new2BC4bass

Don't know anything about slot size reds. From that I assume you are talking about saltwater trout? Otherwise I wouldn't fish for trout with a casting reel. Trout around here require small lures. I'd prefer a flyrod. Besides the reels already mentioned, I would look at the Pinnacle line. http://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/review-pinnacle-producer.html http://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/Pinnacle-Producer-LTE-review.html Love my Primmus. Keep an eye open in the classifieds. Definitely can get a good used reel from them. $85 for a like new standard Tatula. Also closeouts often offer a great bargain. Got my $200 Curado 51E for less than $100 on closeout. A steal.

My favorite Shimanos are a Chronarch 100B and Curado 201E7. Although I like my Curado 51Es, I'd rather grab a Daiwa if throwing lighter lures. No experience with the new Shimanos or the JDM Shimanos. Wouldn't mind giving them a try, tho.

I don't always use backing. When spooling 8# on a shallow spool, I'll put on all 8#. If it holds a lot of 8# line I use cheap backing to save line. Many of my MH rods carry 12# mono or copolymer. I don't see a need for saving a few pennies by using a slightly cheaper line for backing. Cost is still negligible. Same thing for mono on a Heavy rod. Braid used for any reason gets mono backing. In the case of my 1500 Daiwa spinning reel and Daiwa PE Line Special, only enough to cover the spool as they don't hold a lot of line even though it is a thinner braid. Especially the spinning reel. The few reels with a fluorocarbon also get mono backing to save money. I am not aware of a disadvantage.

Most of my reels carry a mono or copolymer line. Cheap. Handles well. Low visibility. Or high visibility if I use Neon Tangerine. May not be the best for every situation, but I feel these lines do an excellent all-around job. Casting rods: Heavy 17#, MH 12#, Medium 8#, ML & Light 6#. Spinning rods: 30# braid on a MH Worm & Jig, 8# mono Medium and ML, 10# braid on a Light. Only rods I use for one specific type of lure is my cranking rod (currently 10# mono, but will drop to 8# when line needs changing) and a Lightning rod for spinnerbaits. It carries 15# mono only because that is what the guy put on it when he cleaned the reel for me. Otherwise it would have a 12# mono or copolymer. My STX get used on various rods for fishing in the slop. It carries 40# braid. My pitching and flipping rod (a HF) carries 55# braid even though it has never been used for flipping and pitching. I do not fish heavy swimbaits or I'd probably be using a 20# copolymer or mono on one rod.

The Shock gets mentioned the most. I couldn't get past the yellow. (On older models. No idea color of new.) The original is a nice rod....especially at its price. I always specify which rod I am talking about. Although I use braid on a few rods, I prefer mono/co-polymer so the original would be my first choice of the 2 even if I liked yellow on a rod. Why are you asking? Need a rod to throw in the trunk?

Of the 3 listed, I would add my name to the list for the Curado I. All my Shimnos are older reels. Although I reely like them, my first choice if buying new today would be the Alphas SV because of all the great remarks made about it. Doesn't hurt that about half my reels are Daiwas. However, after owning a Primmus, I would suggest also looking at the Primmus Xi XS and Optimus Xi XS hand-tuned reels. Not much about them here, but my Primmus quickly became one of my favorite reels. I'm like edfitzvb in that I own numerous reels of several different brands. I don't dislike any of my reels, but the Primmus, 50th Zillion, Alphas models, Chronarch 100B, Curado 201E7, Curado 51E, Tatula and TD-Z 105H are reels I reach for first. I am not as enamored with the Lews TP as some. Probably because a grandson claimed it as his so I seldom get to use it. It is a nice looking, light, good casting reel....from the little I've been able to use it.

I'm in the same boat. More "finesse" reels than I needed before breaking down and buying a real one when TW closed out the PXL/PXR. Supertuning and upgraded bearings for some reels plus a Presso spool for one of my Sol reels. Also a TD-Z105H with an upgraded spool. Time to strip the line off at least 2 or 3 and go heavier so they can be used on Medium power rods. No way do I want (or need) to invest in a finesse spool for my Scorpion.

Value is up to you. I've got one of the Limited Type R reels. Still in box. Paid quite a bit less than $200, but seller wanted to get rid of it. Zero experience with the Aurora. I do know that many consider the Gen 2 Revos to be the best of the 3 generations and even some of the best in their price range. Especially the Premier and STX.

I see the clips. Thanks.

Exactly. As I said, I DO NOT want to mar the finish of either.

How do you do it without marring the finish? Need to remove the cover from a Purple Alphas to tighten the nut. DO NOT want to mar the finish of the cover or the handle.

Something I will have to consider after using for awhile. I'm not the world's greatest caster. Worry that new bearings might be too fast for me on a reel like this. I will say that other Diawa reels I have had tuned and upgraded (or bought already tuned and upgraded) allow me to cast with fewer brakes tuned on than factory stock. TD-Z 105H, Fuego, Sol, T3 1016, Tatula Type R, Alphas Type F.

Maye mine is over-greased as it doesn't seem finicky at all so far. I know what you mean about fast spools. My 3rd or 4th reel was a used Alphas ito 103ai. Was great with 3/8 oz. lures. 1/4 oz. not so good....for me. Course I had zero experience with light lures at that time.

Bought it when TW closed them out last winter. Still was more than I'd ever spent on a reel. Figured why not try a finesse reel instead of trying to turn other reels into light lure reels. So far I've only tossed a 1/8 oz. Strike King spinnerbait on it. I know it weighs more than 1/8 oz., but should be less than the 3/16 oz. Shad Raps I've thrown on other outfits. Set the drag. Set the spool tension. Cast. Overrun. Forgot to set the brake. All was well after putting some brakes on. No more overruns. Was able to back off a little on the spool tension and lower the brakes a bit without causing an overrun. I think this reel is going to let me cast with fewer brakes on then any of my other magnetic brake only reels. Pleased with it so far. Was getting pretty good casting distance even in the wind. Stopped Friday after work to make a few casts. Planned on tying on a 1/8 oz. crankbait, but changed my mind with all the leaves currently on the water....especially near the bank. Don't know if I will get to try 1/8 oz. this year. What I did decide was I personally don't think of a rod capable of handling that light a lure as a bass rod. Use to fish ultralights and 4# mono a lot so I know it will handle any 10# bass swimming....as long as it is in open water. When I got back into fishing, I went to baitcast reels and rods with more backbone. Gotten use to fishing them.

Pretty sure this is where I bought my Primmus. (Memory isn't all that reliable at my age.) Had no problem. Sorry, Dan, but not positive about the shipping cost. Think it was around $6 and change.

Sorry. My only experience with BPS reels is the older gold colored Carbonlites. These are exceptional reels for the $$$$. I do know that many highly regard the Pro Qualifier for its price. Especially when bought on sale. Goose did a 5 year test on them. A search should turn it up if you want to read the thread.

Heresy. Better watch your back. I don't find the Type R any easier to cast than my Curado 201E7 or Chronarch 100B or 100A. Probably the opposite. All 3 Shimanos are super easy to cast without backlashes. However, when I go to lighter baits, I prefer my Daiwas over the Curado 51s for ease of casting.

Are you saying menopause is a beech, Bill? Just jokin'. Sorry about your problems. Life's a beech, then you die. Doctor thought I was going to lose a leg in 2008. Clots caused by not being able to move for 3 days because of my back pain. Got up and down the stairs by (carefully) sliding on my butt because I couldn't walk the 13 steps. A female Brahma would have been impressed by my cojones at that time. Yeah, life sure sucks sometimes. I still love to get out and fish, but recently another interest is taking up a lot of my time. Started taking guitar lessons. Talk about an expensive hobby. Look up the prices on acoustic guitars from Martin, Gibson, Collings, Santa Cruz, Taylor, Huss and Dalton, etc. We won't even mention custom built guitars such as Froggy Bottom. I've got way too many rods and reels. Couldn't see myself spending the big bucks, but have just as much money into what I have......just spread out over 6 years and about 30-35 too many rods (and reels). Now I'd like to downsize, but 1) which ones do I sell, and 2) how much am I going to lose? Sure would be nice to get rid of about 30-35 of them and invest in about 8 top tier rods. Not knowing the cost, the wife would be very appreciative when she saw how many I had sold off. My newest rods are Tatulas and a Hurricane Redbone. All were $100 or less, yet both are ones I'd keep.

Don't know. Ordered one time from Cabela's. I refuse to pay that kind of shipping cost again. Bought the older gray Prodigy casting reel at $40 off or I wouldn't have payed shipping that time either.

Probably saw it, but don't remember. Even if I did remember such a thread, I wouldn't recall who posted. A search for "Primmus" turned up our 2 posts in this thread. A search for "Pinnacle" turned up my post in this thread. Either I don't know how to search, or somebody above doesn't like me. Thanks for the info on the EXO. Already have more reels than I need, but there are about 3 more that I want to try. Possibly four. Guess I will pass on the EXO.

at the Hamburg, PA store. Pretty sure both were 7 footers as I was tempted to buy one. Wouldn't have been tempted if they were 6 and a half. $75 for a $150 rod was hard to pass up, but I don't need more rods although I do plan on buying a couple more, but they are specific brands and the XML isn't one of them. Already have a couple of the XMLTi series in 6' 6" length. Pretty nice rods. Just shorter than I have come to prefer. Only saw 2 left.

Not offhand. I have the 8.1:1 and like it a lot. Casting distance for me seems to depend on the rod much more than the reel. I've also got the Limited Edition model, but it has only been out of the box to admire. Read good things about the EXO 100PT. How about a review of it? BTW, you should give the Primmus a try. Mine casts into the next county. I'd also like to own an Optimus. Very pleased with my Pinnacle. Extremely smooth and a great casting reel. Very light. Nice looking to boot.

Could you give us a review? Thanks.

Too bad I have never used a spreadsheet. I'd like to keep better track of my reels, and not only for cleaning schedules. What line is on it? When was the line put on? Which reels have been tuned? When tuned? Who did the tuning? What upgrades? When purchased? Who I bought them from. Etc.

X2. The first 2 may take a little more practicing on your part. Sure did for me. {teeth: