Good Baitcaster For A Beginner?

[ABW]

If you really want a good baitcaster for your first one, I'd recommend that you save up some money and buy a little bit more expensive reel. There are a lot of great deals on 200+ dollar reels that you can find for a lot less. If you get a cheap reel, you will want to upgrade... trust me, I've went through this myself. Buy a great reel for your first one and you'll be satisfied. If not, there are good options in the 100 dollar range too, like others have posted.

 

Baitcasters are not too complicated to use. I would suggest throwing braid when you first start fishing with it, because I did and found it very easy to pull out backlashes.

[Penguino]

Not to be a jerk, but in all honesty a dual breaking system requires less talent to cast effectively than a single breaking system, as it has the ability to have a base setting (centrifugal) and on the fly fine tune adjustments (magnetic). on a system with only 1 type your thumb is what makes the fine tuned adjustments... 

 

Mitch

What I am trying to say is that a dual breaking system is harder to set up than a magnetic or centrifugal breaking system. I agree; dual breaking systems are probably better overall, but a single breaking system is much easier to set up and tune for a beginner who knows nothing about baitcasters. 

[Angry John]

I don't know why one braking system would be so much better than another. Are we really saying shimano is better to learn on because of there braking system? I am not afraid to say I like daiwa, but learning how to tune the braking system you reel has is very important and takes a little experience. The cheap black max from wally world was easy to tune and worked OK after a little clean and lube. Facts and opinions are part of the game but should not be used interchangeably. The lews speed spool I used one time was so solid I did nothing to it all day and handed it back after the day was done. I don't have any but they seem very solid and easy to use.

[Bass2124]

Bass pro pro qualifier on sale

X2.  Great bait caster for the money and even better to learn on.

[new2BC4bass]

I don't know why one braking system would be so much better than another. Are we really saying shimano is better to learn on because of there braking system? I am not afraid to say I like daiwa, but learning how to tune the braking system you reel has is very important and takes a little experience. The cheap black max from wally world was easy to tune and worked OK after a little clean and lube. Facts and opinions are part of the game but should not be used interchangeably. The lews speed spool I used one time was so solid I did nothing to it all day and handed it back after the day was done. I don't have any but they seem very solid and easy to use.

 

I have no trouble backlashing just about any of the braking systems.  I've backlashed my Curado 51E and Chronarch 101A, but not the Chronarch100B.  Nor have I backlashed a Tatula or Magforce 3D.  However, the ones not backlashed haven't seen much use yet.  Give me a little time, and I'm sure I'll succeed with these as well.    I still maintain the Magforce 3D with the right settings would be nearly impossible to backlash unless you hook a tree limb at the beginning of the cast and don't thumb the spool right away. 

 

I too like Daiwa.  Slightly more than half my b/c reels are Daiwa.  However, I don't consider myself a Daiwa fan boy.  The 51E is right up there with my favorite Daiwas.  The older Carbonlite and 1600C reels are surprisingly excellent casters given their price.  I suppose it is my lack of expertise that keeps me from disliking just about any reel.  My TD-S sees little use because it has a flipping switch and I much prefer a thumb bar.  However, that doesn't keep it from being an excellent casting reel.  It also has a tougher finish than a lot of my other Daiwas.

 

A Trion I received came with a light braid spooled.  I thought it would work great casting unweighted worms since the spool spun so freely on its own when the clutch was disengaged.  Turned out to be a backlashing machine.  Mike Lawson cleaned it for me and suggested I use heavier line and heavier lures.  I haven't backlashed this reel since putting his suggestions into use.  All this to say that most reels can be trouble free if you set it up correctly and use weights within its preference range.  The Trion doesn't make a good finesse reel any more than a Zillion would.  My Zillion 50th is one of very few reels I can set and forget.....but I'm sure trying to throw 3/16 oz. on this reel would turn it into a backlash machine as well.