New Set Up

[NoWiser]

Hey all,

I'm going to invest in a new set up before this summer and am looking for some opinions. I only really muskie fish for about 10 days each summer while I'm in Canada. I have a Gander Rod and 6500 C3 right now which works alright, but the reel is now sounding like its about to explode so I'm afraid to throw my big cranks and D10s.

Here is what I'm thinking. I have a VERY limited budget so I don't want to go much, if any over the $250.00 mark. For a rod I'm looking at the Tackle Industries rods based on the reviews I've read on them, and the price. I'm looking at the 7'6"/8'0" rod but am at a tossup as to whether to get the 1-6 ounce version or the 3-12 ounce version. About 50% of my time is spent throwing Suicks, with the rest pretty evenly split between topraiders, depthraiders, jakes, believers, and cowgirls or showgirls. I'll probably try to throw more spinnerbaits this year, too. I like the idea of a little lighter rod, but would the 1-6 ounce version be too light to get a good hookset with a suick or throw any of the larger baits on my list?

For a reel I'm looking at the Saltist. I know I would love to have a Calcutta, Luna, Toro, etc..., but I have enough Cabelas points to buy the Saltist, so I'm sticking to that or something else in that price range. For those out there with experience with these reels, should I be looking for the size 20, 30, or 40?

Last suggestion I'm looking for is line. I've been happy with the green Tuff Line, but haven't researched it much lately. Is there something better out there now?

Thanks in advance for the advice. I'm sure with enough time I could have done a search and figured some of this out, but I'm short on time and lazy.

Thanks!

[pureinsanity]

Send the reel into abu. 20 bucks they will clean it, plus parts which it sounds like you just need a worm pawl kit.

[mn_bowhunter]

I'd go for the 1-6 oz rod since most baits you throw are relatively lightweight. If you threw mag dawgs or bigger I'd go for the heavier rod. The saltist is a great reel, but does like to backlash with lighter baits based on my experience. It helps a lot to not fill the spool. You didn't mention if you were thinking about getting the levelwind version or not, I would get levelwind. I don't have experience with the TI rods, but the saltist reel has been good to me.

[rugbymn]

Send the reel into abu. 20 bucks they will clean it, plus parts which it sounds like you just need a worm pawl kit.

If he's in the cities, he can pay $10 for admission to the Muskie Expo next weekend and have the Abu rep clean it for nothing. Last year, they completely disassembled two of my reels, put new gears in them, and spooled them up for free! They also gave me a free bottle of oil, which I put on my worm pawls before every trip on the water. It keeps them running really smooth.

If you're in the Owatonna or Rogers area, you can stop into the Big C and take a look around the bargain cave. I saw a 400TE in the Owatonna store last year for something like $200.

[pureinsanity]

If he's in the cities, he can pay $10 for admission to the Muskie Expo next weekend and have the Abu rep clean it for nothing. Last year, they completely disassembled two of my reels, put new gears in them, and spooled them up for free! They also gave me a free bottle of oil, which I put on my worm pawls before every trip on the water. It keeps them running really smooth.

If you're in the Owatonna or Rogers area, you can stop into the Big C and take a look around the bargain cave. I saw a 400TE in the Owatonna store last year for something like $200.

Hmm I might have to pay 10 bucks Thanks for the tip. I was about to send mine in for repair. Is it just an abu booth or are there certain places that will do this?

I think one of my reels got put back together wrong. Think they would be able to fix it?

[justinT]

If you are going to throw big cranks and blades, I would get a new real. That abu is not going to hold up too long throwing those baits, even if you don't fish muskies that much.

[thrax]

Get a longer rod. If you want it shorter for storage/transport buy a telescopic model from TI. They are awesome!! No matter what types of lures you want to throw the longer rod is simply better. Sounds like you'd do best with a XH model. They are by no means too stiff to throw any of the smaller stuff and you'll really appreciate the length for stuff like D10's.

Saltists are good reels, but for some of the stuff you list, I'd prefer something with less line pickup (suicks/jerkbaits etc). I have a 401TE that I bought brand new from Gander Mtn for $200 (found it by luck one day in like January, and the guy said if I'd been there the week before it was on "sale" for $150 - what a freakin buy)!! Deals are out there if you look hard enough.

[Esox_Magnum]

I wouls get the 9' XH telescoping, the MH wont work well for cowgirls. The XH will work fine wor anything from a mepps to a pounder. Reel's cant help you with in that budget other than a Shimano Cardiff or Okuma Akeena only 2 cheaper reels I have used in recent years thats still on the market. Stop by the swap on Saturday night after the expo I know there will be 2 Calcutta B's ther for just a little more than the TI rod will cost as well as several other good cheap reels.

[BigSling]

Others have mentioned some reels that may be better all-around reels for a variety of baits. If you're dead set on the saltist, I have one in the 20 size that I use for pulling girls and works like a charm. Another budget-friendly rod to check out would be the Shimano Compre line. The 8' XH (2-6oz lure rating) should serve ya well. For line I've used 80# PowerPro with no problems but will be checking out Sufix 832 this year to see if it lives up to the hype.

[NoWiser]

Thanks for all the advice! The swap meet sounds like the place to go, unfortunately I have tickets to the Twins game that night so I won't be able to make it there.

Question about the long rod length. What type of boats do you guys who use the 9' rods have? I fish out of an older 16'8" Alumacraft Lunker so I'm really not that high out of the water. Even the 8' rod I currently have takes some effort not to have slapping the water all the time, so I figured a 9' rod would probably be too long. I could be wrong, though. I do plan on fixing my current reel when I have a chance, so maybe I will just designate that my jerkbait rod and use the new one for everything else. That would allow me to maybe get the longer length. I will have to consider that telescoping rod.

I'm definitely not dead set on the saltist, I'm open to anything in that price range. Perhaps it would work to just use that and not fill it up with line all the way. It sounds like that would help with the backlashes and decrease the line pickup slightly. I will definitely keep my eyes open for some deals on some other reels.

Thanks again for all the advice. Its nice to get opinions from people who fish more than one week out of the year and have a chance to use multiple rigs.

[Shoot2Kill]

Question about the long rod length. What type of boats do you guys who use the 9' rods have? I fish out of an older 16'8" Alumacraft Lunker so I'm really not that high out of the water. Even the 8' rod I currently have takes some effort not to have slapping the water all the time, so I figured a 9' rod would probably be too long. I could be wrong, though.

I have a 16’ Lund and am looking for a 9 footer prior to the opener for the sheer fact of really not having to bend over on the 8 and getting a deeper and wider 8. I’m 6’2 and have a nice deck to cast/fig 8 from but with the 8 footer I feel it in my back by mid day. I got the 8’6 Okuma last fall and love it and after using that my 8 footer feels like a toy. For me I guess if I’m using jerk baits and am smacking the water it depends what bait it is, but I could use my 7'6 or the 8.

I’m also getting the Saltist 20 to put on the 9 foot rod and it will be my go to rod for most of the baits I fish with.

[rugbymn]

Hmm I might have to pay 10 bucks Thanks for the tip. I was about to send mine in for repair. Is it just an abu booth or are there certain places that will do this?

I think one of my reels got put back together wrong. Think they would be able to fix it?

It's just a booth. Abu and Shimano are both going to be there.

If you put it together wrong, they should be able to spot the bugaboo and fix it.

[Esox_Magnum]

I fish a 9' rod out of a Skeeter S-135 deep v, Tracker Targa 17, Alumacraft Lunker, Ranger Z20, Ranger 680, Ranger 618, Ranger 617 and a Ranger 620, workes great out of any and all of them and works great from shore.

[NoWiser]

Thanks guys, I just ordered the 9' XH Telescoping rod from Tackle Industries as long as their winter sale is still going on. Now I have a couple months to find the reel that I want to throw on it. I appreciate the input. Now I can't wait to catch a fish with it!

[kyleharty]

I got a 9" XXH TI telescoping rod this winter and haven't used it yet but it looks and feels great, you should be happy with the TI.

I also got a Saltist 20, hoping to use it as a fairly all around reel but needed something that would stand up to Double 10's and 13's. Can't comment on the backlash issues but I didn't spool it all the way so hopefully it won't be too much of an issue.

I settled on Sufix Performance braid for last season after trying Powerpro and a few others, the Sufix casted better for me. I'd be interested to try out the 832 next time I need line.

Starting to get the itch to put this new stuff to use, might have to take a pike trip soon.

[iceman16]

i just ordered 2 new TI 9 foot telescoping rods and they look great. gonna break them in on a couple sturgeon this weekend up on the rainy river. i got a 9'3" telescoping from okuma last year and loved it. best part is they all fit in my rod locker in my ranger 617. and i got the Diawa Saltist for a reel on two of them. good luck!

iceman

[Zelmsdawg]

I actually just got a new saltist this off season too. I think I remember reading that round line is better? Cortland Masterbraid maybe? Does anyone have any advice on this?

Hmm I might have to pay 10 bucks Thanks for the tip. I was about to send mine in for repair. Is it just an abu booth or are there certain places that will do this?

For years when you can't make the expo or they don't have reel cleaning theres a custom rod store in Prior lake that might clean your reels if they're not busy.

Zelmsdawg

[Esox_Magnum]

Ice, the 9'XH will handle sturgon just fine, my friend got one well over 100# on his last spring...pic of it on his site...and me and a 47" muskie in the last pic....

[bisekb]

For line ive been running spider wire ultracast invisi-braid and i love that stuff, 80# line and cast incredible. On my other set ups im still running the power pro 65# with some floro leaders and have nothing bad to say about any of them.

[401TE]

Keep your eye on this and other websites for a used Calcutta 400B. You can usually find one for between $120 and $150. On your budget, I'd think that's your best option if you want to be able to throw big bucktails.