Bantam MGL Reviews?

[onenutinthewater]

Now that this reel has been out for awhile I would like to hear some first hand reviews and opinions. Mine is still waiting for some rain to fall and bring salmon up into the rivers. In the few times it has been out I am very impressed as the reel feels solid and is liquid smooth.

Opinions of others that have many hours on the bantam mgl?

[Dwight Hottle]

Short review, I have five of them so far. A PG for cranking, two HG's & two XG's. The new Bantam is the Conquest of low profile reels by Shimano. 

[new2BC4bass]

27 minutes ago, Dwight Hottle said:

Short review, I have five of them so far. A PG for cranking, two HG's & two XG's. The new Bantam is the Conquest of low profile reels by Shimano. 

High praise indeed. 

[Preytorien]

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewshimanobantam150xg.html

 

Tackle Tour does their homework and gives very detailed reviews. Worth a read. Sounds like you can't go wrong with it. 

Has me thinking if I wouldn't have just loaded up on Chronarch MGL's that the Bantam would be attractive

[onenutinthewater]

3 hours ago, Preytorien said:

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewshimanobantam150xg.html

 

Tackle Tour does their homework and gives very detailed reviews. Worth a read. Sounds like you can't go wrong with it. 

Has me thinking if I wouldn't have just loaded up on Chronarch MGL's that the Bantam would be attractive

I read TT every night!  Great write ups but always positive reviews and ratings of every reel. Nothing is ever rated worse than "good".  Real world use by regular fisherman are more interesting reads along with the opinions of some........

 

[The Bassman]

27 minutes ago, onenutinthewater said:

I read TT every night!  Great write ups but always positive reviews and ratings of every reel. Nothing is ever rated worse than "good".  Real world use by regular fisherman are more interesting reads along with the opinions of some........

 

I always get a kick out of their grading system with arbitrary decimal #'s.  How do they arrive at those?

[Westcoast]

I have been using mine as a salmon reel for a few weeks now. Casts extremely easily, lighter weights are no problem and it feels really solid in hand. It’s the first Shimano reel I’ve bought in a 10 years and I’m glad I did. 

[five-bites]

I love mine. I plan on adding some pg’s for cranking. 

 

As as far as TT reviews, I’ve always respected their opinion. Fact is they generally review quality equipment so why would they give poor ratings? They compare head to head and also aren’t afraid to criticize. I think they use to be more detailed and put more effort in overall but still, they provide a solid review and some objective numbers too. 

[OnthePotomac]

That is a Shimano I do not have yet, but have only read good things about it on several other bass sites.

[LegendaryBassin]

Great reel with a very unique feel (in a good way)

[onenutinthewater]

3 hours ago, LegendaryBassin said:

Great reel with a very unique feel (in a good way)

That's the feeling i had in my limited time on the water so far..... WOW this thing feels solid and smooooooth............ Now just have to get the drag clicker kit dialed in and some RAIN!! Still looks like summer around here.