Good Baitcaster For The Price

[kwilf]

I have a an Abu Garcia Blue Max that I got to try out the fundamentals of baitcasting and now that I've covered that I was thinking about trying to see what a nicer reel felt. I would also be getting a new rod but in my experience less money needs to be spent on the rod than the reel. I'm not looking to spend more than around $120 on the whole thing maybe a little more. Any ideas?

[Dramer77]

dawia lexa 100, its 139.99 and they just started a promo to get a $25 visa gift card back.. its easily the best reel in that price rance

[frantzracing0]

Revo S. Can't Go Wrong

[deep]

Curado G's would be a good buy for ~$120. Citica D/E's and Curado B's may probably be found cheaper; and any of them should serve you just as well.

 

EDIT: Apparently I misread your post. If you want to spend ~$120 for the rod AND reel; I'd try to find a used Curado B (goes for ~$70)/ Citica D (~$55) and spend the rest on the rod.

[Jrob78]

People will disagree with me but I feel like $120 is about where you need to start to get a quality rod OR reel, not both. There are exceptions but not many. You will find more for your money on the used market.

[BrettD]

People will disagree with me but I feel like $120 is about where you need to start to get a quality rod OR reel, not both. There are exceptions but not many.

+1

[Ima Bass Ninja]

H2o xpress ethos rod 59.99 and h2o mettle reel 49.99 from academy and you will not be disappointed.

[frantzracing0]

Don't Listen To The Shimano Fan Boy. The Curado G Is Garbage. Id Take A Bps Pq Over A Curado G Or Citica ANY DAY

[roadwarrior]

Don't Listen To The Shimano Fan Boy. The Curado G Is Garbage. Id Take A Bps Pq Over A Curado G Or Citica ANY DAY

 

You are entitled to your opinion, but your statemrnt is pretty harsh. The majority of fishermen, especially

on this website, would choose Shimano over the PQ by a large margin. I have 19 combinations. One is

saddled with an Abu Garcia STX and another with a Pinnacle Optimus, the other 17 are Shimano.

[*Hootie]

Don't Listen To The Shimano Fan Boy. The Curado G Is Garbage. Id Take A Bps Pq Over A Curado G Or Citica ANY DAY

Don't pay any attention to this GARBAGE!!! post. Opinionated arrogance!!! I have 2 Curado G series reels and they are fine.....NOT lol!!!

And for the record, I am not a Shimano fan boy.

I also have Lews reels, Abu Garcia, AND 4 PQ's, and E series Curado's

Hootie

[frantzracing0]

I Love The E series Curado. But I Feel ShimanoHas Gone The Wrong Way With Its Reels Lately.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Actually, for "feel" presentations (jigs,t-rigs...) the rod is a more critical component. For deep cranking you might make an argument for scewing the budget toward the reel. There is no "garbage" in the choices of reels in the $125> price range. You almost can't go wrong. Now if focus is put on the "for the money" part of the OP a Pro Qualifier on sale is really hard to beat. Pflueger, Revo S, and Citica (E or G) are good workman like reels as well and are good values, even more so in gently used condition.

[BrettD]

I Love The E series Curado. But I Feel ShimanoHas Gone The Wrong Way With Its Reels Lately.

You do know the chronarch e is the same reel that the curado e was. All they really did was change the name of the reels. About half my reels are lews the other half is shimano. Then I have 3 abus 2 diawas and 1 quantum.

[bigdave39355]

lews speed spools are good for the money, can be found for ~$60 on the auction site.

[lmbfisherman]

Don't Listen To The Shimano Fan Boy. The Curado G Is Garbage. Id Take A Bps Pq Over A Curado G Or Citica ANY DAY

Wow that is hogwash dude.  Curado G is far from Garbage, I own 2 G Curados and 3 Citica Gs - and 1 PQ.  I also own E series too,the Gs work just as good or slightly better than my E imo.  Actually feel like I can cast a little further on my G than the E.  Could be because I use the G series more often than my Es.  They are my work horses, sure I like my PQ too, but I'd still pick the Curado G over the PQ as it is smoother in my opinion.  I will give the PQ credit that performance to price ratio it is a hard reel to beat in that area, and harder to beat when you can get it regularly on sale for 80.  I am not a "fan boy", but the majority of my reels are Shimano for good reason, they make quality products.  I own BPS, Shimano and 1 Quantum reel.

[fishking247]

dawia lexa 100, its 139.99 and they just started a promo to get a $25 visa gift card back.. its easily the best reel in that price rance

Decent reel, my only complaint is the mag control dial will change due to my hand rubbing against it. I wish they put it in a different place on the reel.

 

As for a reel i recommend the shimano citica

[dodgeguy]

pfluger trion for 99 or president for 150.my favorite is a abu garcia mgx for 350.shimano does make good baitcasters.

[skeletor6]

H2o xpress ethos rod 59.99 and h2o mettle reel 49.99 from academy and you will not be disappointed.

 

Echoing the H2O mettle suggestion. It's tough to beat for its price. Had two of them and now only one. Both were very reliable, consistent, and would cast further than higher priced reels side by side. I like that they incorporate centrifugal breaking systems that, at a glance, look similar to Shimano's. I have since upgraded, but never did I regret the purchase of those reels as they were a stepping stone to the ones I own at the present. 

[rockchalk06]

Don't Listen To The Shimano Fan Boy. The Curado G Is Garbage. Id Take A Bps Pq Over A Curado G Or Citica ANY DAY

I love how people come here and with their first few posts bash something. Your opinions means about this much........"que the crickets"

[rockchalk06]

To the original poster, at the 120 dollar mark, your options are big. Alot needs to be put toward what do you want? Mag breaks, centrifugal breaks or both.

How serious are you about baitcasters? If you dump a ton in one and decide its not for you, taking a loss is hard. That said I'd loom at the Bass Pro Pro Qualifier to start with. Also look in the flea market area. There are some killer deals on used reels. Guy has some Curado G's cheap.

[thehooligan]

Id look for a used curado e/g....

[Arv]

If you can find a solid used reel, I would go with something like a Curado. Otherwise my recommendation is the BPS PQ. For the price I don't think it can be beat.

[lmbfisherman]

Decent reel, my only complaint is the mag control dial will change due to my hand rubbing against it. I wish they put it in a different place on the reel.

 

As for a reel i recommend the shimano citica

My complaint about the Lexa is (own 2), the foot has a wide profile and it has issues locking down on my Shimano, Fenwick and even the Daiwa T Rod has issues locking it down .  On my St Croix and BPS rods with traditional reel seats, it has no problem.  I just don't understand why they did that.  It is something that is a game breaker for me.  If it didn't do that, I'd agree a very good reel. 

[down4ttown]

I love my Academy H2O Mettle. I can cast a hollow body frog about as far with it as my Team Lews or Supertuned Curado E. In fact, I can outcast my PQ by about ten feet using heavier line. The mettle is a solid simple reel that works flawless with braid, but can be a little difficult using smaller diameter lines. 

[(='_'=)]

Curado G's would be a good buy for ~$120. Citica D/E's and Curado B's may probably be found cheaper; and any of them should serve you just as well.

 

EDIT: Apparently I misread your post. If you want to spend ~$120 for the rod AND reel; I'd try to find a used Curado B (goes for ~$70)/ Citica D (~$55) and spend the rest on the rod.

 

and so did almost everyone who answered...

 

i think the OP wants to spend $120 in both rod and reel.... 

 

i also own the H2O Mettle, for the money it is very good, however, i would take any of my quantums any day, but they are almost twice as much, still in the "budget" category, but almost twice as much than the Mettle...