About every 3 years I go up to Canada on a fly-in trip. I've always fished for walleyes and lake trout, but decided this next trip to try for some monster pike or muskie.
I own 3 spinning rigs, but they are too light for what I have in mind, so I'm thinking a bait casting reel on a good, stiff pole. Problem is, I know 0 about bait casting reels. Any recommendations out there or web sites that I can browse to make an intelligent decision?
Other than our Canada trips, probably won't use it much; do want at least average quality though. Any help appreciated.
Got to Cabela's and on there look for a Combo. The one containing the Quantum teamed up with the Fish Eagle 2 will handle what you want. I've posted a link to the exact setup. I've caught some Reds with this setup exceding 15 lbs just play them right and you will win. Also the reel is very user friendly especially for a casting reel.
I like the round style and shimano line of baitcaster the best. I have 2 - Calcuttas, 1-cardiff & 1 - Catala for reels. I have used ABU, Quantum and Diawa in different models but always end up replacing them with a shimano. The Calcuttas are the nicest but they also cost the most too, in all honesty all three models handle the pike and laker action I put them through each year, which see's it fair share of large fish. Rods are really personal IMO, I prefer a Med or MH action rod. If I can get away with a med action I will everytime as it allows better casting and feel. My rods are mix match really from G-loomis, St. Croix down to Med action Shimano Compre.
I would vists the company website and resalers such as: Basspro and Cabelas to get info. Then I would head out to your local shops to spin some cranks and feel some lumber before making any decisions, as I mentioned what I like may not be would you like. Once you have it narrowed check ebay out before buying, I have picked up a number of pieces for a lot less in the past.
I've tried a lot of different reels myself. Unlike skeeter, I came back to Abu Garcia. I really like this reel. I had a Calcutta which I realy liked, until it went crap only a month after I got it. I sent it back, they fixed it, and started crapping out on me. I know they are great reels, but that one experince left a sour taste in my mouth. Finally went back to Abu. I chose this one (link above). It's pretty pricey, but I got a great deal on it. Brand new $85 on ebay....no problems with it at all.
I own a abu garcia ambassador and a shimano bantam. Both have been really good to me. I usually don't bring out the Ambassador unless i'm fishin for larger fish because i run a little heavier line on that bad boy. The bantam is really smooth and have great casts with it but i am a little naive i guess because i have had these reels for years now and haven't tried anything else.
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Its 35 below or its 98 above and he's workin through it all cause this is what he loves.
I've had my Abu-Garcia for close to 10 years probably. I have never had any problems with it. I can't give an opinion on other bait-casting reels, simply because I have never really had a reason to use another brand
I have some cousins over in Ireland, they go pike fishing a lot. Over there all you see are spinning reels. I used a Mitchell reel, very smooth and nice. If your going for very big pike, the bait-casting reel might be an advantage. Make sure you have a good, strong rod. I've always used rods at least 7' for pike, sometimes longer for when we were using live bait. Have fun on your trip and let us know how it goes!
My muskie rig is a rhino medium 6ft rod, and a quantum SS4 spinning reel with 10 pound tri-line, If your on a boat and you got your drag setup right that will be all you need. If your on land I would go with a baitcast cause you can get away with heavier line. For my land muskie rig I use bass pro shops 8ft Extreme rod with a quantum baitcaster strung up with 17lb stren. Nothing wrong with the other reels mentioned they are all good, I am especially found of the quantum, a few years ago I was fishing for bass with a friend of mine I was using my little quantum ultra lite spincast reel on a 5ft zebco rod and landed a 48 inch muskie. Of course we were on a boat and played him for about 45 min. But the rod and reel held up like true campions!
Lots of good information; thanks to all and any who have yet to respond.
Coming up: road trip to Cabella's in next 2 to 3 weeks. 1 hour trip down thinking about what I going to buy, 1 hour trip back thinking about how I justify it to the wife Seriously, though, wife has never really complained how I spend my money; I consider myself very lucky.
SchuylkillOutdoorsman, I'm a quantum man myself, I have used the reel in my first post for two years now and it' has been a great reel but I teamed it up with my G-Loomis instead of the Fish Eagle two. My older reel is teamed up with it. The one thing that I can say has been a problem with quantum in my older reels has been the drag washers. It has been the only thing that will wear out on me. But to me they are the brake pads of the reel and like all eventually they will wear out.
I have tackled some very big red fish with the quantum reels and none have ever failed me. The only failures I have had were the Rod's. I used to buy cheap Shaespear Rods and everyone of them broke that had a big redfish on it. That is when I decided to start using AllStar and G-Loomis. For backups I thought why not try those Fish Eagle 2 rods by Cabelas they have a good warranty and are a reasonable price. They hold up just as good and have a decent price tag. They are now used as my backups.
Info on bait casting reels
