Shimano Cardiff 200 For Swimbaits?

[Joel S]

Will this reel be enough for a swimbait setup? This is the only model Cardiff that my local BPS has in stock. I will be getting a 400 when I find one. Is there another reel that is better for the money? I will be throwing Spro 6" baits and some BPS swimbaits until I upgrade my reel. I will have it on a St. Croix Mojo 7'9" H F rod. What line should I use? Thanks

[jtj0026]

I like newer generation of good quality low profile baitcasters... they are compact, sturdy with strong drags and more than enough for your applications. Most people go for big names like Shimano but there are great products from smaller name manufactures. An Okuma Serrano or a Quantum Smoke beats a Curado 200E handily IMHO. In my case in Southern California, I use these reels to yank saltwater bass out of structures and kelp by using, say, a very short 25 LB mono topshot backed with spectra with almost full drag. Another popular series is Lew's Tournament Pro. I own all 3 and love them all.

[North Ga Hillbilly]

I use a 300 size with 25# and really like it. If you dont respool often then its a bad way to go, but respooling every few trips it works out. a 200 is going to be pretty small, but with the small baits and 17# line, you aught to have no problem. Now if you go with braid then you wont have a problem at all. I really like the feel of round reels, but low-pros are preferred by most.

NGaHB

[Joel S]

I've never used braid before. What # and brand would work?

[North Ga Hillbilly]

Ive never felt comfortable with braid and heavy expensive baits, so I dont fish it. With that said, alot of folks use 80 and dont have any problems.

NGaHB

[Joel S]

So would mono work for now and then upgrade to braid when I get a 400? If so then what # would be good to start with?

[Hooligan]

The 200 is a fine reel for swimbaiting, really. I don't fish braid at all, typically I'm fishing everything from 6-8 inch soft on 17lb CXX and bigger baits on 25lb mono. I may switch to braid for big hard baits, but don't fish them a lot.

In regards to low pro reels for big swimbaits- it's sort of ridiculous. You lose the retrieve rate and the capacity with them. Comparing a Smoke and a 200E is laughable at best.

Lastly, the Curado 300 is a suberb swimbait reel, but not a necessity. I have a couple of Cardiff 300 reels on backup rods and they're all I've ever needed, really. They're an incredible quality reel for not a lot of money.

[Joel S]

Would an Abu Ambassaduer C4 be a better choice over the 200 series Cardiff? I noticed it could hold a little more line for around the same price.

[J Francho]

Get the Cardiff. I use a Calcutta 200 with custom build on the LTB version of that blank. There's one or two baits in my box that I can come close to spooling the reel with 25# CXX. Otherwise, it's fine with most baits, including the ones you mentioned.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Get the Cardiff. I use a Calcutta 200 with custom build on the LTB version of that blank. There's one or two baits in my box that I can come close to spooling the reel with 25# CXX. Otherwise, it's fine with most baits, including the ones you mentioned.

Gotta agree with Francho.....again.

I was a little leery of using my Cardiff 200 for swimbaits. I've never had a problem where I've run out of line using mono. Since switching out to braid, it's not even a concern. Fantastic feels for the price. My only complaint about them is how you have to pull off the side plate to access the VBS pins. Once you learn the reel though, you'll probably never have to open it up anyway.

[Fat-G]

Hooligan's right, throw a hudd with a Smoke and then with a 400 TE and get back to me. Prius vs. 3500 dually.

[Joel S]

I went by my local BPS today and picked up a St. Croix Mojo 7'9" heavy fast swimbait rod, a Cardiff 200 reel, some 20# P-Line CXX, and a few BPS swimbaits. The guy said last night they had Spro swimbaits but they only carry the cranks from Spro. What type of knot do you use for the swimbaits since they are heavier?

[The Next KVD]

Palomor knot is the way to go. I VERY seldom use any other knot and never had a problem with a Palamor.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Palomor knot is the way to go. I VERY seldom use any other knot and never had a problem with a Palamor.

X2

If you tie it properly, you'll be fine. Each person will have his or her own preference. Whichever knot you tie, learn how to tie it right and chances are you're going to be fine.

[jtj0026]

Just curious, do you own a Smoke? If not how do you justify your statement???

Comparing a Smoke and a 200E is laughable at best.

[VolFan]

I use Cardiff 200 for 6 in Hudds and similar baits and it works fantastic. DVT did a supertune on it and made it even better. I previously used a Revo SX, which I didn't like. The Cardiff balances the big rod better, holds more line, and feels all around more solid. I use 15 lb Yozuri Hybrid and couldn't be happier.

[Hooligan]

Just curious, do you own a Smoke? If not how do you justify your statement???

I have owned, and tested Smoke reels, yes. I do not currently own them, nor will I in the future, because they're simply not up to my standard of quality. They've had far too many clutch issues, roller bearing issues, and have had tremendous problems with pinion support bearings. In two days time fishing a SL150HPT I managed to shell the drag, and turn the roller bearing.

I don't post opinions of things I have no firsthand experience with. I don't post about something that I know nothing of, it's completely counter-productive. While I'm highly biased towards Shimano reels, I'm more than fair when it comes to others, I have a huge variety in my hands through the year, from Ardent to Okuma.

[Fat-G]

Answering the knot question, I finally listened to Hooligan about the San Diego Jam knot and took the time to learn it. It's my favorite along with the pally.

[stkbassn]

Will this reel be enough for a swimbait setup? This is the only model Cardiff that my local BPS has in stock. I will be getting a 400 when I find one. Is there another reel that is better for the money? I will be throwing Spro 6" baits and some BPS swimbaits until I upgrade my reel. I will have it on a St. Croix Mojo 7'9" H F rod. What line should I use? Thanks

I like the Revo S for my swimbaiting or the Revo Inshore....Both of these reels cast a mile and handle 6" baits with ease. I had a Cardiff 300 and I didn't like it. It doesn't cast as well as either of the Abu's I've used and it's just heavy. If you're going to be throwing 6" Spro's and Hudds, etc....just get a quality low profile reel in a 6.4:1 gear ratio and I think you'll be very pleased. I haven't thrown the Smoke or the Okuma that was mentioned earlier but I'm sure they would do nicely as well. Throwing a round reel for hours on end just isn't as comfortable IMHO.

[Stasher1]

The Cardiff 300a only weighs .2 oz more than the Revo S. It's a taller reel than the Revo which will have an effect on the overall feel of the setup, but I definitely wouldn't call it heavy.

The Cardiff 200a that the OP asked about is actually lighter than the Revo S, and quite a bit lighter than any comparable Abu round reel. I'm no Shimano fan-boy, but I'd go with the Cardiff over an Abu.

[stkbassn]

The Cardiff 300a only weighs .2 oz more than the Revo S. It's a taller reel than the Revo which will have an effect on the overall feel of the setup, but I definitely wouldn't call it heavy.

The Cardiff 200a that the OP asked about is actually lighter than the Revo S, and quite a bit lighter than any comparable Abu round reel. I'm no Shimano fan-boy, but I'd go with the Cardiff over an Abu.

I'm a fan of both Shimano and Abu for sure. I had the Cardiff 300 and just didn't like it...just didn't work for me. I'd rather throw swimbaits on a low profile reel for the comfort factor for sure. Keep in mind that I don't throw anything bigger than 6 or 7 inches so I don't really need a big, honking, round reel. Plus, I usually fish the swimbait for 10 hours at least at the lake where we do our swimbaiting. It's all personal preference really. That Revo Inshore beats the heck out of that Cardiff, hands down. I've had em' both. The REVO S is a great reel and still more comfortable than any round reel in my opinion but that's just me.

[Stasher1]

I'm a fan of both Shimano and Abu for sure. I had the Cardiff 300 and just didn't like it...just didn't work for me. I'd rather throw swimbaits on a low profile reel for the comfort factor for sure. Keep in mind that I don't throw anything bigger than 6 or 7 inches so I don't really need a big, honking, round reel. Plus, I usually fish the swimbait for 10 hours at least at the lake where we do our swimbaiting. It's all personal preference really. That Revo Inshore beats the heck out of that Cardiff, hands down. I've had em' both. The REVO S is a great reel and still more comfortable than any round reel in my opinion but that's just me.

You're probably right there, but it ought to. It's 2x the price of the Cardiff, and more in the Calcutta price range.

[stkbassn]

You're probably right there, but it ought to. It's 2x the price of the Cardiff, and more in the Calcutta price range.

That's true, the price point on the Inshore is considerably higher than the Cardiff. It's definitely a very popular round reel, I'll say that. I might even change my tune on the round reels if I got my hands on a Calcutta or higher end Daiwa. I may even like the smaller Cardiff if I tried it out. Might give it a whirl sometime for the heck of it.

[Stasher1]

I checked out a Cardiff 300A this morning at BPS and it didn't "crank my tractor" either, but then again, I went there looking to handle the much more compact 100A.