Time to upgrade my baitcaster...

[marsfromva]

First post. Been bank fishing in Virginia for a couple of years. I've had one rod & one reel, a MH 7" Field & Stream w/Black Max3. I recently got a 7'1" Mojo Bass M/F travel rod. I'd like to upgrade my reel too. I've been thinking about: Shimano SLX, Tatula Type R, & a Casitas if I could find a good deal.

 

I'm looking for a 6:3.1, RH, low profile, light weight reel, something durable & sub-$100. I do mostly soft plastics, but mi it up when those don't work, primarily w/spinners, chatterbaits, small swimbaits, etc. 

 

I've also looked at the KastKin Spartacus plus & Pflueger President XT, just bc of the matching cork handles. Thoughts? TIA. 

[new2BC4bass]

Best buy you will ever find right at $100.  http://www.pfluegerfishing.com/pflueger-reels-baitcast-reels-low-profile/pflueger-patriarch-xtlow-profile-reel/1347903.html#start=2

 

 

[NYWayfarer]

My suggestion is the Lew’s LFS or try to find the Lew’s Tournament MB on sale for $100

[XF15-Loader]

Love my Lew's Tourney MB. 

[CrankFate]

I’d go with a Shimano SLX or Tatula 100. Both are small and light, with modern engineering and tight tolerances. They run about $100 on sale and would both be worth it. I doubt there’s much difference between them in real world performance as all around multipurpose reels.

[Russ E]

FOR $100.00 I would go with a diawa tatula CT. You can get them on eBay for right at $100.00.

If you want to go cheaper theKastKing royal legend elite reel is really nice. It is around $65.00 on Amazon.

Both are good reels. The diawa has the magforce brake,

The kastking has a magnetic brake.

[Joshua van Wyk]

Just now, CrankFate said:

I’d go with a Shimano SLX or Tatula 100. Both are small and light, with modern engineering and tight tolerances. They run about $100 on sale and would both be worth it. I doubt there’s much difference between them in real world performance as all around multipurpose reels.

This would be my choice too, but I'd also add in a Tatula ct type r. Got mine for $100 and it's an awesome workhorse!

[CrankFate]

1 minute ago, Joshua van Wyk said:

This would be my choice too, but I'd also add in a Tatula ct type r. Got mine for $100 and it's an awesome workhorse!

Can’t argue with that!

[scbassin]

Go with the Pflueger & you will never look back. At that price it is a great buy.

[CrankFate]

2 minutes ago, scbassin said:

Go with the Pflueger & you will never look back. At that price it is a great buy.

At only 5.8 oz, I could totally see that.

[Joshua van Wyk]

14 minutes ago, scbassin said:

Go with the Pflueger & you will never look back. At that price it is a great buy.

I've never tried a pflueger caster but I love my spinner!

[FCPhil]

I fished for two years with Abu Black Max’s. I decided to upgrade as well this Spring. I got the Tatula CT and could not be happier. It is a little larger in you hand but I hear the tatula 100 is more compact. The spool is very light and with the t-wing casting soft plastics is a breeze. 

 

Also, the spool tension and magnetic brakes are very similar in operation to the Black Max so it is easy to learn. 

 

The SLX has a different style of brakes you will have to learn BTW. 

[Happybeerbuzz]

7 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

Best buy you will ever find right at $100.  http://www.pfluegerfishing.com/pflueger-reels-baitcast-reels-low-profile/pflueger-patriarch-xtlow-profile-reel/1347903.html#start=2

 

 

I never used a Pflueger baitcaster before I bought my Supreme XT from the same clearance sale you have linked.  I am really impressed. If they had any Patriarchs in left hand retrieve in stock, I would buy one in a heartbeat for $100. It’s got to be the best deal out there right now.  

[marsfromva]

omg....sounds like it comes down to personal preference. I like the SLX & I'm familiar w/Shimano comp on my mtb. Not sure how I feel about it just centrifugal brakes, most have 2 brake systems. I also can't decide between that & the Tatula Type R & now the Patriarch XT. Some one also mentioned the Casitas which fits the bill o f low profile, two brake system, etc. 

 

I may get one of those & also stock up on a KastKing Spartucus Plus as an extra reel. 

 

Yo folks are hella generous with their advice here, thanks so much. 

[greentrout]

 

Own it ... as advertised ... love it ... can't go wrong ...

[PhishLI]

23 minutes ago, marsfromva said:

omg....sounds like it comes down to personal preference. I like the SLX & I'm familiar w/Shimano comp on my mtb. Not sure how I feel about it just centrifugal brakes, most have 2 brake systems. I also can't decide between that & the Tatula Type R & now the Patriarch XT. Some one also mentioned the Casitas which fits the bill o f low profile, two brake system, etc. 

 

I may get one of those & also stock up on a KastKing Spartucus Plus as an extra reel. 

 

Yo folks are hella generous with their advice here, thanks so much. 

My brother picked up 2 Patriarch XTs from that sale. $250 reel for 100 bux! He has Shimanos, Chronarchs and Curado Ks, and a few Daiwas. He feels the Patriarchs feel and fish just as good as his Shimanos. Casts great.  Super light too. I've casted with it. It's a fine reel.

[BrackishBassin]

I second the Tatula CT. Got mine for $83, but that was a year or so ago now. Phenomenal reel. My original was a Black Max as well. First time you fish the new one, you’ll wonder how you stuck with the Black Max for so long. It’s literally a world of difference. 

[TBAG]

21 hours ago, CrankFate said:

I’d go with a Shimano SLX or Tatula 100. Both are small and light, with modern engineering and tight tolerances. They run about $100 on sale and would both be worth it. I doubt there’s much difference between them in real world performance as all around multipurpose reels.

This

[JustJames]

First of all, let me ask you this, why do you wanna upgrade your reel from Blackmax 3 to something else? Blackmax 3 is a good budget reel, light weight and the price is right. I understand you have now two rods and you need one more reel, but if Blackmax 3 work why not use the same. 

A lot of reels mentioned here are not really better than Blackmax 3 and the reels you mentioned are not a lot lighter than Blackmax 3, except casitas. 

Let’s talk reels you mentioned.

 

SLX is aluminum frame, centrifugal brake system. It would be totally different and might not cast light weight lure better than blackmax 3.

 

Tatula type R, this is a tank, foolproof reel can last you a life time, but this is huge and heavy reel and also might not cast light lure better than blackmax 3, but you’d get similar magnetic brake system.

 

Casitas, this one is totally different, very light weight, plastic frame. You’d get centrifugal brake system with fine tune adjustment (most benefit for using with light weight lure 3/8 and lower), but you might have to spend some time to dial in. It is super free spool and trend to overrun/backlash if you are not careful. You will get the most cast with this reel plus super easy to handle 1/4oz lure.

[Joshua van Wyk]

3 minutes ago, JustJames said:

First of all, let me ask you this, why do you wanna upgrade your reel from Blackmax 3 to something else? Blackmax 3 is a good budget reel, light weight and the price is right. I understand you have now two rods and you need one more reel, but if Blackmax 3 work why not use the same. 

A lot of reels mentioned here are not really better than Blackmax 3 and the reels you mentioned are not a lot lighter than Blackmax 3, except casitas. 

Let’s talk reels you mentioned.

 

SLX is aluminum frame, centrifugal brake system. It would be totally different and might not cast light weight lure better than blackmax 3.

 

Tatula type R, this is a tank, foolproof reel can last you a life time, but this is huge and heavy reel and also might not cast light lure better than blackmax 3, but you’d get similar magnetic brake system.

 

Casitas, this one is totally different, very light weight, plastic frame. You’d get centrifugal brake system with fine tune adjustment (most benefit for using with light weight lure 3/8 and lower), but you might have to spend some time to dial in. It is super free spool and trend to overrun/backlash if you are not careful. You will get the most cast with this reel plus super easy to handle 1/4oz lure.

In my experience the difference between a Black max and any of the other reels mentioned is giant. All these reels can also handle lighter baits better than a blackmax. They also all have aluminum frames, except the Casitas. The CT type R isn't that much bigger than any of the other reels and would be my first choice. I'd rather spend the extra $30 or $40 and get a great reel where I know im getting my moneys worth.

[Oregon Native]

2 cents

Have three Kast Kings.   Also have Daiwa spin...Shimano casting.  Love my Kast Kings … been a year... so far so very good.

[WSOzzie]

On 1/25/2019 at 8:13 PM, CrankFate said:

I’d go with a Shimano SLX or Tatula 100. Both are small and light, with modern engineering and tight tolerances. They run about $100 on sale and would both be worth it. I doubt there’s much difference between them in real world performance as all around multipurpose reels.

+1

[ResoKP]

On 1/25/2019 at 9:13 PM, CrankFate said:

I’d go with a Shimano SLX or Tatula 100. Both are small and light, with modern engineering and tight tolerances. They run about $100 on sale and would both be worth it. I doubt there’s much difference between them in real world performance as all around multipurpose reels.

 

3 hours ago, WSOzzie said:

+1

+1

Tatula 100