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Posts: 29
| I need a reel to pair with my 8' Heavy Avid for big crankbaits and swimbaits. I was thinking of a Calcutta 400B, Avid AC250 (since I watch Saric use his every Saturday), or an Abu Record. I love the way my Shimano Cardiff is palmable for my bucktail rod, just didn't know how one would hold up to big baits. |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | ABU's big game 7000 works great on my Avid. You won't be palming it, though. m |
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Posts: 2378
| IMO, you cant beat a 7000 for big baits.
I actually prefer them for just about everything. They just feel right to me.
I dont have very big hands for a guy my size, and I dont have any problem palming these reels. If you go with the iHSN that reel is even more palmable.
Edited by BALDY 3/22/2007 8:08 AM
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Posts: 1462
Location: Davenport, IA | I'd go w/ the AC250. I have a couple Millionaire CVX-253's and love them. (very similar reel) Why get a 20 ounce reel when you can get 10 ounce one. |
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Posts: 680
Location: Muskoka Ontario,Canada | Shimano Curado 300 DSV. Low profile great line capacity, smooth as butter and fast & powerful. |
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Posts: 1462
Location: Davenport, IA | Musky Snax - 3/22/2007 11:30 AM
Shimano Curado 300 DSV. Low profile great line capacity, smooth as butter and fast & powerful.
Thats what I put on my 8'6" Legend Tournament. We'll see later today how well it works. |
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Posts: 680
Location: Muskoka Ontario,Canada | I think you might be impressed. We'll see, I know I was pleasantly surprised. |
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Posts: 2378
| jtd,
Based on the responses, I think you need to specify what you mean by BIG baits.
Are you throwing Mag Dawgs, Pounders?
That Curado may work very well for alot of muskie baits, but I can almost guarantee you will not be happy with it if you are going to throw what I consider BIG baits. Especially cranks that have a lot of drag. It just isnt built for that. |
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| 7000ics
6500 Big Game CL
Morrums |
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Posts: 29
| Bulldawgs, big cranks like grandmas, etc... What about the 400B? Anyone have input on this reel? |
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Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | I would go with a Dawia Luna 300 |
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Posts: 137
| I second the daiwa luna. Smooooooth reel. |
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Posts: 1462
Location: Davenport, IA | I did try the Curado today. I threw the 13" (14 oz) suzy sucker a lot with it today and it worked fine. As far as being able to put up with the abuse...it is built like a tank. I posted pictures awhile back comparing its gears to a 6500c3's, the curados are much bigger. And this reel is smoooth. I really like the feel of it. It just cranks so much smoother than any other muskie reel I have. I also tried out my Okuma Induron IDX-400 today...another awesome reel so far. It probobly casts a 1 1/2 oz rattle trap further than any other reel I've tried. (c3, c4, corsair, trion, millionaire) The power handle on it is nice too. Plus the drag seems to hold more than other reels. |
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Posts: 29
| Is the 2007 St. Croix Avid AC300a reel the same as the Luna? I see for this year it has 5+1BB's instead of 3+1 as in the past. |
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Posts: 494
Location: midwest | I believe the additional 2 bearings in the avid reel are due to the upgraded handle. It looks like it has bearing supported paddles on the handle. |
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Posts: 221
Location: ohio | Fished my calcutta 400b yesterday for the first time, Being an abu man, i found myself grabbing my shimano's (got a corvalus 400 also ) more then my abu's. i am impressed with the 400B. maybe it's the "New reel gotta use it thing" but like i said, I'm impressed. |
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Posts: 780
| Let's see here. Use a 14oz. lure with a reel that weighs 10oz. After fishing for 35 years, something still does not sound right me, I can't figure it out. Should'nt that be the other way around? Kdawg |
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Posts: 780
| One more thing I would like to add.... If you still have questions about reels, be sure to catch Lindners Fishing Edge with Lee Tauchen. They were using big plastic baits in the fall. Pay VERY CLOSE ATTENTION to the gear they were using, because if the two top pros recommend it....well, need I say more? Kdawg |
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Posts: 29
| Yeah I saw the show a few weeks ago but don't remember what they were using...
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| yeah I missed it too and would be interested to hear... |
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Posts: 58
Location: Edina, MN | If you want to throw baits over 10 oz. or burn big bladed bucktails, like many have already stated, you will want a bigger beefier reel. ABU 7000 or Calcutta 700b would seem good picks. I palm both easily and use the full size 7000 not the narrow. I have a Curado, and a CVZ 253. These are bass reels not designed for big baits. At full drag you will never burn a Cowgirl with either reel for long before the reel is trash. Big gears are meant for speed not power. You want torque and you need smaller gears. I like to throw big baits and after a full day of ripping big baits I know I could go out and do it again tomorrow if I use a reel designed to do the job. Can't imagine doing that after a full day with the 253 (that is if I still had a functioning reel). |
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Posts: 680
Location: Muskoka Ontario,Canada | I threw mostly my monster glide baits for two full seasons both during testing and actual fishing. I also burned spinnerbaits a lot as well. I was using my Shimano Calcutta TE 200GT reels which are tiny Bass reels using the same high efficiency gearing as now comes in the newest Curado 300DSV.
Never had a single issue with either reel and they are both as smooth as the day I bought them. The new Curado is not a Bass reel it is a musky/saltwater reel capable of a ton of speed AND power. It's not only gear size but frame stiffness and overall tolerances that will make or break reels. If reels with flexy internal structures are used, it won't matter what the actual gearing is. Eventually, they will feel sloppy. Handle length can also make a reel feel more powerful as it changes the leverage.
Edited by Musky Snax 3/24/2007 9:05 AM
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Posts: 1462
Location: Davenport, IA | Small gears = small teeth, which in turn is not as durable. Compare the differential of a 1 ton diesel truck to one on a compact truck. The ring and pinion are much larger on a bigger truck to handle the torque. The size of a reel's frame has nothing to do with how well its built. |
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Posts: 199
Location: Sandusky, OH | I just bought a Penn 975 for big baits, and I'm looking forward to testing it this year. Line return is 24" per turn with full spool, but lower gear ratio (4.5:1) to handle the torque. You might look into the smaller models in this line, as well, the 955 and 965. Good luck,
Eric |
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Posts: 167
Location: Minnesota | I am guessing that kdawg is referring to Shimano products b/c that is who sponsors Linder's Angling Edge. Also kdawgs other posts in this forum make him seem partial to shimano.  I am always impressed with shimano for reels you can't go wrong there. the new abu 7000hsn seems like it would be a good choice too. I think that there are alot of reels out there that will get the job done. Its just going to come down to preference.
dan
Edited by dfree 3/24/2007 12:05 PM
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Posts: 780
| Actually, I have been fishing Abu's for almost 30years. Love em. Nothing against Shimanos because there reputation speaks for it's self. But in the episode of "Edge" I was refering to both James Lindner and Lee Tauchen were using large baitcasters. No sign of small low profile reels in that boat! Jim appeared to be using a Calcutta 400 and Lee was using my favorite the 7000cl Big Game. As far as my concern....use what ever you want. Maybe the guys that are recommeding the smaller reels for BIG PLASTIC BAITS should pass their advice on to James and Lee. Heaven knows, those guys need it right? Kdawg |
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Posts: 680
Location: Muskoka Ontario,Canada | If you look at the new Curado reel, the drive side is actually quite large and houses the monster main gear. The other side is very palmable and comfortable during hours of casting. To me it's the best of both worlds. The power of a round reel with the handling of a low profile. Well done Shimano. |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Luna 300,, Smooth as silk ,.......Even with the "big " baits.
Jerome |
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Posts: 680
Location: Muskoka Ontario,Canada | Here's a look at the Curado. Note the monster drive side and much smaller palming side. Nice line capacity for casting purposes and a powerful drag with clicking adjuster. An elegant tank of a reel! 
Edited by Musky Snax 3/24/2007 6:26 PM
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 piccurado300dsv1.jpg (45KB - 172 downloads)
SCU30D-fr.JPG (41KB - 174 downloads)
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| It will be interesting to see if the Curado holds a candle to the Quantum Cabo PT.....maybe, maybe not.... |
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