Record bass caught! Looking for reel to pair with reward rod

[brandon0921]

Hey gang! Long time viewer of the site, first time poster 

I recently caught a state record LMB in Rhode Island and St. Croix sent me an AVS66MF Avid spinning rod for the accomplishment.  I plan on making the hike to Cabella's with the rod to match it up with a reel, but I would like to hear some unbiased opinions/reviews before doing so.  My ceiling is $500 or so, but I don't need to spend that much if its unnecessary. Though my research, I have been gravitating towards the Stradic FK and C4i+, but would like to know more about JDM reels and some reviews on Diawa/Penn reels.

***I do most of my fishing off shore on top water gear and only pursue Largemouth Bass.  Also, I pretty much always use 30lb braid on my spinning setups.***

 My current set ups are as follows. Neither are all that great, so I am looking for my first above average combo.

St. Croix PS60MF w/ Quantum Energy (old style w/ chameleon paint)

St. Croix PC60MF w/ Diawa Viento

Let me know!  I look forward to seeing what everyone has to say and if possible, lets keep this civil.  I really don't have a horse in the race as I've always fished on budget gear, just looking for something ill be happy with for years to come. 

PS. I'll try to upload a picture of the catch, but for some reason I'm getting a denied based upon a size restriction which my picture is under.

Here it is

[brandon0921]

I'd like to add the 2016 CI4+ to the conversation as well.

 

[Bluebasser86]

I have an older CI4 Stradic and really like it. Lately, I've moved more towards Pfluegar though. I have a couple Pfluegar Supreme XT's and feel like they're as good, if not better, than the Stradic while being considerably less expensive. 

 

Congrats on the record fish!

[Darren.]

Hard to argue with Stradics, as I love my FJ
models.

Congrats on the record! Beast of a bass!

...and welcome aboard!

[brandon0921]

Appreciate the advice!  Do you know how those reels perform with braid on the spool?

[Bluebasser86]

Braid is all I use on all but one of my spinning reels. The spool on the Supreme XT actually has rubber strips that run top to bottom that are supposed to serve the same purpose as backing, to give the line something to grip onto, but I always use backing to not use as much braid at one time. 

[brandon0921]

A bit off topic, but what type of knot do you tie to your backing?  I tried backing a few times with a double uni-knot clipping the tag neatly.  It almost cost me my record fish as I was getting low on braid and the knot was poking through a few layers rubbing on my line as it cast out.  I unloaded my spool a few times and even placed the joining knot up top, but it was making its way to the surface of the spool all night long. Frustrating.

[new2BC4bass]

22 minutes ago, brandon0921 said:

A bit off topic, but what type of knot do you tie to your backing?  I tried backing a few times with a double uni-knot clipping the tag neatly.  It almost cost me my record fish as I was getting low on braid and the knot was poking through a few layers rubbing on my line as it cast out.  I unloaded my spool a few times and even placed the joining knot up top, but it was making its way to the surface of the spool all night long. Frustrating.

I use the Uni for tying on lures.  For splicing I use the Alberto although the Albright should be nearly as good and a bit more slender.  However, the Alberto is also a pretty thin splice.

[buzzed bait]

i'd look hard at a pflueger patriarch.  i've had about every level of pfluegers and the patriarch is a really smooth, VERY light reel that has suited me well.  

regardless of what you end up with, CONGRATS on the record, that's phenomenal!

[Mike L]

Just wanted to say Congratulations!

 

Mike 

[brandon0921]

49 minutes ago, buzzed bait said:

i'd look hard at a pflueger patriarch.  i've had about every level of pfluegers and the patriarch is a really smooth, VERY light reel that has suited me well.  

regardless of what you end up with, CONGRATS on the record, that's phenomenal!

Interesting...I was looking at this reel early on in my research, but a few poor reviews began steering me away from it as other negative reviews are starting to steer me from the CI4+.  Seems that most prefer a rigid reel rather than these light weight models.  Question is, do I really need a rigid reel on the bodies of water I fish, or will I be better off with something lightweight and easier to handle?  Its easy to find reviews, but difficult to determine which fishing application the review is intended for.

Thoughts? 

[buzzed bait]

i don't know that i can speak to how rigid the reel is to be honest.  i've used it for nearly 2 years now and it's performed very well for me.  i will say though the pflueger supreme is a fine reel too and even cheaper.  

i've used a few shimano spinning reels and they didn't feel nearly as smooth and a couple had a bit of an issue with binding, but none were the stradic fk nor the ci4 so i can't really speak for those.  

if you have some local retail shops, i'd try to take your rod in there and mount some of the display models on the rod and find the one that balances well with the rod and has decent reviews and go with that one!

[brandon0921]

41 minutes ago, buzzed bait said:

i don't know that i can speak to how rigid the reel is to be honest.  i've used it for nearly 2 years now and it's performed very well for me.  i will say though the pflueger supreme is a fine reel too and even cheaper.  

i've used a few shimano spinning reels and they didn't feel nearly as smooth and a couple had a bit of an issue with binding, but none were the stradic fk nor the ci4 so i can't really speak for those.  

if you have some local retail shops, i'd try to take your rod in there and mount some of the display models on the rod and find the one that balances well with the rod and has decent reviews and go with that one!

That's the plan, problem is the shops are all 2 hours away :/

[Dwight Hottle]

Congrats on the state record. Take a close look at the JDM daiwa certate lineup. 

[DogBone_384]

Congrats on your new record. I use Pflueger spinning reels almost exclusively. With your budget, take a look @ Pflueger's Patriarch, which is on sale at the store you mentioned making a trip to.

I find Plueger smooth as silk and very light, especially above the $150 price point.

[brandon0921]

31 minutes ago, Dwight Hottle said:

Congrats on the state record. Take a close look at the JDM daiwa certate lineup. 

I like where your head is at!  Very cool looking to say the least.  Now to decipher the marketing terminology and read some reviews.  

Thanks for the recommendation!  Everyone else, keep em coming   

[roadwarrior]

Great fish, great pic.

 

                             CONGRATULATIONS!

                                           

Stella 2500HGSFI

http://fish.shimano.com/content/sac-fish/en/home/products/fishing-reels/spinning/stella.html

 

[lakeannaangler]

Thats a beast of a fish!!! I would take a look at the pflueger supreme or pflueger supreme xt spinning reels.

[brandon0921]

2 hours ago, Dwight Hottle said:

Congrats on the state record. Take a close look at the JDM daiwa certate lineup. 

Do you have a recommendation based upon my fishing habits?  Its a bit overwhelming looking through all the sizes and features.

http://japantackle.com/daiwa-16certate.html

[Darren.]

19 minutes ago, brandon0921 said:

Do you have a recommendation based upon my fishing habits?  Its a bit overwhelming looking through all the sizes and features.

http://japantackle.com/daiwa-16certate.html

Just be aware that JDM reels, at least Shimano,
need to be sent back to Japan for warranty issues...

At least this is what I've read.

Those Certates are beautiful, though. Personally,
I'd go for the 2000 size (Lexa 2000 is about the
size of a 2500 Shimano. Maybe a tad smaller).

If you're more comfortable, 2500 is a generally 
great size for bass fishing...

But the 2000 size is plenty strong for bass. I use
1000 size for most of my bass fishing, have caught
loads of 6 plus pound bass on them.

AND... the different sizes within each range have
to do with shallow spools and/or gearing.

I like gearing 6.x like on this model:

Certate 2510PE-H

[brandon0921]

8 minutes ago, Darren. said:

Just be aware that JDM reels, at least Shimano,
need to be sent back to Japan for warranty issues...

At least this is what I've read.

Those Certates are beautiful, though. Personally,
I'd go for the 2000 size (Lexa 2000 is about the
size of a 2500 Shimano. Maybe a tad smaller).

If you're more comfortable, 2500 is a generally 
great size for bass fishing...

But the 2000 size is plenty strong for bass. I use
1000 size for most of my bass fishing, have caught
loads of 6 plus pound bass on them.

AND... the different sizes within each range have
to do with shallow spools and/or gearing.

I like gearing 6.x like on this model:

Certate 2510PE-H

I agree.  I don't think I need a large reel.  My quantum is a 3000 and I feel I would be better off with something smaller.

I'm thinking a shallow spool will work great with braid, but I don't have any experience with it.

Do you think that faster 6.x gearing will be a tad fast for top water?  I typically retrieve these lures at slow speeds off long casts.

[Darren.]

Just now, brandon0921 said:

I agree.  I don't think I need a large reel.  My quantum is a 3000 and I feel I would be better off with something smaller.

I'm thinking a shallow spool will work great with braid, but I don't have any experience with it.

I don't have any shallow spool reels, but you can pass on the backing (or use very little) and spool it with straight braid. I like 10 or 15# Power Pro, which would allow plenty of line at 2# and 4# equivalent mono diameters.

Do you think that faster 6.x gearing will be a tad fast for top water?  I typically retrieve these lures at slow speeds off long casts.

Just reel a little slower.  

 

[Dwight Hottle]

1 hour ago, brandon0921 said:

Do you have a recommendation based upon my fishing habits?  Its a bit overwhelming looking through all the sizes and features.

http://japantackle.com/daiwa-16certate.html

Since you use 30lb braid I would go with a 2000 or 2500 size reel. The regular 2500 is a 4.8 gear ratio. The 2510PEH is made for braid & comes in a 6.0 gear ratio. 

[A-Jay]

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

Heck of a way to Introduce yourself - with a State Record !

Congrats.

You're gotten a ton of great new reels advice to which I can't really add anything.

Any chance you'd care to share the How & When (certainly NOT the Where) you caught that Beast ?

A-Jay

[Fisher-O-men]

6 hours ago, brandon0921 said:

A bit off topic, but what type of knot do you tie to your backing?  I tried backing a few times with a double uni-knot clipping the tag neatly.  It almost cost me my record fish as I was getting low on braid and the knot was poking through a few layers rubbing on my line as it cast out.  I unloaded my spool a few times and even placed the joining knot up top, but it was making its way to the surface of the spool all night long. Frustrating.

Your knot is not the problem.  Your need less backing and more braid.  I use an improved Alberto and tuck the knot under, as best I can, at the bottom of the spool.   Listen to me, giving advice to a State Record holder!