Pacemaker Fishing Forum

Have Tyler check around at the NHBA show....lots of deals there!

I am a fan of Abu C3's and C'4s (round). I use a C4 in FL when all the other guys use $200-300 reels. It cranks 'em up just fine.

Greg -- a few questions:

1)  where will you be fishing for them, and what specific lures will you use (in other words, will you really be throwing 3 oz Buchertails like they do up North?)
2)  Will you use braid or mono/flouro?

I ask for several reasons.  First, most of the people I know who catch alot of muskies LOCALLY (on Burke Lake or on the shenandoah) throw big lures, but not those 2-5 oz ones you see on TV.  In fact, the 2 most successful local musky guys I used to talk to caught most of their muskies on big Rapalas (Shenandoah & New rivers) and on really big jigs at burke lake.  In fact, my tourney partner caught a nice 14 lb musky at Burke on a Gerkin jig, which I had the unfortunate pleasure of landing/dehooking.  either way, alot of the better musky lures for this neck of the woods aren't really much over 1 oz, or are under 1 oz.  If you really do plan on throwing 2+ oz lures, you will need something that stout.

also, if you use braid, you could potentially go with a low profile baitcaster, but if you are gonna use mono, you'll need a round reel for the line capacity.  On a budget, I'd agree with Ernie and get a basic Abu round reel.  A fairly inexpensive rod could be found in the Ugly Stik Bigwater Special model BWC 1120 60.  This ain't the ugly stik most people know...this rod is a MONSTER!  Stiff beyond belief, and almost unbreakable like most ugly stiks.  I almost got this rod years ago for musky fishing myself, but settled on something a bit lighter and more versatile once I realized I'd get frustrated and start bass fishing anyway.

Answers to questions:
1.  Tyler and I do fish up North each year and this rod is intended for fishing 50 inch Pike (Tyler has three 38 inchers so far).
2.  I expect to use Braid, but based on Basscrusher and Ernie's recommendation I am leaning heavily toward the Abu C3 or C4 so I could use either Braid or Mono.

Redfish, I am in the WNY all week.  But in a fire drill today.  If you are around on Friday, we can meet for lunch at the Town Center (or whatever they call the food court on base) at noon?  I would like to see that St. Croix rod.  Hard to pass up for $60.

I reel with my right hand but am left handed.

Thanks for the help/input/offers.

Yes, I have your number.  I can do Thursday if you are around?

Talk to you tomorrow.

Work has gotten in the way.  I haven't been able to get out yet.  If I get lucky, I hope to get out late this afternoon and will take a couple casts with the heavy lures just to test it out.  I will look silly casting huge lures on Ashburn Lake.   Maybe it is a good thing it will be close to dark when I finally get out, so nobody will see me.