From reading other posts on the Cals Light (Purple) it mentions that it is targeted for colder climates, I also see where guys are using it on lighter reels.
I live in Western New York State (Niagara Falls/Buffalo area), I troll November & until Dec15th for Muskies, weather can get cold so I was thinking the Cals Light would be the way to go.
However, I troll big muskie baits with Tekota 700LC and Tekota 600LC so the comments on guys using the Cals purple on lighter reels concerns me or at least leaves some doubt that it would be the best choice for the equipment I use, better in cold weather or not.
Any thoughts?
Thanks, first time poster here, unbelievable knowledge base.
-Dave
on drag washers, i do not believe that cold weather makes a difference. cal sheets, however, wants his grease to be used all through the reel. that's where the viscosity of the grease becomes a factor. i actually never use cal's grease anywhere else, just drag washers. for all other areas, i use either yamaha marine grease or corrosion x. for spool bearings, it is always tsi 301. welcome!
I read the info on the grease as well, and thought to try a little. I used it on spinners but haven't caught anything substantial yet. But if you rub in the grease and wipe off the excess, it should not make a difference if you are using the the light versus universal, now that I think about it.
Quote from: alantani on February 03, 2012, 07:57:36 AM
on drag washers, i do not believe that cold weather makes a difference. cal sheets, however, wants his grease to be used all through the reel. that's where the viscosity of the grease becomes a factor. i actually never use cal's grease anywhere else, just drag washers. for all other areas, i use either yamaha marine grease or corrosion x. for spool bearings, it is always tsi 301. welcome!
Thanks for the quick responses Alan & Bryan...................
The explanation on Cal's being used primarily for the drag washers makes sense and shouldn't be a factor in colder weather.
I've done a ton of reading here yesterday (at work ;D ) and back at my hotel last night (I travel a bunch for work)
I'm 95% trolling and 5% jigging or casting, I don't use the Tekota's except for trolling, it does get cold, not uncommon to awake to +10degF to +15degF (sometimes colder) mornings.
From what I've read, for trolling applications only, 100% grease (no tsi 301 needed) is OK?
I'll also be picking up new carbontex drag washers from smoothdrag.
I troll big baits a bunch and when checking lines under power these babies (tekota's) are getting a workout to say the least.
I'm a do-it your-selfer for most things, having three daughters that couldn't afford new cars and being a jeep cj-7 nut keeps you under vehicles honing your mechanical skills more than you'd like. ;D
I've attached a pic of one of my trolling days this early December.
Thanks again for the input.
-Dave
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b170/oldcatcher/TrollingLower12_09_11Z.jpg)
Hi Dave,
That looks awfully cold. For spool bearings, even for trolling, I would still recommend opening them up and using TSI301. It will work in cold weather. Grease may thicken in cold weather, which will turn those bearings into bushings until warmed up. For the other bearings, I would probably try to inject corrosionX HD for that application.
Bryan
Appreciate the input Bryan.
I'll get both products on order.
-Dave
Bbbbrrrrrrrrr. That snow & Ice on the boat makes me shiver!!! lol
Now thats dedication..........
Quote from: Nessie Hunter on February 03, 2012, 06:47:23 PM
Bbbbrrrrrrrrr. That snow & Ice on the boat makes me shiver!!! lol
Now thats dedication..........
hahahaha It's a labor of love Nessie Hunter.
Troll some pretty raw conditions at times in this neck of the woods.
Many days without as much as a rip let alone get one to the net, but that's fall muskie fishing here.
-Dave
could you use graphite reels for muskie fishing?.bit warmer on the hands
Don't see why you couldn't use Graphite reels.
Ya really don't handle the reels much when trolling, unlike casting where your hands are contacting the reel more.
Good thought though .
-Dave
A labour of love indeed!
Well done Dave - that's pure commitment.
All the best, Justin
Hey Oldcatcher: At least you don't have to worry about the beer getting warm. :D. Dominick
Beer occasionally freezes here.
Quote from: Pescachaser on February 08, 2012, 05:32:40 AM
Hey Oldcatcher: At least you don't have to worry about the beer getting warm. :D. Dominick
During late fall/start of winter here I'm pretty much a hot coffee guy, often bring two stanley thermos bottles.
Love to toss a few back as much as anybody, but when I'm fishing...... I'm fishing ;D
I've ordered some cal's light, tsi301 & tsi322 plus corrosionx hd, still need to get some carbontex drag washers from smoothdrag.
Here is a nice late season fall fattie muskie from this year.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b170/oldcatcher/DaveM_NiagaraRiver50.jpg)
-Dave
Nice Ski Dave! Looks like an easy 50"
Quote from: oldcatcher on February 12, 2012, 03:33:27 PM
Quote from: Pescachaser on February 08, 2012, 05:32:40 AM
Hey Oldcatcher: At least you don't have to worry about the beer getting warm. :D. Dominick
During late fall/start of winter here I'm pretty much a hot coffee guy, often bring two stanley thermos bottles.
Love to toss a few back as much as anybody, but when I'm fishing...... I'm fishing ;D
I've ordered some cal's light, tsi301 & tsi322 plus corrosionx hd, still need to get some carbontex drag washers from smoothdrag.
Here is a nice late season fall fattie muskie from this year.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b170/oldcatcher/DaveM_NiagaraRiver50.jpg)
-Dave
That's a big boy. Nice!
Thanks fellas........... yeah, she was a real beauty, made all the long hours on the water worthwhile.
Apologize for posting a fish pic and getting off topic, still learning the lay of the land here, see you have another place for fish reports/pics. :-[
And our beer will freeze here too in no time during the late fall. ;D
-Dave
Hi Folks,
I'm a friend of Dave's (Oldcatcher) from another musky fishing forum (www.muskytooth.com) and I actually directed Dave to this site for Alan's advice and particularly his tutorials. Amazing stuff here.
I am a reel do-it-yourselfer and have been for years. I've taken all sorts of reels apart, cleaning them, replacing parts and very often to swap in a new drag such as the carbontex or HT100 drags. I have never greased them before with anything and I have witnessed the debate on several forums as to "grease, or not to grease". Dry, they are smooth but everyone seems to agree that they are even smoother greased with Cal's or Shimano reel grease. Here's where it gets interesting for Dave and I....we're pulling 10-18" baits up to 5, 6, even 7 mph at times, that simply "pound"....they pull HARD. And with weaker drags and over time, the drag starts to slip on the troll. Carbontex washers in a Tekota 700 (even a 600) generally won't slip but if we grease them, will they "slip easier"? I love a smooth drag (pun intended) but we also need that holding power during the actual troll itself which is where I am concerned.
Thanks!
John
Quote from: oldcatcher on February 12, 2012, 07:56:41 PM
Apologize for posting a fish pic and getting off topic, still learning the lay of the land here, see you have another place for fish reports/pics.
Photos of nice fish are always ok as far as I'm concerned.
John, I troll diving planners on a Penn 50SW and a Penn 70 with greased drags and have no problem with very high drag. Grease is almost mandatory for saltwater but not so much fresh water but Alan and my playing around has me greasing every one of my reels drags. I even tested Cal's lite on two reels by leaving them in my freezer over night.
Jeez. 10-15F. Had to open my freezer door to remember what that's like. More power to ya, my friend. I lived in E Aurora for a couple years as a kid.
Your comment about a thermos reminds me of an early-morning fishing-trip I was invited on years ago. About a 16' Carolina Skiff, IIRC, and not much room in it. On the way back in, my lost thermos rolled out from under the seat still full of piping-hot coffee, and the other guy exclaimed: "Hey, what the heck is that?". I explained it was a Thermos Bottle, and is used to keep hot things hot and cold things cold. We both had a good jolt from it and the day suddenly got better.
About a week or so later, I asked him out on a run and in my boat this time. He was so proud of his new shiny Thermos, and he couldn't wait to show me. Being about 4:30 am, I asked what he'd brought in it. His response: "Tomato soup, and chocolate ice cream! Want some?"
Yeah, I know, Off-topic. Sorry.
Got up to 82 degrees here last week and my cal's light (purple) seperated. I think I'll go back to superlube, never seen it seperate.
Rub it in, it got up to 40°F here today with an icy wind, snow on the way.
John if your drags are slipping at 7 mph, you are setting them too loose. Dominick
Some great feedback, thanks.
Dominick, I had a Tekota 600LC with carbontex washers and with certain baits that we typically run, it would be slowly, "click.......click...", slipping. I'd have to lock it down to the point where it was not as smooth on a strike as it should be. I'm going with a Tekota 700LC so that the start up drag power is hopefully greater because of the drag and the spool diameter with more range i.e. I don't have to lock it down! I was and am concerned that if I grease the carbontex washers with Cal's, the start up drag will be reduced though smoother overall. Frankly, I've been running fiber drags dry for a long time and never had an issue with smoothness of the drag but I'm willing to grease them if I'm wrong in my assumption.
Thanks again.
Been away for awhile..... ordered all my reel cleaning/lubricating and smoothdrag carbontex drag washers.
Performed the cleaning/lubricating and drag washer replacement on two shimano 600LC's and one shimano 700LC earlier this week.
TSI301 on the bearings, CorrosionxHD and Cals Light on everything but the bearings, I did not lube the drag washers after communicating with John who has personal experience with similar climate, lures and boat speeds.
John is right, the large trolling baits with aggressive diving lips really pull hard on the drags at trolling speeds and will start slipping at times.
Tightening the drag too much may cause lost fish due to the bait being literally ripped out of the fishes mouth during the strike I would think.
Whether grease on the drag washers would contribute to drag washers slipping in our application is an interesting discussion.
I'm thinking of putting Cal's Light on just one of my Shimano 600LC's as a test and check the drag performance just for sh!t$ & grins.
Appreciate all the help I've received here, really learning alot.
-Dave
if you are using treble hooks on your lures try switching to single hooks for a better hook up and holding.cheers
Quote from: wallacewt on April 19, 2012, 05:35:11 AM
if you are using treble hooks on your lures try switching to single hooks for a better hook up and holding.cheers
X2, and it's much safer when you don't have several hooks flopping around on the deck.