So I've got a couple small swimbaits on the way (2 oz. and under) and my girlfriend became wise to my plans to buy a dedicated swimbait reel. I must make do with what I have for the time being.

 

The rod will be an Okuma Scott Martin TCS 7'3" H (thanks Ron!) and I have a Citica D without a home. I was intending to use 20 lb. Yo-Zuri Hybrid for line but I'm not sure if I'll be able to get enough line on the reel, as the 20 lb. Hybrid is pretty thick. I have some 15 lb. Hi-Seas copoly but I was not impressed by its resistance to teeth. 

 

So I have a few questions. 1) Am I going overkill with the line? The lakes I fish have a fair to good Pike population and sometimes I get out on St. Clair (Musky surprise!). Should I just add wire? 2) Does anyone know of a deeper spool that will fit a CI201D? I saw the 200 DSV spool but it doesn't seem like it would add a lot of capacity or be easy to find.

 

Thanks!

Sell the citica and pickup a Cardiff 301. Perfect for baits that size and 17-25lb line

You are definitely not going to get comfortable amount of line on that Citica if you want to use Yozuri Hybrid. For something under 2 oz, I would use a mono or copolymer that has standardized rated weight of 20 pounds (roughly .370mm width) and you will be able to get 100 meters of that line on your 200 sized Shimano. I don't think you will like that reel very much though. I was using my Chronarch E with 50 pound power pro and 17 pound CXX leader, and I felt very stressed launching it since the reel couldn't take the heavy pressure from the big baits. I advise you to go with a larger low profile or a round reel after you sell your Citica.

If I were you I'd set a new precedent and buy a brand new Calcutta TE or Curado 300e and tell her sorry but that ring will have to wait now

Ok, I have a Citica 200D spooled with 17 lb test Trilene Big Game that ...... I use for exactly that size and swimbait weight , in other words, it´s used for swimbaiting. I don´t see why are you worried that it won´t hold enough 20 lb line, you don´t need 200 yds of 20 lb test line for swimbaiting, you ain´t gonna cast 100 yards of line with a 2 oz bait, so there will still be plenty line in your spool after you cast. On the subject of a deeper spool, DSV. spool, if you don´t call Shimano you will never know if it´s not available.

Ok, I have a Citica 200D spooled with 17 lb test Trilene Big Game that ...... I use for exactly that size and swimbait weight , in other words, it´s used for swimbaiting. I don´t see why are you worried that it won´t hold enough 20 lb line, you don´t need 200 yds of 20 lb test line for swimbaiting, you ain´t gonna cast 100 yards of line with a 2 oz bait, so there will still be plenty line in your spool after you cast. On the subject of a deeper spool, DSV. spool, if you don´t call Shimano you will never know if it´s not available.

 

I appreciate the vote of confidence. My worry though is that I won't be able to get more than 50 yds of 20 lb. Hybrid on the reel. It's significantly thicker than 20 lb. mono apparently. Do you happen to know offhand how much 17 lb. Big Game it holds?

You are definitely not going to get comfortable amount of line on that Citica if you want to use Yozuri Hybrid. For something under 2 oz, I would use a mono or copolymer that has standardized rated weight of 20 pounds (roughly .370mm width) and you will be able to get 100 meters of that line on your 200 sized Shimano. I don't think you will like that reel very much though. I was using my Chronarch E with 50 pound power pro and 17 pound CXX leader, and I felt very stressed launching it since the reel couldn't take the heavy pressure from the big baits. I advise you to go with a larger low profile or a round reel after you sell your Citica.

 

That's good information, since I was considering using a CH201E with 60 lb. braid as well. 

Sell the citica and pickup a Cardiff 301. Perfect for baits that size and 17-25lb line

 

You misspelled Conquest 301.   

If I were you I'd set a new precedent and buy a brand new Calcutta TE or Curado 300e and tell her sorry but that ring will have to wait now

 

I think that's the best course of action. 

I use a 200E with 20lb copoly line on my 1-5oz swim bait rod.

I appreciate the vote of confidence. My worry though is that I won't be able to get more than 50 yds of 20 lb. Hybrid on the reel. It's significantly thicker than 20 lb. mono apparently. Do you happen to know offhand how much 17 lb. Big Game it holds?

 

I wouldn't even use that thick of a line for >2 Oz swimbaits. I have been throwing Deps SS 175 and 3:16 Baby Wake on 17 pound CXX, and it does fine job at controlling those baits.

I have the 201 and it is a great reel but the Calcutta 301d would be my reel of choice for this application. 

You don't need 20# for little 2 oz baits and depending on what baits your throwing and what line you pick 12-17# will do you fine. You will never cast far enough to spool your reel any ways. 

?

Just go by line diameter and not advertised breaking strength.

12# yozuri breaks just under 20#.

You'll get plenty of that on your spool. ...

?

Just go by line diameter and not advertised breaking strength.

12# yozuri breaks just under 20#.

You'll get plenty of that on your spool. ...

 

I'm in the market for bite resistance, so I sort of am looking for diameter. However, I think I'm just going to get some Musky leaders and call it a day. 

I've caught lots Spanish mackerel on yo zuri #15 ultra soft.

*shrug*

Ymmv