Help With Gear Selection!

[wasontilt]

I basically need some help in selecting some equipment...

I already own about 3 different types of Ugly Sticks and a few small spinning reels.

I need to beef up my reels and lines.

Fishing : Mostly Fresh Water - (Northern Pikes, Largemount Bass, etc.) Occasional Salt Water

I'm interested in purchasing:

Penn Fierce 4000

- Mono Trilene XL 12 lb

Penn Fierce 5000

- P-Line Floroclear Fishing Line 15 lb

I usually fish when we go to the Adirondacks in NY.

This will basically be the only fishing gear I would be using. ( I fish for pleasure only about 5 - 10 times a year)

Will this set-up do or should I change anything?

Equipment will be used by a 50, 23, and 11 year old males.

Any feedback and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[B A S S E R]

if your fishing mostly for pike and bass a 2500 (or comparable size) reel will suit you. Now you said occasional saltwater and I personally would have a seperate combo for fishing saltwater. But to save money there are reels that will hold up to the corrosion of saltwater as long as you rinse them with freshwater after each time out. Those Penn reels you mentioned are heavy and overkill for most fresh water fishing.

[Grey Wolf]

Since you don't fish much at all , just about anything will do but the size of those Penn reels are definately an over kill.

[wasontilt]

Are you guys sure it's overkill?

I was recommended by a lot of people that I would need a 12lb-15lb line for these Northern Pikes.

The reels I proposed both are made for those lb lines?...

Thanks for the input!

[Grey Wolf]

Positive about the overkill. I' ve caught quit a few pike and muskie on 2500 reels but buy what you feel comfortable with.

[wasontilt]

Positive about the overkill. I' ve caught quit a few pike and muskie on 2500 reels but buy what you feel comfortable with.

Guess I'll look into the smaller models...

What line and size would you recommend?

Thanks!

[Grey Wolf]

Guess I'll look into the smaller models...

What line and size would you recommend?

Thanks!

I use braid in 20# & 30# but thats me.

[Mike L]

I use 20# braid with a 15# floro leader for Bass on 2500 and 3000 spinning reels.

When I lived "up north" I used the same for Pike and Walleye.

A

[wasontilt]

I'm confused....

The way I understood is that you should stick to what Penn reccommends for their reels.

http://www.pennreels.com/spin_fierce_index.html

If I purchase a 3,000 - 4,000 will I be able to use a #15 lb Floro even though it doesn't show it in it's capacity?

I never thought I'd need 200+ yards on a fresh water spinner...

Am I able to use #15 floro on a 3000 Penn reel? If so how do I figure out how much would be needed to fit in the reel?

Thanks again!

[Grey Wolf]

Yeah , you'll be able to use 15# fluro on a 4000 penn spinning reel but why are you so interested in Penn ?

[wasontilt]

A lot of close friends have been using Penn and they're very happy.

I ended up purchasing:

Penn 5000 with 15# floro

Penn 4000 with 12# floro

Got a good deal online for them.

They have a nice return policy just in case I realize I bought the wrong items.

My friend reassured me that I'd be fine with this set-up. He himself is using Spinfisher SS metal 650SSm and 750SSm which are both relatively larger than both the 4000 and 5000 I purchased. He uses the Spinfishers with #15 in the same lake I'll be going to on Memorial Day Weekend. He has caught a lot of pikes in the recent years.

Now I just have to pick up some spoons and crankbaits.

[roadwarrior]

Hmm...

Why ask if you are already committed? The 2500 series is what you needed

and 12 lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid is the line for general baitcasting gear. Your

Penns are way too heavy for freshwater in general and bass fishing in

particular.

[SirSnookalot]

The Penn fierce is not overkill, the 4000 & 5000 have only 13& 20 max drag. I love Penn but not the fierce line, Penn is not known for heavy drags except the torque of conquer. I would look at a shimano sahara 3000, bit more drag and much lighter and plenty of line capacity.

Roadwarrior is absolutely right, all you need for bass and the occasional pike is 2500 or 3000 reel, I catch bigger stronger fish than pike on 3000 size equipment.

Those spinfishers are intended for pier or saltwater offshore use, those are way overkill.