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

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?

Clogston29 · 11-22-2005, 04:54 PM

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.

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....

SeaWolf · 11-23-2005, 09:26 AM

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?