Reel for Bull Reds?
 

I am specifically looking for a reel to handle bull reds. I fish a few kayak tournaments a year that require us to catch bull reds. Just looking for suggestions. Last year I used my Curado 200 and it just took too long to get them in. Looking for something that wont break the bank also.

Thanks,

We use Shimano Symmetre 3000 spinning reels from the boat. If I had it to do over again, I think we would use Symmetre 4000's or Spheros 4000's from the boat. The Spheros is designed as a saltwater reel and has a higher drag to really turn the bulls.

We use Shimano Spheros 5000's and Spheros 6000's from the beach with 40 lb Power Pro. This is an optimal combination of castability, saltwater ruggedness, and the drag to turn the fish when needed.

We've also started to use several beefy level winds (Daiwa 27-LCA and Okuma Convector 45-D) from the boat, spooled with 80 lb power pro. We position the boat so that casting distance is not very important. Both of these are line counter reels originally acquired for precision trolling, but they hold lots of line and their drags exceed their rated specs, so you can turn any fish when needed.

My son is planning on fishing the Ride the Bull tourney, and I bet he picks either the Daiwa or Okuma level winds for the advantages of 80 lb power pro and the stronger drags, especially in Caminada pass where turning big fish around before they get to structure can be very important, but casting distance hardly matters. In the marsh, an 8 ft spinning rod with a Spheros 4000 or 5000 would be my choice with 40-50 lb power pro.

I thought Ride the Bull was the only kayak tourney for bull reds. Which others are there? (If a 14 year old competitor doesn't seem too frightening for you.)

IFA Kayak tour.

Tournament is CPR event with longest trout and red combined. Fish max at 45".

Thanks for the lead on the tourney. I'll pass it along to my son and gauge his interest. I do see that that one is artificial only, which negates my level wind reel suggestions above, as well as the bigger spinning reels.

What about noodling for red's? Would that earn you extra points in the tourney?

Go to work.

Shimano
 

Calcutta 400 will pull 'em in quickly! You can get them second hand on Ebay for $125-$150.

Ha! Back in the 1970s we used to tangle with the bulls at the jetties with Zebco 202s and 404s. I remember I had a Spirit of 76 red, white, and blue fiberglass fishing pole with a Zebco 202 and my brothers and dad had 404's. Of course, the bulls won until my grandpa bought my twin and I a couple of level winds sporting old style braided line (100 lb test or so) on stout "deep sea" fishing poles. Those stout rods and reels may be the birthday present I remember best from our years growing up in Lake Charles. We put out first bulls in the boat the next trip to the jetties.

Does it say "hardhead seeker" on there?


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Ambassador 5500 C or 5600 C Wide casting reel ,holds plenty of braid and has bait clicker feature. easy to cast .

5500 or 6500 Abu with clickers are good...upgrading the drags may be something to consider to give you the extra turning power to get the big ones in quicker...

Cabelas Salt Striker reels have worked very well for us on bull reds. Hard to beat imo for 65 bucks or so.