Finesse Casters?

[Mikell]

Im wanting to get a reel that would be great for weightless to light weight soft plastics.

I know I could go out and drop 300 on one but I dont fish THAT much to really want that lol

Can anyone recommend something that is good with finesse that I can find around the $150 range?

[mjseverson24]

prob a used curado or chronarch 50 series would be you best bet in that price range... A daiwa T3 for 200 is a great deal on a fantastic caster... quantum energy pt do pretty well with lighter baits, as the spool speeds up pretty fast... 

 

Mitch

[smalljaw67]

How light? If you are good with a casting reel then with the right rod you should be able to throw something that is around 3/16oz with most casting reels but to get down around 1/60, or even 3/32 you won't find a reel for under $300 and it will most likely cost more than $400 for one. I use a spinning reel for light finesse, but if I would be going the casting route I'd probably grab a Pflueger Patriarch with a Fenwick Elite Tech 6'10" M-F casting rod, that set up will let you cast a bait that is 3/16oz and the rod can handle 1/8oz weights but you need to be pretty good with a casting reel and using your thumb, if you rely on brakes then save up and get a Daiwa PX68.

[Tywithay]

Find a nice used Chronarch 50E, 50MG, Curado 50E, Scorpion 1000xt, etc. Then buy an Avail microcast spool for it. You'll be able to cast about as light as you want with a proper rod.

[new2BC4bass]

So far I am only down to 3/16 oz. total with 4 of my reels....all purchased used.  A TD-Z 105H, 2 of the older gold Carbonlites, and a tricked out Sol with Presso spool.  Only the Sol cost more than your $150 limit (purchase price $155 already upgraded), but I added the Presso spool taking total over $250.  The Carbonlites were $65 apiece.  They handle a 3/16 oz. Shad Rap just great.  My casting ability is the limiting factor right now.  I've thrown a 1/8 oz. lure with the Carbonlite, but accuracy and distance sucked.  I know the rod will handle that weight and feel the reel will as well...but my skill level isn't there yet.  The TD-Z was at your limit, but needed some work done to it, so I had it tuned, the bearings and drag upgraded while being repaired.  Total more than your limit, but the reel would handle 3/16 oz. before the repair/upgrade.

 

Another low cost alternative would be the Prolite.  Never used one, but it should work even better than the Carbonlites I have.

 

I've thrown an unweighted fluke (the small model) with an older Abu Black Max 1600 round reel.  Can't be more than 1/4 oz. and the reel would throw it directly into a strong wind with no backlashing.

 

New is probably going to cost you a lot more than the $150 you want to spend.  I don't know how light I can go with my Lews TP.  Something I may have to find out this year just so I can give an informative answer to such questions as you posted.

 

EDIT:  Forgot my Curado 51E, but don't think I have tried below a 3/16 oz. spinnerbait with it yet, and we know that spinnerbait would total closer to 1/4 oz.  It handles that lure with authority. on a Fenwick 6'10" MF Smallmouth rod.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Yup, the 50E is about as good as you'll get at your budget. The aftermarket spools are expensive and the potential advantage is limited. Personally, I don't have the urge to invest in finesse casting when quality spinning tackle is so readily available and arguably does a better job of the task.

[F14A-B]

Yup, the 50E is about as good as you'll get at your budget. The aftermarket spools are expensive and the potential advantage is limited. Personally, I don't have the urge to invest in finesse casting when quality spinning tackle is so readily available and arguably does a better job of the task.

Yep... I agree with this wholeheartedly .

[new2BC4bass]

Yep... I agree with this wholeheartedly .

 

I can't disagree with Mike's statement either.  However...........................................I love to use baitcast reels.  I grew up with spinning reels, but now I try to use a baitcast reel for everything even tho I realize it isn't always going to be the best at what I am asking it to do.  Fishing in my area pretty much sucks.  What keeps me going out is my gear and the pleasure I derive from using it.  If I had stayed only with spinning reels, I wouldn't be posting right now because I wouldn't be reading any fishing forums for the simple fact that I would have quit fishing.......again.

 

It isn't always about what reel (or rod) is best for a specific technique.  Nor is it strictly about catching fish.  If all I wanted to do was catch fish, I would be using live bait, not artificials.

[Raul]

Yup, the 50E is about as good as you'll get at your budget. The aftermarket spools are expensive and the potential advantage is limited. Personally, I don't have the urge to invest in finesse casting when quality spinning tackle is so readily available and arguably does a better job of the task.

Absolutely ! Coming from the guy that owns 3 Pixies, 2 105H TDZs, Alphas Ito, Alphas Type F, Alphas R Edition and Zonda 68.

[STPC]

Yup, the 50E is about as good as you'll get at your budget. The aftermarket spools are expensive and the potential advantage is limited. Personally, I don't have the urge to invest in finesse casting when quality spinning tackle is so readily available and arguably does a better job of the task.

 

Agree 100%.  I have a Smoke 25 spooled w/10 lb. power pro w/fluoro leader.  I can put a weightless Zoom trick worm in a 5-gallon bucket from 20 yards and closer.  I like it paired w/a 7' m/mf rod when fishing weightless soft plastics.  IMO (and at my rookie/intermediate casting reel skill) using spinning gear for finesse techniques is a no-brainer.

 

Stephen

[Cgrinder]

Reel is only half the battle. You're going to need a rod that can handle finesse as well.

 

Coming from a guy who is about to have a Sol in pieces on his kitchen table, buy spinning and save money, time, and worry.

[bflp3]

How light weight are the plastics you will be using? If I were getting a finesse reel today, I'd get a chronarch 50e. I currently use a Pro Qualifier and a Medium Tourney Special rod, and I can throw weightless senkos and flukes really well on that setup.

[Mikell]

yeah ive def got a rod that can handle it im either throwing it on my *** black MF or my st croix LTB MF

if i was to possibly go get a spinning setup what would be choice for someone that mostly uses casters and would only use it every so often lol

[BigMoneyGrip]

I have a 50E on a Falcon Cara Micro finesse jig. I can throw a 3" Senko on a #2 light wire hook (.140 oz) about 30~35 feet.

[Catt]

I throw wacky Trick Worms with my Calcutta & my son's Citica!

[Chris at Tech]

Reel is only half the battle. You're going to need a rod that can handle finesse as well.

 

Coming from a guy who is about to have a Sol in pieces on his kitchen table, buy spinning and save money, time, and worry.

 

There's wisdom in this post

[bass1980]

Save a bit more then try this setup. T3 Ballistic for $110 and a SV spool for $100. You should be able to cast light lures very well. I have a SV spool on the way. Can't wait!

[Teal]

Find good used Alphas for 150

Lews TP run about 150 new and I can throw weightless worms... Make sure u have the right rod paired with it.

[Teal]

Remember its more about the rod than it is the reel.

[coak]

Cheap reel =BPS ProLite

Cheap rod=BPS Crankin' Stick 6'0"-6'6" ML/F

I bought 2 of these for 'my wife to use'........I almost always use one to fish when I wade in the river. I never go past 1/4 oz when fishing them

[kickerfish1]

I have 4 50 sized shimano reels. 2 can be had for about $150 or less. In their stock form they are more all around and Mag finesse than true finesse reels. They fit some of the attributes of finesse (weight, smaller size, etc..) however the spool isn't super shallow and the reel will struggle with baits smaller than 3/16 oz. Supertuning the reels internals and upgraded bearings help but not as much as a adding a true finesse spool as others have noted.

A true out of the box finesse reel will cost 2 or 3 times your budget. The downside here is they really only excel at finesse. If you bought a 50 sized shimano and bought the finesse spool and didn't like it you could always sell the spool and keep the reel for all around use or switch between them depending on what you were wanting throw. My scorpion xt and core 50 are two of my favorite all around reels.

[bootytrain]

I have 4 50 sized shimano reels. 2 can be had for about $150 or less. In their stock form they are more all around and Mag finesse than true finesse reels. They fit some of the attributes of finesse (weight, smaller size, etc..) however the spool isn't super shallow and the reel will struggle with baits smaller than 3/16 oz. Supertuning the reels internals and upgraded bearings help but not as much as a adding a true finesse spool as others have noted.

A true out of the box finesse reel will cost 2 or 3 times your budget. The downside here is they really only excel at finesse. If you bought a 50 sized shimano and bought the finesse spool and didn't like it you could always sell the spool and keep the reel for all around use or switch between them depending on what you were wanting throw. My scorpion xt and core 50 are two of my favorite all around reels.

The current LP Shimano 50s will throw 1/8th very well all day long. I was using my Curado 50 to throw Rapala Ultralight minnows yesterday.

[kickerfish1]

Perhaps on the hardbait side of the equation but with a soft plastic I didn't feel I was getting the appropriate amount of distance. I was able to cast 1/8 oz baits on my stock chronarch/curado 50, but I wasn't getting the distance of my actual finesse reels. Sorry, I should have been more clear.