Swimbait Set Up...im Confused!

[Lazz]

So I'm looking to get a swimbait set up so I headed to Bps to put my hands on an ambassador 6501c3. As I'm looking at it the sales kid asks me what I intend on doing with it. So I explain to him I want a set up to throw big swimbaits, 2-10oz. And double as a light salt water rig for strippers. He then tells me I don't need that an I should be looking at something like a diawa lexa 300. An that there in No need for a reel that size an absolutely do Not need that much line to throw swimbaits. Now everything I've read here contradicts this, or am I wrong? Now I want to run 65lb braid so If the lexa 300 will hold 14/190-20/120 an the ambassador will do 12/320....did I miss something or is this kid just trying to sell me a $200 reel. What's everyones thoughts on this?

Oh an would using a 6' something rod not be a good idea?

[IAY]

If you are running 65 pound braid, then you don't need Ambassadeur with that high of capacity. Lexa is a nicer alternative than the Ambassadeur if we are talking purely about build quality imo, but either reels are fine. The reason guys get huge round reels for swimbaits that size is because they like how it can hold tons of super thick line like the 25 pound + CXX, Big Game, or Izorline. The shortest rod I would use for that application is at least 7 and a half footer, but you can probably make due with 7 foot+. 

[SPEEDBEAD.]

All my swimbait sticks are 8' plus. You'll appreciate the extra length.

 

I have two Lexas, throwing baits up to 7 oz without a problem. The C3's are a great bulletproof reel, just lack the creature comforts I like in a big bait reel, namely a thumb bar. These reels have 20lb test on them.

 

My biggest baits are right in the 10-11oz mark. I use a 401 Shimano Cardiff for those due to the extra line capacity and heavier line (25lb)

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

All my swimbait sticks are 8' plus. You'll appreciate the extra length.

 

I have two Lexas, throwing baits up to 7 oz without a problem. The C3's are a great bulletproof reel, just lack the creature comforts I like in a big bait reel, namely a thumb bar. These reels have 20lb test on them.

 

My biggest baits are right in the 10-11oz mark. I use a 401 Shimano Cardiff for those due to the extra line capacity and heavier line (25lb)

X2 The Lexa or 300 Curado are low profile options but the round reels are perfectly capable.

[CarolinaBoy4Life]

I use a Shimano Cardiff the same as SpeedBead for all my swimbait rod's. Also use a 8FT LDC rod.

[cbass12]

Cardiff 301 is what I use. If you're set on getting a swimbait rod at BPS, check out the 7'10" H/XF BPS Extreme casting rod.

[BasshunterJGH]

Oh an would using a 6' something rod not be a good idea?

I don't reccomend it. I tried a

6 ft 6 in extra heavy for 5 oz swimbaits couldn't get much casting distance maybe 25-30 yds. Switch to a 7 ft 9 in + and you'll get more casting distance and line/lure control IMO.

[WRB]

A swimbait is just another lure, the difference is it's size and weight, few other fresh water bass lures weigh over 2 oz up to 10 oz. you can't cast these heavy lures with small diameter line or short rods not designed to load up and launch a heavy lure with ease.

30 lb or 40 lb small diameter super braid that equals 10 to 14 lb mono may be strong enough line but the smaller diameter spool speed a heavy lure creates causes severe backlashes, big problem with braid. The larger diameter braid in 65 to 80 lb isn't needed because of it's strength, it's the larger diameter of the line that behaves better of the larger diameter spools designed for 25 to 30 mono. The larger spools hold more line and spin slower and don't over run the line speed creating backlashes.

If a size 300 low profile reel has the same diameter and width spool as a round reel, both work equally.

Longer rods create higher rod tip speed therefor generate further distance casting with the same physical effort from the angler.

Bass tournament anglers are restricted to 8' maximum rod length, recreational angers have no rod length restrictions.

The Cardiff 300 or 400 series round reels and Okuma heavy 7'11" Swimbait rods are ideal entry level combo's using 20-25 lb premium mono line, for swimbaits 2 to 6 oz, for heavier swimbaits you need Xheavy rods.

Hope this helps answer a few questions.

Tom

[deep]

The IPT is the deal. You spool up with 20-25# mono diameter line, and at the start of your retrieve you're pulling in say 14 inches per handle turn instead of the 24" that your reel manufacturer stated. You get longer casts with a bigger spool too, if you like 40-50 yard casts. That said, apparently in Japan, they use 200 size reels but they also use lighter line. Much lighter, in fact. Shimano 300 size (or equivalent) for 15-20# diameter line, Shimano 400 size (or equivalent) for 25-30# diameter line should work well.

 

P.S. A Dobyns 867 and a Cardiff 401 spooled with 30# PF threw an 8" weedless hudd pretty far today, definitely much farther than I think I can set that d**n thick gauge hook at.

[rippin-lips]

I'm new to the whole swimbait thing but I'll second what Tom just said about the Okuma. My baits are in the 1.5-4oz range and it handles them well. I was able to put together a swimbait combo for a very reasonable price when I pulled the trigger.

Okuma guide select 7'11 heavy $115 new

Shimano cardiff 301a $94 new

600 yard spool of #20 Pline Cxx $13

[OK Bass Hunter]

If that rig works for strippers, let me know. These dollar bills aren't doing the job for me.

[WRB]

Works good for stripers.

Shimano Cardiff has a better drag system then Garcia 6500 series series reels.

Tom