Kitestir Posted February 25, 2014 Posted February 25, 2014 I am a total beginner with a baitcaster. I have some GC at Gander and want to try one out. So what would be a good choice arount $100 to get started? I am looking at: Daiwa AIRD $89 Daiwa Exceler $99 Lews Speed spool $99 GSX Elite $79 Lews Laser MG $79 Abu Garcia Orra SX $99 Pflueger Trion $99 There are a few more in this price range, but these were the ones that I thought looked the best. Can anyone give me opinions on some of these? I am looking for ease of setup and best chance to minimize backlash etc. Thanks in advance! Quote
black94gt50 Posted February 25, 2014 Posted February 25, 2014 Out of all those, speed spool hands down. Metal frame. I've got one that I crankbait fish with and love it. They are small reels and the mag cast control works great on them. Quote
edfitzvb Posted February 25, 2014 Posted February 25, 2014 +1 on Lew's. Great reels, quality parts, always work. I have several Quote
tommiller76 Posted February 25, 2014 Posted February 25, 2014 It's funny you mention the GSX, does anyone own one and if so what is your take on it? I have an opportunity to pick up two of them for the price of one or a little more but I don't know anyone personally that has one to pick their brain about. The specs seem to be good but if the parts used are cheap then it just isn't going to last. I appreciate any feed back anyone may have thanks. I own an Orra and an Orra winch and love both of them, you really can't go wrong with anything from Abu Garcia or any of the other reels on this list honestly so it really boils down to what particular type of fishing you are going to use it for. That is where gear ratio and line capacity come into play. One last bit of advice that is my own personal thought. I have had nothing but trouble with Pflueger's customer service in the past and I've found that unless you shell out $150 or more for one of their reels you are running the risk of paying for no more than one maybe two years of quality usage. Again that is just my personal opinion based on personal experience, some guys swear by Pflueger others wouldn't take one for free. In the end it's your money and what you feel comfortable with spending your hard earned money on. Quote
Super User smalljaw67 Posted February 25, 2014 Super User Posted February 25, 2014 The Lews Speed Spool hands down and NOT the laser model either. I was with a friend, he got a Tourney Pro and he liked it so much he got his son the Lews Speed Spool for $99. He took me fishing the next day to use the reel some and get it dialed in for his son as they were fishing a club event the next day and so his son wouldn't get chance to use it as he had to work OT so the dad was setting it up. Well, after we put the boat on the trailer, my buddy told me he was going to park the boat and head to Cabelas, he was taking back his Tourney pro and was going to replace it with 2 speed spools, he told me the speed spools performed just as good as the TP and the fact it was heavier made his rod balance better and this guy knows his tackle. So I'd say the Speed spool is what you want to go with but whatever you pick just remember to stay away from Graphite framed reels, look for aluminum frame and go from there. Quote
MacP Posted February 25, 2014 Posted February 25, 2014 Bass Pro Pro Qualifier's are going to be $80.00 during the spring classic. Okuma Citrix's can be found for $120.00 and they have a $20.00 rebate going on. Other than that, Lews Speed Spool. Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted February 25, 2014 Super User Posted February 25, 2014 I am a total beginner with a baitcaster. I have some GC at Gander and want to try one out. So what would be a good choice arount $100 to get started? I am looking at: Daiwa AIRD $89 Daiwa Exceler $99 Lews Speed spool $99 GSX Elite $79 Lews Laser MG $79 Abu Garcia Orra SX $99 Pflueger Trion $99 There are a few more in this price range, but these were the ones that I thought looked the best. Can anyone give me opinions on some of these? I am looking for ease of setup and best chance to minimize backlash etc. Thanks in advance! My recommendation is none of those. The Shimano Curado 200G is VERY user friendly and on sale at most retailers for less than $100. This is by far the "Best Buy". 1 Quote
daiwaguy Posted February 25, 2014 Posted February 25, 2014 I agree with the Curado, but one other option is to jump on a T3 Ballistic at TW right now. I picked up some this weekend because with the 25% classic sale going(ends today) they were only 113 bucks. 1 Quote
Super User MCS Posted February 25, 2014 Super User Posted February 25, 2014 I would jump all over the ballistic for 113! but if you chose to go budget minded the old model of the exceler is at cabelas and another site for 49 and 55 bucks respectively. I just picked one up. cast it a little this morning cant beat an alum frame reel at that price. Also cabelas prodigy reels are on sale because they are daiwas in cabelas clothing. The afore mentioned curado g will be 89.99 at gander mountain. They also have old reel trade in might be able to get something else on your list for a few bucks off checkout their flyer. Quote
Global Moderator Mike L Posted February 25, 2014 Global Moderator Posted February 25, 2014 I havent fished any on your list, so I wont give an oppinion, but I agree with RW. If you would consider other options, with the BPS sping sale coming up the Curado G would be a great choice for the sale price. However, if you would entertain another suggestion, JM sig reel for 114.00 is a steal. Mike Quote
Wbeadlescomb Posted February 25, 2014 Posted February 25, 2014 Get the $99 lews speed spool from gander that comes with a free store brand rod and go fishing Quote
NathanW Posted February 25, 2014 Posted February 25, 2014 Agree with most Lews speed spool. But it would be even better if you could find a Curado G for your price range. Quote
TrapperJ Posted February 25, 2014 Posted February 25, 2014 Lews Speed Spool without a doubt. Also the BPS Pro Qualifier that will be on sale and even cheaper via the Reel Trade in program. Quote
Super User buzzed bait Posted February 25, 2014 Super User Posted February 25, 2014 another for the speed spool from your list. although i agree with the curado if you can swing it Quote
Fish Murderer 71 Posted February 25, 2014 Posted February 25, 2014 Go with the BPS pro qualifier, dual braking systems ROCK! Quote
dtruesdell24 Posted February 26, 2014 Posted February 26, 2014 Bass Pro Pro Qualifier's are going to be $80.00 during the spring classic. Okuma Citrix's can be found for $120.00 and they have a $20.00 rebate going on. Other than that, Lews Speed Spool. When does the sale start? I want to get one when they are sale. Either that or a Lews tourney pro, which I found for 110 on ebay? Quote
MacP Posted February 26, 2014 Posted February 26, 2014 I think it's first few weeks of May. Weekend usually. I saw my wife toss the flier the other day. She said, "You don't need an excuse to buy stuff. You'll do it anyway." Quote
black94gt50 Posted February 26, 2014 Posted February 26, 2014 Go with the BPS pro qualifier, dual braking systems ROCK! I agree that the dual braking is awesome, with that being said the mag braking on the lews are way way better than most Reels I've had with just mag braking. My lews speed spool works flawless and is a super easy reel to cast. I love both the speed spool and the pro qualifier. I'm actually going Friday to get another pro qualifier since the bps sale starts. 1 Quote
Fish Murderer 71 Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 I agree that the dual braking is awesome, with that being said the mag braking on the lews are way way better than most Reels I've had with just mag braking. My lews speed spool works flawless and is a super easy reel to cast. I love both the speed spool and the pro qualifier. I'm actually going Friday to get another pro qualifier since the bps sale starts. A friend of mine told me when I first started to use a baitcaster, once I learned how to use the caster I wouldnt want to use anything but it. He was right- I cant tell you how many times I just wanted to go back to using an openface, but now I very seldom use them. I have come to love the Revo gen3 STX and have 5 of them. I have them all dialed in for specific baits and they work flawless. I also have a couple of the Promax series and I can throw them just as good. I think its all just a matter of mind set - "I can do/ I can't do". ultimately, my thumb is the master braking device and lots of failed casting has perfected it. I still have a few hiccups and have to pull out a few birdnests, but nothing like what I had in the past. Quote
black94gt50 Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 A friend of mine told me when I first started to use a baitcaster, once I learned how to use the caster I wouldnt want to use anything but it. He was right- I cant tell you how many times I just wanted to go back to using an openface, but now I very seldom use them. I have come to love the Revo gen3 STX and have 5 of them. I have them all dialed in for specific baits and they work flawless. I also have a couple of the Promax series and I can throw them just as good. I think its all just a matter of mind set - "I can do/ I can't do". ultimately, my thumb is the master braking device and lots of failed casting has perfected it. I still have a few hiccups and have to pull out a few birdnests, but nothing like what I had in the past. Exactly. I'm like to set the brakes up to where my thumb is needed for some resistance on the spool. It's all bout practice and time spent casting over the years. Most modern reels are pretty much set and forget for the most part. Quote
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