Getting a new bait caster.. Suggestions please

[Mark888]

Recommend looking at a Daiwa Tatula CT, retails $129 and its my favourite reel as of right now, can't beat the price!

[bholtzinger14]

I was in the same boat as you. I found nice black rod on here and used my cabelas bucks on the new *** reel. It is suppose to be delivered today. I was going to get a lews reel, but figured I would match this one up with my rod. 

[fishnkamp]

You say you mainly fish plastics. Are you talking about weighted  plastic worms  jigs with plastic trailer and plastic creature baits then look at these two rods. 

First the MJC68MHF  This is a 6'8" medium heavy rod with a fast tip.  Here is the description from St Croix's website:   "MJC68MHF / JIG-N-WORM: Number one choice for jigs and worms. Abundant power to move fish from heavy cover"

The next rod is in the same basic category but is your true  7'1" Medium Heavy rod again here is St Croix's  description:  "MJC71MHF / JIGS & BAITS: A super versatile rod that’s perfect for searching open water with big spinnerbaits for active fish. It’s also ideal for jigs, worms and working heavy cover"

If you mean you fish unweighted Sencos, floating worms, tubes, grubs etc I would rather have a 6'8" to 6'10" Medium spinning rod with a fast or extra fast tip.

This is what lures they list for " The Plastics"  Mojo casting rod. Read this description:  "MJC71MF / PLASTICS: A great rod for fishing soft plastics including Senko®-style baits. Ideal for tubes, grubs, small worms, light jigs, small spinnerbaits and buzzbaits."

Based on these descriptions and my guess you meant fishing traditional worms, jigs and plastic creature baits with 1/4 to 1 ounce weights texas or carolina style ( and not finesse plastics ) then I would choose between the 6'8 MHF Jig and Worm rod and the 7'1" MHF Jigs and Baits rod.  I fish both size rods in Powell's.  My 683 Powell Max is my favorite & most versatile rod I own. I love it for pitchin around docks, lay downs  any target fishing situation. It is just as good in more open water situations but I have another rod that is 7'1" so it gets more of those duties.  I have 16 rods under my deck so I am in a different situation.   The 7'1' would be a fine rod if that is what you prefer.

If you did mean the more finesse lure like the 'Plastics" rod described i would go to a spinning rod like this one instead:  MJS68MXF / WACKY STYLE: This is the ultimate finesse rod with a focus of working Senko®-type baits wacky (weightless) style. Match this with a Pflueger president and go catch fish!

 

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[blckshirt98]

Shimano Curado I or a used Citica E!

[thirtysixit]

On ‎8‎/‎11‎/‎2016 at 5:06 PM, cottny27 said:

Any Lews $100 or more would be my vote.  Big upgrade without dropping $300 on a reel you don't really need.

This is probably great advice. I'd also look at the quantum IconPT 119$.  Its solid as a rick for its price point.

[cottny27]

I'm not against giving any brand a try if its around the $100 price point.  Quantum gets a bad rap on this forum.  I have not bought a Quantum reel for 10yrs, but it did just fine.  I do have a couple Smoke rods and they are legit.

[bowhunter63]

Lews has some good reels around that price point,They are very dependable ,Light weight and fast.

[WPCfishing]

Get the Lews Tournament MB and the Abu IKE 70-5 or the Villian 70-6 and don't look back. 

[Mikfree]

finally got access to a computer to get back on here.. I ended up with the lews speed spool tournament because I really liked the reel and just felt solid to me. I played with it for about an hour a half before I got it. also to go with it I ended up with a dobyns fury rod, 7' jig & texas rig version. took me about 3 hours to decide on a rod but this one was in the budget, had good reviews and just felt the best to me. used it about 4 days now total, and I love the setup. so far 6 fish with the combo and absolutely in love.

[Hot Rod Johnson]

My only choice would be a Shimano Chronarch 150HG CI4+ Series Casting Reels, Retrieve Right Hand, with Gear Ratio 7.6:1, Weight 6.5 oz, Bearings 7S A-RB + 1S A-RB, Line Cap. (Test/Yd 12/110, 14/90, Price $269.99... You take care of this reel and it will take care of your fishing for a very long time. Since CI4+ does not contain any metal, it is impervious to rust, making the Chronorch CI4+ a great choice for fishing saltwater or brackish water. All of my reels have a TW Casting Reel Cover for only $2.99... This protects the reel from boat rash, dust, dirt and many other negetive materials.

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Shimano_Chronarch_150_CI4_Series_Casting_Reels/descpage-SCIF.html

[sgibby88]

I currently run a lews carbon fire I got from dicks for $60 bucks and a shimano curado 201hg and even though I haven used the curado much since I purchased it a few weeks ago because of work I really like it so far. I also picked up two typhons from another company for rather cheap. $144 for the two of them. Havent tried them out yet as I still haven't decided what rods I want to mount them to yet. They don't feel to bad but like I stated I haven't fished them yet. They will eventually became back ups though once my arsenal grows to the point I can get the more expensive reels that I do want. But I have no complaints about my curado 201hg

[adrenalizd]

Another vote for the Daiwa Tatula! I own several of the type R'so. You can find them on a good deal right now.  The regular Tatula is wonderful but I like the extra features of the type R. You can find them for under $130 right now.  I don't think you will find a better real for that price. 

[new2BC4bass]

Mikfree made his decision and already bought a rod and reel.  My "love" is spread out over several brands.  I feel he made a good decision regardless of what would have been my first choice.

[FrankN209]

On 10/9/2016 at 0:17 PM, Hot Rod Johnson said:

My only choice would be a Shimano Chronarch 150HG CI4+ Series Casting Reels, Retrieve Right Hand, with Gear Ratio 7.6:1, Weight 6.5 oz, Bearings 7S A-RB + 1S A-RB, Line Cap. (Test/Yd 12/110, 14/90, Price $269.99... You take care of this reel and it will take care of your fishing for a very long time. Since CI4+ does not contain any metal, it is impervious to rust, making the Chronorch CI4+ a great choice for fishing saltwater or brackish water. All of my reels have a TW Casting Reel Cover for only $2.99... This protects the reel from boat rash, dust, dirt and many other negetive materials.

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Shimano_Chronarch_150_CI4_Series_Casting_Reels/descpage-SCIF.html

@Hot Rod JohnsonThis might be my next reel.

The new Lew's Mach Speed Spool looks like a nice choice for 99.00. 11 bearing system, MCS.

 

Quote

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Lews_Mach_Speed_Spool_MCS_Casting_Reel/descpage-LMC.html

 

[Hot Rod Johnson]

3 hours ago, FrankN209 said:

@Hot Rod JohnsonThis might be my next reel.

The new Lew's Mach Speed Spool looks like a nice choice for 99.00. 11 bearing system, MCS.

 

Yes, @ $99.00 you can't beat that price for that quality of reel. The MS1SH, 7.5:1, would be my personal choice if I was to choose this reel.

 

 

 

[WPCfishing]

After reading all the replies you're probably more confused than when you ask the question. 

I have no idea which rod or reel you will like best, so buy what feels good to you and go fishing. 

[bigfruits]

if you can throw in another 30, i'll vote the Curado 70 or 71. 

this reel is the perfect size IMO. has x-ship. id go HG version. XG for dedicated jig/plastic rod.

[S. Sass]

Hey fellas go back about 8 posts ago and you can see the OP replied with his purchase. 

[new2BC4bass]

On 10/10/2016 at 3:22 PM, new2BC4bass said:

Mikfree made his decision and already bought a rod and reel.  My "love" is spread out over several brands.  I feel he made a good decision regardless of what would have been my first choice.

 

8 minutes ago, S. Sass said:

Hey fellas go back about 8 posts ago and you can see the OP replied with his purchase. 

Since when did that ever slow down the advice?  

[BradGinKC]

On 8/11/2016 at 8:31 PM, Mikfree said:

It's actually a a black max that I got at Wally World for 39. Been through the ringer. Ive saved up for a new reel & rod and giving myself a budget of $300 total. I'm on a budget but have saved up some $. 

I was in a similar situation a few years ago. I learned flipping and pitching using a similarly-priced Walmart reel. I've added los of reels to my collection since then, but I can confidently say that my Curado 200i is my favorite reel. And, last I checked, it's available on Amazon for $149. Helluva reel at that price. IMO, it's definitely one of the best values out there right now. I also have a 7ft MHF mojo rod that I got for about $120 from BPS early last year. Again, good value at that price.

If you get that setup, you'll have spent about $270, which leaves you room to spool your Curado with some good line. Trust me, you won't be disappointed with that rig. I've spent many hours on the water with that equipment and put a lot of fish in the boat...though not as many as I would've liked!  Best of luck to you!

[WPCfishing]

3 hours ago, S. Sass said:

Hey fellas go back about 8 posts ago and you can see the OP replied with his purchase. 

That was the point of my second post. lol