Looking for Musky Reel Help

[ajschn06]

I know this is a bass forum and all but there's a lot of knowledgeable people here and I'm looking for opinions in Musky reels.  I'm looking to find something cheaper, like $125-150 and I want to try one if the bigger low profile reels.  Right now the only thing I can find is the Daiwa Lexa 300.  Are there. Any others I should look at?

[The Fish Man]

Check out Abu Garcia Revo Toro Winch.  Few different models that start around $180ish.  You can also pick up Shimano Curados for $180 for a 200i (6.3:1 or 7.2:1)  or $250 for a 300e (6.2:1).  Okuma has a few out there too, the Citrix or Komodo.   Both in that $175-200 range.

The Lexa I found online was $200 so that's why I went a little higher priced on my suggestions.

The Revo's are awesome and so are Curados.  If you can spend the money one of those would be my choice.  Some good musky specific forums out there too with good "for sale" sections that I'm sure you'd be able to find a reasonable price on.  My only suggestion would be to go to the big box store and hold the reels before buying online and finding out you don't like the way it fits.

[hughesjasonk]

Okuma makes some nice ones. But you need to find something with 18lbs drag at least. But up here people mainly use down riggers for musky.

On of the biggest things though make sure that you have a line counter. How much line you have out while trolling will determined how deep your lure is going to go.

What kind of planer boards are you going to go with?

How big of musky are you targeting?

[Scott F]

What kind of baits will you be throwing?  Reels like the Curado are good reels but won't hold up if you are throwing double tens.

[Pferox]

What gear ratio are you looking into?  Do you plan on using braid or mono?  That has a lot to do with choices.

In my opinion, for musky sized game, I would look into a Garcia C3 reel in about a 5600 or 6600, but that is a round reel.  I think they are running about $120.

I personally have been using a couple of Bass Pro Shop's Pro qualifier reels with either 20 or 40 lb braid on them, the thinner braid gives them quite a large quantity of line, although I don't know exactly how much.

I'm also using the lower geared reels which have a higher mono capacity I think they are 5.?:1 and 4.?:1.

[LgMouthGambler]

Check out the Shimano Cardiff line. Good tough reels.

[njpaulc]

Garcia C3 or C4 6500.

[OutdoorFrontiers]

You'll have a hard time finding a low profile reel built to fish big baits for muskies.  When I guided for muskies, I used primarily Ambassaduer 6500 reels and either 65, 80 or 100 lb. PowerPro line, depending on the time of year and the application.

BUT, a lot of my fishing was done using smaller/lighter lures like Maina's Squirrely Burt, Crane baits and ShallowRaiders with the old Shimano Curado green 200 series reels, a 7 1/2 ft. flippin stick and 50 lb. PowerPro.  I rarely lost a well hooked fish even on what many considered to be light tackle.

Steve

[WRB]

Low profile reels may not be your best choice for a musky rod with a fore grip, it may sit too low on the reel seat. I would suggest Shimano Cardfiff 400 series at $110.
Tom