Musky Fishing Equipment
Really serious muskie reels come in a course almost all their own. They require the energy to heave and retrieve lures evaluating up to 16 ounces a couple of thousand times each day; the capacity to hold 150 yards or higher of 80- to 100-pound braided range; and a drag stout enough to end a 50-plus-inch aquatic cargo train. Muskie fishing always implies addressing many liquid, also, therefore slower round reels and beefed-up bass equipment that brings a wimpy 20 ins of line per handle change do not need to use. To observe a few of the top muskie reels in the marketplace build up, we tortured the four designs below all summer and fall on a number of waters, from my neighborhood nj-new jersey hotspots into legendary Lake St. Clair. Every reel was tested with multiple baits and afflicted by the brief, powerful works of 3- and 4-plus-foot muskellunge.
Abu Garcia Revo Toro Beast 60
$400; abugarcia.com
SPECS: 4.9:1 gear proportion • 13.83 oz. • 27" of range per turn • 25-lb. max drag • 190 yd. of 80-lb. braid
THE LOWDOWN: It is appropriately named; this new Toro Beast seems indestructible. Every going component, through the thumb club towards level wind, is dependable with zero play. The reel manages double-10s and huge cranks well, and the effective 25-pound drag is much more than you’ll previously need to end a hefty muskie. Three different manages come: a power handle, a power handle with counterweight, and a paddle handle. I liked the final most readily useful.
HITS: Thoughtfully designed and incredibly rigid, it feels as though it will probably hold up permanently, although I’ve only beat on it for a couple months. There’s a left-handed model, the Beast 61.
MISSES: There’s no clicker, anytime you’re seeking a trolling or sucker reel, this most likely isn’t it.
which CAN PURCHASE: Hardcore anglers who would like a bulletproof reel for casting artificial baits to muskies.
Daiwa Lexa HD400XS-P
$300; daiwa.com
SPECS: 8.1:1 gear proportion • 17.2 oz. • 43" of line per change • 25-lb. max drag • 200 yd. of 80-lb. braid