Help With New Rod and Reel

Musky and Largemouth are pretty much opposite ends of the spectrum. For one you need a stout, heavy power rod with plenty of backbone to pull hooks through a bony mouth, and the other is better suited to light or medium power tackle (if you want to enjoy the fight). If you’re looking for something for Musky and large Pike though, I love my St. Croix Triumph Musky. 7’6” heavy-power, fast-action, 2-6oz cast weight. Have it paired with a Daiwa Lexa 300, 7.1:1, spooled with 80# power pro. Couldn’t ask for a more comfortable setup for big jerkbaits and swimbaits. Works great for deepwater jigging 2oz+ baits on Erie and Ontario, too. The whole setup ran me somewhere between $300-350 if I’m recalling correctly.

Thanks guys...
 
I mostly fish cats and stripers in the spring, so this would predominantly be a muskie/pike rod.  I was just trying to think of how I could get more use out of one.  

BTDT,
 
The only bait caster I ever owned was a small Quantum rod/reel combo I tried out for a bit.  After a week of mastering bird's nests, I returned to my trusty spinning reels.  
 
Also, I would more than likely fall into the 'chucking and chucking' camp, so I'm thinking the bait clicker is maybe not the way to go for myself.  

fallschirmjaeger
BTDT,
 
The only bait caster I ever owned was a small Quantum rod/reel combo I tried out for a bit.  After a week of mastering bird's nests, I returned to my trusty spinning reels.  
 
Also, I would more than likely fall into the 'chucking and chucking' camp, so I'm thinking the bait clicker is maybe not the way to go for myself.  

Gotcha.......  Here's my two cents.  Bait caster with adjustable magnetic braking system.  However bait casters, while not hard to master usually end up being tossed out, laid aside, if not smashed or deep sixed.   Sooooooo I recommend "NOT" going out and spending a bunch of money for a reel unless of course, you have more money than you know what to do with and in that case, I have a few acres of land with a 'private lake' for sale.   Onnnnnnn the other hand, buying a cheaper-than-dirt bait caster will likely have you filmed and appearing on YouTube as you demonstrate your hate and discontent upon the reel by, smashing, deep sixing or, a combination of both. 
 
Also the less expensive reels, of course,  are not the best quality and will not last regarding hours of chunking and chucking especially, the larger musky lures that have your bait caster, whining like a siren on a fire truck.
 
Also, stay away from those combos, unless of course you are a gluten for punishment.  Spend the money on a quality rod built for your intended use and pair it with a reel then practice (patients is a virtue) and that practice is learning how to "first set the reel up" before firing a 6oz lure 10 feet out on the water followed by, stomping your feet, digging at your reel while being filmed for a YouTube presentation.
 
Longer fishing rods do not necessarily mean longer cast but do aid with hook setting and there is no need to spend additional money for a rod made of high strength "Premium quality SCII graphite" for throwing lures.  Unless of course you have more money than you know what to do with and in that case, don't forget I have some land for sale.  Longer rods are also a burden when casting from shore or close to other objects which need only touch your lure, creating a magnificent "birds nest", as you bring the rod tip forward.
 
Making a long story short, in addition to the bait casting reel of your choice, I might recommend the option of purchasing a "pick" to assist with knot removal from the reel spool.  This item is inexpensive and  comes in "reel" handy.
 
Should you choose to continue with your plans, please feel free to let me know as I have a few "tricks of the trade" of which I can't guarantee will even work.
 
Tight lines and good times.

Make that a 6 1/2 to 7 foot heavy action rod coupled to a "bait" caster capable of holding your preferred pound test line.  Caution: there are bait casting reels and casting reels and (in my book) they do not cast the same.   Anyway, here is an article that discusses your very question.  http://www.in-fisherman.c...pike-and-muskie-reels/

Calcutta 400b is a tank and can serve as musky and catfish reel. The Okuma Komodo line is decent, but not a Shimano.

Don't use the musky rod for catfish. Buy an ugly stick of something similar for catfish. Check out Tackle Industries for an affordable casting rod. I've several of his rods and have never been disappointed.

As for budget casting(not baitcasting) reels, the ole abu ambassadeur is great. I have one that is at least 30 years old. Again, getting parts from abu-garcia in Sweden is really easy even if it takes awhile..
 
If you do trolling, I'd bite the bullet and just get a Shimano Tekota LC, best trolling reel available imho
 
 

people that learned back when baitcasters were new mainly learned with them on right side, I got my first baitcaster out of a zebco/quantum catalog 25+ years ago and don't even remember seeing a left-hand option. but now I think more and more people are getting them on the left. I read somewhere the reel companies expect left-sided crank reels to sell more than right in near future.
 
It's just a split second more time switching hands after the cast but I imagine I've lost a few fish over the years because of the crank being on the right

Bravo on the mentioning of a left handed bait casting reel for a right hander or vice-a-versa. Also the line management, well done.

Trick of the trade for beginners practicing with bait casters. This is a "trade secrete" but I know telling you about it will be safe on this board.

Pull a few yards, say fifty, of line from your reel. Now place a wrap of "painters tape" over the line remaining on the spool and rewind the line you pulled off. This absolutely works.

Also learn how to adjust the bearing tension for the weight of lure you are casting. This is done by turning the bearing cap and not the brake system.

Remember after casting with the wind (if any of course) do not turn and cast directly into the wind without adjustments.

Lastly, allowing your lure to contact an object like a weed behind you, while zinging your rod tip forward, is gonna make for a really really bad day. But will make, for some great chyts and giggles, later in life.

Good times and tight lines.

I would just like to say thank you for all the help.  This set up has been running very well for me thus far.  I haven't had a serious backlash yet with the Daiwa Lexa 300 HD.  I've been using 50 lb mono on the reel, but now that my braid has been delivered, I'll be cutting some of that mono back and tying braid to half the reel.  We'll see how the casting goes with the braid, but I have still been terribly impressed with this reel.  No muskies yet, but I've only had it on the water once.  I was up in Tionesta last week and did well on smallies in the river, but as I said, no Esox takers on the big rod so far.  I'm headed to Woodcock this weekend so we'll see how it goes.   Thanks again...