KyleW2015 Posted May 14, 2015 Posted May 14, 2015 Hello all, I'm fairly new to serious fishing. Been fishing casually for a while but have gotten really serious as of late. I was hoping to get some good baitcasting reel recommendations. I am considering purchasing both the Johnny Morris Carbonlite and the Shimano Curado 200hg as they both have combo deals on BPS right now. Just curious as to the best real that will last me a good while and be the best all-purpose reel. 350 would be my budget now, and I know there are MANY options in that range. One other I am considering is the Abu Garcia STX. Somewhat concerned with the Curado as it only has the 5 bearings Thanks for any input. Quote
CRANKENSTIEN Posted May 14, 2015 Posted May 14, 2015 Your going to get a lot of people who like the Curado. I would consider the Lews line. I have a bb1 and a tourney speed spool. I would also consider the Daiwa tatula. All good picks. 3 Quote
Cgrinder Posted May 14, 2015 Posted May 14, 2015 Tatula off Amazon or the 'bay for about $100. You can find $129.99 Curado I's around as well. Personally, I'd grab an Alphas SV straight from Japan for approximately $205 shipped to your door. With the yen weak as it is right now, I can't justify purchasing domestic reels new. 1 Quote
ABW Posted May 14, 2015 Posted May 14, 2015 I'd get a Curado or two. The low bearing count is not a problem with the reel. If you only want one then get a JDM Metanium. That's what I would get. 1 Quote
Super User new2BC4bass Posted May 14, 2015 Super User Posted May 14, 2015 Welcome to the forum. Don't worry about bearing count. There are old Curados still going strong with half the count of most of today's reels. I love what I read about the Alphas SV. I've got 4 others, and they are among my favorite reels. I got a Primms over the winter for about $157 shipped. TW sells for $225. Reel is factory tuned. Used it almost every day the 2 weeks I was in Florida. A really, really nice reel. Very light. Well built. Extremely smooth. The Fenwick Aetos is a rod that should be on your list. Lot of rod for the money. I am liking my Tatula rods, too. Especially since I got them at an excellent discount. Look at the 7' M Helios. I've got to have one after reading TT's review. 2 Quote
John G Posted May 15, 2015 Posted May 15, 2015 I just received my Curado 200HG from TW yesterday. I hope it performs as great as it feels but in truth, I imagine that it will only be limited by my casting ability. In my hands without actually using it, I already like it better than the E Series. If the 5 bearing count bothers you, you can add 1 bearing to each knob and whalah, you now have a 7 bearing reel. BTW, the Calcutta's got by for years with only 3 or 4 bearings total and they are some of the best and smoothest reels around. 1 Quote
KyleW2015 Posted May 15, 2015 Author Posted May 15, 2015 I'd get a Curado or two. The low bearing count is not a problem with the reel. If you only want one then get a JDM Metanium. That's what I would get. What rod would you recommend with that? If I went with that one I would obviously have to skimp on the rod some. Might be a little overkill, but I don't really have any other hobbies so why not Quote
aprilbass101 Posted May 15, 2015 Posted May 15, 2015 I agree with Crankenstien! Checkout the Lews line of reels! Great & easy to use reels Quote
ABW Posted May 15, 2015 Posted May 15, 2015 What rod would you recommend with that? If I went with that one I would obviously have to skimp on the rod some. Might be a little overkill, but I don't really have any other hobbies so why not Sorry, I thought that you were buying just the reel with the $350 budget. If you do get a Curado, you can get a 150-200 dollar rod and still have room to buy some tackle. I've been fishing with mine for a couple months now and it still is going strong. There are many good rods in that range I described. Quote
KyleW2015 Posted May 15, 2015 Author Posted May 15, 2015 Sorry, I thought that you were buying just the reel with the $350 budget. If you do get a Curado, you can get a 150-200 dollar rod and still have room to buy some tackle. I've been fishing with mine for a couple months now and it still is going strong. There are many good rods in that range I described. I was, I just mean that if I am spending that much on a reel I wouldn't want to spend more than 150 for a rod. Quote
rybobassmaster Posted May 15, 2015 Posted May 15, 2015 Hello all, I'm fairly new to serious fishing. Been fishing casually for a while but have gotten really serious as of late. I was hoping to get some good baitcasting reel recommendations. I am considering purchasing both the Johnny Morris Carbonlite and the Shimano Curado 200hg as they both have combo deals on BPS right now. Just curious as to the best real that will last me a good while and be the best all-purpose reel. 350 would be my budget now, and I know there are MANY options in that range. One other I am considering is the Abu Garcia STX. Somewhat concerned with the Curado as it only has the 5 bearings Thanks for any input. hey there , i have a super caster pro 1000 its very inavative . check it out Quote
greentrout Posted May 15, 2015 Posted May 15, 2015 A lot of good reels are being made today by lots of different manufacturers at all kinds of price points. Listen and get some good feedback. But don't forget to put the reel in your hands before you buy it. We are all different and the ergonomics of the reels are not all alike. Old school basser... Quote
masterbass Posted May 15, 2015 Posted May 15, 2015 I'd get a curado I for about $130. Then for a rod you have a ton of options for about $200. You almost can't lose in that price range because they are all pretty good. Quote
Josh Smith Posted May 15, 2015 Posted May 15, 2015 What is it with people and bearing counts? 1 Quote
rybobassmaster Posted May 15, 2015 Posted May 15, 2015 Hello all, I'm fairly new to serious fishing. Been fishing casually for a while but have gotten really serious as of late. I was hoping to get some good baitcasting reel recommendations. I am considering purchasing both the Johnny Morris Carbonlite and the Shimano Curado 200hg as they both have combo deals on BPS right now. Just curious as to the best real that will last me a good while and be the best all-purpose reel. 350 would be my budget now, and I know there are MANY options in that range. One other I am considering is the Abu Garcia STX. Somewhat concerned with the Curado as it only has the 5 bearings Thanks for any input. hey there , i have a super caster pro 1000 its very inavative . check it out Hello all, I'm fairly new to serious fishing. Been fishing casually for a while but have gotten really serious as of late. I was hoping to get some good baitcasting reel recommendations. I am considering purchasing both the Johnny Morris Carbonlite and the Shimano Curado 200hg as they both have combo deals on BPS right now. Just curious as to the best real that will last me a good while and be the best all-purpose reel. 350 would be my budget now, and I know there are MANY options in that range. One other I am considering is the Abu Garcia STX. Somewhat concerned with the Curado as it only has the 5 bearings Thanks for any input. hey there , i have a super caster pro 1000 its very inavative . check it out Hello all, I'm fairly new to serious fishing. Been fishing casually for a while but have gotten really serious as of late. I was hoping to get some good baitcasting reel recommendations. I am considering purchasing both the Johnny Morris Carbonlite and the Shimano Curado 200hg as they both have combo deals on BPS right now. Just curious as to the best real that will last me a good while and be the best all-purpose reel. 350 would be my budget now, and I know there are MANY options in that range. One other I am considering is the Abu Garcia STX. Somewhat concerned with the Curado as it only has the 5 bearings Thanks for any input. Hello all, I'm fairly new to serious fishing. Been fishing casually for a while but have gotten really serious as of late. I was hoping to get some good baitcasting reel recommendations. I am considering purchasing both the Johnny Morris Carbonlite and the Shimano Curado 200hg as they both have combo deals on BPS right now. Just curious as to the best real that will last me a good while and be the best all-purpose reel. 350 would be my budget now, and I know there are MANY options in that range. One other I am considering is the Abu Garcia STX. Somewhat concerned with the Curado as it only has the 5 bearings Thanks for any input. hey there , i have a super caster pro 1000 its very inavative . check it out it will cast a senko or any light lure a mile farther than any other reel ive come across. Quote
Steveo-1969 Posted May 15, 2015 Posted May 15, 2015 I've had a black Carbonlite reel (on a black Carbonlite rod - bought as a combo) for a couple years. I've been using a Curado I for the past couple months. FWIW, if I was going to buy a new reel tomorrow I would get another Curado I, but in my mind you can't go wrong with either one. 1 Quote
robster80 Posted May 15, 2015 Posted May 15, 2015 ignore the bearing counts. curado is great reel or the tatula 1 Quote
DocNsanE Posted May 15, 2015 Posted May 15, 2015 for $350 you have SOOOO many options!! Tatula is a lot of reel for $100 off amazon. You'd have like $250 left to get a custom rod Quote
KyleW2015 Posted May 15, 2015 Author Posted May 15, 2015 Thanks everyone for all of the advice and recs. Think I'll go with the Curado and Carbonlite since they seem to be popular choices. One of my limiting factors is my BPS gift card, so theres that Quote
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