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Posts: 72
| I'm looking for some suggestions for a rod and reel combo for my girlfriend who is getting into muskie fishing. Last year in Canada I had her throw my 6'9 jerkbait rod with a Garcia Record on it. She did ok with it, but needs something that fits better.
She doesn't reel very fast(cost her a fish on the Goon), so I'm thinking something with a little higher gear ratio. I'm also not sure a really long rod would be the best option just for the safety of the guy at the front of the boat. I'd mainly have her just throwing medium sized bucktails, topwater, and the like.
I'd appreciate any suggestions, especially from people who have had wives/girlfriends also get into the sport. Thanks. |
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Posts: 1677
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | 300 Tranx and a st croix long ranger. My wife uses mine all the time.
Could get a 300ahg if you want high speed for her, but she will not like anything above 8’s if she is like my wife on a hg. The 5.8 gears are still light years faster than an abu round reel. 32 inches on a very full spool is what mine measure. Fastest I could get a record or c3 was 24 when they were filled in the same manner. |
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Posts: 1208
Location: E. Tenn | See if you could find a Revo Toro, (the version after the Winch).. It came in 5.4:1, and 6.2:1. I don't remember the IPT, for each offhand the but it's in the mid 20" IPT range. The reel weighs in @ 10.3 oz. for the 50, and 10.8 oz. for the 60, as I recall.
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Posts: 714
| I guided women a lot. The Favorite two setups for them (and other smaller people) was a 300 size reel on a Thornes 8-6 medium heavy using 65 lb braid to help compensate for smaller spool size. That handled topwater, twitching and smaller bucktails. Next size up was a fast 400 on a Thornes 9 foot H blank with 2" trimmed from the tip and then added to the butt, 80-100lb braid. We called it the 9H minus 2. That rod is perfect for so many lures and can handle almost anything in the box in a pinch. Put a premium on getting a rod that is light in weight as it makes such a difference for smaller people. |
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Posts: 1203
Location: Walker, MN | I agree with bturg, the rod doesn't need to be short, just light and balanced. Woman and kids on my boat use a 9' H Elliot, it fishes like an 8'er. |
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Posts: 32800
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Vexan Inshore rods in this class are light yet powerful. My wife used an MH and liked it. I have several, good rods. I'd put a Piscifun Alijoz on it, small, powerful, and tough reel for a hundred bucks, I have 3 of those and really like the reel. You'd have in the $325 range in it ready to go.
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Posts: 267
Location: Central Pennsylvania | tranx 300AHG for sure, as for rods, maybe st croix long ranger or just a bass swimbait rod rated for what you're gonna throw (they're usually pretty light and well balanced)? |
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Posts: 72
| Thanks for the suggestions. I'm mainly wanting a shorter rod just for safety reasons. She isn't used to throwing longer rods with big baits, so I'm trying to look out for the guy at the front of the boat(me). I'll mainly have her throwing shumways, topraiders, and lures like that. She'll eventually get better, but thats what probably works best for now.
I have a 7' fig rig MH rod that I've never used, but I'll also look into the other ones listed. I've never heard of the Vexan rods before, are they newer or am I just ignorant? |
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| Hmmm, wouldn't a longer rod give the guy in the front of the boat more margin than short, other than if she does full side arm? Say she has a 9' rod at the 2 o'clock position, that bait would be 2' further up in the air. When I started musky fishing in the mid '70s, those short pool cue rods meant the baits were not that high and anything other than complete vertical could make things uncomfortable for boat partners. Just a thought. |
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Posts: 1677
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | North of 8 is spot on. Longer keeps the bait higher and away from your head. You’re really handcuffing her in the 8 with a 7 ft rod also. Teach her how to cast at home so there are no concerns and it will be more enjoyable for both. |
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Posts: 1203
Location: Walker, MN | I'll 2nd (3rd?) what the last two posts stated. Longer rod, straight over the top is what I try and teach for safety. Hooks are nowhere near other anglers at that point. 2 on the bow, one casting in the stern, no issues until someone goes rogue or side-arm. |
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| Masqui-ninja - 2/5/2022 9:26 AM
I'll 2nd (3rd?) what the last two posts stated. Longer rod, straight over the top is what I try and teach for safety. Hooks are nowhere near other anglers at that point. 2 on the bow, one casting in the stern, no issues until someone goes rogue or side-arm.
Steve Heiting at a seminar said when he was guiding, he would tell clients that for safety no side-arm. If they did it once, he would counsel the client, explain the safety factor, etc. Second time, he took them back to the landing. He said his guide fee was not worth getting a hook in the eye. |
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Posts: 32800
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Vexan and Tackle Industries are brands under the Tackle Enterprises brand. |
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Posts: 517
Location: WI | I would think from a workload perspective you would want a longer rod too. Especially if she’s going on fishing trips. Takes a lot more work to cast and do figure eights for long periods of time with a shorter rod. |
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| raftman - 2/5/2022 8:59 PM
I would think from a workload perspective you would want a longer rod too. Especially if she’s going on fishing trips. Takes a lot more work to cast and do figure eights for long periods of time with a shorter rod.
Really good point. Think most have been using longer rods for quite a while and have forgotten those benefits of using a longer rod. |
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Posts: 1196
| Not sure on a rod but for the reel Concept 13 A3. |
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Posts: 206
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota | I’d definitely consider a 300 size Lexa hd/tws. I have used both tranx 300 and the newer lexa 300’s for smaller rods and have gotten rid of every tranx I own. In my experience the smaller lexa’s handle small baits better than the tranx 300 and cast further with less effort. As for rod I would agree with everyone else and say a light 9 fter. If all she is going to do is throw small baits than something like a st croix 9tt MH would be perfect, or if you want more versatile rod than Thorne 9ft heavy is another solid option. Another cheaper option would be a chaos 20/20 9ft MH, still a light rod and is telescopic if storage is a concern |
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Posts: 735
| Have your girlfriend to go to some sport shows with you and have her put some of those combos in her hands. Let her make the decision! If money no object, St.croix downsizer series matched up with a revo beast 40 7.3to1. Kdawg |
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| kdawg - 2/7/2022 10:09 PM
Have your girlfriend to go to some sport shows with you and have her put some of those combos in her hands. Let her make the decision! If money no object, St.croix downsizer series matched up with a revo beast 40 7.3to1. Kdawg
Great idea from a hands-on standpoint, particular for reel to hand fit. However, not sure you want a girlfriend to go to a musky show. She might come away with the impression most musky fishermen become overweight and dress like they dumpster dive at Goodwill. |
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Posts: 490
Location: NW WI | North of 8 - 2/8/2022 7:44 AM
kdawg - 2/7/2022 10:09 PM
Have your girlfriend to go to some sport shows with you and have her put some of those combos in her hands. Let her make the decision! If money no object, St.croix downsizer series matched up with a revo beast 40 7.3to1. Kdawg
Great idea from a hands-on standpoint, particular for reel to hand fit. However, not sure you want a girlfriend to go to a musky show. She might come away with the impression most musky fishermen become overweight and dress like they dumpster dive at Goodwill.
Ha! Best to get it over with now than don't ya think? She turns and bolts, well, I guess she wasn't worth hanging on to. Plus,if you narrow down her selection at a show or a store and she picks it herself...you might save yourself from some complaining down the road. |
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Posts: 2280
Location: Chisholm, MN | My wife really likes the big nasty st croix. She also uses the high speed abu beast and likes that. She had a sling blade but felt the hookset power wasn't there. I think a stiff rod works better since she can't set the hook hard enough with the flimsy one. |
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