What's everyone using for rod/ reel combos out there?

Hey,

Just wondering what everyone out there is using and your opinion. Going to be up dating some of my stuff soon and looking for some suggestions... although pretty happy with the stuff i use already.

Current rigs:

7-0 G-Loomis Muskie calcutta 300TE

7-0 Fenwick HMG AV Heavy with a calcutta 250

6-3 Fenwick HMG AV Heavy jerk bait with calcutta 400b

6-0 Shimano Compre with a Quantum Iron IR-3 < beat to shit (80+ fish on it)

I definantly like my Shimano rods and reels. But the Fenwick rods are really nice. Nice and firm, tons of backbone, and very comfortable to throw all day.

I cant say enough about the Calcutta line of reels either. They just hang tough.

The iron and compre has seen it day and is time to go. Stripped gear set, stripped doggy... time for retirement.

Been looking at the Diawa Luna though

thanks

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sean Landsman on August 3, 2008 at 9:25am: Ryan,

If you're interested in a Luna (or three) I've got one for sale now that is new this year and used maybe 10 outings. The other two are in for repairs and will be sold when I get them back in my possession. If interested, contact me via email at landsman.sean@gmail.com. I'm selling the one for $185 INCLUDING shipping.

My setups are the following (all reels are being replaced with what's specified... can never seem to settle on one particular kind of reel):

7'6" H Fig Rig "Tooth Tamer" w/ Shimano Curado 300DSV
8' MH St. Croix Premier w/ Okuma Induron (power handle)
8'6" XH custom Frank Bottiglieri w/ Shimano Calcutta CTE400; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mike Witowski on August 3, 2008 at 11:40am: St.Croix 7'9"XXXH/Daiwa Luna TD300
St.Croix 7'6"MH/Okuma Induron
FigRig 6'10"/ Abu Garcia 6500 C4

On my shopping list for the winter musky shows of '09:
M.I. Bulldog series 8'6"H/Daiwa Saltist Levelwind STTLW50HA; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jim raduns on August 3, 2008 at 3:49pm: 8.5' Tica XH, Okuma Induron/power handle
8' Tica H, Quantum Cabo 30
8' Gander MH, Okuma Induron
6'9" Gander H, ABU 6600 C4; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by guts on August 3, 2008 at 6:10pm: 8'6 st. croix XH or XXh i cant rember with a 7000i
7'6 gary wick custom Xh with a 7000B; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Billy Brumett on August 3, 2008 at 6:14pm: My main setups are:

8'6" St. Croix LT Big Dawg Rod/Calcutta 400b
8'0" St. Croix LT Top n tail Rod/Cardiff 400
8'0" Bulldawg Rod/Pete Maina reel
7"7" GLoomis Bucktailio Rod/pete maina low profile reel; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rob Schaller on August 3, 2008 at 8:46pm: 9' St. Croix '' Franks Custom Rod ''LT Big Dawg Rod/Shimano Calcutta 700TE/100lb PP
7' 6'' St. Croix Classic Cat /Shimano Calcutta 400TE/80lb PP
7' 2'' G-Loomis/Penn 965/80lb PP
6'9'' St. Croix Avid/Shimano Calcutta 400 /80lb PP; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sean Landsman on August 3, 2008 at 10:03pm: Rob,

I remember seeing your custom in Frank's booth at the Chicago Show. He builds some terrific rods and is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ryan on August 3, 2008 at 10:28pm: Wow, looks like everyone is a fan of the long rod. I dont like a rod any longer than 7-6" myself, although, never fished anything longer either. I like my short rods.

Sean, how do you like the Curado 300dsv? I have looked at them, but wasn't sure how it would hold up to muskie.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sean Landsman on August 4, 2008 at 4:20pm: Ryan,

My got my dad the 301DSV for X-Mas and watching him throw it as well as myself giving it a few tosses, I must say it's pretty darn fluid. Very smooth, doesn't weigh much, and is comfortable to use. I will be buying one shortly to put on my 7'6" H Fig Rig. I like that rod for throwing walk-the-dog topwaters, gliders, Suicks, and plastics. I need a reel that can handle the rigor of super hard, gear loosening rips and that can pick up slack line quickly.

Right now I can't seem to comfortably throw walk-the-dog baits on anything but that Fig Rig. I think it's a function of weight. If I can find a super lightweight 8'-8'6" I will probably try it. For all other applications, longer is better. I'd encourage you to try throwing an 8'+ rod. There is no going back. I think over the next few years I will slowly faze out my "shorter" 7'6" rods for the longer 8'+.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dale Jacobson on August 5, 2008 at 3:54pm: 4 set ups toal
2-7'6 Cortland Diamondback Heavy/AbuRecordSeries H.C.80#Cortland Beige
1-7'6 Petros XH/AbuRecordSeries H.C.80#Cortland Beige
1-St.Croix XH 7'0/Abu7000IC3 W/80#INVISIBRAID; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mike Kanowitz on August 6, 2008 at 12:34pm: The sticks that I use the most:
8'6" Muskie Innovations Rod with a Luna 300...throw mostly pounders and big buck tails.
6'4" St. Croix with a Abu Record....used mostly for gliders and the Weagle.

Im about to have Thorne Brothers build me a 9'6" rod with the cork extension for my large bait arsenal. I used one last November on Mille Lacs and it was the greatest rod I have ever used. Most likely will throw a TE400 on it unless I find a good reason to buy another reel.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dances With Fish on August 6, 2008 at 1:10pm: 8' MH Fenwick Techna AV with a Curado 300 DSV
8' XH St Croix Legend Tournament Bass with a 6600 Record
7' 6" XH Compre with a 6600 Record; ▶ Reply to This