20 Best Boat For Saltwater And Freshwater (2023 Updated)

In the middle of last summer I decided to get back to Musky fishing after no doing so since the 90’s. I examined my equipment from “back in the day” and found I had a number of 500 and 6500 Ambassadeur reels, all still in very good working condition.

With just a little lubrication they worked well for the rest of the season. I honestly think this series of fishing reels deserves to be the all of the relevant Fishing Halls of Fame. No other reel series has done so well over so long of a time and apparently will continue to do so in the future.

There is a reason these reels haven’t changed much over the years. There’s not much room for improvement. I use them for my catfish setups on Mad Kats rods but I’ve caught stripers on them also. They cast far, have just enough drag and it’s not easy to get a rats nest in them.

The best part about these reels is that you don’t have to be an engineer to do maintenance on them yourself. All the parts are available on-line and they’re fairly easy to disassemble and assemble. I have a 20 year old Ambassadeur that I still use with no problems.

But be aware that not all Ambassadeurs are equal. The C3 and C4 are Swiss made, a lot of the others are made in China.

I just got this yesterday with my gift cards and money that was given to me for Christmas and I absolutely like it. To start off, this reel casts significantly farther than my other reels, which is kinda expected since my others only cost 100 dollars a piece though.

If your just looking for a reel to upgrade your cheeper ones and want a reel that cast significantly fat and has a smooth crank, this is the reel for you. The body design does take some getting used to if this is your first daiwa bait caster, and is not louder casting and cranking compared to my standard slx, so if you want a really quiet reel I don’t suggest this one.

But other than those two things, here’s the basic reasons why this is good- 1. )casts very far 2. ) smooth crank 3. ) minimal backlashes even on low settings Because of the t- wing line eye. 5. ) looks awesome 6.

) grips are comfortable Only problem is that it weighs a little more and it’s kind of noisy. Those are my only two complaints. For that reason though, I am using this reel with 15 lb fluorocarbon and specifically throwing 5/8 ounce hardbaits on it.

Used that way, works like a dream and is worth what you pay for.

I’ve had this reel for a little more than a month. It’s paired with the Daiwa Tatula 7’1″ MH XF rod. I have 15lb Sufix 832 on it with a 10 lb Yozuri Hybrid as my leader. I sometimes change out to Berkley 8lb Big Game Mono for more stretch if needed – I need some give in the setup with the XF tip in some applications.

Pros: External Brake Adjustment Dial Smaller Profile – Comfortable for Smaller Hands Magforce – Z is as Easy as it Gets for Casting Reels Great Fit and Finish Can Cast Lighter Lures without too much Issue – T-Rigs with 1/8oz bullet weight Cons: Zero-Adjuster seems like an unnecessary “feature” T-Wing System may hinder certain leader knots from passing – I have had no issues, but this is a known issue for some Palm-able, but not comfortable to put your index finger under the front of the reel I personally bought this reel due to its lower profile.

I have smaller hands and while I have no problems with that, it makes buying reels a little difficult. While I like the performance of Daiwa casting reels, it kept me away due to their higher/taller profile.

I was used to some of the Pure Fishing’s offerings like Abu Garcia and Pflueger, which offer a lower profile for their bass casting reels. When Shimano came out with the SLX, Daiwa took notice and came out with the Tatula 100 to compete for the low profile.

The Tatula 100 is based on the Steez frame and due to the T-Wing System, maintains a wider body than the SLX or the Curado. However, I didn’t particularly care about the wider body, I wanted the lower profile because that allowed me to palm the reel more comfortably without feeling like I was going to lose grip on my rod on a hookset.

Overall experience with this reel has been very positive. I think the reel is a great competitor to Shimano’s Curado K or the SLX. I think the Magforce-Z system is superiro to the Shimano’s SVS infinity system in castability and ease of use.

Shimano’s gears may feel a bit better overall, but the Tatula is no slouch either. While I love the smooth as butter winding of a Shimano reel, if I’m fiddling with the brakes in between every bait change, I’m not showing my bait to the fish.

Just my opinion.

Purchased it on sale at BPS for about $135. I’ve only had it out several times. But so far I am very pleased with it. No issues getting it dialed in. And I’m only in my sophomore year of fishing with baitcasters.

15 fluoro on the spool. Casting distance is good. Stylish looking compact reel. I don’t have large hands. So the fit for me is like a glove. I would recommend this product.

I purchased this Kayak from Dicks sporting goods a couple weeks back. I was drawn to this kayak because of the features and hearing good things about them. As far as Dicks Sporting Goods I have been very satisfied with their service.

I will say the kayak itself is a neat product but when I received it I was let down that it does not come with a paddle which I had seen some of the sportsman packages come with. Kind of a let down seeing how you pay 2500 for the kayak and you use the paddle to get into deeper water.

My main gripe is with the quality of the kayak. Immediately I found an issue with the bolt inserts where the seat bracket mounts. When they installed the wood for shipping they cross threaded the bolt making it almost impossible to get out and repair.

Today when going to install my fish finder I found the guard near the front of the kayak o my had one bolt holding it and was missing the other bolt. I did contact Old Town and was disappointed with their response of feel free to send pictures.

$2500 dollars is a lot to some people and for that price I feel Old Town really wasn’t worth it. I would suggest going with a better quality Kayak. I know it would cost more money for better quality but it probably would be worth it in this case.

Just pitiful that they can’t even build the kayaks without leaving out parts or damaging them.

I purchased this kayak from Fogh Marine in Toronto and picked it up May 2021. Before this, I used a paddle kayak for 30 hours a week during Spring, Summer and Fall for a total of 700 hours a season. I can say that since I picked up the the Sportsman 106MK, I have put that many hours if not more for the 2021 fishing season.

The kayak is designed super well and great for fishing. During my last week on the lake, my motor started to cut out intermittently, I checked the battery and it was charged. However, after more troubleshooting, I noticed that the connector from the battery box that plugs into the kayak was warped and causing the connection to be loose which would cause the battery to lose connection from the motor.

Luckily, I carry electrical tape on board and was able to get back to shore. I contacted Fogh Marine and inquired about a replacement cable and whether this was a known issue. They were great with service and replacement battery box with new cable was available within 24 hours.

I will be on the water next season and hopefully will not have the same issue. I tried to see if others had this issue and couldn’t find anything and that’s why I am posting this to share my experience.

This kayak is still amazing and the service provided by both Fogh Marine and Old Town is exceptional.

First up. this is definitely a 5 Star Review on the Thetford 365 Porta Potti Why?. Read on! The Thetford 365 has only been with us for one outback off grid adventure but we definitely put it through a rigorous test over the Easter Long Weekend.

I loaded up the Thetford with the Thetford toilet chemicals, went with the ‘Greener’ option, loaded up the top flushing unit and then loaded to the back of the transporter. On loading further camp gear in the front of the Van I hear a massive thump followed by a few smaller rolling thuds.

go to the back of the Van to see the new dunny in the middle of the garage in a pool of toilet chemicals. First thoughts. I’ve destroyed the dunny before I got a proper real chance to destroy it! After a quick clean up I realised the toilet held up after that massive drop from the back of the Van, a few decent scratches but no actual damage to the new loo! So happy about that.

this thing can withstand a brutal beatdown. Weighing close to 20kg when loaded with chemicals and then dropped from a decent height. and it survived! Wow! Second test was the real deal, properly destroying the dunny! I’m Vegan so.

yeah. pretty regular kinda guy. I served up the Thetford with a coupla loads that surly should have been ‘unloaded by hand’ due to the sheer weight of it and the Thetford handled those puppies with ease! Also no noticeable smells after concealing those bad boys for a few days either.

Second test total pass! Final test was the big empty out when we arrived home. Now. this is where it got ‘interesting’ let’s say gag worthy! First time ever emptying a Porta Potti and I was in hurtsville.

Not sure weather my chemical mix was off but wow. that wasn’t fun in any way shape or form. I’d suggest doing your research first and maybe asking others what the best chemical or treatment for these things.

We were only away for a long weekend. cannot imagine emptying that thing after allowing to brew for a week. All in all. very happy with the Thetford 365, holds a decent amount. bullet proof drop test design, super comfy height would definitely recommend.

After some research on bought this compact toilet for our regular camping trips. I like the pipe system for the waste disposal and generally it makes a sturdy impression. The only negative thing from an engineer’s perspective is the bad design and execution of the flushing pipe inside the toilet bowl.

It’s installed horizontally instead of an angle which means the water splashes outside the toilet bowl each time you pump. You must be very gentle with the flusher, and don’t press it too hard. I’ll do some modifications to fix that problem but for that money I expected Thetfords quality department would have tested their system at least once before releasing it to the public.

apparently not! Hence only 3 out if 5 stars.

Held off buying this for a while because it seemed a bit costly but finally bit the bullet and bought it and I’m glad I did because it’s turned out to work very well. I had a 5-gallon bucket for my wife to use while we were traveling in my big truck so she would have something to pee in at night so decided she needed a proper porta-potty and this worked out great.

Much better than the 5-gallon bucket lol. It is a bit heavy though once the water holding tank is filled not to mention the bottom waste portion. Over 7 gallons this thing can hold. I recommend emptying way before it fills up.

Oh, the one negative is you really don’t know when this thing is filled and thus needs to be emptied. It’s a bit of a guessing game you don’t want to guess wrong on lol.

I have owned other Newport trolling motors and they all have been teriffic. I upgraded a boat requiring a larger trolling motor. I got the 86lb thrust 24-volt motor and it is super powerful. It came with a recommended 50 amp fuse and I had a problem with the motor tripping the circuit breaker.

I tried other 50 amp breakers with the same result. I contacted customer service and they worked like crazy to identify the problem. They finally decided that a 60 amp circuit breaker might solve the problem and it did.

Nothing is overheating and the motor performs perfectly. I use lithium batteries so the battery level display on the motor is not accurate (it will always show a full charge until trolling motor just stops) but that is a really minor issue.

Strongly recommend Newport motors – and lithium batteries for the length of time motors will run compared to lead or AGM batteries. with the same amperage. Lithium is just so much more efficient. and light!! Thanx, Newport!.

I have had the 36 lb trolling motor a little over the months now. I fish the marsh in brackish water. I found the motor on Amazon and it had good reviews. Now that I have had a chance to use it, I have had an issue with the propeller.

Where I fish is grassy, this past weekend my propeller stripped. I contacted Amazon who gave me the company info because it was under warranty. When I contacted Newport, I was advised it was not under warrant but for another $50,00 (shipping) I could order a replacement.

I expected something rated for saltwater and kayak would be made of a thicker plastic than this. To say I was disappoint in the response I got would be an understatement. The customer service response did not even address what I reported other than to tell me thank you for using it daily.

Besides this issue I have enjoyed the motor and would rate it higher for someone not fishing in grass.

I bought a NV Series 86 lb unit. A. Your website declined my discount code and charge me full price. B. Definitely you need to improve the clamping specifications to the boat transom. Most important, life threatening observation: When rotating the shaft, towards full left or full right, one clamp slides up, and the other down on the transom, due to sideways torque and the motor gets lose free from the transom, and jumps out of the water; which can no doubt cut a persons throat; with only the cable tying it to the boat which pulls the flying blades toward the driver.

The clamps were well tight, but the clamp studs bent at full power. The Ponton brace doesn’t fit in my type of transom. I will perforate holes through my transom for the clamps studs to avoid the engine getting lose again.

I will add additional point of support on the exterior side of the bottom of the transom, as all the gas outboards have, (a “U” type receptacle to lock any sideways torque on the shaft. 3. Please send me a transom mount to find a way to better support your motor and avoid a fatality.

I purchased two Daiwa Fuego 3000 LT reels in December of 2021. As other reviewers have noted, there is a problem with the line distribution onto the spool. In my case, for both reels, the line laid down unevenly, with more line on the top of the spool than the bottom.

This required replacing the original “spacing” washer with one of the thinner washers included with the reel. The steps for replacing the washer are as follows: 1. remove the spool 2. remove the nearly invisible, ultra-thin washer that holds the bearing on the shaft.

To do so, use a very thin, micro-screwdriver and a well-manicured fingernail. Be prepared to cuss. 3. remove the metal bearing. 4. remove the ultrathin, metal washer. 5. remove the original “spacing” washer 6.

install a new washer (or washers). follow above instructions backwards to reassemble, then hope for the best. This procedure is trial and error. It is hard believe that Dawia cannot manufacture these reels with better tolerances.

I have dozens of reels and have only once before had to swap the washers on a new reel. I recommend you spend more $$ and buy the Daiwa ballistic. I have many of these and have never had to adjust them.

They are much better in several respects (e. g. magseal). NO, I do not work for Daiwa or Bass Pro.

I’ve had this reel for a while and am very disappointed in it’s performance. It is light and the drag works well – however it flexes like crazy while reeling in fish. I have the 2500D-XH model and used it with 15 pound braid and a 12 pound fluoro leader.

Anytime I catch a fish over a pound or so the reel oscillates and flexes during the fight. It feels like the handle is loose or is bent. I couldn’t figure out the issue until I begin watching the reel specifically and observed it.

I also researched the issue and it appears fairly common. I contacted Daiwa and was told that the flex is not ideal but there is no harm to the reel or its internal components, so basically there is nothing they can do for me so I guess I need to avoid using it for better size fish? Their customer service was very responsive but I’m surprised they’d market a reel with a known issue and now I’m stuck with a reel that doesn’t work as it should.

Since this is the way they’re made warranty will not apply and I’ve had it too long to return to BPS. You cannot figure out the flex until you use it on the water – you want notice it in the store so buyer be ware.

Many of the LT series have the same Carbon Light frame so I would avoid these models. For $100 there are far better options, either a Daiwa with an aluminum frame or another brand all together. This reel is a miss.

I purchased this reel in June, 2 months ago and from day one the reel sounded like it was extremely scratchy. The salesman in the fishing reel department said it was the noise of the braided line going through the bail roller.

I knew better but still took the reel. After 2 trips the reel is completely locked up. Unfortunately I can’t find my receipt but I am going to attempt to return it to Bass Pro this weekend. This reel wasn’t cheap and I expected so much more.

I own many reels I’ve purchased from Bass Pro from A Stella to a couple Saltiests. This one is a big disappointment.

2 trips out at the surfside jetty and has performed spectacularly with speckled trout and a few reds including a new pb 37†Bull red. The drag is super strong and made quick work on that bull. The reel performs similar to my shimano twinpower but a bit cheaper on price.

The ball handle is a nice touch and works well for spooning. Up close the special composite material on the rotor and monoque looks like cheap plastic similar to the bg line up. Could have made that part look higher end with some nice paint like shimano does.

Overall excellent reel for now until it need servicing a few years from now.

Very nice reel! I recently purchased the Saltist MQ 6000 and was impressed with the build quality. This 2500 size doesn’t disappoint. I’ve yet to put either of them to the test but they are as great looking, stout, smooth as any of my Shimano reels.

I may be tempted to switch. Diawa has a few more reels with the MQ design that would directly compete with all of my Shimano reels.

I had been considering purchasing a fishing kayak for about five years. So many choices out there! I’ve had my PDL 132 for about a month, logged a fair amount of time in it and caught a lot of fish to include a few pretty big ones.

Fishing and fighting fish from the seat is very comfortable and fun. Organizing all the gear I need is easy. My cast net fits behind my seat. I removed the carrying handle from a mid sized cooler and replaced it with a triple rod holder using SS screws and 5200.

This fits in the generous bed behind the seat and is secured by the bungee cord system that comes with the kayak. One loop over the handle facing forward and the other over the rod holder, securing the cooler to the kayak but allowing me to easily open the lid of the cooler to put fish in.

I put two rods and a landing net in those rod holders and a third rod goes in one of the other two aft facing integrated rod holders. I found the rails located forward of the seat to be unhelpful so I removed them and laced a bungee cord back and forth between the screws using SS fender washers to pin the cord down.

Now, a tackle box the size of the one that comes with the kayak will easily stow on each side. I fish with one in the port side, two under the seat and use the starboard stowage for pliers, fish grabber and other items I need to get to often.

A boat bag easily slips under the seat that holds other misc gear. The universal transducer mount is not universal :-), but it was easy to drill the holes in the removable plate needed to mount my Lowrance transducer.

Running the wires was incredibly easy and required no hole drilling that resulted in a professional looking install that only took a few minutes. I mounted my chartplotter/FF to the removable plate located to the right of the pedals and stowed the excess data cable neatly in the space underneath.

The power cable is routed under the forward hatch cover not requiring any drilling. Note: when selecting your electronics, avoid a unit with a transducer mounting system that will put the transducer below the plane of the hull or risk damaging it when you drag the craft over anything.

The battery stowage bag is sized to fit a small 12V battery. I purchased a 10ah battery which fits very neatly in there, but found I needed more run time and upgraded to a larger battery placed in a stowage box which I am still problem solving for a better solution to prevent it from sliding around the forward hatch.

The integrated bow carrying handle is great. I run a tie down strap through it when securing my kayak inside my truck and another strap across the middle, through the side carrying handles to finish the aft secure.

This approach is incredibly fast and easy and leaves no doubt that the kayak is not going to slide out of the truck. The aft integrated handles are in the right place and make it easy to get a good purchase on the stern when carrying with another person.

While on the water, I use the opening of the forward carry to hold a small anchor. I route the line through the carrying handle, under the round bar of the pedal unit and tie it off to the carrying handle on the same side.

The anchor line goes in an anchor line bag stowed in the forward hatch. That anchor is used on every trip whether to dig into the beach preventing the kayak from floating away on a rising tide while I’m walking the shore throwing the cast net for bait or holding position near a school of fish.

A factory integrated anchor mounting system on the bow would be a huge plus. I can really scoot with the pedal system even against a strong current and troll for hours effortlessly, which I must say I did not expect.

The rudder friction knob feels a little “economical” and I think there is a better system to be had. The stainless screw is slowly cutting the groove it rests in and I find that I need to remove the chips it cuts to keep the rudder control moving freely.

Perhaps more of a cam type brake would be an improvement? After looking at so many other fishing kayaks over the past few years, when I saw the PDL 132, I knew why I hadn’t purchased a fishing kayak until now.

After several trips, the differences are even more clear. I am extremely happy with my new Old Town and glad I waited for the right one to take to the dance.

I bought a pair of Old Town AutoPilot 136s last fall after debating whether or not to stick with kayaks or get a boat. I started out with a basic paddle kayak about 7 years ago, graduated to a peddle kayak, then traded-up to get a pair of these bad boys.

First, Paddle VA was super easy to order from. I did it online and rented a U-haul truck nearby to bring both of these home with me to NC (they’re hard to find in stock anywhere near me!) Pros: * Tons of space – it’s 13.

5 feet with a ton of deck space in the front and back. You can fit a crate and full-sized cooler in the back or a more compact cooler with some extra room. The front has plenty of space to store a minnow or 5-gallon bucket with a cast net in front of the foot pegs.

* Spot lock is amazing – I’ve had many otherwise nice fishing days ruined by wind. The Minn-kota motors on these things are strong enough to handle winds up to 20 mph without too much of a problem. And the spot lock is a huge advantage if you do much vertical fishing (I do for winter crappie and catfish) or if you just want to hold your spot in the river or lake while casting.

* Very stable – I have never had a kayak that feels as stable as this one. My biggest fish landed in it was a 46 lbs catfish that hit directly under the kayak and it barely budged the kayak or the motor with spot lock engaged.

Cons: HEAVY – This is 125 lbs without any gear. I struggled to figure out how to transport it properly for the first few weeks until I ended-up getting a Malone kayak trailer with the bunker attachments.

You will definitely need a truck bed w extender or trailer to move this kayak around. Insufficient built-in fish finder features – if you’re going to sink at least $4-$5K into a kayak, you’ll probably want to add a fancy fish finder at some point, too.

There are pre-drilled holes to run the wiring from inside the kayak to the console, but they’re too small to accommodate some of the bigger attachments / cables for the more advanced units. There’s also a spot just forward of the trolling motor to mount the transducer under the kayak, but I also had problems with the motor hitting the transducer, which I ended-up just mounting on the sides.

Dry box catches chair – It’s a mild annoyance, but it does keep everything dry. And stinky. Make sure after you’ve fished and handled the remote all day, to leave the dry box open while in storage so that you can let it air out.

Overall, I’m very pleased with this kayak and look forward to taking it on a number of fishing trips in the future!.

I bought my Auto Pilot 136 last summer and can’t say enough good things about it. It does a great job operating while fishing in a moving river, and makes those long trips across the lakes effortless.

I’ve had issues with the spot lock under or next to bridges but it has never been a large margin of error. Weight is an issue being solo but with the correct gear it’s no problem. The storage area is like the trunk of a car, definitely great for all day fishing.

This kayak immensely increases my fishing time while on the water, leaving me plenty of room to stand and fish, not feeling cluttered by fishing and camera equipment. It’s very well balanced for me even at 6’3” tall.

There are some issues like the drainage in the cup holders, but nothing that affects my fishing or time on the water. If kayak fishing is what you like, and you are out there a lot, it’s most certainly worth the $.

I bought a 3000 over 3 years ago and shortly after that bought a 2500. I’ve caught everything under the sun on them from dinky croakers in the surf to 25” stripers with plenty of 20+ inch trout and upper slot redfish in between.

The biggest thing I like about this reel is the durability. I’ve owned several shimanos in the same price range and none of them have lasted me as long as these bgs. The drag adjustment is up there with reels 200$ above its class.

I’ve dunked it in saltwater on a few occasions and just made sure to take the spool off when rinsing it off and had no issues. All around great reel. 2500 pairs well with my fenwick hmg medium light and 3000 does great on my fenwick hmg medium.

I’ve swapped with a friends Penn battle which fits in the same class and price range I preferred the bg and he was regretting his brand new purchase of the battle.

Caught my first bluefin, a 55 pounder, on a BG 4500 last August off Catalilna Island, and the reel barely broke a sweat. Even after a long soak, I had plenty of line — and smooth, powerful drag — to land the truly beautiful fish in about 15 minutes.

Impressive. But then I should not have been surprised. I’d caught yellowfin to 35lbs on this reel with no problem whatsoever before the bluefin trip. Liked the 4500 so much I bought a 6500. Can’t beat the price and the quality.

A BG will be a regular part of my arsenal this season for throwing bait or lures on kelp patties for yellowtail and school-sized tuna. Highly recommend the BG line.

I live on the coast of Georgia and fish for everything from speckled seatrout to 250 lb blacktip sharks. This reel handled our East Coast Snapper season very well easily bringing up large red snapper off the bottom some 90 feet down and a couple of cobia.

I loaded the reel with 80lb braid and attached to a heavy duty Daiwa rod. I bought this reel to replace a Daiwa of similar size for casting to sharks and tarpon. I’m confident I’ll be able to use this reel for years to come.

Handle will switch from left to right.

I purchased this reel about 8-9 weeks after i purchased the same reel in the catfish special, same reels just different color schemes. This reel makes a slight ticking noise and screams like a banshee.

the other does neither. I contacted Abu about this and they said to do a warranty return for a damaged reel. It isn’t damaged, it is straight up defective. So today i took the reel a part and discovered the anti-reverse pawl or dog was placed on the wrong stand off and was riding under the cogs it is supposed to engage.

So i took it out and put it on the correct stand off and it works as intended. I would have to ask how that got like that from a brand new reel direct from the manufacturer? In any case, not happy with Abu Garcia at this point.

I have purchased quite a bit direct from Purefishing including reels and rods, and this C3-7000C and another Abu spin reel. No issues with any of the others, just this reel.

I’ve had this reel for a little over year now and it has helped to catch giant gar, catfish, sharks, and many more species. Super smooth casting with enough power to being in the big boys! The clicker is very loud on this reel but sensitive enough to not cause fish to feel too much tension.

(fish were released).

This is how I’ve been slaying with it: been fishing the Newport Harbor in Southern California. I troll it behind my petal kayak at just over 2 mph where the rod tip wiggles the most = maximum action.

I’ve caught bass of all kinds with it, a few barracuda, and the halibut kill this thing during low slack tide when it can reach closer to the bottom. I have found that the 8 foot swim depth is pretty accurate while trolling it.

I use it every time I go out and I always catch at least something on it. I pair this with another lure of some kind, but it’s always on my trolling line when I am heading out to a spot or coming back.

I can only speak for the water I fish, but out here, this thing catches fish. I’ve had success with the black and white, but my best success with the sardine and blue mackerel. Been doing really well with the sardine 5 1/2 inch version too.

Idk if it’s the feather on the trailing hook, the subtle wiggle action when you slowly retrieve between jerks, or that nice rattle but this lure works for EVERYTHING. I’ve caught large mouth, smallmouth, walleye, pickerel, bullhead and perch with these guys.

Even got lucky enough to snag a snapping turtle once while jerking the bait along through the water ( got that lure back too lol). Just a few examples shown below with hooks in the mouth but you get the picture.

Great lure love using black and sliver in river and creek scenarios, yellow perch any pond you fish with perch in it. Also, I’ll have to wait till next year to find out for sure but I bet the 6’s in rainbow trout color will smash the stockies in the streams I fish in upstate NY!.

I bought this specific color (pilchard) to mimic the greenies and they worked great. I was fishing for Spanish mackerel at Sebastian Inlet and casting next to people using Gotcha lures, silver spoons, and jigs and I was easily outfishing them.

I was casting into the breeze and was still getting a decent distance thanks to the casting weights inside the X-Rap. I would recommend the X-Rap for anyone fishing for Spanish mackerel. In my experience, it also catches plenty of bluefish, but I would recommend changing the hooks out to 4X hooks.

The hooks that come with the lure tends to bend too easily from the violent head shaking bluefish tend to do.

I am now on my second Penn Spinfisher VI combo. I had to return the first one because the reel spool would not go down far enough to allow line to load properly. It was a physical limitation of some sort, and there were no shims to remove to fix the issue as there is on other reels.

I ended up with a strong taper towards the top, which means I could not load the specified amount of line, and this could cause with lots of wind knots and reduced cast distances. I returned it. The one I have now is much better; however, it still has a slight taper towards the top.

I even bought a device to load the line and respooled it. Still, it has a slight taper but so far that has not been causing any problems. Be aware, too, that the combo comes with no box for the reel; therefore, you get no instructions, not warranty information, etc.

Not a big deal, however. On the positive side, the reel works great! It is quite smooth and so far, I’ve had no issues. The rod is also really strong and has had to undergo some pretty strong fights with some fish, underwater hazards ,or even being hung up in a tree, once but it still works as it should.

I worry about the stainless steel eyelets with my braided line, but only time will tell. Overall, I highly recommend this combo but just beware of the reel spool travel distance as you wind it to make sure you can load the line properly onto it.

I have purchased a few of these because they are great. The reels are basically where the value is. Your getting a descent rod for an additional 20-30 dollars. I wish they used alconite guide rings but again the rod isn’t the value it’s the reel.

This combo is fun to fish with. Only good things to say about these combos. Haven’t had any issues what so ever. I definitely recommend these if you want a solid combo without having to buy separately.

I bought this PENN Spinfisher SSM Spinning Combo, 12Ft 8-12kg 2 Piece because I was after a particular rod that was similar in weight and strength to a french fibreglass blank which I had used to fashion an excellent surf fishing rod many moons ago.

I’ve now been very pleased to find this very much improved action to that old fibreglass blank with this new PENN Spinfisher SSM. Love it.

Reinvented Spot-Lock Enhanced with new hardware and software algorithms, Spot-Lock works holds you tighter to your fishing spot than ever before, making it the most accurate electronic GPS anchor ever.

Spot-Lock Jog Move your Spot-Lock five feet forward, backward, left or right – just by pushing a button. Feature available with Heading Sensor fitted. Heading Sensor ST i-Pilot systems feature a new Heading Sensor, which recognises changes in the boat’s heading due to wind and current, and communicates with the i-Pilot system to minimise boat swing for a more accurate, stronger hold.

Quieter Steering Motor New Riptide Terrova has a completely new motor design – engineered to run quieter than ever before. Digital Maximizer Stay on the water up to five times longer on a single charge.

Digital Maximizer controls the draw of power at variable speeds to keep you fishing longer. NEW! I-Pilot With New Phone App Boat positioning becomes automatic with the redesigned, GPS-powered i-Pilot system.

i-Pilot lets you set Spot-Locks, record paths, control speed and steering, and more. i-Pilot features reinvented Spot-Lock – the most accurate electronic GPS anchor ever – and have redesigned the remote with a larger screens, more options, and Bluetooth technology, so you can connect to your smartphone for quick control of basic functions and easy software updates.

Lift-Assist A new Lift-Assist mechanism on the redesigned Riptide Terrova carries the weight of the motor for you to make stowing easier – so you can save your strength to reel in the big ones. Lift-Assist Design Raise Riptide Terrova by barely lifting a finger.

Its new Lift-Assist Design takes the work out of stowing, making it effortless every single time. 1. Simply depress the handle on the mount 2. The spring-loaded assembly helps pull the motor from the water.

I love the iTrack features, I’ve recorded several of my favorite sections on the lake and now instead of messing around with the trolling motor I just drive near where the start (or finish) of the track is, deploy the motor and select the track and speed.

That’s it! When I get a fish on you simply hit the spot-lock “anchor” and it will hold the boat in place while you take care of getting the fish in the boat! Once you’re done simply go back to the iTrack and it will pick up where you left off.

Trolling is another awesome feature, just set your heading and your speed, drop your lines, site back and enjoy your favorite beverage! The handheld unit displays ground speed as well so you can adjust for just the right trolling speed.

I enjoy my pontoon boat so much more now! It’s given me the best of both worlds, awesome bass fishing AND crappie fishing machine!.

I hate to be negative, but this is our least used reel. We do a lot of musky fishing on the Susquehanna River in PA and this reel just isn’t cut out for it in my opinion. We started purchasing more rods so we could have several lures loaded at a time and make a quick, easy switch; so we were shopping on a budget to minimize cost.

We made the mistake of buying a C4 and it’s the least favorite reel for anyone to use; we rarely pack it and frequently pawn it off on others that tag along. haha. If you’re looking for a budget musky reel, just save up more money and buy a Shimano Calcutta 200b; It’s night and day better.

We also have a Calcutta 300te, Tranx 500 in PG and HG. A Calcutta 200b is nearly as good as the more expensive reels and is one of the most versatile. Most people looking at this reel are on a budget, as were we, and from years of fishing with this reel and my others, the Calcutta 200b would be a far better investment in my opinion.

You don’t know the difference until you fish with a superior reel though, so i’m sure some people think the C4 is good. Just my two cents to help out any fellow musky hunters getting started. Hope that helps.

I’ve owned ambassador reels for over 30 years. My very first was a 4600 I got for Christmas when I was 11 years old which still works flawlessly. Since then I’ve owned several more various sizes and models.

I been hooked for life. Havent had no need to switch to any other brands. Clean them and oil them they will last. Ive got some i been using for over 20 years and still going. So far the 6600 C4 is my favorite yet.

It will cast a mile. Great for bank fishers that like to sling out to them deep holes in the river or wherever. It will also pull them in when you hook a good one. I also love the bait alarm on it. Im a big fan on bait alarms.

Its an all around great reel for all the species of fish I target. I highly recommend to anyone who wants a reel that will cast some distance.

Berkley choppo is nice. I alternate between the Choppo and River2sea. Choppo is slightly more affordable, especially when the stubborn Pike like to take souvenirs. Close to cover is where to fish these.

Have had strikes on a pause, a constant retrieve and just at the moment of touchdown. Nothing like a topwater strike to get the early AM or late evening cobwebs out! Both smallies and Largemouth, as well as Pike lov ethese babies!.

Purchased reel about a month ago. Looked like a used reel right from the start. There was no plastic around the reel for protection. No Instruction manual or reel tool included with the $139. 99 Ambassadeur C4 reel.

While checking the centrifugal brake I realized I was missing 2 brake pads. First time buying a Abu Garcia round reel. I usually purchase reels half this price that come with all you would expect a new reel to come with.

Other than that I did try the reel out and it cast smooth. I like the reel handle ergonomics. The bait clicker is good, and the reel retrieve ratio is good. I do like the reel but was expecting more after all the stories I’ve heard about the Ambassadeur reel.

I was looking for a cane in this measure of 2. 40m to replace what had previously been my star cane and after buying and testing the Daiwa Legalis Light Game 1-10 gr 2. 34 m, I decided on this Daiwa model.

The truth is that I have little to add to the construction and finishes of this rod, they are absolutely extraordinary for the price level we are talking about. Shrouded with a Shimano Ultegra FB 2500 form a very balanced and powerful team.

I have taken pieces of porrillo with a solvency beyond doubt. Absolutely recommended.

I own a couple of these rods and think for the money they’re the best value out there. Not the best rod but any means but when you look at the components I don’t think you can beat the price anywhere.

I have both spinning and baitcasting models and have found them to be quite sensitive and will handle most fishermans tasks. I did have the tip break off a 7′ MH spinning rod trying to drag a 6. 4# bass out of a golf course lake but that was probably my fault for not taking greater care.

Now I just use it as a 6’6″ spinning. The rod seat can be improved since it’s made out of plastic and you do have to check on the reel seat to make sure ift hasn’t come loose but I’ve had to do that with much more expensive rods as well.