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Just picked up 2 Shimano Baitrunner combos and I opted to go with the 6500 on 15-40lb sticks. The outfits will be used for chunking/live lining Bass, Blues, and casting to Mahi and SBFT. My first impressions of the 6500 is that they are a bit heavy and maybe overkill for what I am doing.
Does anyone use this setup for the same purpose, and does anyone have the smaller 4500??? How much less capacity does the 4500, and will that be underpowered for Pelagic second duty?? Thanks for the advice.
__________________ VERADO CLUB
"Every man dies, but not every man truly lives....."
I use almost the same 6500 set up for bass & blues. It's not overkill. I use 10 oz. of lead sometimes to get down while drifting eels / whole bunker in deep fast water. You'll appreciate the extra backbone.
With braided line you don't need to go as heavy as the 6500 (maybe for the Mahi). I have used my 3500's on the boat, with 50lb power pro, and have caught some large blue fish with no problem. And I have been pinned down to the gunnel a couple of times. I usually use conventionals for bass-blues, (Avets).
I use 4500's with 65lb pp and 3500's with 50lb pp for dead sticking off of the surf, works well. I have never had an issue with any Shimano Baitrunner!!!
Good luck with your new set ups.
__________________ Scout 210 Sportfish Honda-150
The "HOOK & LADDER"
I use the 6500 for bottom fishing, sharks and tarpon. they work great with up to 50# braid
I use the 4500 for dolphin and kingfish , but I think they don't hold enough 20# mono if I run into something big, I had to chase down a shark the other day that hit a bluerunner I was trolling, it made me wonder how they would do if it was big wahooo
I use the 3500 for yellowtails, little sharks and spainish mackeral the hold a ton of 12#
Thanks guys, good advice. I use conventional for everything but needed something to cast topwater to sbft and to give my guests some fun with the bass, that don't know how to fish conventional. I have 2 20lb spinning outfits, these will hopefully fill the void.
__________________ VERADO CLUB
"Every man dies, but not every man truly lives....."
I use the 6500's for cobia in the lower Chesapeake. I thought they would be on the weak side for that but took a guy out and they did the job on some fish up to about 50# maybe 55#. They brought the fish to the boat but ya had to play em. I was impresses so I bought two-I love em. IMHO any tuna is in a different class though. I've caught some fat alberts on lighter stuff but no "real tuna". I think a 30# yft might beat the reel down!
Tight lines. You'll like the new reels.
I broke a 6500 by spooling it with 80# braid and bottom fishing with it
worked great on groupers and jacks but when I hooked a shark on it I grounded the gears
That was with the drag tightened as far as it will go
I wont use baitrunners anymore. I have broke so many of them i lost count. usually get about two years out of them before the break. I switched to the thunnus, and so far I have been very pleased with them.
I wont use baitrunners anymore. I have broke so many of them i lost count. usually get about two years out of them before the break. I switched to the thunnus, and so far I have been very pleased with them.
hey thanks for the posts about the small Swords, keep up the good fight. We all know what is right and what is not, ateast the true sportsmen around do.
__________________ VERADO CLUB
"Every man dies, but not every man truly lives....."
I wont use baitrunners anymore. I have broke so many of them i lost count. usually get about two years out of them before the break. I switched to the thunnus, and so far I have been very pleased with them.
hey thanks for the posts about the small Swords, keep up the good fight. We all know what is right and what is not, ateast the true sportsmen around do.
One of my best friends is a commercial swordfisherman, out of palm beach FL. He handlines fish, pretty neat guy. Anyway, hes a commercial guy and he doesn't keep fish that small. What a Joke!!!!
can't go wrong with a thunnus..caught everything from 40# + red drum to 100# + tarpon...
__________________ Some people are like a slinky... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
I have used my baitrunner 6500's for about 5 years now using them for everything from bass and blues to sbft. They have performed flawlessly until last year when I had my first one fail, it was a new reel and it succomed to a long blistering run of a 50# sbft. I had the to apply max drag to try and stop the fish and it melted the drag cap to the spool. Took the reel apart when I got home and it looks like all I need is a new drag cap and the reel will be back in business. I have caught plenty of sbft tuna on my other 6500's up to 70#'s without any failure. I think they are great for bass and blues but are pushing it for sbft, with only 15#'s max drag you don't have any breathing room if you hook a fired up tuna.
I agree I wouldnt use them on Tuna, but blues and bass they are great. This is my all time favorite reel and I have had my baitrunner for about 14 years now or close to it and never had a problem.
Shimano Baitrunner 
