Mixing and Matching Rods and Reels

[Bazoo]

I started baitcasting with a round Abu Garcia Ambassadeur about 25 years ago. This reel had centrifugal brakes, and it took me a while, but I finally got decent with it.

 

I took some time off fishing and got back into it this last spring. I purchased an Abu Garcia Black Max combo to get me going again.

 

With that, I quickly "re-learned", and am able to cast about anything I want without issue, including weightless Zoom lizards. I still have an occasional backlash, but its due to hurrying, trying to cast with an odd stance or not loading the rod due to position. This reel has magnetic brakes. The rod is a 6'6" Medium Power / Medium Action.

 

Well @Dan N was very nice to me and sent me a BassPro Pro Qualifier 2 baitcasting reel, and a BassPro Crankin' Stick rod a while back. This reel has both magnetic and centrifugal brakes. The rod is 7'3" Heavy Power / Fast Action.

 

It took me a bit to get the hang of the new reel and rod, but I started getting used to it and was able to cast okay with it. The rod being heavy power makes it different than anything I've ever tried before.

 

I then purchased used a Lews Speed Spool reel with magnetic brakes. I put it on a 5'6" Zebco Medium rod that I had a Zebco 33 on. It took me a bit to get accustomed to this reel too, but I got to where I was able to do well in the yard.

 

So, now, I am trying different combinations of rods and reels. I took the Black Max rod and mated to it the BassPro Pro Qualifier 2 reel, and am using that for my all round rig. It pairs well, and I'm getting more and more comfortable with the reel.

 

I put the Lews reel on the Crankin' Stick, but... dagnabit she's hard to master. I don't know if its the rod, or the reel, but I get a lot of backlashes for some reason. Not just a little overrun, but backlashes that require a minute of untangling and picking, just like when I first started getting used to the Lews reel.

 

It seems to me each reel requires a different technique, and a new education to my thumb. There is certainly a different feel to each reel, with regard to how hard one can cast, and how much pressure, and when that pressure is applied.

 

The rods, all different, I find that if I put the Abu Garcia Black Max reel on them, I do pretty good. I'm getting to the same point with the Pro Qualifier 2, but I'm starting to wonder if me and the Lews just don't get along.

 

Does anyone else mix and match their rigs like this and try new things?

 

Am I the only one that finds different brands of baitcasting reels to cast differently, or at least with different difficulties?

 

[Captain Phil]

I started with casting reels so old they are currently in museums.  The biggest advancement in those days was free spool.  Before that handles turned on the cast, making heavy lures a necessity. When the round Ambassadors came out,  we finally had a fishing tool that most anyone could use. Swapping reels and rods is a good idea.  Today it seems everyone wants longer fishing rods.  I assume they like making longer casts?  Where I fish for bass, accuracy is more significant than distance.  My most accurate bass rod is 6' long with a pistol grip handle. It's my most comfortable rod as well.  The way bass fishing is going today, accuracy isn't necessary or at least less so.  Throw out a blade bait, reel it up, rinse and repeat.  That's unfortunate, as casting accuracy can make the difference between catching bass and going home skunked. The bass I catch aren't swimming around jumping on everything that flashes.   If you don't hit them on the head, they could care less.  Then there's the pure fun of accurate casting, something that is missed by many of today's anglers.

 

All my casting reels are Shimano. I have two types, round Calcuttas and small Chronarchs.  I have some twenty year old Chronarchs that have been rebuild 4-5 times. They all cast the same... wonderfully.  Everyone is different.  Keep experimenting and you will find what works for you.  

[bulldog1935]

I'm a little more empirical about it, and would say they Set Up differently, and the different brakes have different jobs in different parts of the cast.  

If you follow this link, make sure you continue on to the Backlash and Brakes Primer link.  

I definitely mix and match my reels between different rods, and go so far as to swap spools in the different jobs.  

As for old Ambassadeurs, amazing what you can do to them with aftermarket spools, LW upgrades, and brakes.  

If you really want to educate your thumb, pick up a nineteen-teens non-level wind.  

[LCG]

There is a learning curve for everything, don't sweat it.

 

I bought a lew's Speed spool lfs earlier this year to try out. I liked it so much I bought another one a week or so ago. I like the simplicity the reel offers. I keep a loose spool tension and magnetic brake around 4-5, depending on the Lure. I find the cast to be very controlled with good distance. I fished this reel a lot this year, no backlashes, a few small over runs that were My fault. However, this is not a finesse reel. Have  them both paired with MH rods.

 

I also use a curado 70 MGL which uses centrifical brakes and has a light spool with less line capacity. This is better suited for throwing lighter lures, not BFS, but normal finesse stuff. Paired with a medium power rod.

 

I mix rods and reels until I find what feels best for me. I stress "for me". It's all about the whole system, how the rod loads, my casting stroke, the reels strengths vs weakness, the lure, and various other factors like wind, or type of cast (pitching, side arm, roll cast, overhand).

[WRB]

The heavy action rod should cast better using lure in the 3/4 oz weight. Suggest you practice with heavier lure and slow down the foreword casting motion.

Tom

[casts_by_fly]

I might mix and match to get just the right balance or feel for a new setup, but once its on there its on.  If I get a new reel that's an upgrade to one I'm using I will see which rod I want to put it on and reoptimize the full set, but for the most part if I'm buying a reel to upgrade something I have then I probably have a rod in mind already.  All of my rods have the same reel seat, so size and feel aren't much of a concern.  A few of my reels feel a little different in the hand so depending what I'm throwing with it I might chose the bigger reel for one thing and the smaller for another.

 

In terms of casting, once I have a rod and reel set up I can usually pick it up and cast it without issues.  If I go from one extreme to the next it will take a cast or two before I have the pinpoint accuracy I like to have, but backlashes are rare.

 

Not sure how you set up your reels, but there are a couple ways to do it.  Most people either set low to moderate brakes and then adjust spool tension depending on the lure (the slow drop method) or you set the spool tension to be minimal and then turn up the brakes enough not to backlash (no zero spool tension method).  I suggest learning both and seeing which works better for you.  They each have their benefits.  I started with the first 35 years ago and have gone to the second currently.  My dad hates that style and prefers negligible brakes and uses spool tension.  Each has their benefits.

[Bazoo]

I appreciate all the responses.

 

Thanks Tom! @WRB

 

Thanks @bulldog1935, I have read through those links. I normally leave 2 brakes on for the centrifugal, and then for the magnetics, somewhere in the middle. I then adjust the spool tension to where when it drops I get a few inches of overrun.

 

With the Abu Garcia Black Max, and now the Pro Qualifier 2, I'm getting the feel that I don't have to adjust much between lures.

 

I don't fish this way, but I do occasionally practice in the yard with no brakes and no tension. Takes a lot more concentration, but man it's wild when I'm on.

 

I agree with ya accuracy over distance. I want a reasonable distance of course, but I practice for accuracy. Oftentimes times I can cast under a limb or bush, or right at the edge of cover, and with increasing accuracy.

 

I normally set a couple targets up in the yard and practice both overhand and side casting, roll casting, and pitching. The hardest by far is a right side (casting to a target on the right) roll cast.

 

 

[bulldog1935]

Quote

...Thanks @bulldog1935, I have read through those links. I normally leave 2 brakes on for the centrifugal, and then for the magnetics, somewhere in the middle. I then adjust the spool tension to where when it drops I get a few inches of overrun.

There's one difference, I run completely without spool tension - I adjust only to dial out spool side play.  

[MN Fisher]

5 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

There's one difference, I run completely without spool tension - I adjust only to dial out spool side play.  

Isn't that the normal modus operandi?

[Dan N]

I have 15 casting set ups, and quite often change them up to see what I prefer. Also line changes, and have a wide variety of gear ratios , so I like to experiment.

Also like a nice looking, matching set up, color wise.

[PhishLI]

5 hours ago, Bazoo said:

I put the Lews reel on the Crankin' Stick, but... dagnabit she's hard to master. I don't know if its the rod, or the reel, but I get a lot of backlashes for some reason.

This is simply about analyzing and identifying what went wrong then adjusting your total stroke, meaning backswing/load, and release point. Afterwards it should sink in eventually and should become second nature. Depends on your determination to figure it out.

 

However, there's a chance that a reel's particular braking profile combined with a particular rod combined with your natural swing are simply a bad match, or at least troublesome enough to where it's not worth your while.

[Eric 26]

@Bazoo I have the prior generation in that exact bps rod. I will say in my opinion your crankin stick is a bit faster in action than mine and  as @WRB has pointed out you need some weight to properly load the rod. I bought mine thinking I would use it with chatterbait style lures but quickly found out anything less than 1/2 ounce is a bit trying to say the least. I have mine paired up with a Daiwa Tatula Type R (first generation) and I truly feel the mag force z braking system is a step above the lews magnetic braking system but with that said I still think you’re not loading the rod properly.

[WRB]

Please take into consideration that experienced members required years to develop their casting skills. We all struggle until our hand eye coordination is developed. Let the rod cast the lure and tune the reel so it doesn’t backlash during your casting motion.

Practice until you are comfortable and go fishing as that is your goal.

Tom

[casts_by_fly]

3 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Isn't that the normal modus operandi?

dependswho you are and what you like. Like I said above, I like zero tension and higher brakes. My dad is opposite. We can both cast as well as the other though he uses less force to do it some times. 

[roadwarrior]

21 hours ago, Bazoo said:

Does anyone else mix and match their rigs like this and try new things?

 

 

 

                                             

[Boomstick]

On 10/18/2023 at 3:06 PM, Bazoo said:

Am I the only one that finds different brands of baitcasting reels to cast differently, or at least with different difficulties?

Not in the slightest. If you want the best distance, go Shimano. If you want the best control, go Daiwa.

[new2BC4bass]

On 10/18/2023 at 2:06 PM, Bazoo said:

Does anyone else mix and match their rigs like this and try new things?

Absolutely!

 

Am I the only one that finds different brands of baitcasting reels to cast differently, or at least with different difficulties?

No.

But once dialed in, it doesn't bother me to go from one style braking to another.  I'm sure there are times when my best casting is after making a few casts, but I don't backlash when changing brake type.

 

Daiwa has at least 5 different brake styles plus the SV spools.  ABU has several different types.

[MN Fisher]

^ Ya - whether it's my Daiwas with mag-brakes, my Supreme XT with Centrifugal or my Patriarchs with dual-braking...once they're dialed in I don't even worry which braking system the rig I grab has.

[Catt]

I went from Abu Gracia in the 60s/70s to Shimano in the 80s/2000s to Lew's in 2019.

 

I one thing I did notice was Lew's takes more thumb input regardless of break settings.

 

I don't like Diawa simply because of ergonomics. I don't like the way they feel in my hands.

 

Once I match a reel to a rod it never comes off except for cleaning. 

[Woody B]

I keep my spool tension really loose, just enough to take the side play out of the spool.  This is on all of my reels.   I've got a ($99) Lews I use for heavy stuff with magnetic brakes.   I've got several Shimano's I use for most stuff.  I use SLX HT's with one brake clicked on,  SLX MGL70's with 2 brakes clicked on and DC's mostly on 1.   I "can" skip with a DC on 4, but normally use a Daiwa Tatula SV for skipping.   For me the Daiwa brakes are very aggressive even on a lower setting,  much like centrifugal brakes with all of the brakes switched on.    The Daiwa, at least the ones I have is very hard to backlash.  It's the one I hand to beginners.   I don't normally switch reels around on rods.  I keep a couple extra reels to switch out if I get a "professional" backlash, or need to change line on the water for some reason.  I keep my line and spooling supplies in my climate controlled house.   

[Big Hands]

I occasionally re-shuffle the deck so to speak. In between those times, I will swap around here and there. Once I find a combo that is 'magic', I try to leave those alone. 

[new2BC4bass]

11 hours ago, Catt said:

Once I match a reel to a rod it never comes off except for cleaning. 

I want to eventually wind up like this.  Right now I have a PXL Type R on a 6'6" MLM Aetos that I haven't separated since the reel was mounted.  Love that combo.  Purchased a used combo for jigs (TDX-103H on Lamiglas custom) that I probably will keep as is.  Same for a TD-Z 105H on a 7' MLF HMG.  Got to try it again to be sure, but an OG Concept C with a 7' MHF Rainshadow RX7 felt great.  Long ways to go.

[bulldog1935]

It's nice to have gear staged, ready to grab and go.  

Can also be smarter when staging your gear to give your reels TLC before the trip.  

But some trips pack better with rods in a multi-tube, and reels in a reel bag.  

If you use the same reel for something completely different in winter v. spring and fall, mixing and matching can save you the price of a Steez and Silver Wolf.  

 

[Alex from GA]

The only time I switch rods and reels is when I go to or come back from FL and put all the reels in a box and forget which were paired.  I learned to fish when all I had were knuckle busters, fly reels and saltwater casting reels.  My first free spool bait caster was in the early 80s.  Never had a pushbutton reel.

 

[Bazoo]

Interesting replies, thanks all for sharing.