Looking to buy a baitcaster

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NADO

NADO

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Aug 14, 2010
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I am looking to add a baitcaster to my fishing arsenaul and im not sure what sort of features I should be looking for. Since this is my first baitcaster im hoping to use it for a wide range of applications. The two main applications would be float fishing for steelhead/salmon and flipping and pitching for bass. I am willing to get a reel that will be too big for bass and other warm water species and then maybe buy another smaller reel for warmwater species in late spring or summer. I just may end up making a custom baitcasting rod for float fishing as well.

My three main questions are:

1. Do some baitcasters let out line easier than others to allow for a better drift?
2. What size of baitcaster would I need to have 8 or 10lb mono as my mainline?
3. Any brands you recommend for float fishing?
4. What sort of issues should I look for when buying a used baitcaster?

Thanks,

Eric
 
I can help you out with flipping and pitching for bass, I dont have any experience with float fishing however.

My first question to you would be how much do you want to spend?

I have bait casters ranging from 150-400 bucks.

One thing I look at for flipping and pitching is the size of the reel, how heavy it is, and the drag on it.

If money isnt the object then id suggest buying a shimano core. The reel is so light you can palm it and fish all day. If you have a budget and you want to spend 150-200 then look no further than the revo sx. Its a bulkier heavier reel but a real work horse. 30 lbs of drag and sturdy as hell. You can beat the Sh!@ out of the reel and it still performs.

As for gear ratio youll want to go with a high speed reel to pick up slack line when the fish is swimming straight towards - 7:1 gear ratio
 
Shimano curado, shimano core, abu garcia revo are all the bigggies. They are all about $130-160. They should be good for both bass and steel/salmon. And here's my answers to your questions:

1) I beleive that all bait caster let out line equaly as well
2) Any regular bass bait caster should be fine with that lb line
3) I don't use my baitcasters for float fishing, but they all will probably work equaly
4) They might have crappy gears, tinkered with, or poor brakes. You probably should go with a new one, as used ones aren't that much less $$$$ and you know that it is right out of the box, unscrathed, and only you have touched it.

I agree with AA, a fast gear ratio would be good.
If you want the center pin kind of action in a reel, why don't you just buy a pin? Not trying to be a d!ck, just wondering.

Hope this helps, Cat
 
For a pole, a 7' med-heavy/fast tip is perfect for pitching/flipping and works for top-water/cranks/spinners too. Not sure how well it would lend to finesse setups. On the other hand you do not want to go light for pitching/flipping. May want to consider two poles and share a good quality 7:1 reel between them. You can get longer or lighter baitcast poles that may work well for trout fishing.
 
Thanks guys. The reason I was asking about using it for float fishing as I think it would be great to use float fishing in -10 or colder weather. I actually own three centerpins so no worries there Catfish lol, It would also be a fun project to try and build a baitcasting float rod. I see alot of seasoned vets using baitcasters for floating on the Geen, I think with the fast flows there a pin with great startup isnt as necessary. I guess I will want to get a reel with a strong drag if I am going to potentially use it for salmon in the fall as well.

I want to get something used as I would only want to spend $100 tops but I also want a quality reel. Ive seen good prices on kijiji for a Quantium Smoke as well as a Shimano Currado, at the prices these reels retail for new I would hope that they would be able to last quite some time?

Topwaterjoe I would likely get something similar to that for flipping, I would probably go down to a 6'6 though. For floating it would be an 11'-13' 4-8lb or 6-10lb rod.
 
Sounds like a neat project.

Go with the used curado or a new shimano caenan. $89 for the caenan new. That reel is over looked. Its a low end model but it's a great reel. I have two of them and one was my first baitcaster. It has great brakes. The only low end part of it is its' plastic gears, where as the curado has brass. I've had one caenan or 6 years and its worked great. Or if you can find a used abu garcia that would be good too.
 
I know out West they use baitcasters more than you see them being used here. I've never flipped for bass only used spincast or very rarely play with a fly rod, so can't give much input there. I have an old Penn 209 level wind which is a tank, I think it's more of a trolling rod but very smooth and solid, I think brass gears- she's built to last. In free spool I suppose you could float fish with it in a fast flow,it's very smooth, I've never tried it. Maybe I'll try it this week as an experiment time permitting. Newer baitcasters are probably lighter and have a better retrieve ratio, mine's slow, I think 3.25:1 or something like that. Advantage would be casting,larger baits or lures. I'm new to the pin and still getting used to it. The old baitcaster uses thumb pressure, I seemed to pick that up easier. Lots of drag if needed, I could probably winch myself up with that beast. Personally I prefer to buy shiny and new just because I know what I'm getting.
 
Nado

If you plan on making a baitcasting float rod you will not want it longer than 10' at the most, the long rods for centerpinning are not the same as baitcasting. Baitcasting float rods tend to be in the 8'-9' range on average.
 
8-9 foot would be too short IMO. I would only use a setup like this in bigger flows and with 8-9' there would be too much line drag in the water. A professional builder posted one he made for himself a few days ago which was a 12' CTS, I think I would like mine to be around that size as well.
 
NADO said:
8-9 foot would be too short IMO. I would only use a setup like this in bigger flows and with 8-9' there would be too much line drag in the water. A professional builder posted one he made for himself a few days ago which was a 12' CTS, I think I would like mine to be around that size as well.
Click to expand...

You don't see to many main stream rod makers build casting rods much bigger then 10', not saying it can't be done.....hell you can build a 20' if you want. I would try and use one of the longer custom rods before you build one just to make sure. I have used a 10' and 10'6" in previous years. I found it to be a comfortable length for most rivers. I guess you if are fishing large rivers where a long cast is needed then the extra length might be the ticket if its set up correctly. Maybe contact JC and ask his opinion.
 
schnip said:
i have a abu vendetta and revo (brand new ) baitcaster--if you want--FOR SALE
Click to expand...

Trade?

http://www.ontariofishingforums.com/forum/topic/18384-trade-7-shimano-compre-medium-action/
 
goodentight said:
I have the 6'6 medium vendetta rod, would be nice to pair it with the reel.... and I am in the market for a baitcaster...
Click to expand...
i have that same rod---the reel is brand new
i will thrwon in rod and case for 50 on top of whatever the reel gets sold for if you are interested. when i say new i mean used it once---replaced my quantum core recently then got into the PIN...and then fly lol
 
Mine is on a 10'6" medium slow 12-20lb right now, used it in the fall at the mouth for salmon, except no one told the salmon ;-) Have also cast with it on a short musky pole.I'd suggest trying it before you have a rod made. I understand keeping the line up and out of the current with the longer rods, I was bottom fishing with mine, or casting lures.Extra length might affect the casting,it's probably fine though. I think the main thing is to balance the reel and rod out.
 
goodentight said:
If you guys meet up for a trade can I come watch? That ought to be quite the show :lol:
Click to expand...

i would trade something however---i dont want more baitcasting stuff---i want it all gone--gonna keep a spinner setup for when i got with the godson..i will trade other goodies..let me know...or i will sell it all or just thje reel...anyway before someone else says it this is the wrong forum---PM if you want the reel or rod or both

i will also post one more time to increase my posts in order to become a guppy hahahahahahahahaha jokes
 

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