moemoe Posted October 17, 2007 Report Posted October 17, 2007 Question for you all, my wife says she'll pay for a new reel for my b-day and I want I new baitcaster, what would you recommed? to be used for all round fishing, bass, pike, walleye and the odd time casting for some muskies. I was thinking about either a shimano calcutta 400, or a quantumn energy 760, Curious what everyone else thinks, Thanks Moe
rhare Posted October 17, 2007 Report Posted October 17, 2007 I love my Abu 6500, awsome casting reel. wicked bait runner might be a bit big for what you want. The 5601AB is sweet! but $$$.
TennesseeGuy Posted October 17, 2007 Report Posted October 17, 2007 I'm going to enter a shameless plug for Pete's combo. I have two, 8 1/2 foot medium/heavy rods with his reels attached and they are performing beautifully. The length is great for casting big baits and I haven't come close to a backlash. My birds have to build their own nests. I've loaned the rod to four others and they'll all four be owners in 2008. I've had the combos only two years, for 45 days of fishing, so we'll have to see how they do over time.
bassman Posted October 17, 2007 Report Posted October 17, 2007 I've got several baitcasters ranging from Shimano, Quantum, Okuma, and Abu Garcia. I personally like my Abu's. Best bang for the buck, and hardly and birdsnests.
wingman Posted October 17, 2007 Report Posted October 17, 2007 I think the calcutta 400 size might be a bit too big. Have you looked at the Calcutta 200GTB? They have more bearings than the calcutta b. I have a Calcutta 151 myself and for a 3 bearing reel, it's pretty damn smooth. I would get the 200 gtb but it doesn't come in a left hand. It's an 8 bearing reel for $290. Just my 2 cents.
SlowPoke Posted October 17, 2007 Report Posted October 17, 2007 The Calcutta 400 is pretty big for an all-around reel but it's nice! The 300 is a bit smaller but has the same characteristics apart from line capacity and does not have a clicker. The 200 size loses some stopping power in the drag.
addict Posted October 17, 2007 Report Posted October 17, 2007 pfluger president baitcaster great bang for your buck super smooth and durable.got one last jan.and fished it hard all year great reel.
johnnyb Posted October 18, 2007 Report Posted October 18, 2007 what I love about my Shimanos is that they feel the same today as they felt brand new, 3,4,5 years ago. Gotta go Calcutta.
moemoe Posted October 18, 2007 Author Report Posted October 18, 2007 (edited) I was suprised how many mentioned abu, never really thought about them, I feel that am partial to trying the quantumn as i have an energy spinning combo and it's been great, but I have heard lots of the durability of the calcutta, curious why people would say a 400 is to big though? How can a reel be to big? when really as long as the drag is smooth who cares about the extra line capacity, but that's just a guess Edited October 18, 2007 by moemoe
irishfield Posted October 18, 2007 Report Posted October 18, 2007 Most guys like to palm the reel and for most stuff the 400's a tad big...although I really don't mind casting with it for a few hours at a time, throwing big baits for muskie. I have a Quantum PT501 that I bought at least 4 years ago. Use it all the time and still smooth as silk. Really hard to have an "all around" reel for all species.
OhioFisherman Posted October 18, 2007 Report Posted October 18, 2007 Reel weight, if your casting for bass why have the extra weight of a 400 size reel? Just a comfort factor for a day of throwing lures. 400 size reel makes sense if muskies or big pike are the target.
Blake Posted October 18, 2007 Report Posted October 18, 2007 The Calcutta or the new Curado 300 would be great choices.
wingman Posted October 18, 2007 Report Posted October 18, 2007 I forgot to mention the abu garcia revo. I have 2 of them and they are sweet reels with ultra strong drags. They have a stronger drag than most big baitcasters, 24 lbs of drag force.
mattyk Posted October 18, 2007 Report Posted October 18, 2007 i love my calcutta and my abu c3 6500, use both for musky fishin.
Raf Posted October 18, 2007 Report Posted October 18, 2007 my baitcasters are abu 6501s, quantum cabo cbc31pts and shimano curado 201s. all see heavy use, all have held up and i am happy with all of them.
Weeds Posted October 19, 2007 Report Posted October 19, 2007 I throw in one more vote for the abu C3's. Picked myself up a 6501 back in May, cost is quite reasonable and have been very happy with it. Probably worth noting that I use it basically just for musky though.....although if it were paired to the right rod I think it would be pretty verstaile.
bigbuck Posted October 19, 2007 Report Posted October 19, 2007 I'd second the Curado 300DSV, it's small, light and is built to battle big fish and it has pretty decent line capacity. It's about $300 or so but if you want just one reel...........
lew Posted October 19, 2007 Report Posted October 19, 2007 Personally, I think it's pretty hard to pin down only one reel to fish everything from pickeral to musky, unless you want to keep changing lines & rods for the different species. Calcutta 400's are excellent for musky & large pike, but I don't think it would be the proper reel for finessing springtime pickeral, where something smaller may work better. Why not pick only one for now, then save your $$$$ and get something more appropriate for the other species thru the winter ??
moemoe Posted October 19, 2007 Author Report Posted October 19, 2007 (edited) I should have been more specific, I want a versitile reel yes, but I have a number of spinning rods, downrigger rigger rods for the specific needs, ie jigging for walleye, but I do not have any baitcasters. So I was hoping to start with a quality, but versitile reel, so really yes it would be used for pike/musky and throwing some of the non-finesse bass baits, and a spare trolling rod for up at the cottage. Any thoughts on the quantumn energy? Anyone think it would have a problem with heavier baits? http://cgi.ebay.com/QUANTUM-ENERGY-PT-E-76...bayphotohosting Edited October 19, 2007 by moemoe
Sherriff Posted October 19, 2007 Report Posted October 19, 2007 I have the PT Quantum 760 and love it. I do not use it for heavy baits but I am sure it could do it.... Sherriff
Jigger Posted October 19, 2007 Report Posted October 19, 2007 Whatever your choice, don't get a high speed reel if you're looking for an all-around reel. 5.1:1 is a good middle of the road gear ratio to start with. There are also bass reels you can get with a wide spool that will help if you need extra line capacity. Reels are reels IMO, go to the counter and find one that feels nice. Until you reel-y feel you need a different outfit for each situation, most brands have a reel that would suit your needs just fine. Just something to think about...
bowshep Posted October 19, 2007 Report Posted October 19, 2007 Or maybe wait for the new Diawa should be out in the new year. l hear its got something New That may revolutionize How You Fish. Just hear say but l did hear. Peace Ken Ps l Have the Shimano Curado 201 DHSV Very happy.
danbo Posted October 20, 2007 Report Posted October 20, 2007 (edited) New Daiwa Advantage is sweet! daiwa reels Edited October 20, 2007 by danbo
FishHeadRic Posted October 21, 2007 Report Posted October 21, 2007 If you're looking at the Calcutta's then price isn't much of an issue, yes. Take a look at the Abu Morrum's. I think you'll really like what you see. FHR
fishindevil Posted October 21, 2007 Report Posted October 21, 2007 I have a quantum PT accurist ,and man thats an amazing reel for the price !!!! i have used mine hard for a few years and its great,even for salmon once....but its up to you,if money isnt an option than go for a curado...there is several models of them and range from 270-500 bucks....they also come with a lifetime warranty i think....several of my freinds have them and they will last forever,and are very reliable....just like the ABU's they keep going
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