Casting Rod and Reel Combo

[mariner227]

I'm looking to buy a new rod and reel for casting. I will mainly use it for casting 1 to 5 ounce crank and jerk baits, 20 to 30 lb. braid. I've been using pretty low end stuff and think it is about time to update. Don't want to go crazy but not making payments on boat anymore. Any input would be welcome. mariner
Charter Member #193

[rpieske]

Well, not knowing your budget, I'll tell you my favorite outfit after 50 years of muskies.

Shimano Calcutta 400 reel with PowerPro 65 or 80 lb. test line.
St. Croix or Cortland 7 foot med. heavy or heavy rod. I just got the Cortland rod this summer, but it became my favorite pole very quickly. (It's inexpensive, also!)

[Kingfisher]

Mariner, Ill expand on the last post. I cant see throwing 3 to 5 oz baits with 20 or 30 lb. braid. I use three rods all different and each has a purpose. Some of the lakes we fish require we use small baits like 205 Cranes and little Bagley shads and #5 Bucktails. For this small stuff I use a 7 ft. 10" Falcon telescoping Flippin stick with 30 lb. Power pro and 30 lb steel. The reel is a new Phluger Trion which holds a full spool of 100 yds of 30 lb P.Pro. Works great for all my light weight lures and will control any Fish I get into. For bigger stuff like #8 Bucktails and 5 to 7 " cranks and other mid weight lures around 2 oz. I use a Fenwick trigger stick rated at 2.5 oz 7 foot even. 6500 Abu spooled with 50 lb. Cortland spectron and 60 lb Mason steel leaders. Everything else like all the big glides and topwaters ,Jakes,Vipers and such You need to step up to the big line like the 80 lb braids. I use a Fenwick 6 ft 9" 1 to 5 oz HMG with 6500 loaded with 80 cortland. Hope this stuff helps. I have 40 other rods for trolling Lol. Kingfisher

[MuskieKid]

You also might look into the Falcon Extra Hvy. 7 foot baitcasting rods. I have a St. Croix that is similar in size and weight - The Falcon casts better - I use a Calutta 400 on it. Another great reel I have is a Garcia 6500 mag (the green reel that does not have a line-out alarm on it, but rather, a "fine-tuning adjustment instead). Great reel for less money.

Remember...fish don't live in ugly places!

[MuskieKid]

You also might look into the Falcon Extra Hvy. 7 foot baitcasting rods. I have a St. Croix that is similar in size and weight - The Falcon casts better - I use a Calutta 400 on it. Another great reel I have is a Garcia 6500 mag (the green reel that does not have a line-out alarm on it, but rather, a "fine-tuning adjustment instead). Great reel for less money.

Remember...fish don't live in ugly places!

[Bill from elma]

mariner

Rods, soundslike the above remarks are full of good sugestions
which I myself am interseted in.
Reels, I'm using Garcia 6500 (older models) and I have two 7000 models. I really like these reels. esp. the 7000 for throwing and retriveing. The reel is easy to adjust, throws real smooth (sounds real nice too).
With the BIG single handle its easy to pickup line in a hurry or crank in the bait at high speed.
I've even have used the 7000 for trolling.
Price is not bad, the one thing I'm not sure of is if there are two different models with red or maroone side plates. I got one through the ProShops or maybe it was Cabelas, years ago,its still working like a champ (lots of hours on that reel). I paid about $130. for that one, then I picked on up at Walmart for about $100. about two years ago.
Now I see the 7000 in the catalogs for around $170.ish.

Anyway, just a great reel and one more option to consider.

Merry Christmas
Bill from Elma

[mariner227]

Charter Member #193
Thanks for all the great information! I was leaning towards a St. Croix rod but think I will shop around a bit before making final rod and reel decision. mariner

[MuskieKid]

I believe the red model 7000 has less bearings in it.

Remember...fish don't live in ugly places!

[complexfishing]

mariner,

I picked up a FigRig 7'6" Gregg Thomas model Med. that will hopefully become my fave buck rod and twitcher. Light as a feather and really balanced nicely with proper guide spacing. Real nice stick.

I put a $100 Tica Caiman on it (they make Daiwa reels) that I debated getting because I've heard good & bad, but they felt solid and were priced well and really recommended for the cash. We'll see? Spooled with Spectron.

My Abu 6500 ultra-cast has Berkley Fireline on it mounted on a Garcia "classic action" 7'6" MH. Great for cranks and jerks.

My oldest combo, a refurb Abu 5000 (I also use a 5000C and 6000) with Power Pro 65# and an old Rizzo South Bend 7' MH, has seen more mileage than I can estimate. The reel is getting an overhaul this year and has been going strong since the 60s. The rod is springy, cheap w/good backbone, and has been a faithful 'spoon rod' for a long time.

Wade