[pjm66]

I just bought a Seeker BCSW 807-8' T from a member that I want to set up as a light bottom fishing rig. The rod is rated for 10-17 lb test and 3/4-2 1/2 oz. I fish primarly off of party boats and I plan on using it for fluke/sea bass, etc. I think I am going to bite the bullet and put a quality reel in it...you only live once, right?

I have a couple limitations though, I'm a lefty and I want a level wind. Avet and Newell, as far as I can tell, don't make levelwinds and the Tekota 500 doesnt come in a left version.

Process of elimination has led me to 3 reels

Shimano Calcutta 401 TE

Daiwa Luna

Record 61

The Calcutta is twice the price of the Record and $100 more than the Luna and based on the specs/reviews that I have seen, my head and my wallet are telling me to buy the Luna...but there is a little guy sitting on my shoulder screaming at me to buy the Calcutta.

What should I do? Is there anything else I should be looking at outside of these 3 reels?

 

[lighttackleman]

Shimano Calcutta 401 TE
dude the TE is sweet.... I have one and love it got it as a gift... and this reel is by far the nicest baitcasting reels ive ever owned.... soo **** smooth tons of power you can alot of drag out of em and its taken a beating so far going on its 4th season never ever had it serviced. I even caught kingfish/dolphin/cobia/blackfin tuna on it. You only live once. I know it super expensive. But you pay for what you get. Awesome reel thats all i have to say.

 

[Leprechaun]

Can't add a thing to that last post. The Calcutta CTE is the BEST round baitcaster that money can buy.

I'd go with the Record 61 over the Luna though - not for the engineering, but because it will be much easier to get parts down the line.

Lep

 

[pjm66]

Is there anything else I should be considering?

From the sounds of it, the smart play is go with the Record or the Calcutta, dont try to split the difference with the Daiwa. Is there a Penn, Tica, or Okuma product that is worth a look?

 

[mickrazz]

I personally think that your undergunned with that seeker for party boat fluke/seabass. That rod won't handle the weights needed to hold bottom for ocean fluke. You certainly don't need tons of drag for fluke/seabass either. Look in to the Tica CJ201R series reels as a nice match for that rod. It even comes in blue .

 

[Leprechaun]

Penn 965 with or without a power handle would't be a bad choice at all.

There was a very recent discussion on this board about that reel. Let me see if I can find it.

Ah yes, here it is:

Click

In fact the more I think about it, for what you want to do, the Penn might just be the best all around choice. If you intend to throw plugs or tin with that long rod, then I might weigh the choices a bit differently. But even then, maybe not - based on that discussion I linked to.

best, Lep

 

[obtuseangler]

One factor to consider is balance, I own the record and have fished the calcutta, but the Luna just might balance out that 8' rod the best of the three.

I'd put all three on and see how they feel. Bucktailing and bottom bouncing all day with a poorly balanced rod is no fun at all.

Mick that 3/4 - 2.5 oz rating refers to casting lures, the rod will handle 6oz of lead dragging bait without a problem, maybe more.

 

[Fishgeg]

TE hands down.

 

[mickrazz]

obtuseangler wrote:

Mick that 3/4 - 2.5 oz rating refers to casting lures, the rod will handle 6oz of lead dragging bait without a problem, maybe more.

Not to disagree, but I have a BCSW708T rated 12-20 and 6oz. makes it feel like a wet noodle. Forget about anything over that. I can't see the 8'er rated 10-17 to be any stiffer. To each his own though. The only way to find out is to fish it.

PJM, hang a 6 or 8 oz sinker off the end of that rod and get back to me on how it feels. Then imagine another 2-5 lbs of fluke attached to it also.

 

[pjm66]

I have other rods

I had planned on using this set-up with 4-5 oz of weight and I think it has enough lead in its pencil to handle that. If I need to go heavier than that, I have other other rods that I can use. I dont think I would bucktail with it, probably a little on the soft side for that and I have other rods I can use to better effect. Drift fishing fluke off party boats, sea bass, flounder, porgy, etc with less than 6 oz is how it will be used.

I got a few bucks I can spend on this...I figured I'd go top of the line. The Calcutta seemed like a decent idea because in addition to using it on this rod, I can swap it out and use it on another rod for striper, tog, etc if i want to down the road.

 

[mickrazz]

Gentlemen, I stand corrected on my assumptions. I haven't picked up my Seeker in a while, and I had sold another I had, which was a BA80. So I hung a 6oz. off the BCSW 708T when I got home and it has more balls than I remember. Softish tip but plenty of backbone. Now, the BA80 was the noodle when using 8oz. PJM, you are correct, it does have enough lead to handle 4-6oz.
Mick

 

[just fish]

Go with the calcutta. I have a pair of 401TE's I fish for fluke, stripers, blackfish, bluefish with them and not a problem from day one excellent reels. Ernie.

 

[fisherdad]

If i were you i would skip the levelwind idea. for drifting fluke and sea bass you will not be deeper than 100 feet. there is no resion to think you will side spool in only 100ft max. skip the levelwind and get a avet sx. great real and it has the balls to fish bass and blues not prob. avet is the best real for the money hands down!!!!!!
but thats just me, good luck on the reel hunt.

 

[pjm66]

I got the Calcutta TE

I really liked the Avet's, but I havent been fishing bait cast/conventional reels that long having been a life-long freshwater fisherman. I'm used to spinning outfits and I really wanted the levelwind. Next time out I plan on going with the Avet or maybe a Newell.

I looked a the Calcutta, Luna 253 and 300, Penn 965 and 975. Ramsey Outdoor doesnt carry Tica or Okuma. I really liked the Luna 253 a lot and I thought it was a great deal for the money but the balance just wasnt right. I know the Luna's havent been around that long so i figured WTF, buy the Calcutta.

I can assure you the outfit is significantly better than the fisherman.

Thanks for the advice.