Baitcast Reel That Did It For You

[CRANKENSTIEN]

Tatula and Lews bb1, but when they are loose you can backlash them.   Line can make a big difference.  If you are just starting go with Trilene XL 10 to 15 lb.   I dont use it anymore for other reasons.  It is a good line, it cast great and it wont break you while in the learning curve.   Also use a backing line so you dont have to change the whole spool.

[new2BC4bass]

My first Low Profile reel was the Daiwa Fuego when TW closed them out in 2009.  That got me hooked.  However, it isn't a backlash free reel.  I own several Daiwa models from the TD-S to the PXL, Chronarchs and Curados, Scorpion, Pfluegers, Lews, BPS, Pinnacle, and Abus (including Morrums).  The Ambassadeur 1600C is hard to backlash, but can be done.  The only reels I have that I consider backlash free are the Daiwa T3 1016 reels with Magforce 3D.  No thumb needed if set up right,.

[masterbass]

I started with a bps pq and gained confidence in my bc skills. Easy to use and affordable. Today I've gone to the "dark side.". All daiwa and one 51e.

[Bankbeater]

My first bc was a Daiwa round reel that I got about 36 or 37 years ago. I like todays reels much better.

[jignfule]

Metaniums have been excellent reels.

[*Hank]

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT! 

[new2BC4bass]

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT! 

 

PERFECT PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.  

 

Sloppy practice doesn't get you far.

[Silas]

My first love was the Ambassedeur 5000. I loved that reel. Then upgraded to the 5000C black one. I was in heaven. Of course I was just a kid.

Then got the Daiwa Procaster and thought that the Bee's Knees.

Then the magnificent Lews Sppe Spool. BB1 and BB1N. Still have and use 2 or 3 of these. They just flat out sing!

Moved then to Curado 50 and was stunned.

But the TDZ was/is my favorite of all.

Moved to lighter stuff and the Steez is the champ.

Kind of a progression. I decided to go retrograde this year and get the 2015 Conquest 100HG. Reminds me

of the old Amassadeur ( on Speed!)

[rippin-lips]

I started with a bps pq and gained confidence in my bc skills. Easy to use and affordable. Today I've gone to the "dark side.". All daiwa and one 51e.

Haha I had that same problem until about a month ago. That CH51E had to go! I sleep a lot better now that I fixed the problem.

[aprestonSEK]

Its all about learning how to properly set whatever break settings are on the reel you're using and how to thumb the spool to prevent over runs. Having the new Aldebaren also helps

[retiredbosn]

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.

The absolute easiest reel to learn on will have either dual braking system or digital braking. As already stated Digital brakes come on high end reels. Good news tho is u can pick up a Bass proshop's Pro Qualifier for about 50 used and 99 new. This reel has both centrifugal and magnetic brakes, very hard to backlash, butt it can be done.

[livemusic]

...  The only reels I have that I consider backlash free are the Daiwa T3 1016 reels with Magforce 3D.  No thumb needed if set up right,.

 

Hmmm, I made an offer on Ebay and picked one up, brand new, for a great price. I see these still selling for $429 in some places.

 

Any tips to set it up right?

[fish devil]

 I started with the Daiwa TD-S and X models.  Once I moved onto the TD Zillions everything improved including casting distance, minimal back lashing etc...  Now I own nine of them!!!!  Nothing beats using the higher quality reels.

[Arv]

First bc reel I bought was a Lews Tournament. I don't think I had ever used one before but I was hooked after that. I do have more expensive reels now but I would still be happy with that Lews. The higher end reels are better but not in a way that makes you a better fisherman.

[jtharris3]

When I started using baitcasters, I started out with some cheaper models, can't remember the brands any longer, but when I bought my first Ryobi I was hooked! I believe Ryobi made the Lews reels back then. Ryobi eventually quit making the reels. From then on its been Lews and Shimano. The Citica mainly, on the Shimano side.

[thehooligan]

I learned on a curado 201e7, and still hold the core 50/51 and Conquest 50/51 as my favorite all time casting reels.

[jtesch]

Hmmm, I made an offer on Ebay and picked one up, brand new, for a great price. I see these still selling for $429 in some places.

 

Any tips to set it up right?

Had mine out today casting into a 30mph wind with no problem, didn't even have to keep the thumb close to the spool. Really amazing, and it was set on the normal casting setting. You do have to watch it a little on long cast setting, if you forget and cast into a good breeze you can blow up a spool pretty good. It cost me $25 worth of sniper to learn that lesson . My first casting reel that "did it" was a TD Advantage, but really it was a gen 2 Premier, really opened my eyes to what a quality reel could do. Never looked back after that reel

[BobP]

I used older green Curados for many years and recently added a few newer - Scorpion 1000, Chronarch 50MG, Curado 50E, Abu Revo SX.  I love the durability and reliability of Shimano but are they inherently the least backlashing reels?  I don't think so.  For me, that honor goes to the old round Ambassadeur Promax and Black Max 1600 and 3600 reels.  And that's a very specific choice - for me, most Abu reels I've tried were Backlash City until the Revo's came in.  There's just something about the old Promax that makes it an non-backlashing wonder.  All for around $75 on Ebay!  Install 2 black (lightest) brakes, adjust the cast control so that there's actually a bit of side to side spool freeplay and it will zip lures all day long, wind or no wind, long distance without a backlash and with little if any thumbing of the spool.  And once adjusted, you don't have to re-adjust for different lure weights.  Do the same with most low profile reels, including Shimano, and you'll be picking backlashes out on every cast.

 

Every baitcast reel has anti-backlash technology but there's more to it than just a braking system.  Spool design/weight, frame design, level wind, and everything in the reel figures into the final determination of how well the reel casts and how prone it is to backlash.  Among my modern reels, the Shimano Scorpion 1000 with its slick SVS braking system gets my nod as the most reliable caster.  My Revo SX (don't know which "generation" it is) rarely if ever backlashes.  As a generalization, most modern low profile reels require setting the cast control properly for each lure you throw.  Forget and you get bit.  And they work best with a consistent smooth casting stroke, which guys who are transitioning from spinning gear find it hard to learn sometimes.

[fisherrw]

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.

I've used a Calais and agree there heavy as hell but you can never backlash one.

[*Hootie]

The reel that got me into baitcasting was the old red ambassadeur 5000's. You either learned to cast or forget it. Bought that reel in 1969 and still have it. It's in mint condition and I still get it out once a year. Since that reel I've probably tried them all. But I loved those old red reels.

Hootie

[xracer4844]

I learnt on a Curado Bantam cu201 and still use it to this day! 

 

It's an oldie...but a gooooodie.

[illinifan4152]

Shimano Curado 200e7

[J Francho]

My first was a $40 Daiwa from the mid 80s. A buddy still uses it. The only magic bullet I know of that prevents backlashing is skillz, with a z.

[chelboed]

I think if anyone here (and I know there are a ton of you) who are old enough to remember the birth of low profile baitcasters...then you can appreciate even the cheapest of Wal-Mart baitcasters today.

 

I'm not that old by any means...just barely winking at 40...but I started using baitcasters when i was around 14. I had some old Lew's BB-1's, Browning Speed Spools, old Daiwa's, Quantum energy's, etc...

 

Man, when Daiwa came out with 5-bearings I was totally flippin.

 

Fast-forward to today's vast choices...you really can't go wrong. IMO, the more you're willing to shell out for a rig, the more satisfying said rig will perform. I'm a Lew's fanboi, so any Korean-made Lew's (not chinese) is IMO a joy to use. Upper end Daiwa's, Shimano's, Abu, etc...the same thing. They are all like "hand-candy". So much fun.

 

As far as backlashing goes...yep, it happens. I'll occasionally tap a limb or tall grass with my bait on the cast and run into minor trouble. Might occasionally underestimate the wind or overestimeate my lure weight and have a small over run, but when you spend enough time out there, you'll eventually get it.

 

 

IMO, a dual cast control reel is virtually impossible to backlash. You can set the centrifugal shoes so heavy and that early over run will never happen, and you can crank the mag down so far that the wind will not be an issue.

 

 

The trick is setting it up so close to the edge of backlashing that you get your maximum distance on the cast.

 

 

 

 

IMO, 10+ bearing reel with a metal frame and dual cast control is a great place to start.

 

Now if you're going to be doing more technique specific fishing, then I'd use a dual control rig on light / finesse baits, and a centrifugal control reel on heavier baits because the magnetic cast control controls the end of the cast when the bait slows down. Heavier baits with less wind resistence will lose trajectory before velocity and hit the water before the spool needs to significantly slow down.

[zeth]

Backlash is inevitable and no big deal. It's always user error. Not the reels fault. You get used to and adjust to whatever reel you have. Make sure to adjust your reel properly for conditions, lure weight etc and realize that conditions change so you should be on top of adjusting your reel throughout the day. It's very rare that I can not remove a backlash. Theres a few techniques one being tighten your drag down all the way and then apply a lot of pressure with your thumb and reel. This usually does the trick.