in the $10 range) Great Musky Hunt 1 & 2 (In-Fisherman), and (books) Musky Mastery by Steve Heiting (prob. out of print but available if you look around at around $15). In addtion, there is a great book ($20) called Musky Tutor II by Danny Wade (Ohio guide) that is a simple, no-nonsense book that would suit you. You can find it on my site. (Note: I'm not compensated or affiliated with the authors in any way for featuring items on my site. I have them there because I believe in those items). |
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| Fear not oh triple 7....the only dumb question is the one I ask![;)] Welcome to the most informative + fun place in space!(cyber)....here you will find answers from A to Z on this board + meet people to fish w/ too! Ask on.....[:sun:] |
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| I like my Garcia 5600 Uc on a 7'6"(old model) St. Croix Premier. I do like the newer 7'6's but not for all around use(too stout), but a great crankin rod and surface bait rod they are for sure. I like the new 8'ers too but the handle is too long. My morrums are good reels, but you can find good stuff for less money. All and all, i have tons of hours on st. Croix and ABU Garcia products and they rarely fail me. |
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| Welcome, I'd have to agree with looking through some old threads and do a little research. And keep asking questions. I personaly use St. Croix rods and Garcia reels, power pro line, but also mono. You'll have to try some different things and find what your most comfortable and confident with and go with it. I would say buy good quality equipment. It will last year after year, if you maintain it. |
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| Hey McLarkin,
Stop now! Musky fishing is the worst addiction there is! You're far safer dabbling with herion, my friend.
I'm a few years in front of you and quite a few years behind most of the regulars on this site. I agree with the folks above, especially the suggestion about a Garcia 6500 on a 6.5' - 7' St. Croix as a starter combo. If your hands are small, be sure to check out the Fenwick HMG line of rods. If you are of limited income, hopscotch your way to quality gear by buying a good reel and an inexpensive rod (Rizzo from Walmart) now, and then save your change to get a much nicer rod later. If you stay with it, after a few years you'll end up with rod/reel combos for each type of bait (i.e., bucktails, cranks, jerks, etc) you regularly throw. Contact Rollie and Helen's Musky Shop to get a free catalog for drooling over. Good luck!
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| I AGREE WITH MUSKYONE, I HAVE BEEN USING TUFF-LINE FOR FOUR YEARS AND LOVE IT. I THINK THE BACKLASHES (PROFESSIONAL OVERRUNS) ARE GREAATLY DIMINISHED. I ALSSO FIND IT TO BE VERY DURABLE AND EASY TO CAST. I ALSO USE ST. CROIX RODS BUT WOULD LIKE TO PICK UP ONE OF THE ALL STAR RODS AT THIS WEEKENDS SHOW. I HAD SOME TROUBLE WITH THE MORUEM BUT SENT THEM BACK AND HAVE HAD NO TROUBLE SINCE. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE EON THAAT HAS JUST COME OUT. SEE YA AT THE SHOW OR MAYBE ON THE WATER. GOOD LUCK...[8)] |
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| 777 welcome to the family,
The rod/reel/line that I use are G-Loomis/Calcutta 400/Power Pro 65lbs. My Loomis is the best rod I own and I'll never get another rod. It's a 7'2" Light Bucktail and I can feel any tap that hits my lure. Having used the Calcutta that much but so far is great as well. And Power Pro in my eyes is the best line made.
BrettC |
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| Hi,
I would buy a 7' to 8' foot rod so you do your figure eights bigger and easier,depends on your height and your boat,I like St.Croix rods,myself. Also buy a reel with a clicker on it so you can troll or sucker fish. You may want to get the Garcia 6500 because its wider than the 5500 and you can pick out your backlashes easier. If you buy the right equiptment now it will save you money later, I learned that by mistake. |
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| When you find your dream combo let me know. I'm still looking and i have a lot of gear Morrum Calcuttas ect
I like the St Croix rods it the reels that keep breaking down. May the Calcutta-TE will hold up. A lot depends on what baits tou are useing.
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| Mclarkin,
Welcome to the largest family of muskie anglers on the internet. You will find that this community of muskie addicts is more then willing to assist you in your muskie learning, and take you fishing for that matter.
I have used many rods, reels and pitched almost everybait on the market. I will list the best combo I have ever used.
8'Lamiglas GC 80 XH
Shimano Calcutta 400
50lb Tuff-line
Most versitle combo that I have ever fished with.[;)] |
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| Welcome McLarkin!
Be sure to ask as many questions as possible. That is the best way to learn and get multiple opinions from the masses that frequent this site.
I'll give you a bunch of my rod and reel choices here with a little insight on each.
Personal favorite all around rod/reel/line:
* Lamiglas 6'6" Figure Eight Special (Med/Heavy Action)
* Shimano Curado reel (6.2/1 ratio; I like the smaller diameter reel for casting all day long) OR
Abu Garcia 5501 C3 (I am left handed).
* 80lb test Power Pro.
Expensive - yes BUT you can virtually throw any and all possible baits that you would want to throw with this outfit. The only bad thing is you don't have a bait click out alarm for sucker fishing or trolling. You could get an Abu Garcia 6501 C3 but this reel is kind of big for casting all day long. Once you get more into it, you can get into some special combinations. This is my go to combo except for the following specials.
Light weight combo for small bucktails, spinnerbaits, crankbaits and jerkbaits (like a Spring Dawg):
* 6'8" All Star MWR2 (Ex-Fast-Heavy Action) IM10X
* Shimano Calcutta 151
* 80 lb. Power Pro
Bucktail/surface bait/light crankbait rod:
* 6'8" Lamiglas Certified Pro (Med/Heavy Action)
* Shimano Curado reel (6.2/1 ratio)
* 80 lb. Power Pro
Bulldawg and Deep Diving Crankbait Rock Crashing Combo:
* 7' Custom G-Loomis (Med/Heavy Action)
* Shimano Calcutta 251
* 80 lb. Power Pro
Trolling and sucker fishing:
* 6'10" Falcon (Extra Heavy Action)
* 7' Southbend Catfish Special - Fiberglass
* 7'6" Power Plus (Heavy Action) - Fiberglass
NOTE: Fiberglass is a must in late fall. Graphite rods will shatter in extreme cold.
I have had it happen several times before I bit the bullet and got glass rods.
* Abu Garcia 6501 C3's for all of the above - need the bait click out alarm
* 80 lb. Power Pro
Hope this helps!
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| If you are just getting started in this great disease,I would suggest a Pete Maina combo from Bass Pro Shops.It is relatively in exspensive,well built and should last more than a few seasons.My own preferance is for St. Croix rods,Abu Garcia reela and 100 pound Power Pro line.Good Luck and have FUN! Paul |
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| Aurora 8' Signature rod, Ambassadeur 5600C or Mitchell 900 series, and 60# Spiderwire braid. An .051 hard, or 60# sevenstrand leader tops it off. |
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| FYI: Jackson lures is selling reconditioned 6500 C3s for very reasonable prices. I think they may be running a special on them right now. You can find them by clicking on my catalog link on the front page of my site. |
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