Say Hello To My Little Friend...

Show off your latest and greatest catch, purchase, or acquisition with fellow TT Forum members.
Post Reply
User avatar
Ghost
Elite Angler
Elite Angler
Posts: 430
Joined: Fri Aug 20, 2004 11:50 am
Location: 1313 Mockingbird Lane, Death Valley, CA 90210-->Now via Indiana

Say Hello To My Little Friend...

Post by Ghost » Sat Jan 15, 2022 8:11 pm

I've had this Shimano Calcutta 51 for years and have used it a few times. Fun little baitcast reel, just that it only reels in 16" of line. Good for crankbaits and stick worms.

Only thing I changed out is the stock 70mm handle for a longer 84mm Shimano Calcutta handle. Reeling feels much more fluid with a longer handle on a small reel.

I just wish I could find a shallow spool for this reel and make it a BFS. I have 30/8lb PP braid spooled and thinking of going with 20/6 PP braid and filling it with more mono backing and see if it will cast lighter lures.
Attachments
FB_IMG_1642305545862.jpg
FB_IMG_1642305545862.jpg (59.91 KiB) Viewed 2392 times

hoohoorjoo
TT Moderator
TT Moderator
Posts: 6789
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2011 1:56 pm
Location: Oxford GA

Re: Say Hello To My Little Friend...

Post by hoohoorjoo » Sun Jan 16, 2022 5:32 am

That's the only round reel I've ever felt was comfortable in my hands. Its fun, for sure.
Try not to let your mind wander. It is much too small to be outside unsupervised.

DirtyD64
Pro Angler
Pro Angler
Posts: 3050
Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2017 4:23 pm

Re: Say Hello To My Little Friend...

Post by DirtyD64 » Sun Jan 16, 2022 9:35 am

That is a crazy low IPT, 16" is not much at all. What year model is this reel? Also any idea how it compares to the size of the newest Conquest?

ss30378
Platinum Angler
Platinum Angler
Posts: 1081
Joined: Fri Apr 27, 2012 2:42 pm
Location: Huntsville, AL

Re: Say Hello To My Little Friend...

Post by ss30378 » Mon Jan 17, 2022 9:42 am

I fished a little Calcutta 50 for 15yrs as my sole bait casting reel. Awesome little tank, I also got an avail spool for it way back before they wanted an arm and leg for them. The little 16” per turn seems super low by today’s standards but the fish never seemed care. I’d fish bottom contact to cranks, when it’s all you got, it’s all you got.

User avatar
DarkShadow
Elite Angler
Elite Angler
Posts: 264
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:48 pm
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Re: Say Hello To My Little Friend...

Post by DarkShadow » Wed Jan 19, 2022 10:18 am

Calcutta 50s were my Go Tos back in the day. With my small hand, it palmed perfectly and felt rock solid.

And then I upgraded to the Conquest 50s, and boy oh boy....

Preston
Senior Angler
Senior Angler
Posts: 113
Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2021 11:10 am

Re: Say Hello To My Little Friend...

Post by Preston » Wed Jan 19, 2022 1:23 pm

That's such a cool little reel! I wish I had more old gear. :mrgreen:

I feel like the Conquest BFS will be one of those gems once it's no longer available. We shall see.

KP Duty
Elite Angler
Elite Angler
Posts: 667
Joined: Wed May 06, 2015 5:52 pm

Re: Say Hello To My Little Friend...

Post by KP Duty » Fri Jan 21, 2022 10:15 am

DirtyD64 wrote:
Sun Jan 16, 2022 9:35 am
That is a crazy low IPT, 16" is not much at all.
Fo shiz. I bet you could out pace it pulling your line in by hand.

Post Reply