I've been fishing since I was little, but with my grandfather and his older fishing equipment and decided that since now me and some friends have been getting into it seriously I would pick up some nicer gear. I was thinking of getting a Falcon Cara 6' 6" Medium rod with a Abu Garcia Ambassadeur record reel for some good old Large Mouth Bass fishing. Was wondering what you guys thought of this set up. Sorry if its not a good set up but i'm not very knowledgable when it comes higher end fishing equipment but would like to get 1 really nice set up to use for a while. Thanks in advance :thumbup: .
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Bait casting rod and reel set up?
- Thread starter Lurp
- Start date
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- Jan 15, 2003
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I have a Shimano Calcutta Conquest and a Fenwick rod and this is my favourite combo.
I also have some Abu Ambassadeurs but the Shimano is in a different class. It's just so smooth and with the proper rod it's just a pleasure to cast. You can cast great lengths with this reel 'cos it's just so smooth.
http://www.tackletour.com/reviewshimanoconquest.html
I also have some Abu Ambassadeurs but the Shimano is in a different class. It's just so smooth and with the proper rod it's just a pleasure to cast. You can cast great lengths with this reel 'cos it's just so smooth.
http://www.tackletour.com/reviewshimanoconquest.html
I think the setup you've chosen is just fine, depending on what you plan on using for lures. I keep two baitcasting outfits ready, one with a graphite rod for plastics and jigs, and the other with a fiberglass rod for crankbaits and spinnerbaits. The rods I use are St. Croix and Lightning Rods generally in the 6-6.5 foot range, and I tend to prefer Quantum and Ambassadeur reels, but those are just personal preferences, just as I prefer Toyota to Honda.
Ebbtide
Gold Member
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- Aug 20, 1999
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- 7,951
Shimano, Garcia, Quantum, all good.
Just don't buy the bottom of the line budget model.
FWIW, I have 3 Garcias (4600abl from '82 & 2 5500c's from the late 80's early 90's) that get used a bunch and are still going strong.
Also have 2 shimanos from the mid 80s that keep on ticking too.
Berkley lightning rods are great and are priced well now.
Also have a Shimano rod that is too sweet.
I usually get in the canoe with three rods. Light rig for sluggo, 10# line Shimano ULS & med Lightning rod, Medium rig for spinnerbaits, Shimano Black Magnum, 14# line and the Shimano rod (forgot the name and number) and lastly the worm/jig rod, Garcia 4600, Bass Pro Pitchin stick 14# line.
If I'm walking the bank I leave the light rod and take the 2 heavier ones.
A good rule of thumb, a more limber rod if you move your lure with the reel and a stiffer rod if you move the lure with the rod.
Just don't buy the bottom of the line budget model.
FWIW, I have 3 Garcias (4600abl from '82 & 2 5500c's from the late 80's early 90's) that get used a bunch and are still going strong.
Also have 2 shimanos from the mid 80s that keep on ticking too.
Berkley lightning rods are great and are priced well now.
Also have a Shimano rod that is too sweet.
I usually get in the canoe with three rods. Light rig for sluggo, 10# line Shimano ULS & med Lightning rod, Medium rig for spinnerbaits, Shimano Black Magnum, 14# line and the Shimano rod (forgot the name and number) and lastly the worm/jig rod, Garcia 4600, Bass Pro Pitchin stick 14# line.
If I'm walking the bank I leave the light rod and take the 2 heavier ones.
A good rule of thumb, a more limber rod if you move your lure with the reel and a stiffer rod if you move the lure with the rod.
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2005
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- 1,806
I like to use Abu's in the salt since they have more bushings than bearings,which is a good thing. They are very easy to maintain, inexpensive and durable.
For freshwater, I also am partial to Shimano. The older Curado "B" line they just dicontinued was in my opinion one of the best reels for the money. The new ones have added another bearing but also another $80 to the pricetag.\
As for rods... I like St. Croix and All-star. But anthing over IM-7 with a nice cork handle is good enough for me.
For freshwater, I also am partial to Shimano. The older Curado "B" line they just dicontinued was in my opinion one of the best reels for the money. The new ones have added another bearing but also another $80 to the pricetag.\
As for rods... I like St. Croix and All-star. But anthing over IM-7 with a nice cork handle is good enough for me.
- Joined
- Dec 10, 1998
- Messages
- 4,860
Calcutta with a 7ft ugly stick intercostal.
You can throw bait or a lure further with a reel without the levelwind, but at night you'll wish you had it.
You can throw bait or a lure further with a reel without the levelwind, but at night you'll wish you had it.
Been a while since I've been fishing....1974 or so. Amazing how the technology has changed. Back then, there was no carbon fiber (or it was just a gleam in some tech-engineer's eye) and the standard was tubular fiberglass for rods. I had an Ambassador reel, recieved as a Christmas present when I was just a teen. Pretty fair bait-caster too; courtesy of many hours of practice in my driveway...
I well remember my first reel, one of those solid-brass level-winders with a spool about two inches wide. I spent a great deal of time learning to curse while picking horrific bird's nests out of same, as I had no idea how to actually use the thing. Then, the light dawned. I read Jason Lucas (used to be the fishing editor for Sports Afield) explaining how to use one's thumb as a brake on those heavy old metal spools. In an hour or so, I figured the thing out, and was making nice, backlash-free casts.
The Ambassador, with it's narrow, lightweight spool and centrifugal anti-backlash system, was a wonder in comparison.
I well remember my first reel, one of those solid-brass level-winders with a spool about two inches wide. I spent a great deal of time learning to curse while picking horrific bird's nests out of same, as I had no idea how to actually use the thing. Then, the light dawned. I read Jason Lucas (used to be the fishing editor for Sports Afield) explaining how to use one's thumb as a brake on those heavy old metal spools. In an hour or so, I figured the thing out, and was making nice, backlash-free casts.
The Ambassador, with it's narrow, lightweight spool and centrifugal anti-backlash system, was a wonder in comparison.
Question: Wouldn't a spinning reel be better for bass fishing?
I used to fish quite a bit in streams, small lakes and ponds, and even some large-lake fishing from shore. I found spinning reels more flexible, as far as multi-use. Bait-casting seems like a very specialized system, unsuitable for many situations.
Just wondering,
-Bob
I used to fish quite a bit in streams, small lakes and ponds, and even some large-lake fishing from shore. I found spinning reels more flexible, as far as multi-use. Bait-casting seems like a very specialized system, unsuitable for many situations.
Just wondering,
-Bob
Ebbtide
Gold Member
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- Aug 20, 1999
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- 7,951
Spinning is good for distance casting.
I like them for surf fishing.
Spinning is good for bait/lures1/4 oz and under.
Baitcasters work better with lures 1/4 oz and up.
Baitcasters are more accurate, especially at medium to short distances using flipping and pitch casts.
Baitcasting is better for fighting a fish. You can apply more drag to the spool without changing your grip or letting go of the crank/handle. If you crank a spinning reel against the drag you twist the line at a rate that matches your retrieve rate.
Baitcasting is better for reeling slack line, as wehtn fishing soft stick baits, twitch baits, worms and jigs. When you do that with spinning, you run the risk of wind (rhymes with rind) knots.
Of course YMMV
Me? I like baitcasters and I like to fish for biters (weather permitting). I really like spinnerbaits and sluggos. If I have to switch to a jig or worm I will, but I won't like it as much.
I like them for surf fishing.
Spinning is good for bait/lures1/4 oz and under.
Baitcasters work better with lures 1/4 oz and up.
Baitcasters are more accurate, especially at medium to short distances using flipping and pitch casts.
Baitcasting is better for fighting a fish. You can apply more drag to the spool without changing your grip or letting go of the crank/handle. If you crank a spinning reel against the drag you twist the line at a rate that matches your retrieve rate.
Baitcasting is better for reeling slack line, as wehtn fishing soft stick baits, twitch baits, worms and jigs. When you do that with spinning, you run the risk of wind (rhymes with rind) knots.
Of course YMMV
Me? I like baitcasters and I like to fish for biters (weather permitting). I really like spinnerbaits and sluggos. If I have to switch to a jig or worm I will, but I won't like it as much.
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- Jan 15, 2005
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- 1,806
One other pro for baitcasters.... no line twist. A spinning reel, not matter how many bells and whistles they say they have added to prevent it... will twist your line.. thios in turn stresses the line and will lead to a breakoff when you have the big one on.
Baitcasters are great except for the lightest of baits and in high wind conditions.
Baitcasters are great except for the lightest of baits and in high wind conditions.
Ebbtide
Gold Member
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- Aug 20, 1999
- Messages
- 7,951
mmmmmmhhhhhmmmmmmm, forgot about the wind.
A good trick for when your spinnin' line gets twisted...
Go out on the lawn, beach, whatever, (even let it drag behind the boat), walk out about 3-4 cast lengths of line. Reel it back with nothing tied to it, while running it through your fingers to provide moderate tension.
The grass or water will 'comb' out the twist.
A good trick for when your spinnin' line gets twisted...
Go out on the lawn, beach, whatever, (even let it drag behind the boat), walk out about 3-4 cast lengths of line. Reel it back with nothing tied to it, while running it through your fingers to provide moderate tension.
The grass or water will 'comb' out the twist.