Starter Baitcasters

[AbKeeLee]

so..... i have finally gotten sick of using a spinning reel and want to try a baitcaster. I heard that the Lew's Speed Spool and a Abu Garcia Pro max are both great starter reels for beginners, so which one would you prefer that i buy??? (Also trying to stay under $100).

[masterbass]

Definitely lews speed spool.

[Fishes in trees]

There is no such thing as a "starter" bait casting reel.  There are different levels of quality.  For your first bait caster, buy the best one that you can afford.  If you go cheap now, you will have to upgrade later.  Right now, Curado G's are being phased out and can be had for around  $100.  Some Shimano guys would argue that the G series  was a reduction in quality compared to the E and D series Curado.  And in some ways they have a point.

The other side of that argument is that the G series is still a Shimano and it is several steps above a "starter" reed and right now it is available for around  $100 give or take.

 

If you are looking for the best value right now, that is the way I'd go.

[Raul]

Like our partner here rightfully said, there is no such thing as starter baitcasters for beginners, higher end baitcasters have better braking systems and when you are beginner I swear, you are going to need it ! If you can get a Curado G for around 100 jump over it.

[NorcalBassin]

If you can't find a G, the BPS Pro Qualifiers are about as good as it gets for < $100

[johnwratcliff@gmail.com]

I learned how to use a bps pro qualifier last year. Great reel. I have 4.

[mjseverson24]

Tatula at <105 or the Curado G at 100 ish, or the evercast horizon reel for like 50-60 ish. Quantum accurist is a good reel as well...

 

Mitch

[CJV]

I will second the curado g series it's a great reel to start with and keep tame! Shimanos are very simple to get setup and are not temperamental.

[Jason Short]

Shimano G's are on a lot of forums for sale around $100, that's a great reel for that price! You can also find some older used reels for sale at great prices in forum sale areas. I recently got a Shimano CU-200B series for $55 and it is now one of my favorite reels. The older reels are not as small or quite as advanced, but a lot of them are built like tanks and will work great especially for a beginner.

[WIGuide]

The Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier is a well built reel that will be great to learn on. It's under $100 now.

[Christian M]

Do you have a rod for the new reel yet? 

[*Hootie]

People that criticized the G series Curado, weren't criticizing the reel, but the price point.

Now that they can be had for $100.00, guys are standing in line to get them. If you can find one, grab it.

Very servicable reel.

 

Hootie

[NathanW]

so..... i have finally gotten sick of using a spinning reel and want to try a baitcaster. I heard that the Lew's Speed Spool and a Abu Garcia Pro max are both great starter reels for beginners, so which one would you prefer that i buy??? (Also trying to stay under $100).

Just make sure you buy a right handed reel if you reel your spinning gear with your right hand and a lefty if you reel your spinning gear with your left hand.

[new2BC4bass]

Want to spend less than $100?  Do you reel with the right hand?  If so, there are 2 older gold Carbonlites for sale on another forum for $65 shipped.  These reels have dual controls and cast very well.  If you prefer a Shimano, there is a Citica 200D for $70 shipped.  If you reel LH, then it will require a little more looking.  I am a fan of Daiwas, and there are a couple nice ones for sale on the same forum...a LH Fuego and LH Sol, but price is more than your $100 limit.  If I weren't putting out several thousand moving, I would probably already have bought those two.

[ww2farmer]

I am all for saving money, but don't get too "cheap" when it comes to casting reels. I have always fished Curados, Citicas, and Revos.... Last year I thought, what the heck, let's try some cheap Abu Garcia Black Max reels.... And at first they were fine, but after six months use of the kind of use I put on reels... They were garbage, and needed to be replaced. I have never.... NEVER, had to replace a Curado... Just saying....

[AbKeeLee]

where can i find the shimano curado G series?

[Budget_Bass]

When I started getting more into bass fishing I wanted to learn to use a baitcaster. I don't have anyone in the family or friends that are real into fishing like I am, so I had no one to give me advice on buying one, let alone use one. I drove to cabela's and picked up a cheap (> $50) combo by Shakespeare. It literally fell apart the first day in the back yard. Took it back and after talking to the salesman picked up a Ln Abu Garcia silvermax (I think $69.99). It was pretty nice but had to end up returning it because the spool was cracked. Again the guy there talked me into changing reels. Got a Cabela's tournament Pro that was on sale for the same price. It was okay but I wished I had kept the Garcia. I picked up the BPS Pro Qualifier 2 weeks ago. Wow, what a difference, it is GREAT for the price tag! They were on sale at the time for $69.99, but I think regularly run about $100. I did get the chance to use a Revo S once and that seemed really nice. You get what you pay for. I if you can drop $150+ do it, but don't forget about your rod. You need to get a good rod for what your fishing.

Sorry that my post just kind of drags on. This is only my second time posting here, I hope I didn't push products too much. Just wanted to give advice of what I have personally used.

[AbKeeLee]

Do you have a rod for the new reel yet? 

yes ima put it on my duckett micro magic rod

[Bamacapsfan]

 

picked up a cheap (> $50) combo by Shakespeare.

Budget_Bass, you and I must have got a hold of the same combo.  That is pretty much how I started baitcasting, been using spincasters my whole life and decided I wanted to learn something else.  Thought before I go diving in to deep I'd pickup a low priced Shakespeare, what a waste of money & time.  Casts were rough, short distance and it was difficult to get setup correctly.  A few months back I purchased an Abu Garcia Revo S.  Wow, what a difference.  I suggest buying the best you can afford it really makes a difference.

[FlipSide]

Pro qualifier

[primetime]

This is the time of year when you can really make the most of a $100 reel since people are upgrading and deals are everywhere, and overstocks are going on clearance....

 

I would recommend finding an Okuma Citrix which is normally a $129 reel, great all purpose reel, and can be purchased new with a rebate from okuma for $50 at a few places. Also, Bass Pro Extreme, qualifier, Abu Orra Sx, I would consider  the Daiwa Aird which will run about $65 and then save some money for Terminal tackle, line, and other necessities not fun to buy like weights, leader etc....

[primetime]

I HAVE BEEN SEEING REALLY GOOD DEALS ON QUANTUM PT SERIES REELS, MOST NOTABLY THE KINETIC WHICH IS A NICE REEL FOR SURE AND NOW CAN BE HAD FOR UNDER $70, $50 IF YOU GET LUCKY AND PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO SITES WHERE PEOPLE BID. THE ENERGY IS A WORKHORSE, AND IF YOU CAN FIND ONE FOR A 100 IT WILL BE A SMOOTH LEARNING CURVE..LOTS OF CHOICES....

 

BUT DO NO BUY A REEL JUST BASED ON REVIEWS, PRICE, SPECS, OR WHAT ANYONE ELSE SUGGESTS. IF THE REEL DOES NOT FEEL GOOD IN YOUR HANDS, BALANCE ON YOUR ROD, OR YOU CAN'T PALM IT COMFORTABLY.....ALL IMPORTANT STUFF, AND IF YOU ARE A CRANKBAIT GUY, MAKESURE TO GET A LOWER GEAR RATIO, AND IF YOU FLIP, THEN CERTAIN MODELS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS.

 

ONE SUGGESTION, USE MONO THE FIRST TIME YOU SPOOL IT UP FOR A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE AND GO WTIH 12-14LB TEST WHICH IS EASIEST TO HANDLE IMO. BRAID CAN BE TOUGH TO LEARN WITH, BUT IF YOU INSIST, SPEND MONEY ON AN 8 STRAND LIKE PP PLUS, SAMARAI, AND MAKE SURE DIAMETER IS AT LEAST 10LB AS MOST BRAIDS DIG....JUST SAY NO TO COATED SUPERLINES ON CASTING REELS.

[Budget_Bass]

yes ima put it on my duckett micro magic rod

How do you like the micro guides? I've never used them.