How many Rodandreels?

[muskieboy46]

I was just wondering how many rod and reel setups you guys have AND what specific rod/reel setups go with what lures.

Right now i only have 1 setup. 6.3 foot rod / heavy

shimano corsair CS 300a

60 pound braided

every lure from hair to rubber goes on this rod.

What SHOULD i be using this setup for?

I am also looking for another setup and am asking adivce on what i should get considering what i already have.

thanks a lot

Muskieboy

[Quackaddict9]

I have a corsair 300, was wondering how it works for muskie fishing? I only have a 6'6 st.croix avid series with abu garcia C3. Am looking to buy 2 musky rods, 1 pete maina combo from Bass Pro and another rod to put my Corsair on it.

I also was wondering what line is the best for muskie fishing. I use a 60 lb braided (Tuf Line)

[FishingwithJake]

Hi guys. Muskieboy, I would recommend that you get a longer rod for your second setup. Look into getting a 7'0" or even a 7'6" rod so you can get some major distances on those casts. It helps when the muskie's are easily spooked and you need some range to get at them. As for a reel, try an Abu or stick with another Shimano.

Quackaddict, I use a lot of Power Pro and have had good luck with it so far. It does tend to get a little sticky after a while though. You could also try Spiderwire, I think it casts real nicely and doesn't get sticky like the Power Pro.

[muskieboy46]

thanks for the info fishingwithjake

i hear a lot of people talking about gear ratios. what ratios work best for the different baits?

thanks

[Giant_Jackpot]

IMO, the only time to use the high speed gear ration is to burn bucktails. I had a high speed and converted it to the lower speed. The lower speed is just a lot easier to deal with when you cast all day long.

[TomWehler]

High speed reels help clients lean how to work gliders, topwater, deeper heavy jigs and jerk lures pretty easy.

The 6:1 ratio reels take up a lot of slack per each turn of the handle.

They can wear on you a bit though.

You get a good rythum going and your set.

Lower ratio reels say 5:1, with larger spools such as a Abu Big Game 7000HSN can be fun.

They have large - thinner spools and take up a lot more line with very little effort on operators end.

7000C3 is very, very good reel also.

Tuff, easy to clean / repair and saves on the Musky cramps day in day out!

This is how things work for us.

Others differ in their approach to everything.

That is what sort of makes it fun shopping.

Just don't buy junk or something you don't really need.

Reels along the lnes of a Abu C4 can really help work topwater or jerk / gliders but will burn your arms out faster if your only intent is to burn hair baits with them.

Just my $1.380

T.

[guideman]

High speed reels have their time and place, just like any other equipment. I use C4's for topwater applications, jerkbaits, gliders and for burning hair. You can work a jerkbait more effectively on a high speed reel and those large topwater prop baits are much easier on your arms, after a long day of fishing.

"Ace"

[MT Net]

I have a power handle on my Abu Garcia C3-SS with thumbar. SO, far, I like the reel and handle. It feels comfortable to me. But not too sure of the advantage of the power handle to pay the extra $$$.

Any thoughts on the power handles?

(besides spending more $$$)

[Bushwacker]

I actually took the power handles off of all of my reels except one. It really just seemed more awkward to me than the double paddled handle. For me, lower gear ratio reels are easy enough to turn without having the power handle. The only one I left on is for big bucktails that really wear a person down after a few hundred retrieves.

[Quackaddict9]

FishingwithJake- Thanks for what line you use. Who makes Power Pro? Cortland?

[TylerFlom]

im going to start hardcore muskie fishing this summer, and would like to ask the original question again how many rods/reels, which goes for what, and to add a extra on there, how much did the combos cost? As for line, just curious, i prefer fireline, and haven't heard it mentioned, wondering if theres something wrong with it for muskie fishing?

[Quackaddict9]

if its 50 pounds its good to go but some go with 30-45 pounds, I use 60 pound Tuf Line. Pete Maina musky combo is $130(I think) on Bass Pro so order yours from Bass Pro if youre interested into getting a combo, there are more combo some where but look at reedssports dot com. they have alot of musky stuff and you can look at thorne bros? Good luck this summer

[guideman]

The spiderwire "Stealth" which is the old Berkley

"Whiplash" is their Muskie line. I'd recommend 80

or 90lb test, in what ever line you buy.

I have 15 muskie rod and reel combos, I have rods

for all applications however, none of them were a combo when I purchased them. My bucktail rods are 7.6 medium heavy with Calcutta 400 reels. My jerk bait rods are 7 or 7.6 heavy with an Abu 6500c4.

My crankbait rods are 7.6 light heavy and 7ft med

heavy with a fast tip. They both have 6500ss abu

reels on them and they also work great for small bucktails or jigs. My topwater rods are all heavy action 7.6 or 8ft rods, with abu 6500c4's reels.

My glider rods are 7ft heavy action with the Abu 6500c4 reels and they can also double as jerkbait rods. I'll also use them for some of the lighter topwater baits like Jackpots, or the toperstoper.

The rest of my rigs are multi use rigs or backups for my regular stuff. I also have a set of custom made trolling rods that are 7.10 extra heavy with

Okuma line counter reels on them. I use a number of brand name rods and I have several that are custom made as well. If you're planning to fish a lot, spend the money to get the best equipment you can afford. If you are only going to fish for muskie a few days a year less expensive rigs will get you by.

"Ace"

[muskieboy46]

Thanks for the great info Guideman.