Looking for some help with a baitcaster reel

[MDbassin]

I'm looking to get 2 reels one high speed reel for topwater and a slow reel for cranking. There's just so many reels out on the market I don't know which way is up anymore.

Plus the fact that last year I made the jump to baitcasting gear and love it I'm not as informed about what makes a good baitcaster so sorry in advance if one of the reels I'm looking at makes you chuckle cause its a bad reel.

Like I said I don't know what makes a good baitcaster

All of these i found on on TW

Topwater

Quantum Team KVD, 7.3:1

Okuma citrix "A" , 7.3:1

Lews Tournament MB speed spool, 7.5:1, 8.3:1

Lews Mach 1, 7.1:1

Lews speed spool LFS, 7.5:1

Abu Garcia Pro Max, 7.1:1

Abu Garcia Revo SX gen 3, 7.1:1

Daiwa Tatula CT, 7.3:1, 8.1:1

Daiwa Tatula 100, 7.3:1

Daiwa Fuego, 7.3:1, 8.1:1

Cranking

Okuma citrix "A", 5.4:1

Abu Garcia orra winch, 5.4:1

Daiwa Tatula CT, 5.5:1

Daiwa Tatula 100, 5.4:1

Daiwa exceler 100, 4.9:1

Lews BB-1, 5.1:1

Lews tournament MB, 5.6:1

Lews Speed spool LFS, 5.6:1

I put the ratios as reference just in case you didn't know off hand and had to looked them up these all range in price from $80-160. I know some people may think well if a $160 reel is in your price range then why consider a $80 reel, my thinking is if the $80 reel will get the job done just as well and is a good reel and not a bad one why spend the extra money. 

Thank you all in advance with any light you can shed on this situation for me

[Fishin' Fool]

I know they are not high end reels but I bought 3 Tatula100 from Ebay. A 5,6,7 gear ratio. A good price is between $93 -$95 which is $50 less than MSRP. Saying that I haven't used them yet. Hopefully this weekend. The ice is off the lake on St Clair.

[Dan_the_fisher]

Buy a curado i 200pg and a 200hg and you will be ready to go. Look them up in eBay and you will find some smoking deals. I don't think this reel can be touched in the price range you are looking at 

[aprilbass101]

Lews will treat you well IMO

[MDbassin]

1 minute ago, aprilbass101 said:

Lews will treat you well IMO

The 1 baitcaster I have is a lews and I like it a lot. I'm not sure which on it is it came as a combo at cabelas its a lews rod and reel the combo was $90 like I said I don't know what lews reel it is I do know its not the american hero line

[bassbassontherange]

So many good options in Lew's, Daiwa, Shimano, and others. IMO those are the best three brands, but not necessarily in that order. I've owned lots of all three brands and some Abu and okuma as well. Consensus from me and the community as a whole is all around, Shimano will serve you best. 

 

If I were you, and I wanted two good reels, I'd probably buy two used reels if I wanted to save money. I'd go with a used Citica E and a used Curado I HG. That gets you in well under 200 if you're patient and they're both pretty easy to find used.

I think the I series Shimano reels are best in their class, and it doesn't matter whether you pick up a Curado I or Citica I, they fish identically. You just need to choose the right great ratio for you. The only reason I mentioned a Citica E is if you want to save some cash, they're excellent and can be found for around 60 bucks. 

If you only have two reels, I'd suggest against a cranking speed. You can fish cranks with something in the 6 range just fine but it's also much more versatile. If it's just a hole in your arsenal, I'd look at an older Lew's bb1. One of the best cranking reels ever made.

A second and third option would be Tatulas or Lew'sLFS. Both pretty decent but not quite on par with the I series Shimano reels.

[aprilbass101]

1 minute ago, MDbassin said:

The 1 baitcaster I have is a lews and I like it a lot. I'm not sure which on it is it came as a combo at cabelas its a lews rod and reel the combo was $90 like I said I don't know what lews reel it is I do know its not the american hero line

It's the Lews Lazer Combo! I'm sure it's a decent combo for the money but the Lews LFS & MGs are a lot better reels than the Lazer! I have 2 MGs for my crankbaits 5.4:1 & 5.6:1 ratios. I like them a lot! I have a LFS 7.5:1 for flipping & pitching. I'm just a big Lews fan!

[Jrob78]

26 minutes ago, Fishin' Fool said:

I know they are not high end reels but I bought 3 Tatula100 from Ebay. A 5,6,7 gear ratio. A good price is between $93 -$95 which is $50 less than MSRP. Saying that I haven't used them yet. Hopefully this weekend. The ice is off the lake on St Clair.

Probably the best deal you're going to find on a quality reel.  You could spend more, (within your budget,) but I don't know that you would be getting a higher quality reel than the Tat.

[Rbm18]

1 hour ago, Dan_the_fisher said:

Buy a curado i 200pg and a 200hg and you will be ready to go. Look them up in eBay and you will find some smoking deals. I don't think this reel can be touched in the price range you are looking at 

I agree with Dan 100%

[loudcherokee]

It's all Lews for me. I tried a couple of Abus, Shimanos, Daiwa. Then I bought my Lews speed spool MG.

I now own a Lews BB1 which is amazing for cranking, a Lews Tourney Pro, a Lews MG, and a Lews spinning reel.

 

LC