FS Digest

I currently own a St Croix rod TRS70MF2 with a spinning reel. From what I can tell it’s mostly meant for smaller fish. I live in Minnesota so I mostly fish for bass, walleye and pike. I’m looking to add a second rod and reel to my lineup. Use one for bass/walleye and the other for pike and the occasional muskie. Is that dumb? Any tips as far as what rod and reel I should be looking at? Should I get a baitcaster? Are baitcasters meant for bass only? Should I use braided line with a mono leader? Sorry for all the question I’m just lost, dumb, a little drunk and sad about the only muskie I’ve ever had on my line snap off because I didn’t have a leader on and/or the right equipment. Thank you!

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by Mister_Poon

FS Digest

Most gear is usable for multiple species. A medium to medium heavy spinning rod can catch crappie and bluegill or a 10 pound bass or catfish. You can catch a 20 pound catfish on an ultralight but it will be hard work and take a while. For pike and muskie, you'll want the larger end of the bass spectrum into the lower saltwater spectrum. You can definitely use baitcast or spinning for fish of all sizes, just select what you are most comfortable using and that works well with your lure. For instance BC doesn't really work well with super light lures, but spinning does.

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by pacer_3iii

FS Digest

Thanks for the response. I was thinking about buying a medium heavy rod with a BC for my pike/muskie setup and keeping my current setup for bass/walleye. Any thoughts on what type of line I should be using for each setup?

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by Mister_Poon

FS Digest

I use 40-65 pound braid or 12 pound mono/fluoro for bass and catfish, 6 pound mono or 15 pound braid for panfish. I've never been fishing within 500 miles of a muskie, so I couldn't advise on that. I can't imagine their teeth being good for straight braid though, so i figure whatever you use, you'll want at least a fluoro leader.

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by pacer_3iii

FS Digest

The optiX 60 rod and reel is a fabulous combo,I got it for about 60 bucks,so decently cheap

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by itsmething1

Egghead

I am a perfect example for the term "tool misuse" rods are vercital get one or two that feels good to you.

Huntm22 Loc: Northern Utah. - West Haven

We use 80# power pro braid with 3’ of 80# mono leader for muskies

Jeffchow88 Loc: San Francisco

I fish mostly light tackle. 2lb test for trout, 4-6 for bass. PB for trout went 12 lbs. Bass went almost 5 lbs.
Light tackle you get a better feeling/fight with whatever you catch. Use whatever you feel you can handle.
Tight Lines.

OK John Loc: Oklahoma City,OK

I like to have spare spools loaded with different lines so I can change lines without re-spooling on the boat; depending on conditions.

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

If you are targeting bass , the music with a baitcaster is a great choice
If you are gonna target Muskie specifically , well that’s a whole new ballgame
You absolutely can catch a musky on a bass rated baitcaster. Done it .
Is it efficient ? Nope
Biggest consideration is matching musky rods And reels with the lures you plan to use.
Big double number 10 Spinners pull line retrieving a goat. They will overtax conventional bass reels pretty quick And needlessly break a good reel .
Other musky lures are just plain big.
Look at the rod lure weight ratIng
If you plan to use a lot of 4-6 oz lures , match the rod to that . I have rods ranging from 1-3 oz all the way up to XX mag heavy “pounders”
Tackle industries is my go to. You can email the company and talk directly with the guy that owns the place and he will help get you exactly what you need
.
Reels, think brute strength.
I use a lot of Calcutta 300 series
Shimano Tranx 300 is a stud as is the Daiwa Saltist . Lots of guys swear by Abu Garcia round reels. They take a beating

Line 80 pound braid is my go to.
Not because I plan on catching 80 pound fish . It’s because 80 lets you backlash occasionally ( it will happen) and not bust off a $30 lure

Leader , google musky leader to learn the ins and outs. Both wire and heavy fluoro have a time and place
Don’t bother with traditional braid to mono leader. Musky aren’t line shy. Hell your throwing lures with multiple 7-0 hooks on em attaches to a length of wire. Tie braid directly to the heavy fluoro or wire leader.

Consider carefully your primary use and match it. Or convince the better half to let you get several. It is an extremely expensive hobby.
If you try to go cheap, you will be replacing worn out gear often. That’s just the lures. When you actually catch one they will break rods and smoke reels.
Good luck