Thread: Anyone using a bait caster for salt topwater lures ?

Or am I the only one stupid enough to think it's a good idea. Just bought a Shimano Calcutta 401D and looking at suitable rod options to work lighter stickbaits, KY lures, etc with maybe 30lb braid

Not a dumb idea at all. Overheads are all I ever used to use for lure casting. The biggest disadvantage is controlling them, especially casting into wind. A birds nest can be REALLY frustrating when the fishing is hot. Worst when you are fishing light lures. Much nicer to use once you have hooked a fish though IMO.

Yeah I've been using a cheap compact bait cast reel for all my casting for the last 2 years (Abu Garcia Blackmax3) and come to strongly prefer overhead reels rather than spinning, even with the occasional birds nest. The Calcutta is supposed to have excellent cast control and I want to use it for river mouth KY and KY/Kingfish off the boat as well as probably a bit of slow jigging - but with a rod mainly focussed on casting/working top water lures. Looking at the 7'11" Shimano KAOS possibly although I'd really prefer something 6-7ft, it seems like casting heavier lures is quite uncommon with a bait caster in NZ, most of the overhead rods available are for stump-puller setups or various types of jigging which may be a either a bit stiff or too soft for casting

I decided I quite like lure fishing over using cut or live baits, it's a lot tidier.

Yeah. Much more active way of fishing.
Best rods for casting overheads have a relatively slow action so they accelerate the lure more evenly through the cast. Not sure what's on the market at the moment.

I use one (same rig) for Kahawai, snapper and salmon. I use braid and rarely get nests. Used to get them all the time but i spose you just get used to them.

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I like Abu 7:1ohead and a jellytip or a 10or 15kg longish jigging / casting rod. A Penn 850 reel works ok too.

Do it!!! Let me know your cast weight and il make a little stick bait for ya.

Love em... although can be a challenge when an 8' shark gobbles your much smaller catch....

Originally Posted by Gibo

Do it!!! Let me know your cast weight and il make a little stick bait for ya.
Attachment 129238

Mean, I'll take you up one that once I settle on a rod... looking at using the 50-70gm stickies at the moment.

Consider a 9 ft surfcaster.

I use a Daiwa Alphas on a GLoomis GLX. and Calcutta 200 with PE 1.5 on a GLoomis GL3. And my Stella 4000 on a Majorcraft shore stick-bait rod. Depending which way you want to go - European/Jap/American/Taiwanese/Chinese rods and your budget, there are alot of options out there.

I would have upgraded my GLoomis to St Croix but I couldn't be bothered after getting distracted by other hobbies.

Whats the difference between a overhead rod and a spin rod?
Can you get that overhead with the handle on the correct side?

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....ing-rod-57056/

use a shimano tranx good for big kingis on stick baits the difference between a overhead rod and a spin rod the guides are on top for a overhead rod and underneath for a spin rod and you can get lefthanded reels

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Whats the difference between a overhead rod and a spin rod?
Can you get that overhead with the handle on the correct side?

Just turn the rod over mate. Works either way.