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Esdaddy
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« Reply #15 on: January 13, 2008, 01:04:18 PM » |
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ill stick with my lower ratio..... thats just the way i like them also...and on the that reel that jim was using it was a 65 i think...and he tightened up the drag and still was taking out line........ i guess its just matter of preference........
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Fish on!!!
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Gottafish
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« Reply #16 on: January 13, 2008, 01:16:13 PM » |
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Yup, ABU drags stink! They need to be upgraded badly.
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Burntmypiston
blue gill
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Posts: 29
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« Reply #17 on: January 13, 2008, 01:21:51 PM » |
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Well I took it out today for the first time. I've neer been able to cast a baitcaster without ending up with a birdnest. My eleven year old volunteered to give it a shot and that lure flew smoothly about 25 yards, so I guess I got the brake set correctly. The braided line permormed nicely casting for him so I decided to give it a shot. Same results. I really like this thing! We didn't have any bites but I'm happy with the purchase. I have it on a 7' Berkley Lightning Rod I got for $35 at WalMart. I think I have a long term quality reel, now what do you folks think of the rod? What's the next step up in a heavier duty long term rod? Thanks.
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oat: A hole in the water surrounded by wood in which you throw money.
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Burntmypiston
blue gill
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« Reply #18 on: January 13, 2008, 01:23:51 PM » |
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Glad you mentioned the drag. I tightened it down as best I could and I could still pull line off without much effort. Glad it's not just me.
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oat: A hole in the water surrounded by wood in which you throw money.
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Gottafish
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« Reply #19 on: January 13, 2008, 01:43:23 PM » |
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Yea, it's a very nice reel. It'll last for YEARS with care. The good thing is that parts will be available for a long long time.
The drag is pretty sorry, but, in defense of the reel - a 5500 is only designed for line up to 12-14 pound line. Drags should be set at about 30-35% MAX for a give line rating. That means, it only needs to make about 4-5 pounds of drag to be adequate to meet the standard.
The lightning rods are decent. What to upgrade to really depends on what you want to do with it. Fishing rods are really very species & technique specific things.
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Burntmypiston
blue gill
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« Reply #20 on: January 13, 2008, 01:59:28 PM » |
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I guess I just need a good do-it-all rod. I fish for everything from perch to catfish. I have other rigs for the lighter stuff though. I got this reel because I got tired of buying 'decent' reels and having them trashed after a couple of months. Now that I have it, I'd like to get a quality rod to match. Plan on doing some fishing for sea bass when I'm down off the coast also. They don't get too big (10lbs a a nice one) so I'd like a heavier rod without it being ridiculous for local species.
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oat: A hole in the water surrounded by wood in which you throw money.
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WVBowhunter
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« Reply #21 on: January 13, 2008, 05:04:15 PM » |
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With out getting into a lot of money you can get Berkley big game rods for about 20 bucks at wallyworld, and the nite sticks that catfish connection are good too. Next up that you will find very popular with the guys here are Shakespeare Tiger and Catt Maxx from bass pro shops,,,both of those are Eglass rods that are really strong and have nice action...those will run about 50 bucks,,,kinda hard to find is the off brand tigers,,,they will have the name roddy on them and are about half the price.
Now back to Scott and my winching tactics :lol: I think that comes from my flatheading experience of that tree infested waters of Burnsville lake. Successfull flatheading there does not in any way include playing the fish :shock: First you change his direction and pulling drag does not come in to play, second you winch with rod tip high to keep him and his head off the bottom....more than likely he will come him fairly easy till he sees the bank, the boat or your headlamp, then hang on as he will peel some drag as that big broad tail kicks him into peterbilt mode. Typical drag settings for flatheading are in the 70 to 90% range to pull this off in our heavy structure...play a big ole flathead like you got open water here and your probably gonna loose him. ---- and thats the difference,,,you are fishing much more open water even on the James than what I learned to catfish with here in WV.
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"Aye, and lighting bolts fly from my arse"
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Gottafish
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« Reply #22 on: January 13, 2008, 06:31:34 PM » |
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Ya don't have to convice me :smile: I fish heavier drags too, and I use bigger reels to compensate, simply because they're designed for heavier line and handle higher drag settings. Using settings that are higher than a reel is designed for can trash it. Abu drags suck but they actually function pretty close to what they were designed for. Most just use them beyond their ratings - including me.
But, hey, the debate isn't about drags settings. It's about retrieve ratios and fighting fish....bring it on!!! :twisted:
I apologize for the hijack!
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Burntmypiston
blue gill
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« Reply #23 on: January 13, 2008, 06:32:59 PM » |
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And me getting an appropriate rod......
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oat: A hole in the water surrounded by wood in which you throw money.
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WVBowhunter
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« Reply #24 on: January 14, 2008, 05:39:24 AM » |
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Then if ya just want an approbriate rod,,,get a tiger --- 7 ft medium action and hold on :lol:
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"Aye, and lighting bolts fly from my arse"
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