Muskie/Pike baitcaster...

[LocalGuide]

I recently got a muskie/pike rod for getting into some minor muskie fishing and big pike. Its a 7'6" Med Heavy rod and I want to purchase some 65lb PowerPro to put on it.

My only concern is getting a reel that I will love to use.

I have a few abu's that I use for walleye fishing and casting for pike. I really like abu's line of baitcasters.

But I was wondering what everyones favorite reel is or what you would recommend me getting. I would like to stay under $100 but if I have to I could dish out $140. I would mainly use it for casting and a little bit of trolling too.

I have played around a bit with the Abu C3 6500 and I dont mind it. I just wanted some other opinions.

[Random guy]

I would say for that price range a 6500C3 is a good choice. That reel has been around for some time and has proven to be a solid musky fishing workhorse. I also use the 5500C5 model, it has a little faster retrieve, I think it is at 6.3-1 that is good for speed when burning bucktails or picking up slack with a jerkbait. The negative to that is you lose some fighting torque with that reel. I also like the smaller size, I have small hands so it fits my hand better.

[Muskydanno]

If i had to make a recommendation for a hundred bucks i would have to say the new shimano cardiff as a great bang for the buck. 5 ball bearings and othere than a two piece frame compared to one piecer on the calcutta i think its a better bang for the buck. Its a new model but it has passed my test with flying colors so far. Like John suggested you can't go wrong with the Abu C3 either for the bucks. They are work horses. I have an old ultra cast 6500 that is going on 8 years old and works like a champ yet. Wish i could get another one.!

[Green&Gold]

In my opinion, you can't beat the 6500C3. The 5500 models are great too, but one thing you should know is I don't think they have the line out alarm (aka bait clicker) on them. At least the new ones don't. This feature is a must for me when trolling. Just FYI. JH

[markkstanley]

C3 vote here too. Hard to beat for the money. I use the 5500 for casting like Jon for the high retrieve rate and the smaller size (mine do have clickers but they are 5yrs old) and the 6500 for trolling. The Shimano reels are great but I can get two C3s for the price.

[DUCKJ]

The C3 is a great rell if your going to be tossing smaller luers. But if your going to be tossing bigger lures (3 to 6 oz) I would recomend getting a C4 Throphy. They will last longer and you or the reel will not have to work as hard as the C3 on your retrieves.

Duck

[cliffy]

My vote is for the abu 6500 c3. I have three or four of them and they have never let me down. I just keep them clean and they keep on working. To be honest, my favorite reel at the moment is my c3 7000...its big but makes it easy for throwing big baits with lots of drag.

I have also heard very good things about the Trion 66 my Pflugler (sp?)...and I think they are in the same price range.

Good luck in your search.

[LocalGuide]

I will mainy be casting baits under 2oz so it wont be too much of a load on it.

I still have one other question. I like the way the C3 5500's fit on my hand but I like the reel clicker on the 6500. The 5500 should have enough room for line on it just like the 6500, correct? Just as long as I dont really go over 12 or 14lb diameter line, right?

Otherwise thanks for the reply's and keep them coming!

[Random guy]

The 5500 has a smaller spool then the 6500, I run 65lb whiplash/stealth on them and have never run out of line or been spooled out. The neat thing about a smaller spool is your bait slowly gains speed as you retrieve. Ol Doc Cotton used to swear by that. The spool gains daimeter faster thus speeding up the retrive as the bait closes in on the boat creating a speed trigger without even relizing it.

[markkstanley]

Dang Jon that never even occurred to me. Makes sense though. Has anyone tried the new D series??

[delmuts]

i haven't tried the 66, but we have been using the 56( 5600) [ it feels/fits in my hand better] i'm impressed with them, but i don't get to do alot of muskie fishing and haven't got to test one of these on a bigger fish.

[sbro73]

By far the best reel I've got is the Abu Garcia 6600ssC3 from Thorne Bros. for about $75, Been using it all summer with great results. Might want to try one!

[Steve Foss]

I've been an Abu man a long time. Have seven reels from them, including 5500s and 6500s. I have the 6500 C4 Trophy and some C3s as well. Get the trophy if you can find one. Best reel for your needs for the money. I also have a UC 6500C, the ultracast model. It's made somewhat better than the standard 6500 series, and listed for $125 when I bought mine about 7 years ago. Not sure if they still make the series, but it's a step up from my other 6500s. Also, you can always buy an oversize handle (the kind with only one tip for your fingers instead of the double handle. The single handle comes standard on the Ambassadeur 7000 series) and put it on any of the 6500s. The C4 Trophy comes with that handle, but I've not seen any other 6500s that do. The UC 6500C with an oversize handle is a great weapon that should last a very long time.

I used a Shimano Calcutta for the first time last weekend fishing for muskies. Such a sweet reel, but well above the price range you listed. If money were no object, I'd be switching to the Calcutta for big pike, muskies and such, but, in my opinion, there's simply no better value for the dollar than the Ambassadeurs.

[jigeye]

I bought the new 6600 D5 reel this spring and tried it for a whole day casting for muskies. I didn't like it at all. Went back and traded it for another 6500C3. Much better Musky reel. There isn't a manual spool brake on the D5 just a magnetic one. Probably a good bass reel but didn't work very well for me with heavy baits. Much more thumbing required when you switch your cast from with the wind to against the wind (isn't as forgiving as the C3's). The plastic thumb bar kept falling off too.