raybass

The Orra Winch works great, I use one for my Hudd 68's. Plenty of craking power and smooth. I've run 65# braid, 20# flouro and 20# big game on it. Holds plenty of line for my work with a 68.

Some of that was helpful.

All those will do the job, there are a lot of options for the smaller baits. Even the normal sizes will do in most cases. Its more of what you prefer IMHO. I guess it also depends on where you fish. Our local lakes aren't near as clear so really long casts aren't needed as much.

Hudd 68 weedless SWaver 200 Hudd 8"

Its actually working out fine kiddo, I usually do research reels but I admit it was an impulse buy. Feels good and chunks so I'll stick with it for a while. Thanks for your feed back.

I just picked one up, is it a good reel? Or rather anyone used one long term? How does it stack up?

I live in the Houston area, my first bite and fish was on a weedless 68 in trout. Throw a live trout in any southern reservoir and it'll get ate quick.

Black back, blue back, green back, Ayu, and trout here in the South, up North I would add perch color to it also. I'm hoping Hudd releases a bluegill shaped bait too.

Overboard is something to consider, just last week I lost most of my soft baits. Hudds and 3:16's. Blew out on the run, short run too. I was sure wishing that box would have floated. I learned an expensive lesson.

Thanks fellas, I may give the calcutta a try.

It makes a big difference in my opinion, our local lakes on a good day may get 1ft of visibility. We were getting some clarity and I was finally getting bites. Actually caught a fish. I could actually see them right when they hit. All summer its been about 6" of visibility. No bites.

The Orra Winch is a good reel, I use it for 68's. Another option is the Orra Inshore. I use it for glides. Of course the Revo versions may be even better.

Are these 2 reels very similar in size. I have yet to see a Calcutta locally so I can compare the two. What I am concerned with is the palming, I have a Cardiff on my XH Diawa SB rod. It is low profile with the recessed reel seat and want to know if the Calcutta D is the same size and recessed the same. I am thinking they should be but want to know for sure before buying. Thanks

Learn more big fish spots. Catch that DD, I've several 8's and a 9+ but never got that DD. My son is interested in big baits, help him along. He's 8 yrs old.

Thanks for the heads up

Better make sure the bail is open!

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I bounced mine off some concrete in less than 30 minutes after getting it. Cracked open at the seams 2 casts later (actually in the water this time). My fault no biggie, glued it back together and repainted for kicks. Not sure it'll catch fish but it looks cool.b

I'll just bow out and say Thanks

So no one has an opinion? FWIW I used the "search function". Yes I get learning the fish, and so on. That wasn't my question.

What swimbait's don't catch fish or most especially don't catch big trophy bass? What is your experience? I don't have enough experience to chime in but have really considered this, like the ones that seem to only catch 2-6 pounders but never seem to put a teener in the boat. Or just don't catch fish or very few.

After using this stick for a while now I'm liking it more. Right now I have a Cardiff 300 on it spooled w/25# Big Game. It is sensitive and has all the power I'll ever need for swimbaits. Unfortunately the fishing has been tough so no reporting on fish fighting yet. Its a great deal on a big bait rod especially for guys like me that are just starting out. Even experienced swimbait guys needing that extra rod might want to check it out. I did pick up a Okuma Citrus 7'11" Heavy for the 9" slammer, my 8" glide baits and Hudd 68's. I spent the morning using it and like it so far. Report coming soon on that one.

I just went through this, I started with a Abu Garcia Revo Toro NacI 50. Great reel but for me a little too big. So I started looking at reels, research big time. I found many more than mentioned here usually that could serve well. Also did some line research , diameter/pound test. I usually use Berkley Big Game, after searching here and doing my own I foung a good line. P-Line PF Original. I sold the Toro 50 and bought a Orra Winch. I like the smaller profile reels. It is working out well so far. I'll see if it holds up but my biggest baits are 8" Hudds and Smith hitch X glide bait. Round reels: Abu Garcia 5500 - 6500 series Shimano Calcuttas and Cardiffs Okuma Isis and Akena Diawa Luna and Millionare Low Profile Large reels: Abu Garcia Revo Toro 50 and 60 series Diawa Lexa 300 and 400 Shimano Curado 300 Quantam EXO 300 PT and Iron PT 300 Okuma Citrix 364 and Komodo 364 Lews BB-2Z Low Profile reels w/higher line capacity: Abu garcia: Revo Beast 12/180 Revo Inshore 12/180 Orra Winch 12/180 Orra Inshore 12/180 Diawa Tatula-HD 12/195 Lews: BB2 Pro Wide Spool 12/190 Super Duty 12/150 Quantum Smoke PT 150 12/160 I looked at all of these and went with a small low profile reel. The catch is running the small diameter P-Line PF 25# with a diameter of .016". If you are going to use Big Game or P-Line CXX you would be better off with a larger round reel or large low profile reel. You could also use 50 - 65 braid on a smaller reel to get higher line capacity. For me a smaller reel using small Co-polomyer was the ticket. I also use Revo STX with braid and a Shimano Chronarch 200 with the P-Line PF for smaller swimbaits (6"). Now if you fish these big baits everyday I think the higher quality reels and larger reels will do you better. I may fish once a week or twice, anywhere from a half day to full day. Keep your reels oiled and clean and they should last.

I sure wish I lived closer to Lake Fork, that lake is amazing. My personal best came from there on a spinnerbait years ago. It was 9+ and a tad less than 24". Broke off several fishing the nasty stuff. My home lake is awesome when there is hydrilla but Texas Parks and Wildlife gets rid of it quick as they can. Homeowners crying Lake Raven was bad to the bone when it had hydrilla too. Both are "clean" now. Summertime at both are hard usually (for me anyway). My structure fishing is definitely lacking, give me some grass! I'm certainly trying to learn where to fish and how on structure. The next lake I want to try swimbaits on is Sam Rayburn. I've got high hopes for that lake, I know where the fish are there a little better. the next few months should be exciting.

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