Fishing Michigan

Trolling reels are much the same as the casting reels with some differences.  As far as companies go, the reccomendations are the same three; Daiwa, Ambassadeur or Shimano.  The reasons why, and their applications set them apart.  There is one kicker brand at the end.

Why a Daiwa, simply because of their track record and the performance of their linecounter reels.  Folks are begining to realize it is just as important to know the amount of line you have it out, as it is in walleye fishing.  If you want to consistently put the baits back where they have been getting hits the reel can do it.  The drag is the key here, if the reel can handle a 300′ run by a 20 to 30 lb salmon, it will serve you well for muskie fishing.  The reel you want for muskie would be the SG 47 LCA, and for pike the SG 27 LCA will get the job done.

The Ambassadeur line up has a uniquely built reel.  The C3 7000 is a lot like a Ford, they are BUILT TOUGH.  Hopefully there isn’t a copyright infringement in me saying that!  The reel is solid, and when you see it you can quickly understand why.  Metal, metal and more metal.  Although not a linecounter,  the reel will suit you well for regular trolling, but really shines when using ball weights off the side or behind the boat.  Very similiar to using downriggers,  and somewhat related to fishing with bottom bouncers,  the heavy weights can quickly get the baits down to the strike area.

Shimano has a graphite bodied reel, the TR 200, which can do what the 7000 can, but at a cheaper price.  You should be able to find these reels for under $70 any place.  They used to be only $60.  A good reel, just not built like the big C3.  They also have a linecounter available that has been gaining in popularity, the Tekota series.  A well built, but spendy reel, the 500 LC is the choice for the dedicated pike guys, while the 600 LC would be your muskie reel.  Both of these reels are their linecounter models,  but they are also available without that feature.

Finally the kicker,  Penn has long been known for building some of the best saltwater reels on the market.  If the drags can hold up for deep sea fishing, they will hold up extremely well for muskie fishing.  The GTi 310 and 320 are your pike choices, while the 320 and the GTi 330 are your muskie choices.  Its all about the drag and pure cranking power when you use these reels.

When you look for a pike and/or muskie reel  consider these characteristics;  bearings, gear ratio, dependable drag, line capacity and contruction.  Spinning reels are not your first choice, you really should want a baitcaster for these critters.

Bearings are pretty important for the action on the spool as well as the handle when you crank on it.  Are more bearings better,  the answer would be generally speaking yes.  There are pitfalls to watch out for,  some companies will load up 10, 12 or 14 bearing into a reel.  If you plan on spending $600.00 or more on the reel, then that number would be worth considering.  If the reel only runs $80.00 and has that many bearings, it should send up a red flag.  Buyer beware!  The quality of the bearing itself will come into question, as well, as the external construction. 

Why is gear ratio important?  Its because it will be a determining factor in how fast you will be retrieving the line back to the reel.  Some baits should be really hummed through the water, while others need you to take up slack quickly, and others need the extra beef and torque to handle bigger baits.  When we get into the rods, I’ll talk about matching up to the right one to best perform the desired task.

Dependable drags are a must, doesn’t matter if  you prefer using a monofilament or braid/super line.  What is the best way to determine if a drag is sound coming out of the box?  The best way for a person starting out is to ask around, look at various forums online.  Tell the folks you are a nugget, just starting out, and you will get a ton of responses.  Most folks are there to share ideas and lend a helping hand when they can. At the end of today’s topic I will reccomend some good ones in a couple of different price ranges, and they will be solid reels.

Line capacity will range from 200 yards of 14 lb to 130 yards of 20 lb test.  When you see this posted either on the reel or the box it comes in, remember they are rated by their line capacity when dealing with monofilament.  Regardless of the type of line you choose, for better castability, remember to fill the spool all the way.  Later when the types of line get discussed, there will be trick to filling the spool with braid that I will bring up then.

Construction is key.  Look for all metal frames, you will want something that can take a beating and literally keep on ticking.  The line guide is something you really want to pay attention to, as well.  On most bass reels (low profiles) the guide will stay in place on the cast, and only move on the retrieve.  Avoid this when at all possible.  Specially when using a super line this can cause problems on future casts.  What happens is that the line can become cross wrapped and actually buried in the row.  This will make the line snap when it catches on the cast, often resulting in your bait breaking off and sinking before you can save it from going to the bottom of the lake.  You want the guide to go back and forth on the cast, as well as the retrieve.

There are several good pike and muskie reels available these days.  I prefer the Ambassadeur reels from Abu Garcia.  The venerable C3 series is time tested and often recommended.  These have a 5.3:1 raitio.  The C4 has more speed at a 6.3:1 gear ratio.  The 5500 and 5600 sizes are good for the pike as well as the muskie.  Most prefer the 6500 or 6600’s when fishing for muskie.  Shimano makes an excellent reel in the Calcutta 400,  while Daiwa makes the Millionaire 300.  The Ambassadeurs will top out about 90 bucks, while the other two will be around $200 and slightly more.