magnetic vs. centrifugal

[jimmyjoe]

   I've only used 2 magnetic reels, and haven't even scratched the surface of all the braids. But it kinda seems to me that magnetic reels handle mono line more consistently, and centrifugal reels handle braid more consistently. By "more consistently" I mean that they adjust to varying conditions quicker, more easily and more predictably.  Less backlash, too. Am I maybe right or maybe wrong?       jj

[Russ E]

I prefer a magnet /centrifugal combination.

like @BaitFinesse mentioned if you have the centrifugal brake adjusted properly you can loosen the spool tension and eliminate the backlashes at the beginning of the cast.

 

I can cast lures much farther and with less backlashes with the centrifugl/magnetic combination over the magnetic brake only reels.

Once the centrifugal brake is set, I don't touch it again. I also do not adjust the spool tension.

if I need any adjustment for lure weight or wind compensation, it is all done with the magnetic brake.

 

one bit of maintenance I do once a month with the  centrifugal brake reels. is to wet a cotton swab with reel oil and lightly oil the brake ring. this keeps noise down and improves casting distance

[Boomstick]

I have both, and to me it depends on the particular reel to be honest. My worst braking reel is an Abu Garcia Black Max. My best braking reel is probably my Daiwa Tatula SV, but the Pflueger Supreme XT I got for my youngest son brakes beautifully as well.

[Log Catcher]

I prefer centrifugal brakes. I have two reels with magnetic brakes. I don't use the magnetic brakes on them. I keep them turned off.

[Russ E]

14 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

I have both, and to me it depends on the particular reel to be honest. My worst braking reel is an Abu Garcia Black Max. My best braking reel is probably my Daiwa Tatula SV, but the Pflueger Supreme XT I got for my youngest son brakes beautifully as well.

I agree with the black max as being one of the worst braking reels. I know a lot of anglers that start out with that reel. when they move up to better reels, they are often amazed at how well they can cast.

 

i have a couple abu-garcia revo's that are centrifugal/magnetic combos. they are very easy to cast.

I have a couple lews that are magnetic only and they take a lot of thumb control to keep from backlashing.

[craww]

Prefer centrifugal for reasons mentioned above. Have a few dual brake reels and have owned/used a bunch. While I enjoy their forgiving nature- (backhand casts especially) and some cast very well, I wish theyd come out with a dual brake reel that could actually operate at peak performance using only one system independently. Everyone Ive seen has been the marriage of 2 inferior designs on their own; yet theyre fine together. 

[Boomstick]

53 minutes ago, Russ E said:

I agree with the black max as being one of the worst braking reels. I know a lot of anglers that start out with that reel. when they move up to better reels, they are often amazed at how well they can cast.

 

i have a couple abu-garcia revo's that are centrifugal/magnetic combos. they are very easy to cast.

I have a couple lews that are magnetic only and they take a lot of thumb control to keep from backlashing.

On my Tatula's, I don't even have to thumb it for a normal cast and I run the brake between 6 and 8, occasionally as high as 10 for some lighter baits (it goes up to 20) so not all magnetic brakes are ineffective.

[Russ E]

1 hour ago, Boomstick said:

On my Tatula's, I don't even have to thumb it for a normal cast and I run the brake between 6 and 8, occasionally as high as 10 for some lighter baits (it goes up to 20) so not all magnetic brakes are ineffective.

i agree. my kastking speed demon pro has a good magnetic brake system where I can do the same thing.

 

With my revo's i can set the centrifugal brake system just enough to stop the backlash at the beginning of the cast.

set the spool tension at a minimum, then lightly set the magnetic brake, just high enough to eliminate backlash at the end of the cast. they will cast a mile.

[jimmyjoe]

   Wow. No one mentioned whether they used mono, braid or both. Very interesting.    jj

[Russ E]

8 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

   Wow. No one mentioned whether they used mono, braid or both. Very interesting.    jj

I use all three,depends on the application. The third being flourocarbon. Doesn't really affect my decision on magnetic or centrifugal brakes.

[jimmyjoe]

   I have a Daiwa Fuego CT100 that I can't get to like braid. (Yet, at least.) But with Big Game, it's flawless. I also have a Curado 200i that is OK with mono, until I cast a spinnerbait into the wind. Then I have trouble. But with braid (I use 50 lb. Sufix Performance braid) it's flawless. So I wondered whether the different systems had slight favoritism with different lines, or whether I just hadn't found the right braid for the Daiwa and right mono for the Shimano.  Trying out all the different lines out there can be tedious ...... and expensive!  So I thought I'd ask your opinion.     jj

[burrows]

I prefer Centrifugal but I haven’t owned a magnetic baitcaster in many years.

[Boomstick]

7 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

   Wow. No one mentioned whether they used mono, braid or both. Very interesting.    jj

I've used mono, fluro and braid

[Deleted account]

15 hours ago, BaitFinesse said:

I prefer centrifugal over magnetic unless it is Daiwa's Magforce Z/V and Air Brake which function very similar to a centrifugal system but with more control at low spool speed and more reactive to bait deacellerarion.  

 

This^. And no, I don't find one kind of brake or the other better for different lines. I use the old 6 pin centrifugal brakes, and I like them best, but any decent reel these days works, I borrow some reels sometimes that I wouldn't own, and catch fish just as well.  

[J Francho]

I don't think you can make any generalizations without getting specific to either models, or braking systems.  Some simply work better than others.

[new2BC4bass]

18 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

   I've only used 2 magnetic reels, and haven't even scratched the surface of all the braids. But it kinda seems to me that magnetic reels handle mono line more consistently, and centrifugal reels handle braid more consistently. By "more consistently" I mean that they adjust to varying conditions quicker, more easily and more predictably.  Less backlash, too. Am I maybe right or maybe wrong?       jj

I think you might be wrong.  My Gen1 STXL (magnetic only) has never had anything but 40# braid on it.  Some of my longest casts have been with this reel.  I've cast 3/4 oz. spoon and 10" unweighted ribbontail worm with no problem with adjustments.  My 50th Anniversary Zillion has always had 12# mono on it.  Has made some very long casts with a 3/4 oz. spinnerbait.  Reel is about as close to set-and-forget as you can get.

 

Have 60# braid on a 201E7 and frog rod.  Excellent distance.  If it backlashes it is definitely my fault.  Same thing can be said for my Chronarch 100B with 12# mono.

 

Practice can overcome a lot of problems.

[jimmyjoe]

38 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

 

 

Practice can overcome a lot of problems.

  Ouch. I was afraid I'd hear that. That's why I said "kinda seems".

[FrankN209]

13 hours ago, Boomstick said:

I have both, and to me it depends on the particular reel to be honest. My worst braking reel is an Abu Garcia Black Max. My best braking reel is probably my Daiwa Tatula SV, but the Pflueger Supreme XT I got for my youngest son brakes beautifully as well.

I agree. It depends a lot on the reel brand. My Daiwa's brake perfect and so does my "not aloud to mention" reel also and it's centrifugal. 

[Matt_3479]

I much prefer my centrifugal brakes personally. I don’t know why but my daiwa tatula sv is much pickier then my Shimano’s (curado k and chronarch mgl’s). I love the feel of the reels but I have headaches with it. My dad had 2 tatula sv’s and loves them. 

 

It seems that the shimanos can have less spool tension then the daiwa and it requires more brakes. My Shimano’s have some spool play (very little “knock”) and 1 or 2 of the brakes on, where as my tatula needs to be tight spool and atleast 7 or 8 on the brake otherwise it birds nests everytime!

[J Francho]

I typically run all my Daiwa reels with 10 on the brakes, and no spool tension.  The only time I change that is when I'm skipping.  Then it's 0 on the brakes, and plenty of spool tension. This has worked for any of their reels with Mag Force brakes.

[new2BC4bass]

3 minutes ago, Matt_3479 said:

I much prefer my centrifugal brakes personally. I don’t know why but my daiwa tatula sv is much pickier then my Shimano’s (curado k and chronarch mgl’s). I love the feel of the reels but I have headaches with it. My dad had 2 tatula sv’s and loves them. 

 

It seems that the shimanos can have less spool tension then the daiwa and it requires more brakes. My Shimano’s have some spool play (very little “knock”) and 1 or 2 of the brakes on, where as my tatula needs to be tight spool and atleast 7 or 8 on the brake otherwise it birds nests everytime!

If you don't have a bit of side-to-side play on your SV, then you don't have the reel set up right.  Having said that, my first SV reel backlashed more than any other reel I owned.  A trip to Ian cured that.  A second one was good out-of-the-box.

[FrankN209]

32 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I typically run all my Daiwa reels with 10 on the brakes, and no spool tension.  The only time I change that is when I'm skipping.  Then it's 0 on the brakes, and plenty of spool tension. This has worked for any of their reels with Mag Force brakes.

 

I'll have to try these settings also. I always run around 3 on the brakes with spool tension. 

[J Francho]

I leave them at 10, as a fail safe.  If I need some distance, or it's calm, I'll back off the brakes.  I'd rather not mess with spool tension whenever I change baits.  I have a pretty well educated thumb, though.  Been using baitcasters for 30+ years.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

A tighter spool tension also makes the handle turn a bit stiffer. I like a free loose handle feel so keep spool tension to a minimum always, dont change it lure to lure.

[greentrout]

the best bc I've ever used was the old Cabela's Prodigy flagship reel made by Daiwa with magnetic brakes...sweet reel...smooth with easy casting...ahead of its time...