– you might want to consider skipping the full read. If you’re an experienced angler, you can probably skip this section – but if you’re new to the hobby, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with these three types of reels. Hyper-speed 8:1 LEXA HD400XS-P brings in 43 IPT, $249.99 to $299.99 — daiwa.com, SHIMANO Tranx 300/400 — Introduced in early 2017, the Tranx 300/400 was designed as a freshwater and saltwater baitcaster. This should be more than enough to help you catch muskies of all sizes, along with fish of other species, too. Get on Board: Species for Beginner Anglers, Saskatchewan: The Place In Canada for Trophy Pike, Walleye Baked with Sweet Peppers & Onions Recipe, Lake of the Woods Muskie Trends, Tactics & Threats, Spoons: A Lifetime of Lessons for Giant Pike Fishing, Hobie MirageDrive 360 Kayak Propulsion: Amazing Control and Power, The True Story of the Bass Boat Hero Who Broke the Internet. Oh – and to catch tons of musky, of course. Sold Out. The Abu Garcia Revo Toro Beast, … After testing 50+ musky reels we are here with what we feel about the best musky reel and their essential features. "With a slack-line presentation, whether with jerkbaits or plastics, I want to pick up line and get it tight quickly, so I fish 7:1 or higher reels," Smith says. Daiwa Lexa High Capacity Baitcaster reel is a great musky … The Daiwa BG Saltwater Spinning Reel comes in 10 models, from 1500 to 8000, with three different gear ratios 5.3:1, 5.6:1, and 5.7:1, allowing you to catch any fish you like, be it a trout, or a mighty shark. That's accomplished through DuraGear, a specialized brass material much harder than standard brass, which makes a better gear set and adds to gear module strength. This number is usually indicated in inches. Heavy-Duty Muskie Reels. We sharpen hooks, examine leaders, line, and rod guides, and test drags. Durability – it is constructed with a sturdy aluminum frame and side plate. Many anglers use lower gear ratios with bigger baits, and even in those ratios the main gear is larger, which makes the reel more efficient and easier to retrieve.". Baitcasting reels can be a bit more difficult to use than other kinds of reels, but spending some time to acquaint yourself with their use is well worth your time at the end of the day. It is made with decent parts and will last for quite a few seasons. "But a higher gear ratio doesn't always equate to fast retrieves. They require some patience and technique to go after, though – you are going to need some practice to land your first musky. Find all the Best Pike/Musky Fly Reels from all the top brands including Nautilus, Hatch, Tibor, Abel, Bauer, Ross, Sage, Orvis, Lamson, Redington, TFO, and Echo. These bearings are corrosion-resistant, too, so you don’t have to worry about changing things up and using this reel on other species besides musky in saltwater, too. Smith equates it to riding a 10-speed-bicycle and pedaling up a sharp incline in high gear. When I have to fish giant blades, I step down to the 5.8:1 range. Sort by. They have EVA power handle knobs, stainless-steel Drive Gear and Pinion Gear EVA Custom Handle Knob Ultimate Tournament carbon drag (UTD) with max drag of 13.2 pounds, Swept Handle with weight-reducing cutouts, Magforce Cast Control, and Infinite Anti-Reverse. 1. From high-line-capacity reels, to classic round options, to low-profile and line-counter offerings, there have never been more quality reels from which to choose. It has an easy access thumb bar spool release, too, all rolled into a reel with a classic look and feel that will make you feel invincible when you’re going after musky. All of the models vary in terms of their gear ratios, max drag, line capacity, and weight, but you’ll get dual anti-reverse and a quick-set anti-reverse roller bearing in all of the options available. I was liking the reels but now the drag has stopped working and it is a lot of work to reel in double cowgirls. Not only that, but it has a die-casted aluminum frame that can be centered and holds braided lines of up to 65 lbs. It’s difficult to mess up when you are using a spincast reel! "That first kick is hard but once you get it started, you're rolling. As a result, you’ll need a strong line – often, around 80 lb – to hold up to these tough-fighting fish. Stick it out on good spots for big muskies. These tend to … Hi Guys, I have a few Abu Garcia Ambassador reels that i was looking to upgrade. It’s one of the few baitcasters out there that offers exceptional value with minimal expense to you. The strongest reel ever made for musky fishing is the shimanO Calcutta TE or now the D. In most professionals opinion it’s the Cadillac of reels… But even Cadillacs have problems. Modern musky reels have fittings casting for distance and accuracy. "On the Detroit River, we fish 12- to 30-foot breaks, counting them down and ripping 'em up. The single power-cranking handle is easy to find, that's a big deal for immediate response and execution. There haven't been many because technology wasn't there to get build a strong enough gear set. "The Lexa HD has the right gears, is nicely balanced, and has an excellent handle. That’s all there is to it! Showing all 24 results Sold Out. ", The Abu Garcia Revo Toro Beast comes with three handle options, which Wheeler says allow anglers to customize the reel to the presentation. I know I work harder than I would with a 5:1 or 6:1, but if I have to burn over cover or weeds, I have that acceleration at my command. This reel, the Saltist, is a great choice for fishing musky. When I get above #10s, I reach for a 6:1 gear ratio. The Daiwa Lexa has cutouts that offer some of the best performance and control during casting. Given the muskie's reputation as "the fish of 10,000 casts" the thought is that more casts equals more fish. It’s not equipped with all the bells and whistles you might find on other musky reels, so it’s a good choice to help you master the basics of the sport. ", To those ends, he suggests anglers look at reels with 35 IPT or greater. The double paddle is what we're all familiar with, and that's included as well. The KastKing Rover Round Baitcasting Reel is one of the best musky reels you can buy if you are new to musky fishing. That means you’ll have to put less effort into retrieving your bait. Baitcasting reels are the very best reels you can choose for fishing muskie. Similarly, more feathery yet strong rods are sure to follow. It tells you exactly how far you can retrieve your line by turning the handle one time. The gear is stronger and more powerful than previous models by KastKing, equipped with a superior carbon fiber drag system. KastKing Rover Round – Best Budget-Friendly Musky Reel for Beginners. As for reeling, you’ll get superior strength, as the reel has a max drag capacity of 22 lbs. Muskies are big fish, weighing anywhere between 15 and 36 lbs. "The Tranx 300 and 400 are a new design that took the place of the Trinidad, which was popular with muskie fishermen. And the regular single-knob power handle is good for fishing slower or jigging. Gear Ratio is the ratio that denotes the number of the turns the spool of a reel takes place for every one spin that the handle makes. "You fish those all day and you get that clam-grip hand and you're ready for the trauma center. March 05, 2016 By Steve Ryan. "It gets more complicated; fast reels amplify any gear issues. My te’s got around 150 days of use last year alone and one of them broke down before years end. You also need the right gear. The reel comes with two hand options so both righties and lefties can enjoy the features. "The 7.6:1 Tranx 400 has a single rubber-padded handle," he says. "Jim Saric, Joe Bucher, and I are all going back to smaller lures," Stone says. All of these materials work well at strengthening a reel as long as they are integrated in the right way. In addition to the Revo Toro Beast, which is popular with muskie anglers, Wheeler recommends the Revo Winch, Revo Inshore, and lower-cost Revo STX and SX. Are a new design that gives it a smooth, effortless retrieve temperatures and. Other fish in packs from qualifying purchases far you can buy higher ratios more! Speed, and I are all going back to smaller lures, '' says,... 90 percent of the best musky reels and sits lower on traditional reel seats for unparalleled!, expect to see reels push closer to double-digit gear ratios to all... In packs, more feathery yet strong rods are sure to last for quite some time out. Favorite among salmon fishermen the finer points of the best way to target larger muskie that are non-slip unless 'm. 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