Baitcasters with large line guides

[Mr. Aquarium]

Guys I need help finding a certain reel! I love float fishing with bait casters. I float fish the Niagara river so I’m fishing deep water but my problem is finding a bait caster with line guide big enough to have the bobber stop freely go through it when casting!  I’m float fishing in 20 feet of water. I know this is a bass website but can’t hurt to ask about trout and salmon fishing 

[Hulkster]

that might be tough. Muskie rods have pretty big guides in baitcasting configuration. that might be an option?

[garroyo130]

what kind of stop are you using? I feel like the tiny red ones should go through just fine but ive never tried 

 

[Mr. Aquarium]

1 hour ago, garroyo130 said:

what kind of stop are you using? I feel like the tiny red ones should go through just fine but ive never tried 

 

I used the red and black rubber stops.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I think the solution lies more with the stop than the reel. The little slip on stops I use are tiny and tapered. They’ll tick but don’t usually hang up. I would be bomb castin though. A little nail knot of braid around the line is slim and works too. Just add a small bead in front of the float. Baitcasters are popular with western river float fishers. Google some of that for more ideas. 

[casts_by_fly]

The thill nail knot stoppers are the answer. 

[JackstrawIII]

Biggest eyes I've ever used are on the Dobyns. I like them because my leader knots go through much more smoothly than other brands. 

[bulldog1935]

There's always NLW surf/tournament reels, and small sizes of lever drag reels.  

https://carolinacastpro.com/products/akios-tourno-555-mm3 

The inexpensive option here is buy a C3 Ambassadeur and simply remove the LW and idler gear.   They have macho drag.  

@Reel Ambassadeur also has a normal size reel foot, while the barstock-frame NLW reels need reel seat L3 of at least 72 mm.  

[Reel]

Yes, one of the solutions is a baitcaster with no line guide.

 

You can remove the line guide of a regular baitcaster or use a saltwater jigging reel like a Talica 8 or a Thorium 14.  Those last ones are very durable and well suited for salmon.