shimano calcutta 400

[Doug Terry]

Would a shimano calcutta 400 with 50lb braid be suitable for smaller Travelly.

[Brandon Khoo]

depends how small, Doug 
I would make the point that 50lb braid is going to seriously push the drag capacity of the Calcutta though

[Andre van Wyk]

I got this sucker on Shimano Calcutta 400B with 30lb Braid and a Mirrolure Top dog, on a 7ft St.Croix medium casting stick....

pretty enetertaining watching that mouth vacuum up a top water...


Granted  Tarpon are not travally, and one rarely has to stop them from cutting you off on structure...

My little Calcutta has caught its fair share of small GT's , and my first Doggie now that I think about it... awesome little reels, but I think 40Lb is the heavist I'd go on them...

[Doug Terry]

awesome fish Andre. I was thinking of Trevally up to 50lb. What other multiplier would people recommend using 50lb braid.

[Mark Harris]

Are you planning to work poppers and stickbaits with an overhead set up?  I know it can be done but the job is far, far easier with a spinning set up.

[Brandon Khoo]

Doug, you're thinking of targeting GTs to 50lb with a 400 Calcutta?! With 50lb braid, your drag will be lucky to survive the first fish.

[Andre van Wyk]

Hey Doug,

20 kilo GT is a VERY different fish to a 60 kilo Tarpon mate.... just the nature of how the feed and fight dictates pretty different tackle in my limited experience...
Its all very dependant on the area you are fishing...
Some areas you can get away with lighter tackle, so long as you have the capacity if there is less foul ground around... other areas, dictate the need for heavy drag settings because of foul ground...

The Calcutta just doesn't have the drag capabilities to consistantly handle 50lb trevally in my opinion... it might handle one or two, but the gearing and internals are just not designed for this kind of fishing, despite being a superb reel... I would use a max of 3 ot 4 kilos of drag on it, with the thumb adding additonal pressure if you need it at times...

Maybe look at something like a Saltiga 20, or similar, or Trinidad 16 or something like that which will certainly have better cranking power than a Calcutta....

Better yet, in my opinion, for casting, a good qaulity spinning reel will see you fair even better...

[Doug Terry]

I thinking of the calcutta because i like overhead reels with levalwind but can't find anything suitable for50lb braid that can be used for trevally.

[Brandon Khoo]

I can't think of any overhead with a levelwind that is going to be suitable for the task

[Mark Harris]

I can't either Brandon. Therein lies the problem I think - how do you lay the line and keep the requisite tension when popping with an overhead?

[Doug Terry]

Ok Lads looks like I'm having to look to an eggbeater or spinning reel. What drag pressure are we talking about. and a reel recommendation of a lower end reel would help. As I said I'm fishing in Hawaii so trevally up to 50lb would be the aim.

[Mark Harris]

Doug, the most commonly used reels for popping GTs are all higher end: Shimano Stella SW 10000 and 18000, Daiwa Saltiga 6500 Dogfight are the staples. Coming down in a bit in price from those you have the Shimano Twinpower SW12000 and SWA 10000.

For a more budget option, the Shimano Saragosa 18000 is a capable reel.

[Al Morrison]

Doug,

If your committed to a multiplier/overhead take a look at the Shimano Tekota 800. Its rated to 24lbs drag, although its a star drag not a lever. It has a levelwind, and casts heavy weights OK. I own one and have used it for casting big (4-5oz) Mahseer baits on 50 lb nylon in India amongst other things, and they are nice reels, but i certainly wouldnt use it for GT's on poppers. I've used it for jigging as well though and it certainly holds a shed-load of 50lb braid. Fixed spool/Spinning reels are the go.