Conventional Setup Advise

[eelman]

Originally Posted by snake slinger

calcutta 400

yup, best there is

[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.

[Clogston29]

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]

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]

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]

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]

400 b

[jfisher]

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?

[Clogston29]

RIJimmy,

I was thinking the same thing about getting the left hand retrieve model since I'm already used to reeling with my left hand. Also, it prevents having to switch hands after casting, right? How do other people feel about this?

I'm definately starting to lean heavily towards the calcutta also.

[eelman]

All I ever used before the Shimano Calcutta was Abu, produts. Namely the 6500 and the 7000. The main problem with all abu's is there drag, trust me, do not get them even a little wet !! Saltheart fishes mostly the canal, there is no surf , its a different animal all together when a wave hits the abu you may as well toss it in the truck, they do not have a tight fit and finish and the drags get extemely "chalky" when wet this = lost fish !!

I never knew any better and had to tear down the reel nightly to clean it and lube the drags, after first cleaning them all with alcohol, it was a pain..Then they had to be lubed with braid drag lube, way to much maintainence...

The calcutta uses a wet drag system, I dont care how wet it gets its still as smooth as the day it came out of the box, a quik rinse with fresh water after a trip is all I need to do.

If you fish the canal, breachways etc.. or any other place without much chance of getting a direct shot of water on the reel then stay with the abu, but, if you wade and get wet.the shimano is the one to go with.

I fished the Island with "snake slinger" this year and he was telling me every single trip how he has to take the abu down and clean....ask him now that he has the calcutta how he feels

Dont get caught up in this "rocket this" rocket that" jet bearings super jacked up 6500 this and that stuff...It doesnt matter. what matters is fishability and if the thing wont hold up the night I dont care how many bearings it has..

The shimano calcutta is the van stall of surf casting conventional reels in my opinion. and casts and handles like a dream...............

[dickmont]

i have a pair of calcutta's a 400TE a 400S non levelwind. they are both very well made and small enough to palm easily. i keep looking at the 700TE but keep backing away because of it's size. my only complaints are the fact that they don't like to throw lite stuff like rigged sluggos, just isn't enough weight to get them going i guess, and they are tricky with braid especially the 400S. after throwing off several $20 plugs i switched back to 20lb ande back country and they are pretty much problem free. too bad they don't make a 550, half way between the 400 & 700. that would be perfect

[Back Beach]

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]

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....

[SeaWolf]

i fish casting reels about 75% of the time in the surf and only abu 7000-class reels. the only maintenance i give mine is to throw away the stock drags and replace them w/ smooothies or xtreme smooothies. after one season, new drags again as they get flattened and burned out w/ a real tight drag setting plus the heat buildup from steady fish pressure. i clean my own reels and probably clean my hardest fished 7000 twice or maybe 3 times a season as salt water does find its way into the gearcase, which is my only gripe. while it's open during the pre-fall cleaning, i clean the drag again. you have to oil the bearings every couple trips to avoid that whine-sound from dry bearings. i hear that too often from 7000 owners and they typicallly are the ones complaining about distance w/ that reel. clean bearings means at least 30% longer casts, easier casts, and less backlashes. also, you must clean the levelwind gear and tracks occasionally. some say use a 7000 w/ bushings. i have one that i use and it has bushing. i can outcast that bushing'ed reel by 25% and it's far easier to cast the bearing one.

i've had my 7000s slammed by waves countless times and can go back night after night w/o cleaning anything, but maybe throwing some oil on the levewind and in the bearings. the drag works perfectly. if i know that there is a good chance i'll be wading in the surf and the reel will be underwater, then a spinning reel w/ a closed gear case is the best choice.

i've seen the "wave" of casting reels come in and out over the years. calcuttas, penns, abu's, etc. some made a big impression early, such as the abu-magged 6500s and the penn 525 mag, but after being in the hands of some top casters and fishermen i usually see the same reel return to their hands, an abu-7000. to me, that says a lot. i have yet to be inspired to change. a calcutta 400 or abu 6500-class reel does not have the drag pressure nor capacity i need. a calcutta 700, maybe, but i didn't see some of them last a long time in the surf. saltist? who knows.

who else has experience w/ their casting reels in the surf, rocks, sand, bridges, whatever. what's your favorite and why?

[eelman]

what are you fishing for seawolf?? My 400s have taken many 40lb+ fish in heavy structure, breachways and everything in between? The only place I can see where one may need more capacity is the canal....I have caught fish on my calcuttas with 3oz jigs in a heavy curent in the gallilie chanell...Not one problem. I used to use a 7000 for well over 10 years exclusive, In my opinion the calcutta is far better and With the calcutta I dont have to oil the bearings every other trip or soak the level wind with wd or any of that stuff. Fads come and go yes but, I dont think you can call the calcutta a "here today gone tommorow fad" these reels have earned there place in the suds !

And once again I think we have a thread getting beaten to death...I guess eveyone has there opinion and I think eveyone has a point....all the reels mentioned here have there place and purpose its a matter of taste ...I really cant say anything more on this subject exept that If you ask me what reel to get for 98% of surfcasting duties my answer is the calcutta 400.......