Seeking great baitcasting reel for spoon fishing salmon/steelhead

[onenutinthewater]

As the title says I am a die hard spoon and spinner  fisherman throwing 2/5-2/3 oz and swinging them across the river for salmon and steel head in the great northwest.

High gear ratio preferred. Currently I have 5 tatulas and a few older curados but am seeking the ultimate smooth reel in the $300 price range. No need for any super light spool as I will not be throwing anything under 2/5 oz.

The new Chronarch MGL is high on my list but i have developed a love of the Daiwas.

 

I am kind of a fish out of water here on the bass site but have found more reel knowledge here than anywhere on the net- bass guys are serious about their equipment!

Advice from the masses much appreciated.

[WRB]

What is it you don't like about the Daiwa 8:1 ratio Tatula?

Tom

[onenutinthewater]

6 minutes ago, WRB said:

What is it you don't like about the Daiwa 8:1 ratio Tatula?

Tom

There is nothing I do not love about the one 8:1 Tatula that I do have, just looking to try something new. I love all of the Tatula's and they double as trolling rods as well.

You know how this addiction kind of develops a life and spending habit of it's own. No, I cannot possibly use 30 reels at any one time but a guy has got to cover all bases and keep his options open.........

[WRB]

Chronarch MGL gets a good review from TT regarding casting distance and smooth gearing with 8:1 ratio available. Down side can't use in salt water. River salmon and steelhead tend to make long hard runs so good drags and line capacity is a concern with 100 or 200 size reels. That Tatula 100R has a little advantage with line capacity, both Shimano and Daiwa have excellent drags today. You pay $$$ for light weight bait casting reels under 7 oz.

Tom

[J Francho]

I use a Shimano Calcutta 200B for kings, browns, and chrome here in the Great Lakes.  I added a CF handle from Hawgtech, and Carbontex drag washers from Smooth Drags.  I flushed the bearings with acetone, and oiled with Oust Metol.  I use a 9' MH mod-fast custom rod.  Spooled up with 10# CXX.  That is one the smoothest, farthest casting rods I own. 

 

Here's my other Calcutta I use for up to three oz. swimbaits.

 

 

[Deleted account]

19 hours ago, J Francho said:

I use a Shimano Calcutta 200B...

 

 

One of the best reels ever made. I've caught a lot of things in fresh and salt water with it.

[Maico1]

I would be all over a Conquest 200 or a Calcutta 200 GT .

[WRB]

The OP's stated he wanted a high speed gear ratio/IPT around $300. Calcutta's and Luna's are not high speed or exceptionally long casting with 2/5 oz spoons. I agree the round reels suggested are great choices for salmon. Shimano CT200D is a little over budget at $350 and only 5.7:1 ratio.

Tom

[J Francho]

The 200B is 27IPT, which is plenty fast for spoons, and casts 2/5 and 1/3 oz. Cleos a country mile.  In fact, that has more to do with the rod than the reel.  I'd wager you'll throwing 1/3, 1/2, and 2/3 oz. spoons more often any way.  Just use a 3000 series spinning reel for the lighter stuff.  You don't want to burn a spoon in - you'll lose the enticing random wobble.

[Maico1]

You can get a 6.5:1 upgraded main gear that eliminates the stock 5.0:1 23" for 45.00 and with prices of a Conquest 200 these days if you hunt hard enough you would be right in the budget.....did not mean to confuse anyone but it can be done , just takes  thinking outside the box a little.

[onenutinthewater]

Thanks guys but i guess i should had mentioned that i cannot stand round reels for anything other then trolling and am looking for smooth high quality low profile.  8-10 hours walking the river throwing hardware makes for a long day and light and simple have always worked best for me. Just looking to upgrade from the Tatulas.

[J Francho]

Curado 300.

[onenutinthewater]

Well I ended up buying the chronarch mgl which sure feels nice casting it in the field. Now if the d**n sun would go away and the fall rains would start we can get down to some salmon fishing to test drive it.........

[new2BC4bass]

8 hours ago, onenutinthewater said:

Well I ended up buying the chronarch mgl which sure feels nice casting it in the field. Now if the d**n sun would go away and the fall rains would start we can get down to some salmon fishing to test drive it.........

 

Congratulations.  The MGL gets good reviews.  Let us know how it works out for you.  Shimano makes some nice reels, but I have none after the E series.

[onenutinthewater]

The chronarch mgl has worked out great although it is very geary or as some call it "connected". I Can definitely feel and hear the gears coming together. I do not feel this at all in the new Bantam Mgl or the calcutta conquest that i have which also have the micro module gears. I added the spool clicker and it is ready for more winter action.