marinepowerhouse22
New Poster
Posts:5
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| 15 Apr 2008 07:50 PM |
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Considering investing in a baitcasting reel, i've used spincast a majority of my life, but i would like to give the baitcast a try. I plan on using if for pitching a worm, crank baits, and probably some hopkins jigging, any recommendations on gear ratio, amount of bearings, line type, rod length, would be greatly appreciated. |
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krush1967
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| 15 Apr 2008 08:26 PM |
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I don't always recommend buying top of the line. But with bait casters, you really do get what you pay for. That being said there are some in the same price ranges that are far better than equal priced reels. For repetitive casting such as bass fishing, you need quality. My favorite is abu garcia revo stx. Online prices will run $180 In store $200. The mid priced revo is also excellent quality at $140 to $ 150 It takes an experienced caster to tell the difference between the two. If that is still too steep, Bass pro makes some good models like the Johnny Morris series. I have literally destroyed the bearings in less than a year on low priced models. Buy the most bearings you can afford but also look at overall quality fit and comfort. Some still prefer round models most prefer the low profile. The newest generations have the side lower gear box. They are much stronger. A gear ratio like 5-1 6-1 range is common and will work for most applications as multipurpose. You can slow down or speed up the crank if you need to. If you can afford a few ,you will want one high speed 7-1 range of ratio. Excellent for burning lures or getting a bait back fast for another cast. You also want to look at the type of break system. Centrifugal pins can be hard to adjust on the water. Some magnet breaks only have a few settings. The revos have a wide range of adjust-ability for varying conditions. Once you have one the most important setting is the main brake. Tie on a 3/8 casting plug and with your thumb on the spool engage the cast bar. When you take your thumb off , the plug should fall slowly and come to a stop when it touches the ground. If it's faster than that you will get overrun, turn the knob clockwise a little and try again. This will become easy with a little practice and should be done anytime you change the weight of lure. |
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krush1967
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| 15 Apr 2008 08:44 PM |
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I had to answer this in two parts. Line choice for beginners is easy. Any quality mono in 8 to 12 lb test. Get lots of practice before you try flouros and braids. I like Trilene xl or xt but there are lots of good monos. As for the rod question. That is like asking a mechanic the question- What is your favorite wrench. They are all tools for specific purposes. The 5.5 ft pistol grip was the standard for many years and was easy to cast with. Many still covet them for an underhanded roll cast. You can pitch a lure with a short rod but you will get more distance with a 7ft and more setting power. Flipping requires a long rod 7.5 to 8ft. If I had to pick one rod I would probably choose a 6.6 ft med action. It would work well for most applications. A soft action tip will cast easier. You don't have to break the bank to find a good rod. Take someone with you and try lots of rods for sensitivity. Hold the rod as you would for fishing and place the tip against buddies throat. When he talks you will feel the vibrations. Pick the one that transmits best. |
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marinepowerhouse22
New Poster
Posts:5
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| 15 Apr 2008 09:18 PM |
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Thanks for all the input, should help out tremendosly |
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jig fisher
Advanced Poster
Posts:210
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| 16 Apr 2008 03:09 AM |
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How you doing, Marinepowerhouse22? By the way, that's a great user name. I agree with Krush. The only things I would add: 1. Go with the XT rather than the XL, because the XT's abrasion resistant, & with the type of fishing you're talking about doing with your baitcasting rig, you'll need that in your line. If you decide to use your set-up for more open-water or other snag-free presentations, then the XL would be fine. 2. Do not try to cast any lures until you've practiced with the thing first. Read the instructions that come with your reel on how to adjust for casting, & cruise this site for all of the baitcasting info. Then, tie on a casting plug or bell sinker, go out to the back yard or some other open area, & practice-practice-practice. The tricky thing about baitcasting's the casting. I think you'll find that the retrieve for a baitcaster is no different than for your pushbutton gear. So, practice the casting before you tie on something with hooks. Incidentally, baitcasting & spincasting are the ways I choose to fish, too... baitcasting for anything 3/8 oz. or over, spincasting for anything lighter. Once you get used to the baitcaster, I think you'll love it. Keep the line fresh, the hooks sharp, and have fun fishing. God bless you. -Sonny, Life Member since 2002 |
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| Keep the hooks sharp, the line fresh & have fun fishing. God bless you. -Sonny |
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rallen3
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| 16 Apr 2008 07:59 AM |
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There are so many choices and if you ask 10 people you'll get 20 answers. I been fishing baitcasters for the last 12-13 years down here in SW FLA. I've used many different brands(shimano,daiwa,abu,ect..) In the end it will all come down to peresonal preference. For FRESH water I love the Pflueger and Quantum reels. The Pflueger Supreme and Patriarch are good choices for less than $200. Quantum Tour PT is around 240. Salt is a whole other set of choices. A Really good starter combo is from BassPro. It's a Pflueger President and XPS Extreme Rod for about 180.00. I'd go with a 6' or 6'6" M or MH. This gets you into a very good reel and the rods are sensitive enough. My prference in mono is Sufix Seige 12 lb. It casts great and has more abrasion resistance than other monos and offers good sensitivity . Braids and Fluoros are for the more experienced. As you get better you'll find that one rod does not cover it all. For worming and jigging you'll want a sensitive 6'6" MH x-fast, for crankbaits you'll want a 7' M moderate and so on. Good Luck |
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jig fisher
Advanced Poster
Posts:210
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| 16 Apr 2008 08:36 AM |
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Hey, Rallen, how are you? Yeah, you're absolutely right. "The best fishing reel" is like "the best car": different guy, different brand. Just like you have your Chevy guys, your Dodge guys, your Toyota guys and your Ford guys, you'll also have your Ardent guys, your Quantum guys, your Penn guys, and your Shakespeare guys, & you're also going to have your Trilene guys, your Stren guys, your Spiderwire guys & your Sufix guys. You'll even have your spincastingguys, your side-casting guys, your spinning guys & your baitcasting guys. You're also going to have guys that have no brand affiliation, just like with cars: whatever they can get a deal on, that's what they'll "drive". You're just not going to get around it. But, hey, it makes life interesting, right?
Keep the line fresh, the hooks sharp, and have fun fishing. God bless you. -Sonny, Life Member since 2002 |
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| Keep the hooks sharp, the line fresh & have fun fishing. God bless you. -Sonny |
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goinfshn
Advanced Poster
Posts:457
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| 16 Apr 2008 05:58 PM |
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One of the best tips I got was to use the heavier line. When, not if, but when you get a birds nest, the larger line is easier to pick out. I am using 12# Trilene and will probably have to respool after I get better because I have had some birdsnests that made robins envious! Seriously, you will get some birdsnests so go slow and practice, practice, practice. Gary http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee176/goinfshn/bassfight.gif
Life Member NAFC, West Virginia State Police Retired, United States Army Retired |
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| WV State Police Retired, US Army Retired |
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fish-dunct-ional
New Poster
Posts:123
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| 27 Apr 2008 02:33 AM |
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Great info guys. Guess I'll share a little. When I first started using a baitcaster I made a small investment to see if I would even like it or could use one. Not everybody can. I prefer round reels. Fit my hand better. I love the ABU Ambassadeur series and recently got a Shimano Calcutta. I use the ambassadeur for larger baits and the Calcutta for mid-size baits. I, like jigfisher, use spinning or spincast for lighter baits. Better and more accurate casting control. The ABU's also make excellent catfishing reels. The Calcutta is very light and again I like the feel. I think line weight is a personal preference and what works best for the weight of the lure & how you , personally make your casts and type of structure or water you fish. Before I made that investment I borrowed one of my buddies for some more practice. Yeah, I had to reline it a couple of times. HAHA! Like the guys said, practice and more practice and more...... For me, I found the initial adjustment of spool speed for the weight of the lure is all important. When I first started, a little tighter was better for a while. Rod length and action varies for fishing situations and species. For one of my Ambassadeurs I have 3 rods for the one reel and switch up depending on situation. I use YOZURI flourocarbon in 8 - 12 LB tests. Great multipurpose line. It took me a while to find what worked for me until I was ready to commit. Paitence, practice and don't "FORCE" it. Good luck and great fishing.
NAFC Life member since 1994, member NRA/ILA ,FMCA, NAFF,Veteran (73-89) extreme survivalist and Redneck. Toothpaste does not make the smell go away !!! |
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