Starting To Look At "finese" Baitcasters......

[Drewski73]

OK, so Im at the point where I fish weightless T-rig, mini flukes, and 1/16 - 1/8 oz drop shot often enough that I think I can justify the costs of a "finese" baitcaster to mount on my cumara medium fast rod. Im a Shimano guy historically, but fish a smoke, and have a pro max that I keep in the truck, and like both of those just fine. The cumara currently has a Curado 50e with abec 7's on it now, and while I really like the reel, I feel its better suited stepped up to my next rod, a Powell 733 where itll fish Flukes, Rage Rigs, 3/16 oz swimjigs, and light T rigs.

 

I REALLY like the looks of the Revo LTX. If I was buying a reel to look at, thatd be the one. I havent been able to handle any of the newer finese type baitcasters at all. The Pixy Type R is out of my price range. That leaves me with a Metanium, Revo LTX, and a JDM Pixy. Am I missing any? Does anyone have anything bad to say about any of those reels? At that price point, Im probably going to love what I end up with, but at that price point Im also going to do A LOT of research.

 

Thanks guys and gals

 

Drew

[J Francho]

 

Am I missing any?

 

Yes, every bass sized spinning rig made.

 

If you want to throw 1/16 to 1/8 oz. baits, just get a nice spinning rig.

[iabass8]

there was a user on here that has the ltx,hopefullyhe will chime in.

[Drewski73]

Yes, every bass sized spinning rig made.

If you want to throw 1/16 to 1/8 oz. baits, just get a nice spinning rig.

I hate 'em! Ive tried over and over, spent too much money and time going down that path. I have two fantastic spinning rigs that just dont get used.

[bassasaurus]

Out of the reels you mentioned I have an older generation metanium mg7, a couple of supertuned pixys and the pixy type r. You like the ltx but say that the pixy type r is out of your price range. If you look around you can find it new for less than 400. The "pixzillas" are amazing reels but modifying does not come cheap. The type r is an absolute blast to fish as well. If you upgrade to a shallow spool and tune your curado 50e, you probably wont see too much of a difference compared to the reels you mentioned when factoring in cost. You can find good deals on good condition pixys on that auction site.

[21farms]

you forgot the shimano aldebaran BFS XG, which in my opinion, is easily the best of the bunch. $325 from rakuten hikoboshi

[J Francho]

I hate 'em! Ive tried over and over, spent too much money and time going down that path. I have two fantastic spinning rigs that just dont get used.

 

Since you're bent on this, you really should be looking at rods, not reels, if you REALLY want to throw a bait that light.  About the nicest rig I've used for stuff around a 1/8 oz. was Maico's NRX 802c with a Conquest 50 DC.

[Drewski73]

Im not sure Im bent on it. Its a combination of really prefering a baitcaster, and being pretty satisfied with my current line up, outside of finese fishing. I found something I didnt have, which means I need it, which means I get to do the really fun part of researching a new reel, and then buying it!

 

That aldebaran looks nice!

 

If I was to consider a shallow spool for the curado, where would I find one?

 

Thanks for all the replies folks!

[J Francho]

 

I hate 'em! Ive tried over and over, spent too much money and time going down that path.

 

Well, it sounded like you were dead set against spinning to me....

 

Either way, you'll really have to consider something different than a medium - fast rod for baits that light.  The rod will be more important than the reel, though a reel with a light spool and fast start up will help. If you want to upgrade the spool in your Curado, places like Japan Tackle or Plat should have what your looking for.

[Drewski73]

I would rather use what I currently have, over spinning gear. But I really like nice new tackle, that serves a purpose as well.

[J Francho]

Drop an Avail honeycomb spool in that 50e.

 

[21farms]

Im not sure Im bent on it. Its a combination of really prefering a baitcaster, and being pretty satisfied with my current line up, outside of finese fishing. I found something I didnt have, which means I need it, which means I get to do the really fun part of researching a new reel, and then buying it!

 

That aldebaran looks nice!

 

If I was to consider a shallow spool for the curado, where would I find one?

 

Thanks for all the replies folks!

i always look to japantackle for aftermarket spools. i have the yumeya 32mm BFS shallow spool in my chronarch 50E and it transforms the reel. the avail microcast 928 spool looks like it might be a good choice too.

 

you'll really have to consider something different than a medium - fast rod for baits that light.  The rod will be more important than the reel, though a reel with a light spool and fast start up will help.

totally agree...the rod is just as important if not more than the reel. take a look at the phenix recon2 713C.

[Drewski73]

Drop an Avail honeycomb spool in that 50e.

 

 

 

WHOOOOOAAAAAA!

[Arv]

drop a 50 series shimano on a dobyns 701 or 702c

[JeziHogg]

I own the Abu LTX and LTZ, aswell as the Shimano Aldebaran BFS and 2x Core 51's (One with the Avail ALD0936RR aka Honey comb). The LTX is pretty much a MGX with a micro spool and the LTZ is an upgraded LTX that comes with a micro spool and a super micro spool. The LTZ  has a different braking system aswell. As for the Shimano's they are the way to go. The Aldebaran is the best choice for performance/price range. If you don't trust international retail webpages you can also make an Aldebaran BFS with a Core 50 + an Avail ALD0928R and Kattobi Air Bait Finesse special Bearings. Its all personal preference, but I like the Shimano's a lot more because they are a smaller profile.

 

http://www.hedgehog-studio.co.jp/product-list/12 is a great webpage to do some serious customizing to your baitcasters. (Gets expensive quick, but you can make some cool looking reels)

http://www.japantackle.com/ is also a good webpage to order JDM reels from.

 

You can also buy an Abu LT (same as the LTX, but without the carbon fiber handle) for like $220 American.

 

 

Edit:

You can also make a Chronarch 50 or Curado 50 series into a BFS reel aswell using the Hedge Hog studio webpage. But make sure you upgrade the braking system and bearings when your going micro spool for any reel. I prefer the Kattobi Air bearings over Boca's because they use micro ball bearings.

[Grantman83]

The pixy is a the finesse baitcaster is that was it's intended purpose. Upgrade the spool and you have a finesse machine

[bootytrain]

What exactly is your price point? I have the BFS XG and its awesome.. it made my Core50 redundant. That said the Core/Curado/Chronarch 50 will sling 1/8 oz in stock form a pretty long ways on the right rod.  They can even dip slightly under that. Whats more important actually is the rod.  I have a Major Craft Volkey BFS 6'9 UL that's rated 1/32 to 1/4 oz. I have a couple of other rods that are rated down to 1/8 oz and they don't load up those weights nearly as well.  Ive thrown Bitsy Minnows with accuracy on my Aldebaran/Volkey combo at least 40 ft. out of the box with 8lb mono, and they are rated at 1/16th oz. Finesse baitcasters are not big in the US but there are way more options than the status quo Pixy now.  If you don't mind a slight weight increase take a look at the JDM Abu Revo LT.  Its basically an aluminum  version of the LTX with the same shallow spool and braking system.  You can get them for about 190 from Japan.

[Drewski73]

Im selling most of my offshore gear and turning it into bass gear. My funds arent unlimited, but Id like to stay under $400 on the reel.

I own 3 curado 50e's and am very comfy with the size. I may end up with an aldebaran bfs, and dobyns champ 701. That way I can leave my current setup as is.

Where do you purchase your jdm reels jezi and booty?

[Dwight Hottle]

Conquest 50 should be considered as well.

[Drewski73]

i always look to japantackle for aftermarket spools. i have the yumeya 32mm BFS shallow spool in my chronarch 50E and it transforms the reel. the avail microcast 928 spool looks like it might be a good choice too.

totally agree...the rod is just as important if not more than the reel. take a look at the phenix recon2 713C.

The Recon 2 713 is actually rated heavier than the Cumara Med fast jwr that Im currently using. Its rated 1/8 to 1/4 where the Recon is 1/8 to 1/2. The Recon 712 and dobyns 701 are looking good to me though. Both are 1/16 to 3/8.

[aavery2]

Diawa T3 air or one of the KTF Alphas, but they are almost impossible to get.

[bootytrain]

 

 

Im selling most of my offshore gear and turning it into bass gear. My funds arent unlimited, but Id like to stay under $400 on the reel.

I own 3 curado 50e's and am very comfy with the size. I may end up with an aldebaran bfs, and dobyns champ 701. That way I can leave my current setup as is.

Where do you purchase your jdm reels jezi and booty?

 

http://global.rakuten.com/en/category/sports_outdoor/fishing/  prices fluctuate depending on the exchange rate but pros are, prices are the cheapest, cons are no warranty. 

[bootytrain]

Im actually going to pick up a Revo LTZ AE-74. For the price it comes with a spare spool   heres my BFS XG to wet your appetite lol

[bassasaurus]

Im actually going to pick up a Revo LTZ AE-74. For the price it comes with a spare spool   heres my BFS XG to wet your appetite lol

Nice combo. Which poison adrena model is that? How does it fish?

[down4ttown]

Call up Ron at Valley Sports (a new sponsor) he is offering some crazy deals on the new Helios Air.