My brother is wrapping a lami cert pro bxcf 1082H 12-25 9' blank as a downrigger rod for me. What reel should I throw on there?

Shimano 4000 knucklebuster

+1
i picked up two i am ganna rock this year.......

What kind of reel seat and handle is he putting on it?

You'd only want a single action reel on that blank if it was built with a reel seat for a single action reel, IMO.

Yep, need the proper placement of the reel seat for a knuckle buster. if you decided to go with a level wind a tekota is real nice if you want to lay out the cash, or a penn 209 works great if you are more budget oriented.

Its a saltwater Pac Bay aluminum channel lock I believe... 10 or so inch black foam handle with another 3 or 4 on the foregrip.

I think the big issue on the single action/mooching reel is it's designed to go below the blank when you're fishing it, and a levelwind goes above. The spine of the rod will be setup by the rod builder with the guides/reel seat atop the spine for a levelwind, and on the bottom for a mooching rod.

Well that pretty much narrows it down since the reel seat is already in place...

good info guys thanks!

If your going with a levelwind for downrigging you may want to think about getting a lever drag instead of a star drag. Less time fussing with your drag once you get them set where you want it. The charter special is a good starter for fairly cheap if you want to test one out.

Shimano Tekota 600, with or without the line counter is a very versatile reel that works great for the downrigger rod you are putting together along with bottom fishing and a little albacore thrown in to wrap it up.

Not the cheapest of reels, but it is one of the smoothest reels you will ever hold in your hand.

WD.

Another vote on the Takota. Got 2 last year and love 'em. Use em for lings and Big C also.

I've been using Cardiff's for about four years now and they've held up well. Less line but faster retrieve.

For the money I like the shimano TR series. I have two and they have served me well for many years with little maintenance.

Downrigger guys come by me when I have salmon on and cut it off with thier wire.

That's what you get for leaving it hanging out.

motor mooching has its drawbacks

Well its handmade from my bro, I might as well blow it up with a Tekota 600lc...plus I need a ling reel.

Yeah really. . .crank that thing in already greg.

Maybe I'm just a little ocd on my d-riggin but I don't mind a line counter reel on there to set my leads precisely, which comes in handy especially when stacking or hanging a bunch of sh!t back there. Helps keep my business straight most of the time, and lead length is a very under-rated part of d-riggin in these parts. Great Lakes anglers got that stuff dialed.

As for a reel, I've gotten away with going cheap so far, with a drag washer upgrade. . .Diawa Sealine LC reels and Penn 321 GT (or something like that) have gotten the job done for me so far,

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FOR THE PRICE

you can't beat a Charter Special

Take a look at the Ambassadeur 7000 HSN i

HSN stands for "High Speed Narrow spool" and it stands up to salt water extremely well.

I used to be a fan of single action reels for downrigging but as I've been fishing deeper they just take too long to get the gear up.
I fish in a hurry...

When I'm mooching...I'm single action all the way.

Gregsalmon- In the salt you are either reeling line in, or the fish is taking line out...there is no inbetween.