Hello Everyone,

 

I was wondering if someone may be bale to help me out. I am looking to buy a rod and reel combo that will be sufficient for both Smallmouths and Northern Pike. I am planning a Smallie trip to Vermont but on of the other species that is caught as a "by-product" of smallie fishing is Northern Pike. We will not be targeting Pike but was warned you do catch them. Do you think a 2500 series reel with a 20lb drag will be good enough? Paired with a Ugly Stik Elite 6'6" Med/Heavy road will be sufficient? I own mostly Daiwa reels so was interested in the Fuego LT 2500. Or maybe someone has other suggestions. I mostly rip spinners and top-water devil horses so I like a faster retrieve. Thanks for any help you may be able to give me!

 

-Fireman

That reel will do just fine

 

Almost exactly three years ago on this date, I caught this huge musky instead of bass. If I went shopping as most people do, I would have never caught this

 

 

Rod: St. Croix 7'0 Mojo bass (M/F) with

Reel: Pflueger 9530

Line: 15 lbs tuff-line braid line with 12 lbs leader. 

Lure: Black Tube 

 

 

Any decent 2500 reel will do. In the salt, we sometimes end up with more fish than one intended on the end of the line. I take some bass guys bluefishing with their bass tackle to get them some hands on on how to fight a fish. 

My brother in Michigan does all of  his smallie fishing with a 2500 size reel, has not landed a pike with it.

Welcome aboard! You will be fine with that setup.

 

I wouldn't be afraid hitting those waters with a medium

setup and one of my 1000 size Stradics. I take those in

salt water for striper, too.

 

12 minutes ago, Darren. said:

...1000 size Stradics. I take those in

salt water for striper, too.

One normally needs to travel to MD to see this sort of silliness...  Did land a 38" one on a 2000 Shimano and 8 lb mono a while back, but not on purpose.

You guys get any striped bass this fall? I've heard a lot of crying from down there last few years. 

1 hour ago, reason said:

One normally needs to travel to MD to see this sort of silliness...  Did land a 38" one on a 2000 Shimano and 8 lb mono a while back, but not on purpose.

You guys get any striped bass this fall? I've heard a lot of crying from down there last few years. 

I haven't been out for about a month, life getting in the way .

But I do hope to do so this season. I just need some colder weather

kayaking clothing.

 

But one of my sons and his high school buddies have been going

out and having a great time, actually. They aren't catching huge

striper, but the 18-28" they are catching have been bloated with

bellies full of menhaden.

 

I've caught some really nice striper on my 1000s. I figure if I catch

a big'un I just let it pull me along till it tires out, assuming it doesn't

wrap around a pylon or get swallowed by a shark, LOL.

Fuego LT's are great reels for the money. I have a 3000 which is the same as some other manufacturers 2500 in spool dia. I like it because it has a slightly slower retrieve ratio but still a 30" plus IPT. Plenty of torque and only 7.6 oz.  It also has a T handle which is more secure to me than fingertip knobs. All just personal preference. @Darren.makes a convincing case for his 1000's. I just feel that I get a bit better casting distance with a larger spool. I'm a bank fisherman so that's important to me.

34 minutes ago, The Bassman said:

Fuego LT's are great reels for the money. I have a 3000 which is the same as some other manufacturers 2500 in spool dia. I like it because it has a slightly slower retrieve ratio but still a 30" plus IPT. Plenty of torque and only 7.6 oz.  It also has a T handle which is more secure to me than fingertip knobs. All just personal preference. @Darren.makes a convincing case for his 1000's. I just feel that I get a bit better casting distance with a larger spool. I'm a bank fisherman so that's important to me.

It is definitely a "to each his/her own" thing. I like to think of my

enjoyment of 1000 size reels as proof they are not too small or 

"ultralight" and for trouties only. I am so confident in them that

I have no fear of any freshwater fish...in my waters, LOL.

 

Messenger Boy: The Thessalonian you're fighting, he's the biggest man I've ever seen. I wouldn't want to fight him.

 

Achilles: That is why no one will remember your name.

--------------------------------

 

Just pick your poison and fish hard

9 minutes ago, Burke said:

 

Messenger Boy: The Thessalonian you're fighting, he's the biggest man I've ever seen. I wouldn't want to fight him.

  

Achilles: That is why no one will remember your name.

 --------------------------------

 

Just pick your poison and fish hard

Hear hear!

I have caught muskie, pike, walleye, smallmouth, northern largemouth bass on size 4000 reels. I use the same size 4000 reels for inshore tarpon and snook fishing and those fish are pound for pound more powerful than a muskie or any black bass species.

I caught a 37 lb musky on 8 lb Trilene XT using a Abu 2500C baitcasting reel, no wire leader! It's up to to control fish and your tackle is more adaquate to handle both smallmouth bass and a few northerners.

Tom

14 hours ago, Burke said:

 

Messenger Boy: The Thessalonian you're fighting, he's the biggest man I've ever seen. I wouldn't want to fight him.

 

Achilles: That is why no one will remember your name.

--------------------------------

 

Just pick your poison and fish hard

LOL. I'm pretty sure Achilles was chilling in his tent and antagonizing Menaleous until Hector killed his gay lover, but I could be wrong, and the whole God DNA thing probably didn't hurt. He should have worn Chuck Taylor high tops...