Good striper casting reel?

[Joseph Daines]

So i have been looking around amazon/ebay Looking for a striper bass fishing casting reel that won't break the bank, But have had no luck, I looked at the KastKing rover, But i don't want Chinese junk!, I was hoping to get 16+ pounds of drag, But still have some what of Castability,  i will be doing some striper fishing soon in the 20+ Pound range, And want a reel that will hold up, So does anyone have any suggestions or recommended reels? Thank you!

[fullcoupe]

I'm not sure what your bank is, but I use Shimano 300E's for stripers, cats, etc. as well as big baits for LMB. Had them for a few years now and they're holding up well. The drag is strong, they hold plenty of line, smooth casting, decent gear ratio. Can't ask for much more for a versatile setup.

["hamma"]

Unfortunately the higher the lbs of drag? the more expensive they seem to be.. I do some salty striper fishing up here, and they tend to get big, strong, and I usually am fishing in strong currents as well. I have a baitcasting setup thats actually a freshwater umbrella rig rod, with a abu garcia 6501 reel spooled with 20 lb big game mono, that I use to toss lures around from docks, piers, and bridges. Works fine for me, hauled in some beauties with it. And it even has a bait clicker if I want to liveline or chunk fish. Versitile reel, 

 Not sure what type of fishing your going to do, but I do know that these stripers in current up here, test this reels limits. And she has yet to disappoint. At times a well pressured thumb is needed when a 28 inch keeper, or better, makes a final run, but I know thats just part of striper fishing up here. Even the large sized 8000 shimano baitrunner  spinning reels are tested then. Been using this for a few years now, and Im happy with it.

 Often a reel and it's attributes comes down to, your usage, personal preference, and price range. This reel didnt break the bank, and does what I expect of it, and the 6501? the 01 part depicts a left hand retrieve.,.... my preference.

[roadwarrior]

Shimano Calcutta or specifically the CTE200GT is what I have been fishing for more than a decade. The reel is as good or better than the first day out of the box!

 

 

[Bluebasser86]

Shimano Calcutta or Cardiff. You can't go cheap on gear for big fish , they'll make you regret that decision.

[MANASSASBASSER]

Abu garcia makes a perfect striper reel it's actually a specific reel for them go to there actual site it comes in 2 sizes and would be perfect for you. 

[crypt]

1 hour ago, MANASSASBASSER said:

Abu garcia makes a perfect striper reel it's actually a specific reel for them go to there actual site it comes in 2 sizes and would be perfect for you. 

see above………...

[Joseph Daines]

On 11/24/2016 at 4:00 AM, "hamma" said:

Unfortunately the higher the lbs of drag? the more expensive they seem to be.. I do some salty striper fishing up here, and they tend to get big, strong, and I usually am fishing in strong currents as well. I have a baitcasting setup thats actually a freshwater umbrella rig rod, with a abu garcia 6501 reel spooled with 20 lb big game mono, that I use to toss lures around from docks, piers, and bridges. Works fine for me, hauled in some beauties with it. And it even has a bait clicker if I want to liveline or chunk fish. Versitile reel, 

 Not sure what type of fishing your going to do, but I do know that these stripers in current up here, test this reels limits. And she has yet to disappoint. At times a well pressured thumb is needed when a 28 inch keeper, or better, makes a final run, but I know thats just part of striper fishing up here. Even the large sized 8000 shimano baitrunner  spinning reels are tested then. Been using this for a few years now, and Im happy with it.

 Often a reel and it's attributes comes down to, your usage, personal preference, and price range. This reel didnt break the bank, and does what I expect of it, and the 6501? the 01 part depicts a left hand retrieve.,.... my preference.

I am actually getting this reel, For the price point it's perfect, Do you suggest any rods to go with this? I will be striper fishing at lake powell trolling for 10/20 pounders.

["hamma"]

As far as rods go? Again personal preference comes into play and that can become confusing if your new to what your about to partake in. I am partial to a few manufacturers as I have found several that I have confidence in. with that being said. 

   If I were you i'd start with a downrigger rod for trolling. They have the actions that will be needed for trolling, and most companies will offer a few to choose from. The first trolling rod I bought was a inexpensive Bass Pro downrigger rod that I bought when I bought my first and only downrigger for trolling salmon/lakers up here. It works well and have had no problems with it. Shop around looking for rods in the price point your willing to spend on, and I'm sure you will come to a conclusion that shouldn't disappoint, as trolling is pretty much a straight forward technique. The rods should be a bit limber and, provide a parabolic bend, almost like a older, glass cranbait rod. This (I believe) is due to the continued stress on the rod from line tension built by the lure and rigger combined.

 Im no "downrigging pro" or "trolling pro" by any means, these insights are from my past experiences fishing off charter boats, and my research looking for my downriggers gear.

 Blue's point about going cheap, and big fish is a solid statement. And I do agree, but money being as it is, a lower price point allowed, forces ones hand and these recommendations I've provided were in line with a "price point" stated, the only other reel that may work that "I know of" is a shimano corvalus. good reel lower that 100 bucks, and offers a large line capacity. 

If you dont know? I like shimano reels. Im sure some other companies probably offer a reel or two but these two I referred are what I have used and liked.

 Rods? I have alot of, and refrain from higher end rods as rods break, and that alone is a depressing and compelling situation when  "Price Point" matters and a rod gets smashed on the cars door.

[Red Bear]

i have the abu 6601 reel with bait clicker. i use it for striper and catfishing. i have it spooled up with 25lb big game. i easily bring in striper in the 25 inch range without problems. havent had a cat big enough to truely test it yet in that regard, but it handles striper no problem...i gave away the old zebco rod i had it on away to my brother in law this past spring. just havent bought a new rod for it yet, it never saw the water this year...

[JustJames]

Bang for bucks would be abu 6500c3, very simple reel but will last a long time.

Upgrade to smoother and easier to cast would be cardiff 300/400a

Add a little extra more to get calcutta 400b and you wont be disappointed whatsoever.

[gmoney13]

On 11/24/2016 at 1:53 AM, Joseph Daines said:

So i have been looking around amazon/ebay Looking for a striper bass fishing casting reel that won't break the bank, But have had no luck, I looked at the KastKing rover, But i don't want Chinese junk!, I was hoping to get 16+ pounds of drag, But still have some what of Castability,  i will be doing some striper fishing soon in the 20+ Pound range, And want a reel that will hold up, So does anyone have any suggestions or recommended reels? Thank you!

I used my Abu Garcia Silver Max. Drg was set all the way, line was still coming out only becuase the Striper was 25lbs.

[Michaelangelo]

On 11/24/2016 at 11:02 AM, MANASSASBASSER said:

Abu garcia makes a perfect striper reel it's actually a specific reel for them go to there actual site it comes in 2 sizes and would be perfect for you. 

Those are a regular 6500 C3 or C4 with "Striper Special" painted on them and are a different color.  The "Catfish Special" is the same way, and a different color, but there's no differences in either reel over a plain 6500, other than each of those have a power handle. 

 

Get a Calcutta 400B.  Has a bait clicker, on top of all the other features you want, and is hands down better than a POS Cardiff.  My guide uses those and either he doesn't maintain them well or they just aren't a Calcutta.  I use a Conquest 400, the new version, and it's a precision machine, but no bait clicker.  To remedy that I mainly use a Tekota 500LC for trolling, on a St Croix Mojo Cat rod - perfect action.