I need some help in choosing a reel. My situation is that I'm moving to Chiang Mai, Thailand, in a few months. There are 2 lakes nearby which are stocked with mekong catfish as large as 100 lbs. One of the lakes is also stocked with other species such as alligator gar, arapaima and pecu around 40 or 50 lbs.
My main rod will be a 9 ft Lamiglass Kenai Killer rated at 20 to 50 lbs with a 7 ft Okuma Nomad Travel Rod with 30 and 60 lb tips for backup. Fishing is from the lake bank so I need a long distance, light weight casting reel and I think I want a lever drag so that I will know how much drag I'm using.
1) What line wt (or amount of drag) reel do I need?
2) What line capacity? I'll be using braid with mono topshot.
3) 1 or 2 speed? I seem to be losing a lot of endurance since age 60. I'm 64 now.
4) What gearing ratio?
I know that there are many variables, but I would really appreciate advice from your experience as I have no experience with big fish.
Thanks,
Norm
I hear that alot of people use the Avet sx and similar sized abus. Me personally, it would be a jigmaster or ar 3/0 or 4/0. For spinners a 750ss or the like. For line i would say 50 to 100lb braid, or 30 to 80lb mono. Reckon im to used to american catfish haha.
For a conventional I'd second a 4/0. I've got a couple of 113h's for 30.00 off ebay.carbon drags, ss gear sleeve, double dogs and power handle. As much as I like the ss reels. I'd look at a Penn ssv or you can get a new slammer or live liner pretty cheep since the ssv's came out. Don;t forget pics when you catch one! ;D Bob
Thanks for the input so far. I want a lightweight lever drag casting reel. The two rods I mentioned are both casting rods so I won't be interested in spinning reels. It appears that there is not a lot of structure for the fish to wind around so I don't expect that I will have to use a lot of drag to turn the fish around.
By the way, I tried to post a picture here, but couldn't figure out how ???
112H or the 113H with 80 to 100 pound braid will do the trick,it's what I use here in Texas on lake Texhoma and we've caught lots of mules with them with no issues.
Norm, If you have a photobucket account, upload your pics to photobucket. When you select your pic there will be some boxes beside it. One of those will say img. Right click on that and it will turn yellow and say copied. Go to your post reply (in another tab) and put the cursor on the page and left click, select paste and it should put the img link in the post. You can check by clicking preview on your reply. HTH Bob
this one! http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=17.0
(http://www.fullspeedfishing.com/gallery/data/500/medium/shimanotld1530_065.JPG)
used the TLD 20/40 star drag for redtail catfish here. spooled with 80 lb PP and with a top shot of 60 lb pink ande and a 50 lb short leader. caught more than 20 before i had to replace the top shot. haven't caught a 100 pounder yet but i think it will be fine because of line capacity since there is not a lot of structure for the fish to wind around. also have the 113H and the Squall 50LD but haven't used them yet, i am sure these 2 will also serve me well for this type of fishing. hope this helps, tight lines!
Quote from: alantani on January 28, 2013, 06:41:13 AM
this one! http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=17.0
(http://www.fullspeedfishing.com/gallery/data/500/medium/shimanotld1530_065.JPG)
But Alan, it's not a lever drag! ;D
BTW, I would also prefer a star drag, probably a narrowed 4/0 Senator.
George
Quote from: George4741 on January 28, 2013, 06:03:07 PM
But Alan, it's not a lever drag! ;D
Good, he won't have to deal with any issues. unfortunately that graphite frame might create some :-\
BTW, I would also prefer a star drag, probably a narrowed 4/0 Senator.
George
My top choice as well on this one ;)....Yes George, I'm becoming narrow-minded as you, thanks to you guys ::)
Ok, I'm getting a lot of recommendations for a star drag and I appreciate your voices of experience. But what are the advantages of a star drag to me? Remember, I don't have the experience to have a 'feel' for the amount of drag I'm using. I have a very nice little Abu Garcia STX which I like very much except for the star drag. I just don't have any idea where I am setting it. With a lever drag, after setting the correct tension, I will be able to check each click up to the strike rating to know exactly how much drag I'm using. I've also read plenty of reviews in other places where the reviewers said that after using lever drags, they would never go back to stars because of ease of operation.
Fire away; I'm sure I'm missing something here ;)
Thanks, Norm
Have a look at the new PENN SQUALL lever drags on PENN`s site. You can read all the specifications for each model and choose what will suit you best. They are light, strong, and well designed.
I co-sign on the TLD Star. Very solid reels with SS gears. First, let's determine the gear. Are you fishing cover? That will determine your line rating. I used to catch flathead catfish on the Colorado River near Yuma, AZ approaching the 50# mark. For those, I brought my 25-30lb Calstars and Torium 16s, the damn Avet SX I drag with me erverywhere I go, and Daiwa Saltist 20. These were overkill for the flatheads to 30#s. The 50s were fun on the gear but never did I think I would lose a fish. I have also caught oversize sturgies when I lived in Oregon on the Columbia on this gear too. Leaders were heavy. For fish over 100lbs., we bumped up to 40 and 50# gear. The 6 footers put some hurt on you, but it was manageable.
I think if you ran 250-300 yds of 65-80# braid, 80 lbn. leader, 40-50lb. topshot of about 6ft, I doubt you'll need more than 200 yards of line for this fishing, but get around 300 and you should never have a problem, I think a 2 speed is unnecessary for this fishing, but a small 2 speed may be nice for you. A friendly gear ratio of around 5:1 to 4:1 should be good. A low gear on a small 2 speed reel is usually around 3-4:1.
The lever drag fascination will drive up the required budget. A star drag reel will keep you well below 150.00, a lever drag will start at 200.00, add 2 speeds and that will put you near the 320-400.00 range. All in all, I think a TLD 10 or 15 would be a good choice. Of course, with carbontex drags and swapping the stock crap handle to something else. Anything sexier (i.e. anodized aluminum and small) will put you well over 300.00.
A reel that can deliver 15lbs of drag would be sufficient. Also, I assume you will be casting your bait. A smaller (and lighter) reel will help with that also. Jim Nomura seems to like the Daiwa Saltist lever drag reels. I own a Saltist 30LD 2 speed and love it too. They are very light. Lighter than most other lever drags out there...Accurate, Shimano Talicas, Avets, Okumas, and the others I missed.
Thanks so much for answering my questions, Jonathan. You have provided me a wealth of information I can use. I have already done some online research on the TLD 15 leverdrag as I had not considered it before.
Bob---Thanks for your good directions regarding posting pictures.
Why not the Avet Raptor?
great reel, just expensive!
from ossipeter
QuoteWhy not the Avet Raptor?
The SX Raptor is actually #1 on my list right now ;D It fulfills all of my criteria + it has the magnetic antibacklash system that really works. When I become more experienced, I may not need the cast control on my next reel, but I think it would be good now. I can't tell you how frustrated I've been trying to untangle a birds nest in the dark or pouring rain around here.
Did you know there was a 10% price
decrease on the raptors in the last week? I'm looking into less expensive alternatives right now to be sure I won't have buyers remorse after I pull the trigger and buy.
Thanks,
Norm
The Raptors are cool. East way for Avet to bump up drag output on their reels...but the cost would have me consider other reels. Good luck on the critical decisions you have ahead.
If you are looking at the sx raptor, you might want to take a look at the Okuma Makaira 8.
an andros would get the job done, but at a $400 price tag.
The high speed reels are fine when you are fishing for speedsters or jigging tuna but for catfish you would be better served with a gear ratio of 2:1 to 3:1 vs 5:1 because cats are like bulldogs not greyhounds and on the larger fish you will be pumpin the heck out of the rod to get line,the lower gear ratio helps midigate alot of needless work and alows you to reel when you are in a tug a war or while he decides to spin in place or dive for cover.Plus even on big cats the fight is over with most of the time in under five minutes so power is more needed than speed.
Either a lever drag or star drag reel will need to have the drags set with a scale. In a lake fishing for catfish either should work. Just set your drags before going put on the clicker in free spool when he takes it flip the lever on a star drag to engage the spool and fight him. JMO Bob
Thanks, Bob. As I indicated earlier, I didn't really know how to operate a star drag reel properly. This helps me a lot and you can be sure that no matter what reel I buy, I will get a scale for measuring the drag.
by Saltydog
Quotefor catfish you would be better served with a gear ratio of 2:1 to 3:1 vs 5:1 because cats are like bulldogs not greyhounds and on the larger fish you will be pumpin the heck out of the rod to get line,the lower gear ratio helps midigate alot of needless work
Now that is the kind of info I was looking for when I started this string. This not only tells me the gear ratio, but since there are also other faster fish species in one of the lakes, I probably need a two speed.
For those of you suggesting the Okumas, (Makaira, 2 spd and Cedros, single spd), I agree that they are the best for the price and if after I have a lot of experience, I decide to buy a setup for bigger fish, I'll get the Makaira. As I said earlier, the Avet
Quotehas the magnetic antibacklash system that really works. When I become more experienced, I may not need the cast control on my next reel, but I think it would be good now.
Norm
The choices are all functional. I am pleased to see you're not using River Monster gear. Just make sure you have used the reel on a few trips where you are not on a first date with it. In my opinion, anything more than 150.00 is just an excuse to get something cool. Nothing wrong with that. It's my motto. It will be your skillset more than your reel model that will help you land fish. Oh and making sure it is in good working order for your target fish. Get it dialed in yourself or someone who can. Reels straight from the box work best in the store. Most reel companies make money by selling you reels for your desired price range. It takes a bit more to put them through their paces.
hi bob,you said you wanted a reel you could cast.me, i would forget the makaira and go with the andros 2 sp. it will handle any catfish with ease 120lb or more.$400 im not sure that is expensive or not.when i bought mine for $400 it was expensive,but after 2 years continious use,still going strong,and the fish i have caught on it would pull a catfish backwards, im not so sure it was expensive. makes you think dont it. ::)
A Newell 533 4.6 will do everything that you need to do. Double dogs, 35 lb drag and light weight and extremely corrosion resistant. There are some nice ones on ebay for less than 200. I have a couple of new ones in the closet and and I know a guy in CA with some new ones if interested.
newell parts?
Quoteanything more than 150.00 is just an excuse to get something cool. Nothing wrong with that. It's my motto. It will be your skillset more than your reel model that will help you land fish.
Jonathan that's very true. It reminds me of my first Montana hunting trip. Two of us had fancy rifles and fancy scopes and the third guy had an old .303 British Enfield with a scope made for a .22 rifle. You can guess which one of us shot 2 big bucks. Yes, I've considered the Penn Squall 25N at $150. I think it is a good little reel and would basically be suitable, but a little more difficult to use than some of the others and I want my fishing to be as trouble free and relaxing as possible.
Ossipeter
QuoteWhy not the Avet Raptor?
alantani
Quotegreat reel, just expensive!
alantani
Quotean andros would get the job done, but at a $400 price tag.
wallacewt
Quotei would ...go with the andros 2 sp. it will handle any catfish with ease 120lb or more.$400 im not sure that is expensive or not.when i bought mine for $400 it was expensive,but after 2 years continious use,still going strong,and the fish i have caught on it would pull a catfish backwards, im not so sure it was expensive. makes you think dont it.
Yes, it does make me think. That is a very convincing arguement. I've pretty much decided on either the SX Raptor at $396 or the Andros at $400. Unless I get the narrow Andros with 80% spool capacity, the specifications are about the same for each reel.
Norm
if you catch something that big, we are going to want to see pictures. hey, i'll bet a jigmaster would work! ;D
Quote from: alantani on February 05, 2013, 06:42:51 AM
if you catch something that big, we are going to want to see pictures. hey, i'll bet a jigmaster would work! ;D
I don't see why not. Lots of 100lb fish have been caught with those, some over 400lb.
A 501 with all the goodies we have been adding here, would be a good choice.
No need to worry about servicing it, you could do it in 5 to10 minutes...if it needs it.
Keep $350 in your wallet and go enjoy some fishing with the 501, or 500.
Just my two cents.
Wow, just found this thread.
I live in Bangkok and spend all of the weekends I can't get out on the ocean wrestling Giant Mekong Cats.
To date, I have tried a number of reel & rod combinations and now have it down (for the most part).
First, I highly recommend avoiding the "long" catfish or carp rods many Europeans try to use on these fish. These fish are not rockets like big salt water fish, but they will run long and hard and strip reels if you can't lean into them.
As to reels, the locals here who can afford them, prefer Saltists, Saltigas and occasionally a Stella pops up (lots of GT fisherman out to get a fix). I also see Saltiga conventionals as well. There are endless Chinese copies of the big names sold in Thailand, but I've seen endless failures, resulting in rigs getting pulled into the water (and sometimes the fisherman...Just kidding).
First, my wife's setup is really simple - it's a 7' Tiger Stik one-piece spinning rod with a Cabela's 6500 bait-running Salt Striker on it. It's loaded with 50lb rip cord and I can't count the number of 40-50+ kilo fish that setup has landed. She uses a rod belt (she's about 45 kilos herself). This reel has been working hard for two years with absolutely no issues. Laugh if you want - it is the absolute truth. Line, rod and reel...this has been a great setup for her...I can't get her to try anything else.
I have experimented with a number of reels - my favorite is my MX Raptor (purchased in Singapore). It's loaded with 300yds of 50lb Tuff Line XP and a top shot of 40lb mono (the best Japanese stuff I could find). My rod is a Jananese manufacturer also - it's a Verger JRJB 58/6 Jigging rod. Short Jigging rods are by far the most popular setup for these fish and you can cast them a mile. I have also used (and abused) my 1980's 7000C, which is holding up better with the Carbontex drag washers. I have played with an old 320 GTI - it worked fine, as did two older TLD's, a 5 and a 15 from the 80's. The TLD 5 is on a Diawa Saltiga G, SAG-J 511HF and it's a super smooth and super fun setup, if you're comfortable making long casts with a TLD.
As mentioned in posts above, you don't need a huge amount of drag. My reels (including the Raptor) are only set in the 9-10lb range, which means I didn't really need a Raptor.... The TLD 5 has 30 lb XP, as does the 7000C...and as long as the area is fairly clean of structure (Thai water is notoriously trashed with concrete, old pilings, etc), 30 lb is all you need and so you can base your reel selection accordingly. Once again, 30lb line with 9 lb or so drag. It's all about technique with these big, powerful fish.
Other reels I've experimented with - Penn Sargus SG6000 (great and has held up), also a Cabela's (blue) metal Salt Striker in the 6000 size range. These setups are "loaners" when friends/family come to visit. I have a few locally made spinning jigging jods in the 5'8"-6' range. The Penn Battle is popular and with the HT-100 drag washers seems to be holding up for my friends. None of my crowd will spend the big bucks on spinning gear, unless it's a popping outfit. The 320 GTI is also great for beginners...
Hope that helps a bit...
BTW, I really love the MX Raptor. Yes, it was expensive and I had to pay a bit more in S'pore than you all do, but I have wanted one for some time now and it was my b-day present to myself. It's smooth, pretty and casts a mile....We have some decent billfish, tuna and wahoo in the area so it see some decent action.
looks like ol' norm found himself a fishin' buddy!
The Fathom 20LW is just the ticket for large catfish because of its excellent design. You won't break the bank with this reel and for 400$ you can arm yourself with a nice pair.
There are a lot of nice reels that would work but I would still go with something like a P229 or P332 Newell on a Tiburon frame to be extra robust but the Tib frame is not a necessity.
Newell nut, not arguing with you or anything like that, what makes you think that the newell is a good choice? Norm is moving to Thailand. I'm sure you and others here are having a tough time finding parts for that newell reel that doesn't exist anymore :-\, imagine how hard it would be for Norm. I would also stay away from levelwind.
I have used newells for over 20 years and never broken one. I have worked on several but they never have broken parts. What they have is missing parts after weekend worriors tinker with them. The missing parts are the little circlip at the end of the bridge sleeve or the screw is missing depending on the vintage. I have found a dog missing, the 3-18 and 3-16 washer missing and even worked on one with a missing bearing. I have yet to work on one that actually has a broken part. Newells are tough until somebody takes it apart and can't remember how to put it back together.
I do think the Carbontex drags are smoother than originals.
That is why I am a Newell Nut. They work and work great for a long time.
Not going into a discussion of Penn vs Newell, even though newell is a bad copy of Penn ::)
I have never used one, but have friends that have used them. Just make sure you service them frequently or things will get welded in the inside ;).
I would agree to that logis - it is difficult to find any brand name products, much less piece parts in Thailand. The surrounding areas are just as bad, with the exception of Singapore, where you'll pay 20% more just due to their rediculous tax structure.
As to the level wind comment, as I mentioned before, the 320 GTI is bulletproof, holds about 300 yds of #50 braid and is available in the region. My only issue is it's a big, clunky fit for my smaller jigging rods. The 7000C does really well with the carbon fiber drags, but I wonder what damage I'm doing to gear, bearings and the rest.
I've also seen some Tica products here (also made in China), including level-winds...I believe the Caiman line? The larger Striper model available in the US looks like it might work as well, though I can't speak from experience. Tica is sold and supported in the region. My next trip to the states I plan on picking up a fathom. I would agree that price and features, as well as great reviews make it quite attractive. I would lean toward the non level-wind models for my use...
Quotelooks like ol' norm found himself a fishin' buddy!
Heh heh! Too bad I'm going to be living about 450 miles from you, tpilk, I doubt if we can get together very often :(
I found your post to be most informative, especially regarding the proper rod to use. I don't know if you read my first post here, but I was intending to use my 9 ft Lamiglass rod, with my 7 ft Okuma Nomad Travel Rod as backup. The Lamiglass rod is only about half the weight of the Nomad (but double the cost) and is very strong with a line rating up to 50 lbs. From your post, it appears the Nomad would be better. It is much stiffer than the Lamiglas, too. Perhaps the Nomad should be my first choice?
The thing I took away from your talk about reels was that you really 'loved' your mx raptor. I also want to 'love' the reel I buy! ;D
Oh, by the way, what lakes do you fish in around Bangkok? Ever go to Hua Hin? The ones I've seen around Bangkok seem to be more expensive than around Chiang Mai.
Ole Norm
Hi Norm,
Yea, I noticed you were way up North - too bad, it would be fun to have a farang fishing buddy!
I should probably clarify my short rod comments. Many of the more experienced folks I fish with, have migrated to both conventional and/or spinning rigged jigging rods in the 5'8"-6' range. The most important aspect of the short rod is that you can end the fight much more quickly and efficiently than the long rods. I began with long rods (9-10 ft) and for the striped catfish, pacu, etc, they're perfect and lots of fun. Problem is with these big fish, if you finish the fight, it often takes so long the fish can't recover. It's a shame to see these beasts floating belly up after an hour long (or more) battle on a long rod. The short rods can reduce that to 15-20 minutes. I've not had one fail to recover. Though my biggest have been in the 50 kilo range, they go to 80 or so in these lakes. The wild fish in the river can go way over that.
The lake I go to is very low-key. I very seldom see foreigners there and so the price is only 140 baht on weekdays and 160 baht (about $5 USD) on the weekends. I'll get the name and info for you. Just so everyone understands...there is a charge for anything and everything a foreigner does in Thailand! The good news is we usually catch 3 or 4 Mekongs and about that many striped cats (in the 10-20 kilo range) in a 3-4 hr visit. There are a number of high-end lakes where you can catch record sized arapiama, many species of cats, Siamese carp (my favorite), giant snakeheads and of course barramundi.
As for the MX, I do really enjoy it. I've got a lot of equipment that I've drug over here from the states - some has worked well and some has no application over here. Most of my stuff I've had for a very long time and is "working class" but quite functional. Soooo, the price tag was a bit painful...partly because the products and prices have changed so much since I've shopped for good stuff. I also wanted a US made reel - I've had my fill of junk over here. That said, who isn't making reels in either China or Malaysia these days...and some are quite good. It's also kinda nice to see the full line of Japanese products in the region. I didn't realize we were only seeing a select group of products in the US.
Good luck with the fishing - we both need to post a few pics so these guys can see a giant mekong. They really are lots of fun (especially when you can't get to the toothy blue water critters!)
QuoteThe most important aspect of the short rod is that you can end the fight much more quickly and efficiently than the long rods. I began with long rods (9-10 ft) and for the striped catfish, pacu, etc, they're perfect and lots of fun. Problem is with these big fish, if you finish the fight, it often takes so long the fish can't recover. It's a shame to see these beasts floating belly up after an hour long (or more) battle on a long rod. The short rods can reduce that to 15-20 minutes.
You sound like my kind of fisherman; I had no idea that they would fight to the death. So many things to consider!
160 baht sounds real reasonable. What I've seen on the internet around Bangkok are 5000 to 6000 a day and around Chiang Mai are 1900 to 2800 per day. Sure hope I can find some less expensive places around Chiang Mai. I'm interested in the lake where you and your wife fish. I figure I'll have to go to Bangkok once or twice a year; we should get together then.
QuoteI've had my fill of junk over here.
I've heard that good tools, etc. are hard to find there. That's why I want to have really good equipment before I go over.
Norm
Hi Norm,
The trick is to find out where the Thai's are fishing (Thai's won't pay much) and avoid the tourist/foreigner locations. The exception being some of the barramundi lakes. Around here there are a few great places you can really hone your skills taking big barramundi on flies or lures.
As you probably know, most of the lakes and rivers here are not managed in any way. Lots of South American species were introduced decades ago and have been breeding quite successfully in these waters. The native Asian species do extremely well as you might expect. That said, the expensive "pay" lakes you refered to are managed, as are the barramundi ponds...when they charge hundreds per day they'd better have some trophy-sized fish.
As far as the catfish dying, they are actually extremely tough. The locals don't have much respect for any form of life, much less fish, and tend to treat them pretty rough. Long fights take a lot out of any species and I'd say it's more of a "best practice" to keep it as short as possible with any fish you plan on releasing.
I will send you my contact info so we can hook up when the opportunity rises.
here you go! my biggest fish on one of these reels was a 130 pound halibut. seriously, this is a steal!
http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=6299.0
Thanks for thinking of me. It is a beautiful reel and the price is right! I'm concerned about buying a brand that is out of business. In some ways I figure it would be like buying a 'pig in the poke' (whatever that means :D). The reason I say that is because I was unable to get as much reliable information about the reel as I wanted, but I did see that in one instance, the main and pinion gears were damaged when the drag was cranked down to 15 lbs. I had read max drag was 25 lbs and other places said 15 lbs. It is obviously less than 15.
Anyway, I have made up my mind. I have given serious consideration to each and every suggestion made on this thread, including star drags. I've spent hours and hours of research and it all came down to the Avet MXJ Raptor. I'm buying a blue one with 300 yds of 50 lb hollow core braid and a topcoat of 100yds of 40 lb mono included from Charkbait. Along with the reel, I'm getting a drag scale, Cals Drag Grease and TSI 301. Thanks, everyone, for helping me with this. I feel completely comfortable with my choice.
c
I think you've made a wise choice. As they say in Thai.... มีโชคดี ;)
Thanks, George. My translation was 'chancy' ???
I can't read Thai, although I was there from 72-75. It is supposed to say "good luck".
Heh heh! I can't read Thai either ;D, but that's the way Google translated it. I'll take it as 'good luck'! Actually you could say a game of cards were a game of chance or a game of luck. Therefore good luck = good chance = chancy ;)
Wish you always tight lines and good drills with your new baby ;)
Thanks, Peter! I think I will enjoy practicing with it. I'll have to admit that giving it the AlanTani preuse maintenance is a little scary. I can imagine some little part flying off into oblivian :'(
good choice! don't know how often you'll be in the US of A but ithink it's a good idea to bring with you extra pinion bearings. have the MXJ and happy with it. bought the SX last Nov 22 and it hasn't arrived yet as of today and thinking of buying the SXJ when i'm in LA next month. good fishing and tight lines!
I see that you live in Brazil, Mel. I hope you were able to insure delivery of that SX reel. After reading your entry, I called the shipping guy at Charkbait and he said they had reliable 5 day delivery to Thailand, but it was at least $50. I figure I'd probably have to pay a 20% duty too. Very expensive, but better than nothing. I also called Avet and they are setting up a dealership in Bangkok or they will ship bearings for about $30. Either alternative sounds expensive, so I guess I'll see how many bearings I destroy giving them the AlanTani preventive maintenance before ordering any extra pinion bearings.
That little SKJ loooks like a perfect reel for relatively light line. Wish I could trade in my Abu Garcia STX for one of those ;D
Hi Norm,
I'm back in Singapore for the week and just picked up an SX today. It took 300yds of 30lb tufline, with a bunch of 40 lb mono on top (didn't have a line counter available). I can't believe how much line that little reel holds. I can't wait to get back home and cast it.
S'pore does have an Avet dealer. I'm curious as to who in Bangkok will carry them. I'm guessing it will be the shop near the most expensive fishing park.
I bought the SX MC and paid $280 SGD or about $225 USD. That's the price you pay over here...I think Charkbait has the SX MC for $199
Rods are an issue here. I broke one on a fish Saturday. The gear was balanced - drag set on the scale, etc. - half hour into the fight and it blew. Fish was close in (so I had a full spool) and the drag was super smooth. Anyway, you might go take a look at a nice Calstar Grafighter for your MX (like maybe a 700 ML or even an M). I'd also consider those Ahi Assassins (I'm thinking the 100 size for my new SX).
Gotta have a wish list, right?
We did catch a few big ones (nothing over 50 kilo) this past weekend, but mostly the 15-20 kilo blah sawai (striped catfish).
I'd like to hear more about Avet in Thailand....
Quote from: gone fishin on February 17, 2013, 07:21:16 AM
I figure I'd probably have to pay a 20% duty too. Very expensive, but better than nothing.
i pay 60% and most of the time authorities here add the shipping to the value of the merchandise...ouch!!!
by the way i suggest that you should also have 65# line and 50# mono or fluoro for a top shot. you'll never know when you'll need it. :)
Are you recommending the 65lb and 50lb topshot for the MX?
With 65lb braid you wont get much, if any topshot. You can put 300yds of 50lb braid and still get a 100yds + of 40lb mono (for long casting application). If you just need a leader or very short topshot, the 65lb will work.
Actually, for Norm's catfish application, you don't need huge capacity, so yes, heavier line will work, but yoiu just don't need it. I've taken plenty of those fish on 30lb (minimum I go cause yoiu need 9-10lbs of drag to keep the fight reasonable time).
The challenge comes when they get close...just run a heavy mono leader so you have something to grab onto when you get it near the bank.
Quote from: tpilk on February 19, 2013, 01:39:33 AM
Are you recommending the 65lb and 50lb topshot for the MX?
yes, because he might need it. personally i haven't caught a catfish that weighs more than 25 kilos but the pirarara or redtail catfish puts up a good fight i guess when you have all day to bring the fish in 30 lbs braid and a short top shot of 40 lb will do. btw, my top shot is always lighter than my principal line in case when something breaks hopefully it's the top shot.
also with 65lb(or at least 50lb) main line you can have at least up to 60lb mono or fluoro TS or leader.
check this thread, this is from a guy who spends some of his holidays fishing fro giant mekong catfish. based my recommendatiosn from his experiences. also from some some of the videos i watched on youtube.
http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=3632.0
"expect the unexpected"
Good choice. You'll like that reel. Just take your time and get little containers for those small parts. Take pics along the way to help you reverse the procedure, and write here if you run into any problems.
Thanks, Bryan.
Very interesting discussion, tpilk and Mel.
Mel, I read fishingjack's thread. I'm about twice his age so won't be as agressive as he is and will probably use no more than 10 to 12 lbs drag in most cases depending on how much structure is in the area. That being said, the weakest point of any line is at the knot and a few 100 yd spools of higher test mono won't break the bank and will be good insurance.
tpilk, I have another contact at Avet and I will call him before I leave for more info about the Bangkok dealership. The person I talked to sounded kind of ify and knowing Thailand, it will always be ify.
I have two tips for my 7 ft Okuma Nomad Rod. The base of the rod is very strong and if I break the 60 lb tip, I think I'll just quit fishing ;D
Hi Mel,
I also have an MX Raptor, but mine will have to function in multiple applications over here. Once again, mine is setup with 300 yds of 50lb tufline XP, with a topshot of 40lb mono. I put a long topshot on because I do a lot of long casting and the mono is much easier to cast. I have yet to get into the braid, though I've come close. I set the drag around 11-12lbs, but that is mostly because I dont have the right rod to balance the reel - mine is a bit light. I'll fix that next trip to the states.
When you consider drag settings, yes, the MX Raptor can be cranked up quite high - well beyond (25-30%) of 30lb capability. That said, we're confusing two different reels in my recommendations to Norm. I said I will put 30lb braid and a 30lb topshot on my new SX MC (non Raptor) - it is capable of 9lb of drag at strike regardless of 30lb or 130lb test. I can tell you from much experience that 9lb of drag will whip a mekong in a reasonable amount of time (under 30 minutes) with some proper technique.
I do run a short, heavy mono leader so I have something to grab onto when popping the hook out. I've used this experience to develop and test my crimping skills.
Redtails are good fighters and the pacu are fun as well - are you by any chance fishing in Phuket or Hua Hin? My personal favorite are the Siamese Carp - they look and act much more like stripers than carp with their bucket mouths, speed and power. I've not caught a big one...nothing over 15 kilos or so. As you know they get really big here as well.
Anyway, just wanted to clear up the line issue - most likely I miscommunicated...it sucks being over 50!
Just read through fishingjack's thread. Earlier in this thread I discussed Thai waters being somewhat challenging due to concrete, pilings, trash, etc often being present.
Of course structure and abrasive conditions can and do alter line selection on any species, in any location in the world. I am fortunate, as my current "favorite" location is clear of any junk and that is reflected in the gear I can run.
I've been meaning to throw in I would welcome any visitors to Bangkok area to contact me - I will take you out myself or at least point you in the right direction so you don't get sucked in to the "fishing" tourist traps so common here. For whatever reason - I'm thinking the River Monster's show, there has been a big demand for giant stingray fishing. I personally have no interest...but they are here. Don't get me wrong, I had tons of fun as a youngster battling Bat rays from Moss Landing to Tomales Bay. They were awesome fighters. These Thai freshwater rays are big and heavy and tend to create suction on the bottom and clamp down. Doesn't look like much fun to me.
We've also got billfish, wahoo, GT's, tuna and bottom fishing as well, depending on where you go. Don't look for any great deals though...the locals have got this market nailed. You pretty much need access to a private boat to keep it reasonable.
Hey, tpilk, when you come back to the States and buy a new rod, be sure to check with your airline to see what they consider oversize baggage; also their charges for same. You might want to consider a travel rod; Charkbait has a nice selection of them.
Norm
Hi Norm,
No worries on that one - my job has me flying so much I get three bags free now and at least last time, no oversize fees. Regardless, when you live outside sometimes you just have to bite the bullet. I plan on dropping in on the Charkbait shop next visit. Home base for me is now Idaho, but I have business in California, both North and South so it looks like a long road trip is in order.
I am leaning towards a Grafighter 700 model to pair up with the MX Raptor. I really need to pull on a few to get a feel for the best match (otherwise I'd buy it online). I can get Calstar blanks over here, but really pricey and besides, all of my rod building stuff is in a storage container back home. Hate to keep buying stuff over and over. It's certainly one of the great challenges in living overseas...what to bring vs what you can live without.
I just picked up another nice reel in Singapore this trip - I grabbed a Fathom 15 Level wind. Should be an ideal reel for the mekongs. It holds 300yds of 50lb XP. I'm trying the heavy core this time as it's supposed to sink much better.
QuoteIt's certainly one of the great challenges in living overseas...what to bring vs what you can live without.
That's certainly the most difficult part for me. I'm getting rid of everything, I can't take with me. Furniture is easy but guns, tools, artwork and books are difficult. I have hundreds and hundreds of books which I can get down to about 75 fairly easily but beyond that, it is difficult.
Anyway, that 7 ft Grafighter sure looks good on 'paper', I'll bet it would be just the ticket. Those Penn Fathoms are great little reels aren't they. I almost bought the 25N Fathom before I realized there were so many choices. I just got my MXJ Raptor today and it looks and feels great. The only thing I dont like about it is the 20 oz weight on my Lamiglas rod; one of the 15 oz reels would feel better. However, it feels about right on the much heavier Okuma Nomad rod. So far, I'm very happy with my choice and think after some experience with the big fish, any reel that was recommended to me on this thread would work well.
hi tpilk! i am actually in brasil but will be in the city of angels next month, lucky me in time for the FHS at long beach. i myself will be buying a few rods and will be willing to pay for excess luggage fee because it's worth it. here in brasil i paid like $1000 for 3 rods compared to less than $500 in the USofA.
anyways hope to travel to thailand one day...tight lines!
Hi Mel,
I'd better quit whining about fees in Asia - I had no idea things were so high in SA. Please tell me at least the fishing is as good as it looks on TV? I'm hoping to get back home in the next month or so - had to schedule twice now due to work schedule conflicts.
Hi Norm,
I understand the weight issue. It's funny - a guy who works in the fishing shop where I bought mine asked why anyone would want a reel machined out of solid stock when grafite and other high tech materials are so much lighter. I guess it's kind of one of those "if you have to ask, you wouldn't understand" situations. The local gear is really light there (Singapore has some giant snakehead fishing (bass gear) and there is some offshore stuff, but mostly need to travel.) Anyway, all three of my new reels pulled fish in their first times out and performed really well. I'm actually getting more casting distance out of the Fathom - it would give my 7000C a run for it's money on the right rod. I never expected that...
Glad all your new reels are working out. I am very surprised that you are getting better casting distance from your levelwind Fathom. I would have guessed the levelwind would decrease the distance by at least 25%.
Hi Norm,
I used to think that as well, then years ago (early 80's) I strapped a 7000C on my 12' Sabre surf rod for chasing stripers. One reel, on several occasions that I can remember could beat my casts and it was a guy with an old Alvey and the guy was darn good...competitive good. He had his hands full when he hooked a fish though. I've never tried an Alvey, but I imagine they're lots of fun. He used to "palm the spool" like you do when you're fly fishing. I learned to cast on my dad's old jigmaster. It was really long as well, at least when the stars aligned and then it would slam you back to Earth with a nice backlash about the time I'd start to get cocky with it. I always seemed to go back to a big spinning reel on serious fishing days until the 7000C came along.
The MC function on the SX makes it pretty much hands free. The MX also has the MC function, but could get away from me a bit when I really let it out it on a longer rod. I've had the MX out 4 times now and I'm definitely feeling more confident. The SX and the Fathom have each been out twice. I've got a long top shot on the MX and that's helped keep it to minor backlashes that came out easy. The SX and the Fathom have only Tufline XP. One neat feature on the Fathom is it has a very light clicker on the spool tensioner and you can make really fine adjustments depending on what you are tossing. You dial that in and let it sail. It's got a really smooth drag as well...I haven't opened the reel up, but all of my other Penn's with HT-100 drags come greased. Anyway, the new toys have all caught fish now, Unfortunately, the big one's have eluded me last two trips. My wife has been kicking my butt on the big fish. Nice thing is the small fish are still 20-30lb striped catfish. I'm dying to wrestle a Mekong on the new gear...guess I just need to be patient.
Per tpilk
QuoteNice thing is the small fish are still 20-30lb striped catfish.
Now that's what I'm talkin' about. A place where the 'small' fish are 30 lbs. I'm really wanting to get over there asap. My first desire is to be with my 'new family' there and secondly I want to hook into some of those 'small' fish. I can hardly wait for the fight those fish can bring on. I have had more fight with a 3 lb pike on light tackle than a 15 lb salmon on moderately heavy tackle.
It's nice that your wife enjoys fishing, too. I suppose it's especially fun for her when she is 'kickin' your butt' :D
So just to be clear, you are saying that your levelwind Fathom casts farther than your SX MC? Do you think the magnetic cast impeads the SX? Out of the box, my reel only has 4 or 5 seconds of freespool with the MC at its lowest setting. I'm sure it will spin much longer after the alantani treatment.
Hi Norm,
I probably didn't state that very well. I wouldn't say that the Fathom will outcast either Avet, in fact, I'm certain it won't. We're trying to throw bait a long distance with enough finesse to keep it together and on the hook. The jigging rods we're using don't load well with bait...the perform super well when battling big fish. The Fathom, having that sensitive spool tensioner with the clicker, is just very easy to dial in, making it very forgiving without giving up a lot of distance. I can launch the bait a long distance with total confidence.
To sum it up:
1) The Fathom is long and quite easy, in fact, it's almost idiot-proof if you properly set spool tension
2) The SX screams. The cast control allows it to be cast virtually thumb-free, in fact, you can back down on the cast control a few clicks and no issues.
3) The MX is a bit more of a challenge. Bait can be tricky (depending on the rod), but throw a jig or some lead on there and that reel really sails. Depending on application, you just have to stay on top of it. Basically, it keeps you on your toes. It's all about who is driving it.
IMO, the rods make all the difference in the world as to "castability" of a reel. The proper pairing for a given application is the key. I'm thinking that 7' Grafighter is going to be a great pairing for the MX, given what I want to do with it. I've got an old 7' glass Pacific Stik and the MX is much easier to handle given the way that rod loads in this application.
Hope that clarifies my comments. We really need to meet up - are you still in the States? What is your schedule looking like? Shoot me a PM
Chip
I wanted to follow up on the reel discussion and add a few photos - hopefully they will come up....
I finally got back to the states and did some shopping. I picked up a few great rods, as well as a few reels for the collection. One reel has quickly become my favorite for these catfish - it's the Penn fathom FTH12, loaded with 300 yds of 30lb Tufline HeviCore. I've caught half a dozen big ones and many of the smaller Striped catfish and it's just a pleasure to fish with. The drag is really smooth, clicker is strong (audible in the wind), 300 yds is plenty of capacity and of course it has much more drag than I'd ever need with 50lb, much less the 30lb I'm using.
I have also caught quite a few (Mekongs and Striped) on the Avet SX as well. I do like this reel, but I now understand some of the more critical comments on the Avets. If I have one issue with the reel, it's the large amount of play in the gearbox (I think it's the gearbox?). When I'm reeling against a fish and the fish turns hard, there is a significant "clunk" felt through the handle. Feels like a bad u-joint in your vehicle if that makes sense. I need to fish with my MX to determine if it's just my SX or an Avet issue overall. Once again, I do enjoy the reel - all important qualities are there....just need to figure out that "clunk" in the drive.
I picked up two Ahi Assasins...a 100 size and a 200 size. I will give my two cents on those in the rod thread at some point, as they have some real pro's and a con or two I'd like to share. To briefly mention one issue, the 100 size rod, with the trigger-type reel seat will not fit the Penn reels. It won't tighten up and with the unique trigger setup, it won't take a clamp either. Even with the Avet reels, you can't use the clamp. The 200 is a different story...but that 100 Assasin would pair nicely with the FTH12.
I'll give those pics a shot... first three are mekongs and the two smaller fish are the striped catfish. These are pretty average...can't seem to catch a monster when you actually remember the camera!
(http://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u527/tpilk1/006_zpsce2bf391.jpg)
(http://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u527/tpilk1/image_zps63566ade.jpg)
(http://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u527/tpilk1/image_zpsc65d5987.jpg)
(http://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u527/tpilk1/004_zpse034f60d.jpg)
(http://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u527/tpilk1/002_zpsc5109cb1.jpg)
I wish I had seen this thread sooner. Cat fishing is a lot different than saltwater, without a doubt the reel I would recommend is the Alphamar 16 or the Penn equivalent. With 65lb. Braid and a 50lb. mono leader. No top shot needed just a mono leader 12" to 18" for abrasion resistance.
Quote from: abudoc on April 02, 2013, 01:27:42 PM
I wish I had seen this thread sooner. Cat fishing is a lot different than saltwater, without a doubt the reel I would recommend is the Alphamar 16 or the Penn equivalent. With 65lb. Braid and a 50lb. mono leader. No top shot needed just a mono leader 12" to 18" for abrasion resistance.
Yes, this thread is a rare break from the typical salt-water threads.
These catfish are how we get our fix when we can't be out on the ocean (it's not easy or cheap for a foreigner to own a boat in Thailand). But, they are a good test for your gear, knots/crimps and anything else you want to try. They aren't blazing fast, but they have incredible power. You don't need any topshot, but a heavy mono leader is nice not so much for abrasion...it's just a lot easier on your hands when bringing the fish in. It's how I got proficient with my PR Knots...The discussion on topshots earlier in the thread were based on how my MX and TLD reels were setup for saltwater.
As to the Alphamar, for about the same money, I went with the Penn Fathoms as I mentioned before. Honestly, I hadn't even heard of an Alphamar, but then my exposure is pretty limited over here. That, and I bailed on the Abu products some years back. Guess they're ALL made in China now (Penn's as well).... Anyway, my Abu's (got 6) range from 3500C's thru 7000C's but all are 25+ years old and all have carbon fiber drags installed. As to level-winds...I do have a Fathom 15 level-wind as well and it works well - holds right at 300 yds of 50lb XP. I just think it's more fun fishing smaller reels and I haven't broken any off with the #30 at 9lbs of drag. When it comes to braid, #80 will pop just as quickly as #30 if it hits concrete or debris under heavy tension.
"clunk" in your SX same thing with my MXJ. i think the dog misses when the fish swims back, hope this helps...thanks for sharing.