Baitcast Reel That Did It For You

[livemusic]

Baitcast reels, being prone to backlash, drive some people nutty. Have any of you found a reel that changed your life, so to speak, lol? Expensive to me is, say, $175 for a reel but geez, I am seeing reels for $400 and more. Does it matter? It really would be cool to find a reel that rarely backlashes.

[Ozark_Basser]

I know you're probably expecting someone to say this, but it's true. Backlashes are mainly up to the user. I can set a cheap baitcaster with virtually the same settings as an expensive one and still expect the same results when it comes to backlashes.

That being said there are versions of some Shimano reels that are supposed to be really hard to backlash. Any Shimano reel that ends in DC is supposed to have some high tech cast control system. Is it necessary? No. But it answers your question, and yes they are very expensive.

[desmobob]

I had used only one bait casting reel; and old Daiwa PT1500FL with mixed results.  Then, I decided to shell out a little more money to try a "good" reel.  I bought a Lew's Tournament Pro, and it was all over.  Since then, I picked up another Lew's TP, two Daiwa Tatulas, and a Daiwa Pixie.  There's no going back. 

 

And occasionally, backlashes still happen!  

 

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[Jeff H]

Wasn't any particular reel that did it for me.  It was Daiwa's Magforce Z braking system, first experienced in my TD-A HST153.  Gave me a new appreciation for BC reel performance.  And now, my favorite is a TD-Z 103/105 with RCS 1016 spool.  Just awesome!

[Maxximus Redneckus]

My abu pro maxs and black maxs wont backlash even if i try ,,somedays i can get my c3s to backlash but i need a limb or leaf about 1/4 to do that.as was said its user error 9 outta 10 times.it all boils down to dedication and consistantcy compined.just like with bow hunting you can have a 1000$ setup it dont mean jack unless u shoot it at least 3 times a week before and after bowseason

[Catt]

All backlashes are operator error

[BrianinMD]

Bought a cheap pflueger and hated it. Gave up for a year then got a citica d, very short learning curve later the baitcast buying spree began.

[Jrob78]

I started using baitcasters at about 10 but don't remember any of those early reels.  I do remember getting a Daiwa Procaster for my birthday at about 15 that cost $100.  I saved up and bought an Allstar Zell Rowland Topwater Special, (that I still have) to put the reel on.  That was my first nice combo and I loved everything about it.

[FishTank]

I had but sold a Shimano Calais 201a.  This reel was amazing but super heavy.  Smooth beyond comparison, casted a mile, backlashes were rare and was built like a tank.  I miss it dearly.  

 

With all that said, backlashes are mainly operator error but a few reels that have ineffective braking systems can cause major headaches.  The price of the reel does not always reflect that.

[je1946]

As others have stated it's mainly in the setup.  I had a Shimano Citica D, and a BPS Johnny Morris Signiture series  that when set up properly I could throw baits a long way and very seldom backlash, the wind will also drive you crazy when throwing baits into it.  Learn your reels, how to set them up and practice with them.  The cost of a reel is not the determining factor in a backlash

[livemusic]

Well, you've got wind and sometimes, you have to throw into it. You've got limbs of trees sometimes because you are inside a Cypress forest in the lake and you have to cast under and around trees. You've got different weights baits, and baits that are shaped like a missile and baits that have a lot of surface area like a crawfish. And different line tests and all kinds of variables. And you have several rigs and they have different rod flexes and the reels have different setups and you are switching between them all. And I dunno, but seems to me, with me and all of the guys I fish with, backlashes are certainly not unusual. Maybe none of us know what we are doing, lol. I got a spinning reel setup lately and it's pretty foolproof, lol. Hmmm...

[The Great Blue Heron]

I've had a bunch of round Abu Garcia reels and some old Quantum MG's that all performed great and brought in lots of bass and great memories. But once I got my hands on a Shimano Citica 200E all the other stuff I had just felt Micky Mouse. Those old reels now sit on top of the gun safe as decoration and will hopefully serve as educational material in teaching my son how to cast a baitcaster in a few years. They still work and I won't be upset if he beats them all to heck...which he will!

[papajoe222]

I have a Daiwa PMA10 that I haven't had one backlash on in the last twelve years.............I loved that reel so much I retired it

twelve years ago

[kingmotorboat]

I started on a cheap quantum bill dance 2 piece rod combo when I was 14. I had it till I was 16. I took a12 year fishing hiatus and bought a blue max. Didn't like it so much so I said he'll with it. Got a revo s. Then a 13 ***. The *** got me in to a bait monkey spree. Now I own the ***. A tatula type r and a lews tournament mb . And currently trying to sell the revo s . Long story short the *** really got me hooked

[Hogsticker]

Daiwa reels equipped with SV spools are harder to backlash than others, but it's still very possible to do.

[rippin-lips]

Daiwa reels equipped with SV spools are harder to backlash than others, but it's still very possible to do.

Especially the SS SV. The most forgiving reel I've ever used. My brakes are set on 1-2 for a rage craw with 3/16 weight. It's almost too controlled.

[Bluebasser86]

I started with a Curado 200B, probably one of the easiest reels to setup and use that I've ever owned. 

[offsidewing]

Lew's Speed Spool Tournament was the reel where it all came together for me. Once I stopped trying to cast it like a spinning combo the backlashes became almost non-existant. Once I figured that out, the bait monkey moved into my house.

[stkbassn]

So far I haven't found a reel that absolutely won't but I had the least from my Chronarch 100B's. Still my favorite reel I've ever had. I now find the Tatula to be a very easy casting reel and see very little to no backlash from it. It's a very good reel in my opinion.

[roadwarrior]

Curado 50E

 

 

 

[NJSalt]

they were backlashes when I was learning, now they are called "professional overruns"

[5dollarsplash]

Curado 50E

 

Those were/are magic in so many different facets.

[scaleface]

The reel that hooked me on baitcasters was an Ambassaduer 5000.  Once  I put high speed gears in it and a big handle on it , I never looked back . Its a  clunker compared to what I use now but for the time it was a well performing bass reel  .

[stk]

BassProshops Pro Qualifier - The Bait Monkey Gateway Reel.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The love of fishing multi-species and curiosity about techniques drew me to baitcating reels more than one specific model. About the only thing I don't have reel wise right now is a line counter reel. lol