Muskie Reels

Now that I have a list of the “must have” muskie lures, I sure would appreciate some suggestions on good quality muskie reels. Thanks.
Geronimo

You get what you pay for. I like Abu Garcia 6500Cs for trolling and also catting. They have a line out alarm for live bait fishing that works well. I haven’t been able to break one yet. If I am casting I prefer something more accustomed to casting and therefore more expensive. You don’t need a huge line capacity.

Eye…I have a Quantum Big Iron for sale…the fella I bought it from used it for muskie fishing.

I’ve never trolled with it…but it casts great…over high tree branches and all. Very nice drag!
The only thing I don’t like about it is that the clicker is too light. It’s adjustable, but then you have to adjust it to cast again.

I have 6 Garcia 7000’s and I’m trading my one “odd duck” off to buy another.

You can’t go wrong with the Garcia 6500 C3. This reel will take years of abuse and keep going. They are reasonable in cost and they handle well with big fish.

The Garcia C4 is also a good reel, but it does have a higher gear ratio. When “burning hair” (running bucktails at higher than normal speed), it can “where on you” a bit. Make the “cranking” easy for you……

I’m sure your next question will be which rod????
For your rods, you HONESTLY only have to have 2. More are a pleasure, but you have to have 2.

Get a Gander Mountain 7’6″ MH musky rod for throwing bucktails and cranks. Then get a Gander Mountain 6’6″ H musky rod for working your topwater and jerkbaits. These rods cost about $60ea and work great. If you want to spend the extra coin………go St. Croix or Fenwick.

I keep 4 rods loaded at all times:
7’6″ Bucktail rod
7′ Crank rod
6’10” jerkbait rod
6′ topwater rod

(I also keep a 6’6″ or 7′ heavy action rod (a bass flippin stick works great) for throwing small bucktails). Sometimes the fish just want smaller baits…….

I prefer the 6′ topwater rod, where the vast majority of people think I’m nuts………They think I should use a 6’6″ or 7′ topwater rod…….for the balance and control of fighting bigger fish. But, that 6′ topwater rod allows me to make my jackpots “hover” and still twitch. I have total control with my “dog walking” presentation with this shorter stick with minimial effort. And, I’ve never lost a fish because of the shorter rod……

Lastly and MOST IMPORTANTLY:
make sure you have a:
1) good, big net
2) Bolt cutter (for cutting hooks)
3) Long needle nose pliers
4) jaw spreader (with rope attached, that is attached to the boat. Many times, with jaw spreader in mouth, you will loose control of the fish, it falls in the water, and swims away with your jaw spreader in mouth………… equals: dead fish. that and the fish will “kick” and throw your jaw spreader out of his mouth and overboard…….lost spreader…..

Don’t hold the fish vertical, hold her with two hands horizontal (this is important where you don’t “stretch” the spinal cord)

Good luck!!!!!

The 6500 is the work horse of muskie fihsing. Lasts forever.

Excellent post, Gary.

People should print a hard copy of this and tape it up inside their boat!

Thanks!

Rootski

No Shimano Calcutta Reel advocates????
Geronimo

That is a “all inclusive” post Gary!

Not that I Muskie fish…but I know two catter’s that have the 6500 and both were having problems…I don’t recall what the problem was…maybe the level wind?

The Calcutta is an awesome reel with an awesome price. With the price of those muskie lures…you could have two 6500s and still have enough left over for 5…6 lures.

PS there might be 200 people that never had a problem with the 6500. Just the two that I know…

I know the level wind on the 6500 doesn’t hold up too well when zinging a 3oz bucktail and your finger on the other hand gets in the way………..Not only does it hurt like H E double toothpics………but it strips out the gears with a really funky sound. I didn’t do this…….my buddy Hedder did……….and don’t ask me how his index finger got in there. Somehow, the screwball got his left index finger in front of the reel when he casted, and the finger slipped in where the level wind was zipping back and forth…….

I did get a chuckle out of it……. ………..he survived…………..The reel was retired……..

Ouch!

One good thing is that you can get parts from Garcia…very easily.

Wasn’t there a warning in the insturctions?

Warning!

Placing finger in level wind while casting has caused cancer in California rats?

Or something like that?

I’m using line counter reels for trolling. They seem to handle things well enough and are about the same price as the 6500’s. For casting, I must concur. For the Calcutta’s, it’s a money thing. I’m sure there’s some saltwater guys braggin’ up a storm over them but in this part of the world, it’s really only the bass guys that seem to jump on the Calcutta’s.

I have a 6500c that spent a year underwater in my favorite cat hole. I took it apart oiled it up good put new line on it and it humms just like a new one. I wish the clicker was metal instead of plastic but if I can’t break it nobody can.

Actually Kid I have a Calcutta 400. I have a 6500 C3 and an older 6500PLus.
The Garcias are NO WAY as smooth as the Calcutta. It is superior in everyway except price. I probably would not ever spring full retail for a Calcutta…one of my clients gave me a 1/2 price deal on it(shoulda bought two!)

But make no mistake…the 6500s are great reels but they are not on the same level in my book.

EJ, For the 15th time….6500 all the way. I’ve had one of mine for more than 10 years, and still zinging all day long…..with a little PMing every year….as with any reel. I personaly like the 5000 and 5500 Garcias for early season throwing the smaller stuff. It just fits the smaller rod a bit better……and no problem with them handling the big uns either! GARY——-you said you use a 6’10” jerkbait rod???? You stand on your seats or what?? JKing It just seems a bit on the long side for me I’m 6’4″ and I’ve been known to smack my 6′ on the water now and again.

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GARY——-you said you use a 6’10” jerkbait rod???? You stand on your seats or what?? JKing It just seems a bit on the long side for me I’m 6’4″ and I’ve been known to smack my 6′ on the water now and again.

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Gary’s like 6’7″ or 6’8″ or there abouts. He’s a large guy to say the least.

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Actually Kid I have a Calcutta 400.

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But aren’t you a bass guy? Maybe not for the 400… … and I’d never argue that the experience between the two are equal. I just don’t know of many walleye/pike/muskie guys that run out for new Calcutta’s. The response for 6500’s tells the tale…….. it really does.

Now…… if you want to be just like “everyone else”, I’d be happy to arrange a deal and help you alleviate the awkward and unique burden of being a Calcutta owner…… …….. just cuz I’m that kinda, big hearted, helping hand type of fella!

I have used the abu’s as well and they work great. Also i have a bass-pro pete mania series muskie reel and have never had a problem with that reel. I dont know anybody else that has one but from experience with it i wouldnt hesitate to buy another one. i think they run $100. I have the lower geared on and i think it can be a bit to slow for my liking at time. If i got another one it would be the high speed reel. But it sure sounds like u cant go wrong with the 6500 and i will also back that. the 6500 is a great workhorse in my opinion. This is a time tested reel that obviously is very popular. Like i said i am the only on i know with the bass pro reel, but my experience with it has been good. I am from Iowa so my muskie equipment does not get the use and abuse of the minnesota or wisconsin guys.

Ditto what Gary said. The only difference in my preference is a 6′ rod for jerk baits. I run my C3 on the jerk bait rod, and a C4 on my 6’9″ rod.

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Actually Kid I have a Calcutta 400.

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But aren’t you a bass guy? Maybe not for the 400… … and I’d never argue that the experience between the two are equal. I just don’t know of many walleye/pike/muskie guys that run out for new Calcutta’s. The response for 6500’s tells the tale…….. it really does.

Now…… if you want to be just like “everyone else”, I’d be happy to arrange a deal and help you alleviate the awkward and unique burden of being a Calcutta owner…… …….. just cuz I’m that kinda, big hearted, helping hand type of fella!

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Ask Pete Yake how sweet that big Calcutta is KID.
Keep it up….maybe you’ll get a surprise one day!

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Ask Pete Yake how sweet that big Calcutta is KID.
Keep it up….maybe you’ll get a surprise one day!

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Right in the noggin perhaps?

Hey Muskyman!!! Good crack!!!

Yep, I’m a bit taller than the average drink of water.

I had the opportunity to talk with Pete Maina for awhile at an expo a few years back. He convinced me to try the long jerkbait rod. I tried it and like it for running Phantoms, Reefhawgs, Suicks, and Mantas. I don’t think I will go back to a shorter jerkbait rod…….

But, for topwater dog walking, I love my 6′ “pool cue”. Yes, you do loose a little bit of fighting power, incomparison to a longer stick, but the lure control with the shorter stick is soo much easier…….

We have a stable of 6500’s as well, total workhorse as everyone has said. But as we’ve gotten more specialized with technique, had to buy others. For short line trolling, planer board work and sucker rigging, I use the 7000 Big game. damn sturdy, big handle and holds up to high speed big bait trolling better. for depth specific trolling baits we use the diawa 47LC’s. so far so good, 2 seasons on them and no probs. I will say, I generally have to replace parts on a 6500 yearly, worm gears mostly. not a bad idea to have a couple spare parts in the box.

Rods: For trolling I’ve gone glass all the way. I have 2 customs made by Gregg Thorne. Tuna blanks mated with a graphite butt section. Croix makes great heavy glass rods, but honestly we also use 10′ heavy eagle claw or similar down-rigging rods. they are cheap, allow you to get the baits staggered without boards and holy cow, fishing a 40″ plus ski on a 10′ glass rod is a hoot. For all your other work, do look at the Gander rods. they have plenty to choose from, have shown to be really durable and have a great warranty.

Many Thanks to all those who responded …looks like I have reeled in a majority of Abu Garcia 6500 c3 fans. I guess it will be the 6500 or maybe, just maybe, a Shimano Calcutta should I be feeling flush.
Geronimo