Pete Maina Gear

[BIG ISLAND DUDE]

I am looking to break into muskie fishing and found a combo of a "Pete Maine Muskie combo" for 149.99 at bass pro shops and I am wondering if anyone else has used this gear. If so, please post your thoughts on the quality of the reel and/or rod. thanks

[whitewolf6647]

I have his 8'6" rod and low gear reel combo and I plan on buying at least one if not 2 more of those combos this year. I love it to death makes me wish I bought one sooner instead of spending money on other brands.

[AWH]

For someone just getting into things, there's probably not a better set up to buy. Great value at just $150.

Aaron

[Scoot]

What AWH said. If you go to the muskie specific sites on the Net, you'll literally find 100's of people who agree with him. Very good buy for the money.

[mrmanners]

I will have the 7'6" in about five to ten days. I got the combo for jerkbait, bucktail, crankbait, I will respond and soon as I have a chance to use it.

[mrmanners]

Got the Rod and Reel and all I can say is wow, my wife did really well buying that for the old Birthday. The counter weights that you can add to the butt of the rod will be fun to play with. I ordered 100# power pro in the new phantom red so as soon as opener comes around I will give her a test.

[MuskieMojoTackle]

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Got the Rod and Reel and all I can say is wow, my wife did really well buying that for the old Birthday. The counter weights that you can add to the butt of the rod will be fun to play with. I ordered 100# power pro in the new phantom red so as soon as opener comes around I will give her a test.

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The Maina combos are great for the money.

Careful with that RED Power Pro. I have heard numerous complaints about this line already. Apparently the die bleeds like crazy and is turning hands and rod cork pink. Hate to see you turn a brand new rod a nice shade of pink on the first day.

[B420]

You should also check out his line of hair care products, everything from gel, dye, curlers, and extentions!!

[mrmanners]

The Maina combos are great for the money.

"Careful with that RED Power Pro. I have heard numerous complaints about this line already. Apparently the die bleeds like crazy and is turning hands and rod cork pink. Hate to see you turn a brand new rod a nice shade of pink on the first day"

So do you recommend soaking the line first in a bucket to see what it does?

[MuskieMojoTackle]

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The Maina combos are great for the money.

"Careful with that RED Power Pro. I have heard numerous complaints about this line already. Apparently the die bleeds like crazy and is turning hands and rod cork pink. Hate to see you turn a brand new rod a nice shade of pink on the first day"

So do you recommend soaking the line first in a bucket to see what it does?

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you could try that, but I would still be a little leary of putting that stuff on my reels after the stories I have heard already. I dont like my hands turning pink

[10,000 Casts]

Ya, the red does the same thing as the moss green. Only green is a little more managable of a color

I don't think that soaking it in water will help but it might be worth a try. It will probably still bleed for the first time that you use it. But hey, they tell me that Muskies love pink

John

[MuskieMojoTackle]

I've heard it will continue to bleed for weeks so the bucket may not get you very far.

[10,000 Casts]

wow, to me, that makes it not worth trying...

[RK]

Hiya -

I really don't see any purpose to red line in the first place. I know one of the selling points is supposed to be visibility - red is the first color filtered out in the water column and all that - but I sort of think guys are under the impression (left by the marketing hype) that since red is filtered out the line somehow disappears or something. Unless line mfgs have figured out a way to defy the laws of physics, that's bunk. When red light is filtered out, there's no red light to reflect, so the line doesn't reflect anything. Which is to say, it turns black. So you're not a bit better off than if you used black Dacron.

I guess if there's anything to the theory that red attracts fish, red line might be ok - as long as you aren't fishing deeper than about 5' down. But if it's visibility you're worried about when you're selecting a line color, go outside, and look up... what blends in best with that?

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[mrmanners]

I have the moss green on three other rods and I have never had it bleed so maybe I will get lucky, I will reply with what I find once I get it next week, the bucket is ready.

[dddd]

i bought my reel 2 years ago and i love it i've trashed more expensive reels in weeks and this one works perfect every time

[Random guy]

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go outside, and look up... what blends in best with that?

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

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Well said RK. I still believe that most agrresive gamefish fish such as Muskie, pike, walleye, bass are to focused on the prey (lure) to even notice the line. Now a sunfish or crappie that study prey before they attack it may make a difference. I have used clear, green, high vis yellow, black and even that pink stuff for walleyes and never noticed a difference from one color line to the next.

[Kayo]

I purchased a combo a few years back, the only issue I have is with the drag. I went ahead and switched out the reel for an AbuGarcia.

[mrmanners]

So I have been able to use the mania combo twice and I really like the counter weight that helps with casting and jerk baits. I use it all day long and never get tired, the red power pro did bleed a little but not enough to stain anything. I did soak it for a few days before using it and that seamed to help.

[PDXFisher]

I got the 6'6" jerkbait rod and reel combo. My buddy tried the reel before I got a chance to. He got a 38" Muskie on it, after which it starting clicking as if it had lost a tooth on a gear (which happened to my Calcutta, but on that one it was my fault). No, it wasn't the clicker being on.

Basspro replaced the reel quickly and painlessly.

I arrived in town and started stringing up the rod with the replacement reel. The rod break about 2ft from the tip. Musta been a manufacturing defect. I doubt I had put more than an ounce of pressure on it to that point. So they agree to replace the rod.

I take the new reel out to use it with a different rod again, since we liked it more than the 6500. After a couple hours of casting, it won't reel any line in. YOu just crank and nothing happens, so another gear must have busted. So now I'm on my third reel and second rod (when it shows up).

I like the way the reel works...when it works. Granted, I like my Calcutta and Lunas more, but I like the feel and ergos way more than the 6500.