Need Help Trying To Choose Dedicated Shimano Swimbait Reel

[cfout4050]

Ok money is not really a issue I can spend 400.00-500.00 on the reel. I am trying to get a good reel for swimbaits. I looked at the Shimano Calcutta&

Shimano Cardiff,Shimano Cuarado 300e. I have to have a left hand retrieve. Is the Calcutta that much better than Cardiff? I dont mind spending the money if it is but my other problem is wich speed is best for swimbaits like huddelston? I know it needs to be slow but how slow? What would make a good dedicated rod? How much should I spend on a rod? Is super sensitve important like it is in bottom bouncing? I new to swimbaits so any info is greatly appreciated .

[roadwarrior]

CTE200GT

[SoFlaBassAddict]

IMO if I were you, I'd spend a bunch of time doing some research first. You're looking at dropping close to $1000 bucks on the rod, reel, line, and lures. Going off of your post, you seem pretty darn clueless when it comes to swimbait fishing. There are tons of great rods and reels to pick from. Is the Calcutta a better reel than the Cardiff? Yes. Is the Cardiff a bad reel? No, not all all. It's one of the better buys on the market. You're going to want anywhere from a 200 to 400 size reel depending on what baits you're going to throw, what line you're going to use, etc etc. You need to sit down and think about the same thing for the rod. You mentioned Huddelstons. Great lure. But which one? They come in a wide range of sizes. And then they come in different weights in each size.

Personally, I like a slower reel for swimbaits and a long rod with a nice solid tip, but one that still has plenty of give to it. Sensitivity is always important in my opinion. I like being able to feel what my lure is doing at all times.

A good way to try it out on the cheap is to pick up a Cardiff, one of the Okuma BBS rods, and a handful of quality swimbaits. You may learn that you don't like it and won't be out much cash. Or you may find out that you really like it and want to upgrade at some point. Either way, you'll be able to recoup some of the money you spent fairly easily by selling the cheaper gear.

[DTack]

which size huddleston?

[cfout4050]

I have been throwing the weedless grass minnow and 6inch huddelston also the money minnow 3/8 ounce. I know I want a slow real I feel a slow steady retrieve has given me the best results. I really love throwing swimbaits. I live in Ohio and we average bass in the 3lb-5lb nothing really bigger comes along to often it does but its rare so I do not think that throwing the 8inch is something I want to try. I have done a quite a bit of research on swim bait nation and I am just lost on how slow a reel is recomended and what kind of rod it calls for. I am not really worried about losing money I am a gear junkie anyways. I read that 15-25lb mono is recomended but I would rather throw braid Power PRO would be my choice but I would consider Floro or what ever is recomended. I can always use a calcutta for something else I just heard that the Cardiff was just as good as the Calcutta. I figured that was a wash I throw in grass lilypads brush sticks laydows thats where I spend my time losing fish and baits. Thanks for all of the suggestions and help I should have put more details in the first post sorry that was my fault. I looked at the CTE200GT it does not come in left hand retrieve thats anothere problem I am running into is most of the slower gear ratios are all right hand retrieve. It seems that all the lefty reels are burners you would think that their is as many lefty users as the opposite I guess not.

[deep]

I used to have a guideline: 300 size reel for 6" baits, 400 size reel for 8" or larger baits. All but one of my reels are with DVT now, and for the last two outings, I threw small baits (hardgills and slammers) on my Calcutta 401TE instead of the usual Curado 301E. Surprisingly, on the same rod, the Calcutta 401TE seems to cast slightly better than the Curado 301E. I also have two Cardiffs (401As); both have gone for servicing. But from what I recall, the Calcutta does *not* cast significantly better than the Cardiffs. Other than the casting part, the Calcutta is of course the smoothest, followed by the Curado. I still like the Cardiffs though. Keep in mind the Cardiff 401A is significantly wider than the Calcutta 401TE; if you like to palm your reels. I retrieve with my non-reeling hand on the foregrip, so it's not an issue for me. I recently bought a Daiwa Luna 253L (same capacity as Shimano 300 size), but it hasn't got here yet. We'll see how it performs.

I do not have any experience with Calcuttas or Cardiffs under the 400 size, but if you go onto the Shimano website, you can find data on the retrieve rates (IPT) of the reels. The Curado 301E is way too fast for swimbaiting- I don't know about money minnows though. The Revo Toro Winch in the 51 size, and the Daiwa Luna in the 253 are both slower than the Cardiff 301A. There's no Calcutta 301TE, but there is a Conquest 301TE.

I have more than a few swimbait setups; from the cheapest decent one (Okuma/ Cardiff) to a pretty high-priced one (GGR/ Calcutta). I like them all. Sure, the feel with the Okuma is not as crisp as that with the GGR, but I can live with that.

As far as rods, I don't have problems feeling bites with the Okuma slow-rolling 8" hudds in 30 feet of water with mono. But who knows how many bites I didn't detect? I always liked parabolic rods (Okuma/ Mattlures) for big baits. I talked with Greg (Ross), Mike (Gilbert), Steve (P) and a few others before I decided on the GGR, which has a fast taper. Seems to working out fine too.

[cfout4050]

I used to have a guideline: 300 size reel for 6" baits, 400 size reel for 8" or larger baits. All but one of my reels are with DVT now, and for the last two outings, I threw small baits (hardgills and slammers) on my Calcutta 401TE instead of the usual Curado 301E. Surprisingly, on the same rod, the Calcutta 401TE seems to cast slightly better than the Curado 301E. I also have two Cardiffs (401As); both have gone for servicing. But from what I recall, the Calcutta does *not* cast significantly better than the Cardiffs. Other than the casting part, the Calcutta is of course the smoothest, followed by the Curado. I still like the Cardiffs though. Keep in mind the Cardiff 401A is significantly wider than the Calcutta 401TE; if you like to palm your reels. I retrieve with my non-reeling hand on the foregrip, so it's not an issue for me. I recently bought a Daiwa Luna 253L (same capacity as Shimano 300 size), but it hasn't got here yet. We'll see how it performs.

I do not have any experience with Calcuttas or Cardiffs under the 400 size, but if you go onto the Shimano website, you can find data on the retrieve rates (IPT) of the reels. The Curado 301E is way too fast for swimbaiting- I don't know about money minnows though. The Revo Toro Winch in the 51 size, and the Daiwa Luna in the 253 are both slower than the Cardiff 301A. There's no Calcutta 301TE, but there is a Conquest 301TE.

I have more than a few swimbait setups; from the cheapest decent one (Okuma/ Cardiff) to a pretty high-priced one (GGR/ Calcutta). I like them all. Sure, the feel with the Okuma is not as crisp as that with the GGR, but I can live with that.

As far as rods, I don't have problems feeling bites with the Okuma slow-rolling 8" hudds in 30 feet of water with mono. But who knows how many bites I didn't detect? I always liked parabolic rods (Okuma/ Mattlures) for big baits. I talked with Greg (Ross), Mike (Gilbert), Steve (P) and a few others before I decided on the GGR, which has a fast taper. Seems to working out fine too.

I think the Revo Winch is something I need to consider TW has them for 159.00 I could buy to and use one for a crankbait reel or to slow roll spinnerbaits and it comes in lefthand retrieve. I think this is the reel I will try I just cant find the calcutta in a slower left hand retrieve.

[J Francho]

I think a Calcutta 200B would serve you well. Add a Carbontex drag, and flush the bearings. Really want to add some useful bling, order a handle for a Curado E. It's longer and a bit smoother due to bearings:

[deep]

I think the Revo Winch is something I need to consider TW has them for 159.00 I could buy to and use one for a crankbait reel or to slow roll spinnerbaits and it comes in lefthand retrieve. I think this is the reel I will try I just cant find the calcutta in a slower left hand retrieve.

The Revo Winch is a smaller reel than the Revo Toro Winch I was talking about. I tried chucking big baits on a souped-up Citica 201D once, because all my swimbait reels are with DVT as I said. I hated the reel for that purpose. For jigs upto 1/2 oz, it's an absolute bliss to use though.

While I personally won't use a 200 size reel for 6" baits, I do see a 201TE Calcutta with 23 IPT on the Shimano website.

[cfout4050]

Is that Calcutta 201te a palmable reel? To be honest I have never used a round reel before.

[cfout4050]

The Revo Winch is a smaller reel than the Revo Toro Winch I was talking about. I tried chucking big baits on a souped-up Citica 201D once, because all my swimbait reels are with DVT as I said. I hated the reel for that purpose. For jigs upto 1/2 oz, it's an absolute bliss to use though.

While I personally won't use a 200 size reel for 6" baits, I do see a 201TE Calcutta with 23 IPT on the Shimano website.

Ok I see the Revo Toro Winch in left hand I found it online for 279.99 at Bass Pro. I think that I will head to Bass Pro and feel the calcutta and the Revo.

[IneedToReadTheForumPolicies-s1]

The Chronarch reel on a G Loomis swimbait series rod

[North Ga Hillbilly]

I agree with SoFlBassAddict, Id really suggest getting a cardiff and an okuma and giving it a go. I've caught a hand full of double digit bass (including my PB) and a slew of smaller ones on my okuma and cardiff 301 with no problems. I have handled nicer rods, I have handled smoother reels, but this combo flat out works and will let you get into the big bait game with pretty minimal cash.

I really like my 7'6" H okuma for hudds, tho some people prefer the XH. I find the 401s to be cumbersome compared to the 301, and I don't have a problem with line capacity using 25# CXX. I wouldn't mind getting a calcutta, but they don't come in a 300 size, and I much rather a 300 over a 400.

You really dont have to spend THAT much to get into swimbaiting, and you will end up wanting more than one rod, just like all other fishing, so having a decent entry rig will come in handy no matter what.

NGaHB