Light Trolling Outfit
Submitted by WODF on Mon, 2009-03-16 14:38
Gday everyone, interested in getting a light overhead outfit for trolling, drift baiting and some jigging with 20-30lb braid. Trolling for hard, fast fish like Mackerel and Tuna, drift baiting for big Snapper and jigging with the Lucanus Jigs and heavy soft plastics. Was thinking maybe a Trinidad or Calcutta? more interested in the reel than the rod. I'm not very familiar with overheads, have used em but not often so any info appreciated. Budget not really important atm as i'll be getting the outfit later down the track. Any thoughts fellas?
hlokk
Posts: 4293
Date Joined: 04/04/08
Do you care about
Do you care about weight?
I should mention, I dont do a lot of trolling, but I mostly drift/octa/jig with the small baitcaster reels (or jig with spinning gear)
Calcutta 400s should hold 300m of 30lb braid. Go TE or LJV for something a bit nicer. Lunas are another option for the same type of reel. Higher end, the bluebacker or the new pluton.
The 400s have a clicker, so useful for trolling if you arent a 'you can only troll with mono' purist (i'm not :p). I quite like my calcutta combo for the stuff you mentioned. I use mine as a driftbait/octa/light trolling duty and I find it quite suits. Could be a bit smoother for my liking (TE would solve that) and I would prefer a higher speed retreive (but those concerns are mostly for jigging).
Putting 30lb braid on it is good as the drag means you wont exceed 50%. So you can play around with the drag for trolling, then crank it when you need to and not worry (providing you have good knots). Quite a nice match IMO. Again through, trolling purists will say you NEED a lever drag. But then you wont find a light reel in lever drag. If its an all around combo, I say it doesnt matter if the braid is matched.
In heavier reels theres the saltist/toriums in the smaller size. Unfortunately the saltigas dont have a ratchet in the smaller sizes. I dont know about the saltist 20? Theres also the tyrnos, available in small sizes with lever drag and avet (SX? i forget the model)
Non-level wind might be a lot easier to deal with long thick diameter windons. Though with braid, appropriately thin mono gives more stretch than super thick stuff. As you're going to run a bite leader as well, the windon would just be for boat abrasion really.
If you're driftbaiting and octa jigging with it, I'd say go the calcutta style, just because lever drags and no thumb bar is a PITA when driftbaiting. As long as you match the line class to the drag, I dont see how it matter for light trolling (as long as you're playing with the drag for strike) So I recon the star drag calcutta sized reels are much better for driftbaiting
If you're using it for a lot, rod choice might be reasonably important, so still worthy considering.
--------------
Addicted to jiggingdamo6230
Posts: 2029
Date Joined: 07/06/08
apart from what matt has said above
the tekota is a good reel for the price.
mate uses a Calcutta 700 for all is black bass fishing and rates it highly.
you may aleviate the problem by using a star or lever drag system......
but the rod is an important component and may well affect the balance of the reel..
RECFISHWEST Member
HuggyB
Posts: 2515
Date Joined: 03/08/08
If you are going to troll
delete any reel with level wind from contention. You are just asking for trouble. If a mack or wahoo take off at a million miles an hour, how quickly do you think the level wind is going to be buzzing?? And if the line lay and the level wind movements aren't in synch, it could ping your line pretty easily.
Trinidad would be a good choice, same money ballpark would be the Penn International Torque 100 which is also very nice (I have a Torque 300) and the smaller Saltiga overheads.
You could even spool them with the basic 300m of braid and allow yourself enough room to topshot it with 50 - 100m of mono for trolling.
The Terrorist - coming to a fishing spot near you.........
hlokk
Posts: 4293
Date Joined: 04/04/08
The calcutta/bluebacker/etc
The calcutta/bluebacker/etc have non-disengaging levelwind, so as long as you dont let the line tip inside the reel, it wont desynch.
Trinidad/torque and 100m mono topshot would make a good trolling setup, but a PITA driftbait setup. Small saltigas dont have a ratchet unfortunately.
--------------
Addicted to jiggingWODF
Posts: 553
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Thanks guys
Can anybody tell me what reel is on the cover of the latest Blue Water mag?
"holy sh!t, did you see that?"
hlokk
Posts: 4293
Date Joined: 04/04/08
Looks like an Avet, not sure
Looks like an Avet, not sure which model
--------------
Addicted to jiggingMick
Posts: 501
Date Joined: 28/08/06
An Avet perhaps? I have a
An Avet perhaps?
I have a Torium 16 on a T-curve deep jig 200 loaded with 50lb braid ( approx 300m ) and it is a great alround combo. Nice and light combo and plenty of power. Have trolled up mackies, jigging for sambo's, bottom bouncing and even use it for casting on my Nitro distance. Definately worth a look
Cheers Mick
If the lord did not mean for us to eat fish and game, he wouldn't have made them outta meat
The speed of light is faster than the speed of sound. That's why so many people appear bright...until they speak.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Its an avet, hard to tell if
Its an avet, hard to tell if its the sx or mx.
WODF
Posts: 553
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Cheers fellas
Those Torium's look allright Mick, comes well within budget aswell, thanx. Probably the pick atm.
What about a rod for this sort of thing?
"holy sh!t, did you see that?"
WODF
Posts: 553
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Avet's
Are these reels USA based and hard to get in Aus? They seem like awesome reels for trolling and it seems they can tackle some big fish looking at that cover shot but would they be suited to other purposes, as mentioned in first post?
"holy sh!t, did you see that?"
hlokk
Posts: 4293
Date Joined: 04/04/08
Ryan and Honsu at Oceanside
Ryan and Honsu at Oceanside will be able to sort you out. Seen them at other tackle shops too but Honsu knows a fair bit out them.
--------------
Addicted to jiggingSamC
Posts: 2013
Date Joined: 30/08/06
Id say its an SX, bloody
Id say its an SX, bloody good capture if it is..
Cheers,
Sam
Cheers,
Sam
WODF
Posts: 553
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Sh!t yeah
That Tuna's eyeball is just about bigger than the reel lol
Got to get me one of those YFT's!
"holy sh!t, did you see that?"
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Mee too, I have the SX, just
Mee too, I have the SX, just gotta find the fish!
WODF
Posts: 553
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Shimano's conventional reels
The Trinidad, Tyrnos and the Torium, these have the lever drag system? and do not have levelwind? which guides the line on for you, is that right?
"holy sh!t, did you see that?"
hlokk
Posts: 4293
Date Joined: 04/04/08
No, yes and yes. Only the
No, yes and yes. Only the tyrnos has the levewind, the trinidad and torium are star drag. The tyrnos would probably be the go for a dedicated trolling outfit (or an avet perhaps).
--------------
Addicted to jiggingHuggyB
Posts: 2515
Date Joined: 03/08/08
huh?
None of them have levelwind. Levelwind guides your line onto the spool - correct WODF. If you are going to troll for macks and fish that hit hard, I would highly recommend you avoid levelwind. Its another moving part that can and eventually will go wrong, particularly with a pelagic ripping 100m of line off in a matter of seconds. Trolling is not the application it was intended for.
The tyrnos is lever drag, the torium and trinidad are both star drag. The lever drag is a nice option for a trolling reel, but you can get by with a star drag if you wanna multi task your reel for other duties.
The Terrorist - coming to a fishing spot near you.........
WODF
Posts: 553
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Cheers HB
I had to have another look aswell and was thinking the same thing(about the levelwind). Thanks heaps Huggy. Appreciate your opinion.
"holy sh!t, did you see that?"
hlokk
Posts: 4293
Date Joined: 04/04/08
Just was the sucessive
Just was the sucessive answers to the three qs
The Trinidad, Tyrnos and the Torium, these have the lever drag system?No and do not have levelwind?correct which guides the line on for you, is that right?correct
--------------
Addicted to jiggingWODF
Posts: 553
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Cheers Matt
All your posts are appreciated. Got a pretty good idea about everything now.
Thanks
"holy sh!t, did you see that?"
WODF
Posts: 553
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Can somebody tell me why
Can somebody tell me why Shimano's website doesn't display the specs for the Calcutta TE?
I've come to the conclusion that Shimano's conventional reels have a higher max drag over the round baitcasting reels and are a bit heavier, therefore slightly better for trolling, pretty similar with the Daiwa reels. Quick confirmation would help to. What the round baitcasters have over the conventional reels or saltwater overheads is that they are lighter and have the levelwind which may be useful for lighter fishing applications, but is this a good thing?
In saying all this, what would everyones choice be considering what i want to use it for?
Still looking at rod options, maybe something in the Innovator Nitro or Shimano Tcurve range? Ideal for a reel around 600g in weight and capable of 20-30lb braid.
Thanks
Damo
"holy sh!t, did you see that?"
hlokk
Posts: 4293
Date Joined: 04/04/08
The shimano site is a little
The shimano site is a little mismanaged on some info, what specs did you want?
They're lighter as the drag is less and vice versa
More surface area drag on the bigger overheads as they are designed to fish up to 50lb and beyond, while the baitcasters are designed to fish up to say 30lb max (with minor exceptions ;) ).
The round baitcasters are going to be nicer to hold all day, whereas a trolling reel, you're only holding it during the fight, otherwise its in the rodholder. If it was predominantly a bottom fishing reel, I dont see the point in holding something heavy all day when a lighter reel will do just a good a job. The levelwind is useful for most kinds of fishing. As huggyb mentioned, for trolling, its better without. Its not like it'll explode (huggy, you can motorbike test my calcutta if you want :p), but still a good point about it being one more think that could go wrong. I dont think you can get any baitcasters without levelwind though. Also, with a baitcaster, a locked drag is unlikely to break 30lb line, while a full sized overhead could put out some 10-11kg of drag which could well break your line even if you have 70%+ knots. In that case, a lever drag is a better choice.
But remember, for driftbaiting, the thumb bar is very useful. So if you give that up, reel choice is easier as you're just looking for something for trolling (though the reel could also cast or bottom bounce depending on the specific reel).
edit: I also forgot, but working plastics with a conventional overhead wont be very fun. Two separate outfits might be the go if you want to do a lot of each.
The most important question I'd say is how much of what do you want to do? As they say, jack of all trades, king of none. You wont find a perfect reel for both jobs. Either reel can do one job well, and the other job ok. I think huggy and I are approaching it from different sides.
--------------
Addicted to jiggingWODF
Posts: 553
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Specs
Was looking for specs on the Shimano Calcutta TE's. Any ideas?
"holy sh!t, did you see that?"
hlokk
Posts: 4293
Date Joined: 04/04/08
For the most part the same
For the most part the same as the calcutta. 5:1 retreive (61cm), non-disengaging levelwind, etc.
The TE has a machined, not forged frame, an extra bearing, uses the HEG (High Efficiency Gearing), metal thumb bar, different clicker (easier access/usability) and has titanium levelwind guide. Pretty much a beefed up calcutta (though its not just a calcutta with one or two internal things tinkered with, the whole frame is different). I think it might have finer machining tolerances too? Definately feels a bit better, but best to try them out for yourself. I forget the exact weight, I think its 360g?
--------------
Addicted to jiggingWODF
Posts: 553
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Cheers Matt
Great help.
"holy sh!t, did you see that?"
HuggyB
Posts: 2515
Date Joined: 03/08/08
Fair enough Matt
Kinda confused me looking at it.
Damo, if it was me I'd be looking at a Shimano Trinidad, Daiwa Saltiga or a Penn Torque - they are all around that $600 mark. Each have their pros and cons, none is going to be the perfect all-rounder - you will have to comprimise.
Rod - get a light as possible jig rod - will bottom bash no worries, jig no worries and troll OK. There are a bunch to choose from, it all depends on your budget....
The Terrorist - coming to a fishing spot near you.........
hlokk
Posts: 4293
Date Joined: 04/04/08
Yeah, might be confusing
Yeah, might be confusing re-reading it
I'll try to be a bit clearer
Dont forget the tyrnos or avets ;) Also, check the saltigas for ratchet.
Also, for rods, be wary of jigging rods, I love my jigging rods, but some like the monster mesh are practically useless for trolling due to the poorly placed split grip (unlike say my VS rod which is fine and great for everything from jigging to trolling/bottom bashing, etc). By jigging I mean knifes, not octas (which are much mroe gentle on the rod).
--------------
Addicted to jiggingtill
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
My split grip is now
My split grip is now overbound with VB cord. Now I don't have to give a shit about boat x's rod holders or targa or t-top.
WODF
Posts: 553
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Decided I'm going to need 2 setups
Sold on one of the smaller Tyrnos's for a dedicated trolling outfit and for heavier fishing applications (rod to be determined) with 8-10kg mono but still need some help with a lighter setup to use with, say 20lb braid. Now I'm thinking a Calcutta, either a 200 or 400 and can't justify getting the TE. I want to use this setup for Inshore trolling for small macks and dragging some Mullaway away from pylons.
Off topic question but is it a bad thing to thumb the spool of an overhead or baitcaster reel?
Any and all help appreciated.
Cheers
"holy sh!t, did you see that?"
hlokk
Posts: 4293
Date Joined: 04/04/08
How is 20lb a lighter setup
How is 20lb a lighter setup than 8-10kg? lol
As for thumbing it, only a problem for your thumb pads and if you thumb too hard and break the line. Obviously you'll have to do it while casting.
--------------
Addicted to jigging