New rod

[20lbSloughShark]

I recently got a gift of cabelas gift cards, and I'm thinking of spending it on a new combo. Currently I only have two "dedicated" pike rods, the rest are not really up to the task. One is a 6' MH with Penn fierce that I absolutely love for accurate casting anything I put on it. The other is a 7' MH with Abu garcia ambassaduer 5500c that works good for casting heavy lures as far as I can all day. What I'm thinking is a combo that covers both trolling and live bait better than those two. Both rods feel under powered with quick strike rigs. I just cant set the hook hard enough. I'm pretty well set on the reel. The cabelas brand trolling reel with line counter comes in the size I want, the price I want, and has decent reveiws. It doesn't need to be silky smooth for casting. The very worst I have to do is put in carbontex drag washers. For the rod, I'm looking at the cabelas brand trolling rods. The thing is, I've never bought anything other than graphite. It is e-glass, which I assume means partly fiberglass. I'm gussing they run a bit stiff, as the actions all seem to be lower. If the bend is a stiffer than a graphite rod, I'm thinking the M action 7'6" should be perfect. Trolling and live bait is the only time I like a rod over 7'. I will try it out in the store first, but I dont want to go all the way there to find out the medium action is a noodle, or worse, a pool cue.

[expl]

I have 4 of their line counter reels,two for downrigger rods and two for my leadcore rods,good reels for the$ price.I habe never tried casting with them and dont know how well they would work for that.As far as the poles I have two of their leadcore poles that are telescopic in the leadcore model 8'6" I believe and they arent to stiff but not to flexible either,Im not sure what poles of theirs you are speaking of tho as they habe a few different models I believe,but the cheaper version are the ones I have and Ive checked out a few others then the the leadcore ones and I dont think they were to flimsy or to stiff,they have an average action to take the shock of big fish while trolling and pulling bigger deeper diving lures.But like I said Ive never tried casting these setups.

[20lbSloughShark]

I don't plan on casting with them if I can help it. Maybe lob a sucker out a bit and let it swim the rest. On the Cabelas HSOforum I clicked rods, and then on the side bar, trolling rods. Then >$30, and it gives you two options. One cabelas, one I'm not interested in. Cabelas DepthMaster Trolling Rods. Most are medium, but it does have one MH 6'6". I think I'd be better off with the longer rod, and just set the hook like a bass master. I definitely want fiberglass so it can handle the abuse.

[expl]

Yeah you should be able to lob a sucker out with them just fine then.The rods I have are the Depthmaster,and yeah If I remember the MH 6'6" one is pretty stiff,I think you would be just fine with a longer one in the M.In fact I think thats what mine are Is M.They will take the abuse I pull large deep divers,planer boards in 3 foot waves which have some pull,and stick them in the rod holders and go.If you keep your eyes peeled they usually have the rod and reel combos that go on sale for 50$.If they dont have the combo you want just tell them and they will let you pick out the rod and reel you want to make your own combo and still give you the sale price,you just have to have them write you up a sales slip for it.

[20lbSloughShark]

I'll hopefully get them this weekend. The combo is listed at about $78, and the reel and rod (same setup) if you get them individually is aroud $65. Both are on sale, man that's great of cabelas to prey on those less observant.

[expl]

Oh yeah i keep my eyes peeled for their sales,they usually repeat the same basic stuff on their sales a couple times a year for future reference.I also live pretty close so I stop in often even just to check prices and look around whether I buy anything or not

[tolle141]

What's your budget? Lots of good options out there. Honestly, unless you're going to get REALLY serious about trolling, then you probably don't need a line counter reel. Shimano Tekotas are bulletproof and extremely accurate with fantastic drags. Saltists are pretty good as well. Both are incredibly cheap on the e bay. If you're not very serious about it, then get a 6500 C3.

[20lbSloughShark]

I can spend about $80, I like to have room for the best line I can get. I never really cared about linecounter reels, but for $40, why not?

[drg700]

Slough, I had a Cabelas $100.00 line counter reel that fell apart right away. I upgraded to the Daiwa SG 27. We also have the Cabelas Depthmaster 7'6" M trolling rods that we have caught quite a few pike in the 15 - 25 lb class along with a 54" musky that my wife caught trolling.

You sound like a good guy to fish with. We both love pike fishing. We fish a lot in the Brainerd area.

[20lbSloughShark]

Thanks for the advice. I will definitely look into different reels. The reviews on the reel says it is good. Its 4 stars, and it seems that the reviews either give it 5 stars or 1 star. And reading some of the bad reviews, it involved the low gearing, or some other stuff I expect. I with the amassaduer was cheaper, or the penn levelwind smaller.

[tolle141]

I can spend about $80, I like to have room for the best line I can get. I never really cared about linecounter reels, but for $40, why not?

Again, if you're not really serious about the line counter functionality then you're paying for something that you won't use much when you could divert those funds to a better reel.

For the rod, go as long as you can transport. Longer = better pickup of slack and a better hookset. If you're long lining suckers you'll want that pick up.

[20lbSloughShark]

IF you can point me to a better reel for less than $40, let me know. I'm not picky as long as its not too huge. I only plan on putting 40 pound braid on it. I'm not worried about the drag either, I've replaced them with carbontex with good results before. I just want a good, strong reel. Made in the USA would be even better. I think a 7'6" rod would be best. My 7' rod can be a royal pain to move anywhere but out on the open water as it is. The only reason I'm considering the 7'6" and 8' is because they are 2 piece. I will never figure out how guys can deal with 10'+ rods.

[tolle141]

You can pick up plenty of solid 6500-series abu garcias on the muskies outdoorfirst forum for that kind of cash. Many have recently been serviced by PIKEMASTER, who is a pro when it comes to reels.

On your budget, you might be able to get a used PENN that was made in the USA. Given how good quality control has become, it doesn't really matter where it's made if it has Shimano, Abu Garcia, or Quantum on the side.

To be perfectly honest, if your budget is $80 you should probably just keep your cash or buy some lures.

[20lbSloughShark]

I would, but its not cash, its gift cards to cabelas. I'm thinking if I look enough I can get another older amassadeur 5500c for about $20. They are all over hsolist. I'll look into other purchases though.

[tolle141]

I'll give you a 6600 if you post a picture of the channel between Pelican and Washington lake

[20lbSloughShark]

Is there a reason you recomend the 6500 ambasadeur vs the 5500? My 5500c has all the line capacity you need, and you can find them on hsolist for $20. The 6500 doesn't have nearly as many good deals.

[tolle141]

6500 has much more powerful gearing which allows for harder pulling presentations like #8 bucktails, topwater, deep diving jerks, etc. It also has higher line capacity, which means you'll have adequate capacity if you size up. Since they perform very similarly casting, the 6500 is the more versatile reel and allows you to move up to larger game fish like muskies should you eventually be interested in pursuing them. Since you enjoy pursuing large pike, muskies would not be a big leap for you.

No one will recommend a 5500 for muskie lures ever. That thing would blow in one season.

[20lbSloughShark]

Works for me, and the forum you said to check has them for $40. Sounds like a good deal to me. Not sure how you would ever completely wreck an ambassadeur of any size, they are very tough. The only problem I've had is the anti-reverse can be weird if you put it together wrong. I see myself going for muskie from time to time. They kind of rank with Walleye, lake trout, bass, and other "fun" gamefish for me. I'm not sure what it is, but there is nothing like pulling in a big northern.

[tolle141]

It's the lures - they pull really hard. This does all sorts of awful to gear teeth, frames, etc. I've blown out several 6500's and 6600's. Fortunately they're cheap to fix. Now I basically run all shimano - curado 300's, Tranx, etc. Might pick up a lexa 400 this year to round out the portfolio. Would love a calcutta or two

[randy t]

A 5500 and 6500 have the same gears. They are the same mechanical, the 6500 is wider.

[20lbSloughShark]

Well that kind of throws a wrench in the gears. Between the two sizes there is almost no difference besides width? A 5500 says it holds 190 yards of 80 pound braid, so it has plenty of room for pretty much anything. Maybe what tolle was saying is that the 6500 generally has a lower gearing, which makes hard cranking lures easier to use? Still, my 5500c states 5.2:1, which is pretty low. Its weird, the reel says "high speed retrieve" yet it is very slow by todays standards. Its one of the reasons I love it for spoons and other slower lures.

[tolle141]

A 5500 and 6500 have the same gears. They are the same mechanical, the 6500 is wider.

You're correct. I was under the impression that they used the Duragear 2 in the 6500's but it appears it's only in the C4 models. If you can get by with 190yds of 80lb test and not cut enough off during the season to reverse the line the following year then the 5500 could work for you. I retie after every muskie/backlash/sharp surface and my line gets pretty sunbaked over the course of a season. If I was starting with only 190yds I'd have to replace it every season, which get's expensive with the better braids.

It's 26 inches per crank across the C3 series.

[20lbSloughShark]

I've never put anything but the 150 yard spools on, and have yet to run out of line. I'm not nearly as careful as you though. I probably re tie once a month unless I actually see fraying.