new2BC4bass

Not on sale that I could see at TW. Of the reels mentioned, this is the only one I have, and I am really impressed with it. Had to pay tax on mine so it was about $205. Weight is 5.7 oz. so not too far off.

Can be found for $135. http://wholesalehunter.com/newsearch.asp?keywords=okuma+helios+casting+rods

Not the first time this question has been asked. See what you can find with a search. Also do a search on Tackletour. What most feel to be the longest casting baitcast reels are beyond my budget. I've been impressed by several of my reels, but you can't tie on just any lure and expect to hit the moon.

Looks like I need to save some money. I'd like to catch some really good deals. Seems like good deals and me having money never jive.

F and G? Just pulling your chain. I've got some Curado Es, but no Is, so I can't help you. Based on my experience with the E model, I don't see how the I could be much better.

I haven't measured with a tape, but have paced off casts. Not super accurate, but I have measured my paces before, and I am pretty close. Based on that I would say my average casts are in the 30-35 yard range. However, I have several reels that will exceed that easily. My Gen 1 STX-L holds 140 yards of 12# test line. I don't know it that is to the spool bevel or 1/16 below as the suggested amount by Abu. I fill to the bevel. Reel is spooled with 40# braid that is equivalent to 10# mono. So more than 140 yards filled. Spent several hours fishing tidal water with a 3/4 oz. spoon on a 7' MH Jupiter rod rated 1/4-1 oz. I was consistently unloading what appeared to be half the spool. Obviously this is not an average cast. I will be the first to tell you no way can I spool a reel like some, but feel safe in saying I can get 45-50 yards with several of my reels. My son-in-law was impressed by how far my Curado 201E7 with 65# braid was casting a 1/2 oz. spinnerbait on my Endurance 723C. Again not average, but average for this set-up.

$99.99 is the regular price. The reel has a yellow tag in the upper left hand corner that says clearance on it. Like I said, I didn't put it in the cart to see what the price was. Standard price ain't what I would call a clearance price. Maybe you should give them a call. Could be an error.

I read this all the time. Simply have to catch them sometime when they are running a great sale. A short review. http://tournamentredfisher.com/2011/04/21/review-h20-xpress-mettle-low-profile-reel/ It is currently $50. http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/h2o-xpress-mettle-mt2-baitcast-reel-right-handed?repChildCatid=903506 The Pflueger Supreme is also on clearance, but you have to put it in your cart to find the price. I didn't. I like my Pfluegers, and think they are often under-rated. I personally think the Smallmouth rods were a bargain at full price. It is icing on the cake that I didn't pay anywhere near that much for mine. I especially like the 6'10" MF and 6'9" M-XF. Also have the 7'2" M-Mod.F HMG that I like a lot. OP. Check out reviews of the lower cost Pinnacle baitcast reels. The $90 Producer LTE is reviewed several times here. http://www.bassresource.com/tackle-reviews/ Probably can find them in your budget. I have the much more expensive Primmus (which I found for less than $150) and have fallen in love with this reel. Factory tuned and super smooth out of the box. Excellent casting distance. Very light and good looking. Got it last year and it is making its 2nd trip to Florida with me next week.....and I have many b/c reels to choose from....from at least 7 reel brands.

Yup. Watch KVD fish. Pretty much every cast is a roll cast unless he is flipping or pitching. I even use it on an overhead cast unless looking for ultimate accuracy. It is harder....for me....to be super accurate with an overhead roll cast. Practice makes purrfect tho. I feel it goes a long way towards eliminating backlashes as my timing isn't always perfect on my rod reversal. Especially in a small boat where the backcast is often abbreviated.......so I don't land my co-angler. Don't have a net that big.

Agree. I used one hand when I first started learning. Now it is rare to use one hand. Doesn't matter whether it is my 6' spinnerbait rod or my 7'8" cranking rod. Or if I am casting 30 feet or 50 yards. I feel I have better control in either situation with 2 hands.

Wow. Do they have a handle, spool, bearings, gears, etc.? My stupid computer can only find the new ones on ebay. They start at about $95. Definitely can't be anywhere near as good as the older $230 model. A lightly used older Fuego at those prices is a no brainer. Would never consider going that low for mine. I'd give them to a deserving person before I'd sell them for $90 or less.

They sold for $230 new. Bought mine on closeout from TW for $145. One in that condition would be worth $150....to me. Others would probably offer $125 for it. They are excellent reels....under-rated by many....but not by some of us. Lots of available parts to mod it except the 100m spool is no longer in production. Mine (3 of them) are tuned and have upgraded bearings and Carbontex drags. Don't notice much difference with the upgraded bearings, but I figured go for it since the reels were already being worked on. Bearings aren't that expensive.

That is like asking who is the prettiest girl on TV. You like blonds, Joe likes redheads, I like um all.

You didn't look hard enough. http://tackletour.com/reviewdaiwasol.html Makes a decent finesse reel. Don't know why, but I like the older Fuego better. I've got 2 Sols, one highly tuned and with a Presso spool in it. $90 for the combo is a steal as long as the reel is in decent shape. Heck, even if you have to sent it to DVT for repairs, it is still a good buy at that price. Hopefully cosmetic condition isn't too bad.

Welcome to the forum. Looks like you are set on getting a Shimano. Big Shimano fan club here. Like them myself although I don't consider myself a fanboy of any specific brand. You may wonder why your rod selection is asterisked out. A certain company with a number in its name has been banned from the forum. We aren't allowed to mention it. The reels you are asking about are out of my price range so I can't comment on them....other to say i wish I had that kind of money to spend on one reel. If you'd like to save a couple hundred $$$ and don't mind another brand, I can make a couple suggestions. Two of my newest reels are a Pinnacle Primmus and an Okuma Helios Air. The Primmus weighs 5.9 oz. and has a 6.3:1 ratio. Comes in right hand only. The Helios Air weighs 5.7 oz. and comes in either RH or LH and has a 7.3:1 gear ratio. I have been extremely pleased with both. The Primmus is hand tuned at the factory, and is very smooth right out of the box. The Air comes with ABEC5 bearings. Casting distance with both is great. Needless to say they feel great on a rod at those weights.

Don't remember what I paid for my 3000 yard spools, but pretty sure it was quite a bit more than that. I think you should grab a spool. I've got 12# on several reels and like it so far. Also have 8# on a couple b/c reels. Don't use any line conditioner on it. Last year was my first time using AN40. Working great so far. Got to try a small spool of Mean Green. Lot of people like it. So many good lines, so little time.

Helios Air comes with ABEC5s. Don't know if they are ceramic. Bearings quieted down quite a bit after about a half our of use. Picked up a set of ceramics for my Curado 51E from the flea market at half price because the seller didn't like the noise they made. I actually like it, but I like mechanical stuff like the shutter tripping on my old 35mm camera. The bearing noise helps me with my casts. I feel it helps me know when to thumb the spool.

What condition is it in? How much? My 50th is one of my favorite reels. It is a set and forget Daiwa. Let a guy use it for a bit one day. Said he had a b/c reel, but no longer used it because it would backlash after 3-4 good casts. Later he asked me "How do you backlash this reel?" Mono on mine. I don't find it to cast any further than many other reels. I would have to take it someplace on dry land where I could measure actual distance to verify any possible differences. Then I would have to have the same line on each reel and use the same rod and lure. Not going to happen. I am satisfied with its performance and that is all that matters to me.

Someday I will get lucky and catch the H2O on sale, and pick one up. Preferably at the $25 price some have been lucky enough to buy one at. Hate paying full price.

I personally feel Pflueger is under-rated. I still have one Trion purchased used. (Gave one to a deserving young man who was thrilled with it.) Not pretty. Not the lightest. Mine is mounted on a 6'10" HF and spooled with 17# mono. Casting machine with this set-up. Love my Patriarch XTs. Definitely wouldn't hesitate to buy another Pflueger.

I'm another that prefers the Type R over the standard just for its looks and the higher gear ratio. Makes it is worth the extra $30-$35 to me.

Reels that cost me less than $100: Abu Black Max 1600C, Pflueger Trion, Daiwa TD-S, Curado 51E (new), Daiwa Procaster (new), Tatula, BPS Carbonlite (gold ones), Cabela's Prodigy (gray one, new). 1600C, 51E and Carbonlites all handle light baits very well. Obviously they will handle heavier, but I keep them on Medium power...or less...rods. The Trion and Prodigy are great with 3/8 oz. up although they definitely will cast lighter, but I keep them on MH or H rods. Tatula and TD-S are very good all-around reels and are used on MH rods. Used is good. Many of mine are, and were purchased in very good to like new condition (and still are). I have to tell you that after my experience with the Pinnacle Primmus, I wouldn't be afraid to try their less expensive (below $100) reels. Especially given the good reviews given in the Tackle section of this site. The thing is, Adam, to buy the reel that interests you the most regardless of what our opinions or suggestions are. It is doubtful you will be unhappy with your choice if you do a little research first.

Welcome to the forum. Will you be able to test the reel when it comes in?

I started fishing at 5 with a cane pole. The next year my father bought me a Mitchell 300 which I used for a good many years. I don't remember having trouble learning to use it....but that was over 60 years ago so needless to say I can't trust my memory. Also I doubt that starting out with a spinning reel will keep your boys from trying a baitcast reel. It was 2009 before I used my first b/c reel, and now I hardly ever touch a spinning reel. Lets just say that the past 7 years has seen too many reel acquisitions.

I have a couple of the older blue XTs. Like them a lot. Nice looking with a tough finish, light, very good casters, smooth. Throws a 10" ribbontail and 3/0 hook on 40# braid a fair distance with one centrifugal brake on and 3 magnetic brakes on. This is the lowest brake setting I can run with any of my dual brake reels....I don't have very many dual brake reels. Heck, even have to run my Shimanos with 3 brakes on for best results although I can run 2 if I'm careful. I can't see 3 magnetic brakes making that much difference. Especially since I have to run my magnetic brake reels with a lot more than 3...and I have quite a few magnetic brake only reels. I personally feel Pflueger reels are under-rated.