Stepping up my bait caster game?

[Capt. BassinLou]

so in you guys opinion best reel under 100$ and best between 100-200 ? I'm pretty overwhelmed with all the options out there.

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AB knives

My choice for under $200 is the Curado I . I really enjoy the ones I have.

[zippyduck]

Abu Garcia revo stx gen 3 is a great reel for under 200 the sx works about the same for less.

[Pferox]

As far as I know, under or around $100 is the Pro Qualifier, or the H20 Metal2.

I go with the Curado under $200.

[Jerod22]

Look at Lews i just bought a Lews Tournament MB.  http://www.lews.com/casting-tournamentmb.php



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[Polaris425]

The Lew's Speed Spool Is in the $100, as well as the Tournament MB.

[MCS]

so in you guys opinion best reel under 100$ and best between 100-200 ? I'm pretty overwhelmed with all the options out there.

Your local maker of blades
AB knives

In all honesty I would go with a new version of the Daiwa Tatula CT or Tatula CT type R. Here is why (and I am more a shimano fan - owned low end Diawa before though) it is aluminum frame, casts really far, and there is a ton of aftermarket upgrades available if you find it lacking in say handle length or want a different spool or bearings to cast lighter stuff or bigger swim baits. (a lot of guys will buy another stock spool for 30-50 bucks and spool it with a different type of line switch out the spools when a change in technique calls for it) My second choice would be the Shimano Casitas, it casts far(reviews say farther then the citia and curado I), has the new brake feet and externally adjustable. Only draw back is it is a graphite framed reel and you wouldn't want to use that flipping, frogging or in thick cover as the frame will twist with the fighting a fish and Aluminum will just hold up way better. And if I had a third one to looks at it would be Lews. I know they have a following for a reason, but I don't know much about them. Talk to Warrior River Tackle he is a good guy and sells all three, knows alot about the Lews.

[LgMouthGambler]

In all honesty I would go with a new version of the Daiwa Tatula CT or Tatula CT type R. Here is why (and I am more a shimano fan - owned low end Diawa before though) it is aluminum frame, casts really far, and there is a ton of aftermarket upgrades available if you find it lacking in say handle length or want a different spool or bearings to cast lighter stuff or bigger swim baits. (a lot of guys will buy another stock spool for 30-50 bucks and spool it with a different type of line switch out the spools when a change in technique calls for it) My second choice would be the Shimano Casitas, it casts far(reviews say farther then the citia and curado I), has the new brake feet and externally adjustable. Only draw back is it is a graphite framed reel and you wouldn't want to use that flipping, frogging or in thick cover as the frame will twist with the fighting a fish and Aluminum will just hold up way better. And if I had a third one to looks at it would be Lews. I know they have a following for a reason, but I don't know much about them. Talk to Warrior River Tackle he is a good guy and sells all three, knows alot about the Lews.

^^this^^

[SFL BassHunter]

I love every reel I currently own in my rotation.

Scorpion DC7 is phenomenal and I have 2 of them.

Lews Team Lite is a super light reel, that palms perfectly and I just love it for my frog fishing. It is on the more expensive side of the lews reel family. (Check with WarriorRiverTackle about these)

I have seen nothing but great reviews about the casitas, though I have never handled one. So I can't say for sure.

[adam.bellar.10]

all these worth 65$ i found a buddy thats wanting to sell em. i know the lews is about 100$ new but the others im not familiar with. deal comes with 2 lews rods also


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AB knives

[Capt. BassinLou]

Based on the pics, I will venture to say that which ever reel you choose, you may want to consider getting those reels stripped down, cleaned up and serviced.

[adam.bellar.10]

Based on the pics, I will venture to say that which ever reel you choose, you may want to consider getting those reels stripped down, cleaned up and serviced.

they look like they surely could use a cleaning. but 5 reels for 65 bucks is a
pretty epic deal

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AB knives

[MCS]

The daiwa second from the bottom is similar to the couple excelers I had. The excelers started at $100 but their was a bass pro model and another model called the aggrest that went for around $180-200. I believe the first version of the black widow was based off it too. They were the last exceler models to have the mag force Z brakes.

[Polaris425]

I had an exceller back in the day, paid $50 for it brand new. I hated it.

[MCS]

I had an exceller back in the day, paid $50 for it brand new. I hated it.

Yeah both mine are gone too, it was ok. They wore out quick though, the clucth on both would only half engage sometimes.

[Polaris425]

Yeah both mine are gone too, it was ok. They wore out quick though, the clucth on both would only half engage sometimes.

Same problem I had. An no matter how much I cleaned and lubed it it still sounded like someone trying to learn to drive a manual shift transmission. lol If ya can't find 'em, grind 'em.

[Pferox]

I fished with a guy that had those quantums, only fished for snook, and you could hear him cast them across the gulf.  He swore by them, I swore at them.   

[adam.bellar.10]

lol well hopefully out of the 5 i get a couple good users!

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AB knives

[loomisguy]

I'd buy a Tatula, easy to set up, great braking and reasonably priced..
I think your always better off buying one good quality reel, or rod for that matter vs buying several so so ones..

[adam.bellar.10]

I'd buy a Tatula, easy to set up, great breaking and reasonably priced..
I think your always better off buying one good quality reel, or rod for that matter vs buying several so so ones..

I'm still gonna buy a nicer higher end reel but couldn't pass up the deal on these. The lews speed spool will probably go into rotation the rest will go in the garage for spares lol

Your local maker of blades
AB knives

[Pferox]

I'm pretty sure those were quality reels of their time.  I bet with some TLC and a few new "souped up" parts they would blow the doors off of some of the stuff out there today.

Kind of like rebuilding an old Street Rod kind of idea.

[adam.bellar.10]

I'm pretty sure those were quality reels of their time.  I bet with some TLC and a few new "souped up" parts they would blow the doors off of some of the stuff out there today.

Kind of like rebuilding an old Street Rod kind of idea.

i hope so! hopefully i wont feel like i wasted 60$ lol

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AB knives

[Princeton_Man]

You didn't get hurt, the Lew's is worth $60 and looks to be in pretty good condition. I'd keep the Speed Spool and clean up and lube the others to sell. Heck, if you get $5 each for the others, you've lowered the cost of that Lew's reel to $40. -Jim

[adam.bellar.10]

You didn't get hurt, the Lew's is worth $60 and looks to be in pretty good condition. I'd keep the Speed Spool and clean up and lube the others to sell. Heck, if you get $5 each for the others, you've lowered the cost of that Lew's reel to $40. -Jim

thats what i figured!


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AB knives

[cojab]

You didn't get hurt, the Lew's is worth $60 and looks to be in pretty good condition. I'd keep the Speed Spool and clean up and lube the others to sell. Heck, if you get $5 each for the others, you've lowered the cost of that Lew's reel to $40. -Jim

Thats kinda what I thought as well. Plus a couple of rods thrown in also.........seems to me you did fine.

[adam.bellar.10]

well it seems i may have got screwed guy has not shipped the rods and reels yet. giving excuses.

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AB knives