Second musky setup

Hey guys looking for some input on a second musky setup. I currently have a 8’6″ Mojo musky heavy 3-8 oz paired with a Calcutta 400D. I’m looking for a second setup for ideally casting smaller lures. I have put in so much research on rods that I am beginning to get a bit overwhelmed. Lighter rod and reel or smaller reel on current rod and move the Calcutta to a bigger rod? I know I would like to get a curado 300ej but I am just usure of the direction I would like to go. I want to get into more jerk baits and glide baits as well as use some smaller buck tails like double 8’s or single 7-8 Indiana buck tails.

I use a lot of blades #10’s, I have a few regular bulldawgs, suicks, hell hounds, big swim baits,grandmas etc. I want to get more hell hounds as they are becoming a confidence bait for me. That being said the 10″ hellhound is like 10.5 oz and I might get one at some point. I want to make sure that I can throw it on something that will hold up.

Lastly I want a legend tournament but, let’s just be honest I can’t justify it for any reason. So less expensive options would be nice (another mojo?). Not sure I would like a telescoping rod. My brother has a Shimano Compre 9′ that telescopes and loves it but I am not sold. Warranty would be nice too I do like having that price of mind with a rod setup costing hundreds of dollars.

So here’s the long winded question. For guys that didn’t upgrade drastically with their second setup what did you get? How did you diversify your Arsenal? What do you guys use for different techniques? Any regrets with length, lure rating or build quality?

Thanks guys let me know what you got!

Tackle Industries rods are very good for the money. The Okuma EVX series is another good option for under $175. I learned how to run my jerkbaits with an 8’6″ rod after 20 years of running shorter ones. It was an easy transition and now all of my rods are 8’6″. There is something to be said for standardization. I do mix it up and run XH and XXH rods for big lures and huge ones lol.

Phil Bauerly wrote:

Tackle Industries rods are very good for the money. The Okuma EVX series is another good option for under $175. I learned how to run my jerkbaits with an 8’6″ rod after 20 years of running shorter ones. It was an easy transition and now all of my rods are 8’6″. There is something to be said for standardization. I do mix it up and run XH and XXH rods for big lures and huge ones lol.

Thanks Phil for the response. I will be looking into the okuma series for sure. My brother got a XXH tackle industries rod last year had a 48.5 hit at the boat and snapped it right in half on the hook set. That was the first fish on that rod. I’m hearing good things about the rods but my brother broke his in the first week or two. Maybe it was a bad blank from the get go?

Second I definitely agree with the 8’6″ point sold myself on that. My first mojo was a 7’6″, figure 8’s were a real pain. The reel seat twisted on the blank after about a year and a half. St Croix allowed me to get it replaced with the same rod but 8’6″ for the difference in cost ($20). A little weird to get used to but after a few hours it felt completely normal.

Great thread tonkaiceman, thanks for posting as I am also interested in a 2nd rod setup. I bought my first musky rod/reel last year, caught a 42″er, and am now obsessed. I think I have just the opposite setup, lighter, and need to add a heavier option. Current setup is 7’6″MHF St. Croix Triumph with Shimano Cardiff 400. It sounds like an 8’6″ or 9′ XH might be a good complimentary option, to have something heavier. Would be nice to know what kind of options the experienced musky guys carry.

For that price range I would recommend a 13 Fishing OMEN 8’7″ Heavy or heck I would just get another Muskie Mojo 8’6″. Like Phil said, you can run jerkbaits just fine on an 8’6″ rod

Following this thread as I am also looking to add a 2nd musky rod. Anyone have any experience with Bulldawg Rods? Seems to be a good price point, but curious on their durability and sensitivity.

I have never used one, but know a lot of people that do. I would look at the 13 fishing OMEN 8’7″ XH. They are light-weight and have an extra long butt for more leverage when working and casting big baits. I just started using them last year and have really grown to like them. They are, however a little bit lighter action/softer than some of the alternatives. For regular – mag dawgs they will work great. If you are going to throw a pounder all day, I would look for something more stout like a St. Croix Big Dawg.

If you do plan on throwing some walk the dog baits or gliders I would strongly recommend a shorter rod. Reels and rod brands aside I absolutely love being able to work phantoms and jackpots with a shorter 7 foot rod. But still working them with an 8 foot rod isnt so bad.

Pat McSharry wrote:

For that price range I would recommend a 13 Fishing OMEN 8’7″ Heavy or heck I would just get another Muskie Mojo 8’6″. Like Phil said, you can run jerkbaits just fine on an 8’6″ rod

I was waiting for this guy ^^^ to chime in (now I’m waiting for Ben to chime in from Mississippi). Thanks for another option with 13 fishing rods. Another option that I will need to research.

Youbetcha wrote:

If you do plan on throwing some walk the dog baits or gliders I would strongly recommend a shorter rod. Reels and rod brands aside I absolutely love being able to work phantoms and jackpots with a shorter 7 foot rod. But still working them with an 8 foot rod isnt so bad.

I have thought of that but the want to throw smaller blades on this rod makes me still want the length for figure 8’s. Plus thinking about even larger baits makes me lean towards a heavier rod and reel change up.

Nice Fella wrote:

Great thread tonkaiceman, thanks for posting as I am also interested in a 2nd rod setup. I bought my first musky rod/reel last year, caught a 42″er, and am now obsessed. I think I have just the opposite setup, lighter, and need to add a heavier option. Current setup is 7’6″MHF St. Croix Triumph with Shimano Cardiff 400. It sounds like an 8’6″ or 9′ XH might be a good complimentary option, to have something heavier. Would be nice to know what kind of options the experienced musky guys carry.

Glad to be of assistance, hope more people than me get use of this thread. I looked for similar threads around the interweb but generally it is a thread of pick product a vs product b, I want options!

Also same thing happened to me in September of ’14. 43″er was my first ever musky, I have never been right since. People at my work know I have more than a fishing problem. It’s a pure obsession!

+1 for a 13 Omen. I have an 8’1″ XH paired with a Abu Garcia Toro NaCL. Well built rod, handles heavy baits well.

I haven’t had much of a chance to actually fish musky waters with it, but have landed a few decent pike with it, and was pretty impressed.

Soooooo… yeah…. figured it out. Remember when I said I couldn’t justify a legend tournament? Yeah well I guess when you pay exactly 50% it is a bit easier. So I ended up selecting a legend tournament sling blade 8’6″ Heavy power fast action. I ended up having gift cards, Cabela’s points and a coupon for a total price of $193.08. $193.10 off regular price after tax. That really turned my conscience to the reality that this is what I expected to pay from the get go. With the end factor being a true life time warranty.

I also ended up selecting a completely different reel to pair with this rod. I decided that the Abu Garcia Revo Toro Beast 60 4.9 gear ratio would be a better fit. This is going to be my double 10 rod and smaller lures my other set up will remain the same for heavier lures. I have already pondered a faster gear ratio for that rod to use with big jerk baits when you need a bit more line pickup.

So all in all I just wanted to fill everybody in that what I thought I wanted changed dramatically with what I ended up with. I can’t imagine I will have any complaints with a setup of this caliber, but you definitely will not hear any complaining from this guy.

Thanks everybody for all the imput!

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I should have looked at the post above before I typed a 3 paragraph post about what I use Good choice on that rod, they are sweet……and getting a deal is always a plus. I will say I have a Revo Toro winch and it is amazing for pulling double 10s (they feel like beetle spins) but you will notice how slow they come in. I own 3 revos……a 5.4, the winch and the NaCL and to tell ya the truth the NaCL is my favorite for 10s. Yes its harder to pull them in but the line pickup is worth it IMO. Enjoy your new setup

-b-

You can’t go wrong with a Legend Tournament. June can’t come soon enough!

You may want to consider using a left-hand retrieve reel for your 2nd outfit (if your current outfit is right-handed). My hands and arms appreciate a break when I switch from an XXH throwing a magnum bulldog with a right-hand retrieve reel to anything else on a rod with a left-hand retrieve reel. The reel change alone keeps me throwing longer and with more accuracy.

Pat McSharry wrote:

June can’t come soon enough!

Seriously. I am getting very antsy. I launched the boat last weekend backed away from the access turned my head and BANG! Staring a upper 40’s pushing maybe 50″ in the face. Just hanging out, without a care in the world. Cruel world, cruel I say…