Conventional Setup Advise - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

scoobe · 11-20-2005, 10:22 PM

Seems like level wind would be the way to go for a beginner. I've thought about buying a conventional outfit for fishing the ditch where the extra casting distance would really help. How much distance would the level wind take off vs non-level wind? A level wind will still cast much farther than a spinner, right?

Back Beach · 11-21-2005, 12:25 PM

You might want to look at the larger abu too. When I was checking them out this spring, I learned that the the 7000 size has a bigger and better drag system than the 6500. If you are fishing braid, you might get away with the narrow spooled version of the 7000, which will hold around 300+-yards of 50# braid. I think JHABS has the narrow spooled one with the conversion kit and mentioned that it casts extremely well. The 400 TE calcuttas are real nice, and I will be purchasing another one for next year. We fished the 400 TE for the last five years during rhody commercial season, and they hold up extremely well.

zimmy · 11-22-2005, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scoobe

A level wind will still cast much farther than a spinner, right?

I believe tha "much farther" is usually an overstatement.. One reason is that in many places you don't have the room to get a nice long drop and full back swing. I find it is easier to punch it out there with a spinner in those situations and it is often hard to put more than 75 or 80% power into it with a conventional. 95% with a spinner definately outshoots 75 or 80% with convench. That said, I still stick to my abu 7000's at the canal. Any way, many of the guns there really bang it out w/ con. even in tight spots. When I push it, I inevitably send a jig across the canal sans an attached line

If room to cast isn't an issue, I figure the convench in the hands of someone who can use it will go farther than a spinner in them same hands

Saltheart · 11-22-2005, 01:34 PM

IMO , there's no contest. the black BG reels were the best ABU made. Glad to see the 6500's coming back. Now how about bringing back the Black BG7000's too.!

I've posted a million times that the BG 7000CL is my canal reel. For beaches , I have both a BG6500cl and a Clacutta 400. For areas where I don't need big distance and for eels I like the Calcutta for the drag. Anywhere I need distance and am fishing lures , I like the BG6500 better. On very bad wind in your face days with eels , I like the 6500CS Mag.

Saltheart · 11-22-2005, 01:36 PM

Oh , BTW , on ABU's both CS and CL are levelwinds. CT is non levelwind.

snake slinger · 11-22-2005, 02:21 PM

calcutta 400

eelman · 11-22-2005, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snake slinger

calcutta 400

yup, best there is

Back Beach · 11-22-2005, 03:05 PM

The only thing to note on the calcutta is that the mono line capacity is a little on the low side if you are fishing 25# test or larger. Figure a good cast and a decent fish on the end and you can be looking at the bottom of your spool pretty quickly. Braid is no problem. I think a couple guys here use 20# ande and that is what I would also recommend if you use mono on this reel. From the boat you can get away with 25# because you can chase, but even that gets hairy once in a while.

Clogston29 · 11-22-2005, 03:11 PM

The line capacity is what I was worried about with both the calcutta and the abu 6500 when I started doing more research. I won't be using more than 20# mono test (and I'll most likely switch to braid when I figure out what I'm doing) but even with that the capacity seems alittle low to me, but I know that most of you guys have more experience with this than me.

When you guys talk about the calcuttas, what model are you refering to. Looking around on line I've seen CT, B, and TE (the TE is out of my range).

Thanks again for all the responses.

Mike P · 11-22-2005, 04:02 PM

The line capacity on the Calcutta 400 and Abu 6500 is virtually the same.

Figure you'll get about 160-170 yards of 20# mono (using Big Game as my benchmark).

That's enough under most circumstances. Unless you're throwing to another zip code and hit a fish at the end of your cast

RIJIMMY · 11-22-2005, 04:16 PM

I stated using convench in the surf a few years ago. I used them in freshwater since I was a kid. I posted a similar thread and ended up going for an Abu 7001. I always looked at the lefty models because I could not get used to reeling with my right hand. The 7000s seemed bigger and more sturdier than the 6500s. After using the 7001 for a year or so I never got comfortable with using it. I like to hold the reel in my palm and it was too large for me to hold in my hand comfortably. I shopped around and after playing with a calcutta, it was all I could think of using. I recenlty bought the 401 and have not used it yet but it feels very comfortable in my hand. Just a thought, you want to make sure its something you can plug with for hours.

eelman · 11-22-2005, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Back Beach

The only thing to note on the calcutta is that the mono line capacity is a little on the low side if you are fishing 25# test or larger. Figure a good cast and a decent fish on the end and you can be looking at the bottom of your spool pretty quickly. Braid is no problem. I think a couple guys here use 20# ande and that is what I would also recommend if you use mono on this reel. From the boat you can get away with 25# because you can chase, but even that gets hairy once in a while.

I have never had a line capacity problem with the calcutta 400 and have fished them for 10 years, I have landed fish of all sizes and in all conditions up to 50lbs. Mike is correct, unless your casting to alaska, its not a problem at all.......

snake slinger · 11-22-2005, 04:17 PM

400 b

jfisher · 11-22-2005, 04:36 PM

For the 6500 Cl supporters, Don M and Salt Heart, what makes the black big game CL better than other Abu internationals like the rockets and mag elite?

Back Beach · 11-23-2005, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&

I have never had a line capacity problem with the calcutta 400 and have fished them for 10 years, I have landed fish of all sizes and in all conditions up to 50lbs. Mike is correct, unless your casting to alaska, its not a problem at all.......

That's right. Eels or close casting won't usually present you with a problem as far as spool depletion. I am thinking more along the lines of a long cast with a lure in a canal type environment. On another note #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&, I was reading Steve's article this month about his favorite line and you mentioned in some of your posts you also like the back country from ande. What makes the ande better than say, big game 20#? That's what I use now and am looking at back country for next year.

eelman · 11-23-2005, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Back Beach

That's right. Eels or close casting won't usually present you with a problem as far as spool depletion. I am thinking more along the lines of a long cast with a lure in a canal type environment. On another note #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&, I was reading Steve's article this month about his favorite line and you mentioned in some of your posts you also like the back country from ande. What makes the ande better than say, big game 20#? That's what I use now and am looking at back country for next year.

I turned steve on to the line and now he loves it, why? its twice as abrasion resistant than big game, it has less memory, it cast smoother, my frequency of line changes has went down because the line simply hold up better. When I used big game the abrasion from my thumb alone while casting conventional was enough to nessesitate a line change every other trip, not so with the backcountry, I have had nothing but an overall increase in reliability , castibility and fish fighting power using the ande....