50 Size Reels For Everything

[panhardbar]

I am getting back into fishing this coming summer after a few years away. Used to use diawa reels almost exclusively untill I sold everything off. Late last fall I purchased the new Chronach 51E for $100 and shore fished a few times with it and fell in love. Last week I bought 2 new Curado 51e reels off eBay for great prices (read a lot that the chronarch is the old curado)

This summer I'm planning a spending at least 2 days a week on the water, and possibly fish a tournament or two towards the fall. this as all smallmouth fishing in eastern canada. I really love fishing light line and small/light baits. Even when crankbait fishing I'm never ever throwing anything that's over 1/2oz, and very rarely even throw anything at 1/2oz. I throw 1/4-3/8oz spinner baits mostly. These are the only two techniques I worry I may struggle with when using this small of reel. From personal experience with my chronarch 51e last fall throwing a 7/16oz crankbait off a warf, I never ran out of line on my casts, and really never had any struggle or fatigue with cranking it back in. Does this seem unrealistic? do I just have a really short cast and a really strong and conditioned reeling wrist? Basically my question is, am I going to eventually come to regret not buying a couple 200 size reels? Or will the 50 size reels indeed be adequate enough? A part of me is hoping the 50 size reels will be adequate because I love the smaller size in my hand, and ability to throw really light cranks and jerk baits etc. Anybody out there using 50 size reels for everything?

Sorry for the long post guys.. Thanks a lot for any insight given!

[iabass8]

I love the 50 size reels and use them for most techniques

[Toeshots]

No reason why you couldn't use 50 size reels for everything. That Chronarch has about 25 IPT which is right in the middle as far as IPT goes, so it's a nice all-around speed. The higher-end Shimanos have higher gear ratios in the 50 series so you can get the small profile reel with the increased IPT as well.

[tomustang]

I use 51e's on basically everything 12lb mono max and 65lb braid max. Exclusions are big swimbaits, giant deep cranks, or anything going super deep that needs the line amount

[panhardbar]

Thanks a lot guys! Guess I'll buy 1 or 2 more and go with it! Btw, first time using ebay, it's absolutely awesome! never pay retail again.

[bootytrain]

Once you go Shimano 50 you cant go back lol.. You can get a Shimano 50 (Aldebaran) with a 5.8 ratio.  Its noticeably lighter than the Chronarch/Curado 50s, but also more expensive. They can handle a wide range of techniques and weights, not just light line finesse. Spinners, cranks, jerkbaits, small swimbaits(ive fished a 1 ounce Spro BBZ-1) with a capable rod. And these things can cast and don't let anyone tell you any different.  Yesterday I was just playing around with my Curado 50 and measured out a 51 yard cast(153 feet) with a 3/8 oz practice plug on a 6'6 rod and 1 brake on. I wasn't even putting my full force into the cast. If you haven't already you should flush out the bearings. Collect them all and enjoy

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

The core50mg7 feels a bit strained with 3/4oz spinnerbaits definately feel the resistance not a presentation Id use all day with the reel, lower gear ratio for sure.

[Drewski73]

Outside of my frog setup (CH100SF), and my heavy jig rod (Core100), Im all CU50E's and CH50MG's at this point. With braid I see no point in reels over the 100 size. Unless youre throwing XD Cranks on 20lb mono, which a lot of guys do I guess.