Best Baitcasting Reel??

[Sihua Zheng]

Hi guys, I need a replacement for my baitcasting set up, I done some research on the newer reels

I see decent reviews on the New Lews BB1 pro, curado k ,curado dc, daiwa tatula sv, daiwa tatula 150, the new abu revo sx...so on so on

My reel budget is under $250, any advice or suggestions would be gladly appreciated. Thank you   

[Log Catcher]

I am using a Lew's BB1 for crankbaits in a 5 to 1 gear ratio. I have had good luck with mine. They come in several gear ratios so you should be able to get one that will work for you. One thing I like is that they don't have magnetic brakes in them. I am just not a fan of magnetic brakes.

[Sihua Zheng]

21 minutes ago, Log Catcher said:

I am using a Lew's BB1 for crankbaits in a 5 to 1 gear ratio. I have had good luck with mine. They come in several gear ratios so you should be able to get one that will work for you. One thing I like is that they don't have magnetic brakes in them. I am just not a fan of magnetic brakes.

Can you use the bb1 pro for texas rig ,jig and sometime frog?since they have super deep spool

[Falkus]

Just go with the Shimano Curado 70 and be done with it

[Stephen B]

Anything Shimano or Daiwa. The biggest thing is finding a reel that balances the rod you intend to use as well as feel good in your hand.

[puddlepuncher]

1 hour ago, Stephen B said:

Anything Shimano or Daiwa. The biggest thing is finding a reel that balances the rod you intend to use as well as feel good in your hand.

 

Agreed.  There are some who are very picky about magnetic vs. centrifugal breaks but for the most part how it feels in your hand is the most important after several hours on the water.  When you pick up a reel and feel even the smallest point rubbing your hand funny it's going to be amplified with every hour fishing IMO.  

 

Most reels nowadays are going to perform nicely and similarly overall.  I'd wager you'd be hard pressed to spend $250 on just about any reel and have it significantly out perform and for that matter under perform another reel in that price range from a technical point of view.

 

In conclusion buy a Chronarch MGL.

[burrows]

Curado dc

[new2BC4bass]

I seriously doubt you could buy a bad new reel for that kind of money unless it was a lemon that slipped through QC.  In which case simply exchange if for another.  Personally I think it comes down to personal preference.  Hopefully you can try a few on a rod to see which feels the best to you.  I've always bought mine sight unseen.  Luckily I am not picky about how a reel feels.  I will say I immediately liked how a reel from the unmentionable company felt on a rod.  That is unusual for me.

 

If you can live with a 6.3:1 gear ratio, right hand, 5.9 oz., 10/140 yd, hand tuned at the factory reel then I could also suggest a Pinnacle Primmus.  Love mine.  Enough so that I bought 2 more when they were being closed out at a site for less than 50% of original price.

 

Also some great deals can be had on the used market...if you don't mind used.  I just received an Exsence DC for less than your budget that looks in excellent condition.  I also got an older (blue) Patriarch XT for $65 (a $250 reel) that was also in great shape.  Haunting the "For Sale" forums is bad for my health....not to mention my bank account. 

 

EDIT:  Holy Batman!!! Just got an email from Sierra Trading Post.  Left hand Okuma Helios Air for $109.  This is a $270 reel.  I've got two.  Fantastic reels.  A review.

 

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/helios-air-review.html

 

[Log Catcher]

13 hours ago, Sihua Zheng said:

Can you use the bb1 pro for texas rig ,jig and sometime frog?since they have super deep spool

Yes you can use the BB1 for any technique you want to use them for. The fact that it holds more line will not make a difference.

[CrankFate]

The best reel is the one that matches your rod, hands and fishing style best.

[Sihua Zheng]

1 hour ago, CrankFate said:

The best reel is the one that matches your rod, hands and fishing style best.

I know ,but I have tried the BB1 pro that I really like but the spool is so deep idk if it gona handle lighter bait, when I mean lighter I dont mean finesse

[CrankFate]

I don’t know, if you ask me, lighter baits are more about the rod than the reel. A softer, thinner, lighter rod usually gets down to lower weights with most reels. I regularly switch rods from under 1 ounce, to 1 ounce, to 2 ounces to 3 ounces. You can usually get these 4 weights out of almost any baitcaster just by switching rods.

[Sihua Zheng]

2 hours ago, CrankFate said:

I don’t know, if you ask me, lighter baits are more about the rod than the reel. A softer, thinner, lighter rod usually gets down to lower weights with most reels. I regularly switch rods from under 1 ounce, to 1 ounce, to 2 ounces to 3 ounces. You can usually get these 4 weights out of almost any baitcaster just by switching rods.

I do not throw anything more than a half oz..

[Basseditor]

Even though I use Daiwa Steez, I’m pretty impressed with Daiwa Tatula CT or CT-R.

 

give or take $100 

 

i haven’t used light weight lures on it yet, but normal quarter ounce and above have been very good.

[FryDog62]

Under $250 - answer is Tatula SV TW if you plan to skip lures at all.  If not Curado 70 - best reel to palm and functions extremely well.  If you want to spend $500 and get the best of both worlds - Steez SV TW.  

[LionHeart]

You can use BB1 for any techniques you like.  I think a lot of people use it for crankbait and Swim bait because it gives pretty solid casting distance.

[Sihua Zheng]

21 hours ago, basseditor said:

Even though I use Daiwa Steez, I’m pretty impressed with Daiwa Tatula CT or CT-R.

 

give or take $100 

 

i haven’t used light weight lures on it yet, but normal quarter ounce and above have been very good.

when u said lighter lures,how light are you talking abou t?

[Sihua Zheng]

22 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

Under $250 - answer is Tatula SV TW if you plan to skip lures at all.  If not Curado 70 - best reel to palm and functions extremely well.  If you want to spend $500 and get the best of both worlds - Steez SV TW.  

under 250 that tatutal sv tw is better than the curado k ?what about the new curado dc, thats retail for 249.99?

21 hours ago, LionHeart said:

You can use BB1 for any techniques you like.  I think a lot of people use it for crankbait and Swim bait because it gives pretty solid casting distance.

idk how it performance when I try to throw a 1/4 oz tungsten and texas rigs

[Basseditor]

2 hours ago, Sihua Zheng said:

when u said lighter lures,how light are you talking abou t?

I want to try eighth ounce next time I go out. I’ve been using it on my heavy Kistler Zbone with three eighths ounce weight and 20lb flouro 

[Sihua Zheng]

10 hours ago, basseditor said:

I want to try eighth ounce next time I go out. I’ve been using it on my heavy Kistler Zbone with three eighths ounce weight and 20lb flouro 

I see , I normally don’t throw heavy lures for me I do anything from 1/8 to like 1/2

[CrankFate]

On 8/18/2018 at 10:43 PM, Sihua Zheng said:

I know ,but I have tried the BB1 pro that I really like but the spool is so deep idk if it gona handle lighter bait, when I mean lighter I dont mean finesse

 

You can start with faster bearings. By price, Hawgtech are most likely best. That’ll get you lighter baits, but takes more thumb control. I don’t know if there are lighter spools for these reels? I stick to reels with easily available parts, because I beat the hell out of some reels and fish too light almost all the time. Aside from bearings, a shallow spool is the best bang for the buck, IMO, for lighter baits. I can’t find any for this reel, though.

[Sihua Zheng]

30 minutes ago, CrankFate said:

 

You can start with faster bearings. By price, Hawgtech are most likely best. That’ll get you lighter baits, but takes more thumb control. I don’t know if there are lighter spools for these reels? I stick to reels with easily available parts, because I beat the hell out of some reels and fish too light almost all the time. Aside from bearings, a shallow spool is the best bang for the buck, IMO, for lighter baits. I can’t find any for this reel, though.

I done some research and I see the daiwa tatula 100 , it looks like worth a wait, and also the cuardo k  and daiwa sv tw..its a tought choice 

[burrows]

2 hours ago, Sihua Zheng said:

I done some research and I see the daiwa tatula 100 , it looks like worth a wait, and also the cuardo k  and daiwa sv tw..its a tought choice 

I think you should wait for the tatula 100 looks like a sweet little reel!

[Sihua Zheng]

20 hours ago, Burrows said:

I think you should wait for the tatula 100 looks like a sweet little reel!

do you think the new tatula 100 is going to be better than the current sv tw?

[burrows]

1 hour ago, Sihua Zheng said:

do you think the new tatula 100 is going to be better than the current sv tw?

I’m not sure if the new zero adjust tatula 100 is going to have an sv spool? 

 I couldn’t tell you but I know the current sv tws is said to be over breaked I’m no expert on diawa I only have shimano reels but this new little reel has got my intrest can’t really tell you till it comes out. If you’re interested in diawa I would start there.