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Posts: 259
Location: Madison, WI | Hi guys,
I haven't bought a lot of new musky equipment in the past few years, and so I'm a bit out of touch with the latest trends in musky gear.
But, I am in the market for a new baitcasting reel, as some of my stuff is starting to get outdated and not functioning as well as in the past.
So, I'm wondering what would be a good general purpose reel. I don't really need high speed for burning bucktails. I'm looking for something that is sturdy enough to handle mid sized Curly Sues and Bulldawgs, to pair with a heavy action 8'6" Bulldawg rod.
Any suggestions for what reels would work well for this application?
Thanks in advance for any feedback!
"Jackpot" John Schroeder |
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Posts: 988
| you have a few options available to you depending on your price range. The 300/400 tranx series by shimano are popular and would fit the bill for the applications you described. Warranty service is pretty good too though it has become a bit more "corporatized" over the years IMO. Abus are another solid choice the beasts are solid reels. Daiwa has two models (prorex and lexa TW). Out of the box they are super smooth reels but there are some cheap plastic parts in them that will go quickly so if you go that route, send them to Dave's reel service to have him replace those parts with metal parts if/when it happens.
If you want to go the cheap route, Piscifun has a few models for cheap. There are no parts for them so if they break you can either get it replaced by Piscifun or you just pony up another $120 for a new reel if they dont warranty it. |
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Posts: 32919
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Piscifun Alios 400, good product at a good price. |
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Posts: 1
| I use the Shimano TranX 400 HG on my 8'-6" heavy Slingblade for a few years now.
Has been an awesome reel. No problems at all. A pleasure to use all day. Even if you don't want a hg (high gear),
just slow your retrieve down. But this give you the choice of faster or slower.
Also, you could go with the 300 series in HG or PG, or the 400 in PG. My option,
It's worth the dollars. My HG comes with the power handle as well-
If that's something you like. |
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Posts: 48
Location: Mississippi | I use mostly the Shimano Tranx 300 & 400 HG's with power handles. I do use a couple of the Shimano Tranx 400 PG's with the power handles added to them for the bigger pulling bucktails, it pulls them so much more manageable for me. |
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| Last reel I bought was a Daiwa Proex TW and I like it a lot. Also borrowed a Tranx 400 from the lodge on Eagle Lake where I was last summer. Great reel, smooth as butter.
But, if someone does not fish that much or is on a budget there are other solid reels, as Steve points out. |
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Posts: 8
| Please avoid the Piscifun 400's at all costs... I had FOUR of them, and all 4 have broken within a couple weeks. I then purchased a Prorex and it's been fantastic.. After that I bought a Tranx 400 and it's just as good. I'd day the Prorex casts better, but the tranx is smoother on the retrieve. I'd never spend my money with Piscifun again, despite how willing they were to replace my broken equipment. |
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