Pike & Muskie Reels

Used to be that any discussion of reels for heavy-duty pike and muskie fishing was a short one. Lots of reels were available for bass and light work for our treasured twosome, but few reels could stand the wear and tear of casting big baits and cranking in big lures—hour after hour, day after day, week after week.

A convergence of technology and market forces has broadened the options for anglers. Low-diameter braided superlines have replaced thick Dacron, making reels with smaller spool diameters practical. Improved manufacturing technology, such as machined aluminum frames and high-efficiency oversized gears, allows manufacturers to produce smaller reels, with frames rigid enough to handle the torque created when casting and retrieving large lures and fighting big fish.

Perhaps most importantly, the soaring popularity of inshore saltwater fishing, as well as the needs of bass anglers for casting big swimbaits, have resulted in reels that transfer nicely to heavier fishing for pike and muskies. Today, a range of new reels is available, from traditional high-capacity round reels to low-profile models in a style once reserved for bass anglers.

Traditional Reel Styles—As an all-around muskie reel, the venerable 6500C3, a round-reel design, has most of the features necessary—moderate size for anglers who palm their reel, a smooth drag, synchronized level-wind mechanism, and a moderate-speed 5.3:1 gear ratio that’s fast enough to crank bucktails or topwaters quickly (albeit with some effort). For easier cranking, it helps to modify the 6500C3 by replacing the standard double-paddle handles with a counterbalanced single-paddle power handle. Rivaling the popularity of the 6500 today are Shimano’s Calcutta 400 and Calcutta 400 TE, exceptionally reliable reels that perform well in the same way as the 6500.

For big, hard-pulling baits or for burning bucktails at high speeds, the Abu Garcia 7000 has been the reel of choice for hardcore anglers since In-Fisherman first introduced it in articles featuring Mark Windels more than 20 years ago. The low 4.1:1gear ratio has the power to pull even water-resistant magnum bucktails. Meanwhile, the wide, large-diameter spool picks up enough line to burn lures without cranking like a madman. Durable and simple to maintain, the 7000 remains a workhorse for many serious anglers. It also has a large, single-paddle power handle.

Penn has penetrated this category with a reel designed for inshore action and for handling big freshwater fish. The Penn International 975 runs at a 4.5:1 gear ratio, which is just right for cranking the giant lures on the market today. It too has a single-paddle power handle.

Abu Garcia also has introduced the 6600EXT, with a solid aluminum frame and magnetic cast control. The 6600EXT offers a lower-speed gear ratio than the 6500C3, making it a better choice for a smaller reel that can still pull bigger baits. This compromise results in a reel that isn’t good for burning bucktails, however.

Light Options—Traditional, low-profile bass reels haven’t been a practical option for anything other than lighter lures, until the recent introduction of models made for inshore species like redfish. Now, several companies offer low-profile reels with wider spools, to hold more line that can be cranked in at the moderately high gear-ratio necessary to deal with larger (but not the largest) lures. Check In-Fisherman Editor In Chief Doug Stange’s take on fishing “Muskie Lite” in this magazine issue.

I’ve found that the Shimano Curado 300DSV and Abu Garcia Revo Inshore both work well for lighter pike and muskie duty. They’re sturdy reels that are comfortable to fish with, matched with a lighter rod like a flippin’ stick or one of the lighter models designed for bass swimbaits. These reels aren’t tools for big baits or burning standard bucktails, but they work for fishing smaller topwaters, smaller twitch-baits, and jigs.

Another Spectrum—The recent popularity of huge lures like the Double Cowgirl and Pounder Bull Dawg sent some muskie anglers searching for even more powerful reels for retrieving these massive baits. The Shimano Trinidad, a saltwater reel, gained something of a cult following among guides on Minnesota’s Lake Mille Lacs, where giant baits and giant muskies are the order of the day.

Like the Garcia 7000 and the Penn 975, the Trinidad is a wide-spool reel on a heavy-duty frame. Unlike the lower speed, high-torque 7000 and 975, the Trinidad has a 6.2:1 gear ratio that retrieves 36 inches of line per crank. This kind of cranking isn’t for the faint of heart.

Whether it’s rods or reels, plenty of options exist to fill this niche, for everything from light lures and fast retrieves to large lures that must be winched in after a lob cast. Once you find the right combination for your style of fishing, you’ll fish comfortably and effectively.

*Rob Kimm is the editor of Esox Angler and has long been an occasional contributor to In-Fisherman publications.