Is a 7:5:1 gear ratio good for pike?

[WafflesAreGud]

I want to buy the Lews Custom Black bait caster combo for pike/Muskie fishing since it is on sale. The gear ratio is 7:5:1, which is considered fast for pike. Would I be fine with this? Or should I get a different combo. I want to use WTD lures.

[redmeansdistortion]

The reel should be fine for pike, but the rod should be a tad heavier, in the MH to H 1/2-1 1/2oz range since you'll probably be throwing bigger spoons, spinnerbaits, and jerkbaits.  Most pike in our state don't get much above 30" since they directly compete with musky.  In waters where musky aren't present, pike will get much larger.  If you're wanting to fish musky, I'd go with a 300 size reel loaded with 80lb Power Pro on an 8' 2-6oz rod.  You can fish musky with lighter tackle, but they are fragile and landing them quickly ensures their survival.  Which waters are you fishing?

[FrnkNsteen]

Depends on what type of lures you are planning to throw and honestly, what that rod is rated for. I assume you are planning to get the MH version of that combo.

 

I have a couple MH and H rods set up with 30lb braid and a steel leader for when we go back home to MInnesota and throw light northern stuff on it like spinnerbaits, #5 Mepps, or even the smaller "Musky Killer" inline spinners. I have a 6.4:1 Revo S on the MH and a Bantam MGL on the H. They work ok for throwing smaller stuff and catching 30"-40" Northerns as a rule.

 

If you are wanting to throw some of the bigger Northern and Muskie lures, you are going to want to step the rod AND reel up a bit as a MH is likely only rated for up to about 1oz lures and many of the larger baits get up into the 2-6oz range. A heavier rod rated for those heavier weights and a 300 - 400 size reel would be a better setup for that.

 

 

[Further North]

12 hours ago, WafflesAreGud said:

I want to use WTD lures.

Pardon my ignorance, but what are WTD lures?

[Further North]

As already noted, "it depends".

I like reels around 7:1 for most of my work, I think a 7.5:1 would be OK, though I feel like I'd have to slow my cadence for Mepps #5s and Doctor Spoons.  I don't use them often, but I suspect that 7.5:1 is the upper end for double cowgirls and such...they're a pain to crank when the reel has too much speed.

Rods have to be good for what you're casting on them...I don't see a Mepps #5 casting well oh a a heavy rod...it'll never load the rod for casting, so you'd have to dial back for those.  The rod in that combo is a light for bigger lures as it's a Medium/Fast only rated for 1/8 oz. to 1/2 oz. lures...a #5 Mepps is heavier than that.



I think there's better choices - that combo seems better suited to bass work with a Senko, or lighter lures.

 

If this is what you mean by "WTD Lures", it weighs an ounce - twice what that rod is rated for.

https://www.molix.com/en/product/hard-baits-en/wtd-110/

[gim]

15 minutes ago, Further North said:

but what are WTD lures?

I believe its Walk the Dog.  Like a topwater type lure.

[Further North]

1 minute ago, gimruis said:

I believe its Walk the Dog.  Like a topwater type lure.

Got it, thanks!

That's not a presentation I use often, are there any that are a 1/2 oz. or lighter?

[gim]

3 minutes ago, Further North said:

That's not a presentation I use often, are there any that are a 1/2 oz. or lighter?

Specifically for muskie fishing in that weight, no.  There are quite a few designed for bass fishing.

[WafflesAreGud]

29 minutes ago, Further North said:

Pardon my ignorance, but what are WTD lures?

Walk the dog lures

[Further North]

9 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Specifically for muskie fishing in that weight, no.  There are quite a few designed for bass fishing.

I just bought three Zara Spooks because I want to learn to use the technique, and though there was no weight listed on the package, they sure seemed heavier than a 1/2 oz.

EDIT: Never mind, I looked it up.  3/4 oz.

[Further North]

37 minutes ago, WafflesAreGud said:

Walk the dog lures

Thanks!

That rod looks far to light to handle anything even close to what I'd use for pike.

[WRB]

2 hours ago, Further North said:

I just bought three Zara Spooks because I want to learn to use the technique, and though there was no weight listed on the package, they sure seemed heavier than a 1/2 oz.

EDIT: Never mind, I looked it up.  3/4 oz.

Salt Water 5” Super Spook weighs 7/8 oz, bone works good.

Tom

Better off with Irod IRG754F and 300 Shimano Cardiff casting reel imo.

Tom

[Further North]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Better off with Irod IRG754F and 300 Shimano Cardiff casting reel imo.

That's a heavier reel than I'd go to, but it'd sure work well.

[WRB]

It’s not the fish at the end of the line it’s lure size and weight that determines tackle choices. Standard bass rod, reel, lures have caught thousands of Pike and Musky.

MY PB 37# Musky was caught using a MF rod, 2500C, reel, 8 lb copoly line and 1/4 oz hair jig fishing for Smallmouth. Can’t cast big Musky and pike lures using too light of tackle.

The Irod & Cardiff is a excellent mid range swimbait, frog, big crank bait, large spoons, in-line cow bell spinners  etc, 1/2 oz to 1 1/2oz lures.

Really mis Fishing for muskies and Lake of the Woods.

Tom

[T-Billy]

7 hours ago, Further North said:

I don't use them often, but I suspect that 7.5:1 is the upper end for double cowgirls and such...they're a pain to crank when the reel has too much speed.

I'm with ya on that. My Lexa 300 HD is 7.4:1 and I like it fine for double 8's, but I don't want any part of pulling 2x10 cowgirls around with it. 

@WafflesAreGud, I'd recommend a Mod Fast rod rated something like 1/2 - 2oz, in the length of your choice, and a Lew's $99 LFS to get you started. It's a combo you can do alot with, and even when/if you expand your Esox tackle lineup, there will always be a place for this rig.

[Further North]

4 hours ago, WRB said:

It’s not the fish at the end of the line it’s lure size and weight that determines tackle choices.

To a point, yes. 

Musky - and pike - mortality is tied closely to being fought to exhaustion.  Rods, line and tackle that are too light to get them to the net quickly, particularly once water temps get into the 70s, contribute to a lot muskies and pike found floating that no one ever knows why they died.

...so there's a point where "Use enough rod." is a thing that matters.

There's nothing reasonable we can do about big esox that are incidental bycatch, and we shouldn't try...but we should also not be out there trying to catch them on gear that's not up to the task.
 

4 hours ago, WRB said:

Standard bass rod, reel, lures have caught thousands of Pike and Musky.

Much of my river fishing for muskies is done with similar gear.

 

4 hours ago, WRB said:

MY PB 37# Musky was caught using a MF rod, 2500C, reel, 8 lb copoly line and 1/4 oz hair jig fishing for Smallmouth.

Cool, but that was a gift from the fish gods, particularly with no leader.  Hopefully the fish was not fought to exhaustion.

4 hours ago, WRB said:

Can’t cast big Musky and pike lures using too light of tackle.

Absolutely true.  I'm not convinced - and at this point it's unlikely that I ever will be - that casting big stuff is anywhere near necessary.


 

[Bdnoble84]

On 8/21/2023 at 5:46 AM, FrnkNsteen said:

Depends on what type of lures you are planning to throw and honestly, what that rod is rated for. I assume you are planning to get the MH version of that combo.

 

I have a couple MH and H rods set up with 30lb braid and a steel leader for when we go back home to MInnesota and throw light northern stuff on it like spinnerbaits, #5 Mepps, or even the smaller "Musky Killer" inline spinners. I have a 6.4:1 Revo S on the MH and a Bantam MGL on the H. They work ok for throwing smaller stuff and catching 30"-40" Northerns as a rule.

 

If you are wanting to throw some of the bigger Northern and Muskie lures, you are going to want to step the rod AND reel up a bit as a MH is likely only rated for up to about 1oz lures and many of the larger baits get up into the 2-6oz range. A heavier rod rated for those heavier weights and a 300 - 400 size reel would be a better setup for that.

 

 

Caught plenty of northern up to 10lbs on a medium action spinning or casting rod. Just set your drag correctly. As was mentioned worry more about matching the rod to the lure weight and intended use.

[LCG]

I have been catching a lot of pike this year while targeting bass. Most 10lbs and under, one 42" pike. All on a medium and medium heavy casting rod, but throwing bass lures. Mainly spinnerbaits and chatterbaits. The 42" pike put up a great fight, but landed and released just fine. I guess it depends if your going for giants and throwing over 3/4oz lures. As for reel speed, I would go with something in the 6 speed range for moving baits.

[MassBass]

I think the high speed reel is good for wtd baits. Each twitch is a half a reel turn, and would be easy to speed up maybe if you wanted to trigger a follower.