Cheap Musky Spinning Rod Reel Combo

🐟 9' PENN Squadron 3 Surf Rod - amzn.to/3nHjjAc
This was the very best musky spinning rod reel combo I paired together for a cheap price folks. I used this combo for last 4-5 years because it not only was cheap, but it was also lightweight, comfortable, intuitive to use, tough, and pretty resilient all at the time, so definitely what I think is the best musky spinning rod and reel for the money. Shimano Stradic C5000 paired up with a 9' Penn Squadron 3 Surf Spinning Fishing Rod, again be sure to use the model number if you can't find it on the web SQDSFIII1220S90.
Gear
----------------
Shimano Stradic C5000 - amzn.to/30UznG7
9' PENN Squadron 3 Surf Rod - amzn.to/3nHjjAc
50 lb Power Pro - amzn.to/3FLC4c9
100 lb VMC 18" Fluoro Leader - amzn.to/3FHxlYG
Eternal Angler Fishing Shirts - amzn.to/2R3PgCI
(Above are Amazon Affiliate Links)

[@EternalAngler]

I give a review of the cheap spinning rod reel combo I've been using for musky fishermen last 4-5 years. Some out there will probably say you can't go cheap and can't use even spinning gear when musky fishing, they're full of shit, I showed you can get away with using cheap spinning rod reel combo without putting the fish's health at risk. Like the $60 Penn Squadron 3 surf rod, but really, what ya can't go cheap on is the reel, why I still recommend a Shimano Stradic C5000, which is around $200, regardless, this combo is around $250 like I said in the video, still reasonable compared to a lot of baitcaster combos. Mark my words, you can't get the same quality, toughness, durability, comfort, intuitiveness for the price you pay for this spinning combo compared to a baitcaster combo, this is where spinning shines! This is why saltwater fishermen still prefer spinning, less moving parts and less prone to breakage. Remind you, saltwater fishermen use a reel like the Stradic to catch big snook, red fish, even small tarpon, if it's good for those saltwater species, it's perfectly fine for musky. Why people typical use baitcasters in the musky world is to throw big rubber, that's where all the abuse is from basically. Don't get me wrong, nothing pulls in more 50 inch musky than a reaction style bait such as a pounder, but if you're just starting off musky fishing, short one money, even have an old timer in the boat, girlfriend or kid not familiar with a baitcaster, this is a great combo. And the combo also casts and ribs small rubber just fine too like the Mini or Mid Medussa, as I've also shown that. Tight lines Anglers and take care...

[@mikewasniewski4048]

Thank for the review! I was going to ask you what rod that is.Great videos!

[@EternalAngler]

Thanks Mike, great combo, worth a try. Even though I currently have 2 tranxs and Ti rods on the way with 100 lb braid, ill probably always still use spinning for shoreline fishing. Cover more ground and cast baits farther with 50 lb braid.

[@EternalAngler]

I bet if I was ripping those Medussas on day like this with all that overcast, I would of caught some nice size musky at the Spillway, remember their appetite changes every year, sometimes daily. What worked one year, may not work the next, shown how hot the 8.0 was hot last year, this year not so much, but rubber was on this year like the Mini Medussa... Sad it took me so long to find this out, what a Bum!!!! Strike King 8.0 last year - kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIXcipWLnJV6hdk Mini Medussa this year - kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6Kvi5qYmLapfJY

[@kidrobjuheard]

Will it be good for casting diamond jigs for bluefish or sp minnows i got a mh rod that casts jigs a mile but sp minows the tip is just too heavy im looking into this rod for lighter lures

[@EternalAngler]

I enjoy using it for jig fishing some of the smallmouth bass jigs I use on lake st clair here in michigan, they're 3/8 oz, 1/2 oz and 3/4 oz. Even that flare hawk jigs i used was 1oz. The rod is pretty sensitive too. Its stiff rod, but still a little bendable...

[@timboekhout7249]

Will this combo work ok using heavier lures like a Medussa? I’m going to Stork Lake and want to try musky fishing for the first time. I have very little experience in casting with a bait caster reel (walleye fisherman). I do have a couple lake near by that do have musky and may start fishing them.

[@EternalAngler]

Like a regular medussa not a pounder medussa? Probably yes, but with time it will cause wear and tear on the rod seeing that's a 8oz lure, shallow version is like 7.4 oz, eventually probably break after year... Seeing that a Penn Squadron 3 only costs $60, still could be worth it. Posseidon 10 is little lighter at 6.5 oz, works pretty fine with that swimbait. Penn Squadron 3 is a bit flimsy though for regular bulldawgs, size down is perfect like mini medussa or smaller bulldawg. I actually liked the action on the Squadron 2 a bit more than the Squadron 3, it had a clear coat on it that made it a tad bit stiffer than the Squadron 3, wish they didn't change that, I think it's still the same rod blank though... However the guide insert on the Squadron 2 occasionally popped out on the top tip after 6 months or so, the new one-piece stainless steel guides without inserts is quite nice on the Squadron 3. I love this spinning combo so much, I might buy a few more of them for my friends that don't how to use a baitcaster. I'll probably still use this combo when shoreline fishing for lighter lures like the mini medussa and strike king 8.0, combo casts a mile, especially when you use a lighter braid like 50 lb power pro to 100lb fluoro VMC leader. This combo is a super lightweight too! Penn actually makes 3 more surf style rods www.pennfishing.com/collections/surf-fishing-rods But I liked the grip on the Squadron the most, but when I found the 9' Squadron 2 Surf rod at Field & Stream off I-75 in Michigan, they also had the 9' Penn Prevail 2 Surf that was a bit stiffer and was decent from what I remember, but I didn't like the foregrip and I don't remember the Prevail having the knob at the end, which is nice for figure 8s. Sad that Field & Stream now turned into Sportsman's Warehouse, still a decent store, but Field & Stream had unique fishing tackle and lures that I never seen elsewhere at any other brick mortar fishing store in Michigan, man if that store hadn't been in the area I probably would have never come across this combo I think. Got lucky, hard finding a good spinning rod for musky!!! The fact that the rod is super affordable makes it pretty awesome too! And if you have hard time learning with baitcaster, might be good starting off bass fishing or walleye fishing with a Shimano Curado or SLX that has digital control system, chip in it to assist you, that will help transition into something like the Shimano Tranx 400 for musky. That's how I learned, that way didn't seem so overwhelming... I also think using braid is much easier to use on a baidcaster than mono or fluoro when it comes to walleye or bass fishing with a baitcaster, I started off with Sunline Sniper on my Curado DC and got constant backlash. Caught so many musky on this combo, I lost count... I just wish I learned to use smaller rubber a lot more in the beginning, rather than always counting on bucktails, spinnerbaits or hard baits like crankbaits. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIXcipWLnJV6hdk

[@notquint8048]

@@EternalAngler what will be some good rods to use for musky that you can use spinning reels on?

[@EternalAngler]

@@notquint8048 not a lot of options out there, I started off with a 7' gx2 ugly stik years ago, then penn squadron 2, then squadron 3, I know cabelas makes a predator spinning rod for musky fishing, so does St Croix.

[@notquint8048]

@@EternalAngler Will the st croix rod be okay with throwing a regular medusa? Because the rod is rated for 1-5oz lures and the medusa is 8oz, will there be any cons of using a lure heavier than what the rod is rated for?. Or will the other rods you recommended be better for throwing that type of lure?

[@EternalAngler]

@@notquint8048 I'm sure you'll be able to cast it, I casted heavier lures than what my penn squadron 2/3 was rated for. The problem comes in when ripping it hard, if its summer and musky are responding to speed, you'd want a stiffer rod that's rated for the 8 oz medussa. At the time starting off, I was short money so I went with a cheaper lighter action rod. If ya got a little more cash, definitely go with a rod rated a little heavier if you're planning on using rubber. But don't underestimate the mini medussa, even big musky aren't always going for giant rubber. You can still use a mid-medussa with that st Croix rod, thats rated at 4.5 oz., how much smaller is that to a regular medussa, not much, don't think the musky would notice... But then again if you're fishing a little deeper water and need 8 ounces, something to think about...

[@jamarturner60]

i gotta get me one

[@EternalAngler]

Yes sir, can't go wrong with Shimano!

[@Meditation409]

The largest size in Spinning Reels should be no more than 6000 size....The 10500 reels and those Stella 20 and 30,000 sizes are way over kill....those are for 500lb Sharks, Tuna, deep water Amberjacks on the salt.

[@EternalAngler]

Good to know, thanks. Yeah, I mean lighter the spinning reel, means more casts, less fatigue and back pain, if a 4000 or 5000 can hold enough line in 50-100 lb, no reason to go up any higher. I think spinning reels have very little moving parts compared to a baitcaster spool that is constantly moving after every cast, so I think spinning is a lot less prone to breaking, it's still a top notch choice for musky fishing. A fishing reel company should figure out a way to make a spinning reel that can cast big rubber without putting your finger on the line.

[@Meditation409]

Absolutely agree. I think that in time more improvements will be made even more so than they have been with all rods and reels. Definitley agree. 💯❤