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Old August 20th, 2008, 01:15 PM posted to rec.outdoors.fishing.bass
ANTIQUE AUDIO
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Default Baitcasting reels-the attractive antique that reel companieswon't admit to

On Aug 19, 8:43*pm, AJ wrote:
In article , mart915
@REEMOOVEfrontiernet.net says...





"AJ" wrote in message
l.net...


Maybe, but I think he would have popped the bail open and taken the
loose line around the lower unit.


Popping a bail open is something I've never seen in 35 years of spinning.


I've had Northern that follow hit on
an L-turn or figure-8 close to the boat, but this wasn't like that. I
don't know how fast they can swim, but he was really moving parallel to
the boat and hit at a right angle 3' away. I was wearing polarized
glasses and saw the flash or I probably would have lost the rod. Not
real big just ~32" with a bad attitude. IMO the drag on a Calcutta is
about as good as it gets. My 150 is 5 years old, has taken salmon out
Lake Michigan, hauled up a 20lb. catfish, numerous Northern, Smallmouth,
and Largemouth out of the weeds.


My friend has a couple of Calcuttas and likes them a lot, but they're not
unique in their ability to land fish. Of course, baitcasters are better
suited for heavy line.


Not necessarily. I'm not sure if they were first, but I think one of the
most overlooked features Shimano did for baitcasters is the narrow spool
found on most of their 100 series models. I think that because the line
doesn't come off the spool at such an extreme angle on it's way to the
level wind guide, especially when the guide is at the extreme end of its
travel, there's much less tendency to backlash with lighter lines. *

The first trouble free baitcester I had was an old Black Magnum 100.
After it I picked up a Speedmaster Ultra Light Special, used it with 8
lb line and a light action rod for many years. Besides the Calcutta 150,
I also currently have a Currado 100 on a medium light rod, and it can
handle almost as light a lure as the retired ULS.

Until recently the 200 series Shimano's seem like they've been the most
popular, but with the new superlines becoming more common, the narrow
spool 100's seem to be more common.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -




one thing I found out, was the best way to pitch/overhead cast a
baitcaster, is turn the reel handle upward- this is something most
fishermen don't tell you, and it's also not in the reel directions-
but it is in any old literature about how to cast with a baitcaster
reel- the difference is remarkable- and I gained another 5 yards
casting distance facing the reel handle up during casting. What this
does is, it places the spool in a verticle position with bearings on
top/bottom during the cast, rather than horizontal. There seems to be
slightly less friction and less backlash, and smoother casting.

I still don't see the logic in using a baitcast reel for fish smaller
than 10 pound though, because the modern large spinning reels will
definitely handle up that that size fish and line with ease- and cast
easier, and further.