I am relenting and am going to build a convench rod, 13 or so feet long, for bait dunking on the beach. What reel would do the job say in the one to four hundred dollar range?

I have 3 of the 401 reels. They are great! Great casting and smooth drag.

I am relenting and am going to build a convench rod, 13 or so feet long, for bait dunking on the beach. What reel would do the job say in the one to four hundred dollar range?

daiwa sealine 30SHV

very controlable

second what Mac said.

I wouldn't use the Calcuttas for bait.
(I own Calcutta Conquest 400s for plugging/tunoids)

Abu 7000 series. Just replace the stainless pinion gear with a brass one.

$400? There is absolutely no reason to spend more than a deuce ;)

Seriously, there are many top quality conventionals in the $100-$200range. Abus if you need a level wind. Newells, Daiwa Sealines or Avets if you think you can get the hang of leveling line with your thumb. In fact, if you can find one, you could do a hell of a lot worse than a Penn Squidder for less than $100 :humpty:

I'd go with a tricked out Abu 7000 from hatteras...

-spence

Is going over to the dark side...:smash: :usd:

Penn 525mag. I use with a 10' Lami for bait and jigging. Great reel.

Thanks for all the great info everyone.

Fishing with you is fishing the dark side:rotfl: . Remember when you tackled me when I was going for my rod on Norton Beach? It became dark quickly after you took me down.:rotfl:

$400? There is absolutely no reason to spend more than a deuce ;)

Seriously, there are many top quality conventionals in the $100-$200range. Abus if you need a level wind. Newells, Daiwa Sealines or Avets if you think you can get the hang of leveling line with your thumb. In fact, if you can find one, you could do a hell of a lot worse than a Penn Squidder for less than $100 :humpty:

Mike has it right .. you can buy a 7000 big game for well under 200 buks and it will do the job easily.