What kind of reel to buy for casting big lures

[sled59]

I am looking for some advice for purchasing a good quality musky size reel. Would a large urado work or should I buy a Calcutta?

[mainbutter]

If money wasn't an issue, I'd go with as big and bad as musky casting reels come. Durability far outweighs anything else when I'm purchasing reels. I'm only 25, and though I'm not a big guy nor in as good a shape as I could be if I worked out every day, my shoulders/elbows/hands don't give me any issues after a day of going big on lures, so I don't need a reel that maximizes how "easy" it is to fish with big lures, just one that works "just fine". However, since money is an issue, my musky reel to date is a 7000i that didn't cost me a dime. I only get out a little bit each season and it has worked wonderfully.

[cbrooks]

Get a Calcutta. The 400 or 700 series if you want more speed. 400 series pulls in 25 inches with each crank of the reel which is average. The 700 series will get you 31 inches per crank. I believe the Curado pulls in 28 inches of line.

[Andrew Erickson]

calcutta 400

[Rebel9921]

There are many choices when it comes to reels... Some would suggest going the Shimano route... Some would suggest Diawa route... etc etc... Basically, what it boils down to is how much you really like the reels yourself... Sure, Shimano has the reputation of being the most durable work-horse type reel but as far as money goes, there are many other reels that can do the job providing it fits your style of fishing.... For example... I've went through so many Abu's including 6600's and 7000's, no matter how well taken care of and maintained they were, I only have two that I still have when I started fishing for muskies... others were basically destroyed... I also have two Okumas that didnt last long... I do have a Calcutta 400TE (I traded my Trinidad 16NA for the 400TE as the Trinidad didnt fit my style and comfort and I also had a Daiwa Saltist which I use for sucker fishing), yet I find myself using the Okuma Cedros for big blades and big rubbers more... I love my Okuma Isis for gliders/wtd topwaters...

If you have the $$$ to burn, go for it all, purchase Shimano 400TE, 700TE, or Trinidad...

If you want to play it wise and get more reels for your money, Okuma Cedros & Isis, along with Daiwa Saltist would be a great choice... I would also suggest Curado for topwaters/gliders and keeping the blades at regular or slow speed...

I have noticed that more I burn big blades with low-tier reels, higher the chances it will be to blow the reels up... so you could go for low-tier reels and change your style of fishing...

Good luck in your search and hope the reel(s) will last you long time...