I did a Search and couldn't find the exact answer I am looking for.

I'm going to get my first 'serious'((currently using Shimano Calais) swimbait reel and remember the mention of the Shimano Calcutta TE 400 as one of if not the best reel for the bigger, heavier baits.

Any comments, advice?

Dan

"Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less"

Deo Vindice

I prefer the 300 TE myself because of how nice it fits in the palm of your hand. Same as the 400 just a little narrower. I use 25# Izorline on it and have never had a problem with it. I throw baits up to 9 ounces with it

Thank's mm. Someone else just recommended the TE 300 on another BB. I too like the smallest reel that will do the job.

Dan

"Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less"

Deo Vindice

You get what you pay for is all I can say. Ive burned decent reels up quickly when throwing the heavy baits. I now use the no longer in production calcutta 400 CT (i think thats the letters) and love it.

BTW, hows the Hudd working out for you?

You won't need a 400 sized reel unless you're throwing 9"+ sized rubber baits. The 300 should be perfect.

Thank's everyone. I'm currently high bidder on a TE 400 but if I get outbid, I'm going for the 300.

urban: I've thrown the Hudd many times lately but so far, no takers. Not discouraged though as nothing has been working for me over the last dozen or so trips.

Dan

"Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less"

Deo Vindice

This review has high marks for the 300 too:

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewshimanocalcutta300te.html

I was outbid :-) on the 400 , so I'm going to get a 300. Thank's again everyone for your replies.

Just ordered a 300 and a 660 yd. spool of Maxima Green in 25# mono from Cabelas. I plan to put it on either this rod:

http://www.dealtackler.com/T3Forum/viewtopic.php?t=5053

or this rod:

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpageRDCOKUMA-OGSBBR.html I have that one already in the Heavy action model.

Almost forgot; I am waiting(just being painted) on a ROF 5 and 12 Hudd for those rigs too.

Dan

"Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less"

Deo Vindice

Urban; what reels have you burnt up? I'd be very interested to know, cause I would like to have a calcutta but can't afford it yet.

You know, maybe its better to ask "what specific reels WON'T cut it, rather than what will..." anybody have any opin's on what reels to avoid for swimbait use?

I've invested in two 4oo te's (SHIMANO), Now if I could find a rod too my likening?

I've been throwing 7 inch Slammers and Matt's baby bass with a Rapala flippin stick. I just feel like there something lacking in the flippin stick action.

I've caught some stripers, gar and yes even some catfish. But I still haven't caught a Big Laremouth?

The Shimano 400 TE'S are Fabulous, much better than I deserve!

All my Matt's BB Bass were caught using my 7', 6" Kistler Heavy Helium rod. It is extremely light in weight, sensitive(for the light types of bites the BB draw's), and yet, has the power to land them including that 9 lber in the pic above.

http://www.kistlerrods.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=He711THC&Category_Code=fresh-helium-special

That's their 7', 11 incher and should be even better.

Dan

"Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less"

Deo Vindice

has anyone tried the Big Bait Special? they're selling them in japantackle.com

I think the Big Bait Special is a Japanese Diawa rod (they have a reel too) but big baits to them are 1 1/2 ounce "swim baits" if you can call them that. I don't think they'll be right for our US big baits. Stick with the Loomis stuff or some of the new "Swim Bait" rods that are out here. I like my Crucial rod 7' 11" heavy seems to be a good all around rod but I still love my Calcutta rods!!

no its a fishing reel.

http://japantackle.com/Daiwa_reels/Daiwa_TDZ_BBS.htm

I JUST GOT A LOOMIS BBR 964C SO HAVN'T GOT TO TEST IT OUT YET ILL LET YOU KNOW HOW IT WORKS WHEN I DO. THIS ONE IS IN THE REVIEW SECTION

Cotton: I burnt up an AbuGarcia 6500, and my buddy burnt up a Cardiff in 3 hours or so.

Hey Dan: DO NOT throw the Hudd on the Heartland!! I lost many nice fish on that rod (ok, I did land a bunch also). Its just not stout enough to get a good hookset with the Hudd. I use the Okuma H for the Hudd, and it seems to be working fine.

Not all abu's are bad. I have a 6500 CS Rocket that I've been abusing for the last 5 years. It's caught probably 10 double digits, hundreds more swimbait fish, plus the odd salmon and sturgeon :) So far the only thing that's needed replacing was a $1.50 line guide pawl from too much long-distance surf casting.

I have a friend who buys lots of 6500 C4's and upgrades them with parts from http://www.hatterasoutfitters.com/ and they're all excellent reels now.

Thanks for the link and info Nico. I have several ABU's and really like them, they have been my work-horses for quite sometime. I just want to do some upgrades to make them last.

Trever-

My first Calctta(300) arrived yesterday. I spooled it with 25# test Maxima Green mono and put it on the Okuma. Tied on a 100# test Berkely clip to which I clipped on a JR Crankin' Rat. My two Hudds have been shipped.

Dan

"Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less"

Deo Vindice

Dan, did you get your Huds painted trout color or were you able to get them customized?

I didn't know they would customize one? Will they?

One trout color and one blue(if I remember correctly.

Dan

"Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less"

Deo Vindice