I used this on a 8 1/2 foot St Croix rod last night and like the distance I got casting from shore. Would like to convert to conventional on some level especially for eel fishing but need a rod with a little more parabolic action. 2 questions, What length rod are most using for conventional stuff? and what do you do to smoothen the reel out even more for better casting, less likely to back lash. Is this a good reel for conventional casting from shore?

I use a 9 and a 10 foot setup with that reel for 99% of my shore fishing. That reel is a work horse with an unmatched drag in terms of smoothness for reels of that size. Plus Shimano's customer service is second to none. I will caution you that Calcuttas are not sand friendly due to the tight tolerances when they are machined. I love my 4 calcuttas and wouldnt use any other.

I LOVE my Calcutta 400. :hihi:

Been using one on a 1266 allstar on the backside and no issues (knock on wood) with sand... even being hammered.

Just don't drop it in the sand and you should be ok.

I've got the TE, same reel I believe with a bit more beef. It's a super smooth caster as long as you keep it clean.

For the size it's got a ton of power and a great drag, although I'd love a slightly larger version to hold a bit more line.

-spence

It matches up real nice with a rod in the 9-10 foot range, and there is no smoother casting conventional.

Mine's sitting on a custom Loomis 9-footer right now. I think the blank number was SW 108-20. Loomis doesn't sell blanks any longer, and I haven't checked their factory rods lately to see if they have 9' conventionals. I've also had it on a Sabre IGSC 1088. Another blank that's no longer made, but the Batson Rainshadow SW 1088 is a very close alternative. Then there's the Lamiglas 9' blanks in their surf and live bait series, or the factory rods built on them. But if I wanted a rod strictly for eels, to match with a Calcutta, given what's available at present, I'd choose to have one built on a Lamiglas GSB 120 1L with 6" to a foot taken off the butt end ;)

I've got a couple Calcutta's, a 400TE (my favorite) and a 400S (non levelwind). They are the smoothest conventionals I have ever used. I use mine on a 10' St Croix but have been thinking about an 11' - 11.5' lately. I've also had my eye on a 700TE which might ballance out better with a longer stick. The 400 and a 10' is sweet.

I'd choose to have one built on a Lamiglas GSB 120 1L with 6" to a foot taken off the butt end ;)

Now if I could find someone who needs a 1266 spinning to trade for one of those. ;)