Best $200 Reel?

[Alec McMillan]

What do y'all think is the best reel in the $200 price range? (concept A, concept Z, Abu revo stx, Daiwa tatula SV TWS, Lew's BB1, Super Duty series, tournament pro LFS, Shimano curado K, curado 70) 

^There are more those are just the ones I can think of.

[jbsoonerfan]

I have a Curado K, Scorpion 70 and Curado 150 DC. My choice in order would be the Scorpion, DC, K

[hwright38]

+1 for the Curado K. A close second would be the Smoke S3 for me (I have no experience with Daiwa reels, I'm sure the tatulas are fine, they just don't appeal to me). 

 

The Curado 70 is an interesting reel that I would like to try some time, and it should be a decent flipping/bottom contact reel for situations where line capacity isn't a concern. It's basically a mini Curado 200I. For an overall reel, there isn't any reason to go for it over the K unless want something tiny and easy to palm (for the $20 though I'd rather have the K and spool it up with line).

 

Can't go wrong with a Lew's in that price range either. 

 

Just get the Curado K and don't look back. 

 

(honestly all those reels will be good, that price bracket weeds out some of the lower performing reels. It's mostly just personal preference)

[FryDog62]

Tat SV if you skip lures, Curado 70 if you want a small, light, extremely palmable reel...

[waymont]

Daiwa Tatula SV TWS and  Shimano Curado K would be my vote.

For spinning reels I would say Tatula LT and Stradic FK

 

My older Lew's Pro G reels are about 4 years old and still working like new. Haven't tried the new versions.

[kschultz76]

I’m pretty happy with the Zillion TW SV reels at this point and they can be had pretty close to $200. I’ve not tried a Curado K or a Curado 70. I have Curado Is, Chronarch CI4s and an MGL. I really like the braking system on the Zillion. 

[fishwizzard]

It’s not in production anymore, but the Daiwa Alphas sv105 can still be found NIB for around $200.  I have two and wish I had bought two more when they were on clearence. 

[Joshua van Wyk]

The Daiwa Tatula Ct Type-R is an awesome reel for the price, it can be had for around $110 on eBay. I also have a Curado K and it's a pain in the butt to dial in but once you do its a pleasure to use. To be completely honest I dont know which one I'd choose. I love both. 

[haggard]

I've got a few baitcasters including the Curados 201K (6.2:1) and 71 (7.2:1). The 201K feels like a heavier duty workhorse which has it place, but the 71 is my favorite due to its more compact size and greater comfort (smaller, more palmable). Hand size will play a factor. I don't need tons of line capacity and haven't run out yet. It's my general purpose / go-to baitcaster, though I'd prefer a slightly lower gear ratio if they had it.

 

[new2BC4bass]

1 hour ago, Alec McMillan said:

What do y'all think is the best reel in the $200 price range? (concept A, concept Z, Abu revo stx, Daiwa tatula SV TWS, Lew's BB1, Super Duty series, tournament pro LFS, Shimano curado K, curado 70) 

^There are more those are just the ones I can think of.

Concept A:  Original.  Took a bit longer than usual to dial in.  I immediately liked how it felt on a rod.  Something I don't normally notice.  Straight out of box.  A fellow member mentioned he cleans his first and has had no problem dialing them in quickly.

 

Revo STX Gen 1:  Been a very good reel for me.  Often goes to FL with me.  40# braid.  Mainly casting worms into slop.

 

Tatula SV;  Nice looking reel.  Not used enough to form a concrete opinion, but liking it so far.  Finish looks tougher than on some of my older Daiwas.

 

Tatula Type R:  Original.  See Tatula SV comments.

 

Scorpion 71 HG:  New.  Still in box.  Looks very nice.  Looks like it should feel as good as the Concept A on a rod.  Did I say it was pretty? 

 

Tournament Pro:  Original.  Personally not used it much.  I like it, but my youngest (at the time) grandson grabbed it for his use when we go fishing.  Palms well.  Like the braking system.

 

Alphas SV105:  Posted before about this reel.  Took a trip to Ian, but is a fine reel now.

 

I went on a buying spree for awhile at the same time my getting out went down.  (Happens when working 2 jobs at my age.)  As a result a reel only got used a time or two before trying another new one.  As an example I have 5 new reels sitting in boxes that I picked up this winter.  I don't think more than one of them will go with me to FL later this month.  Plan on taking a few previous new ones that have seen very little use. 

 

 

[CrankFate]

At this price, IMO, the question should be which is the worst. Because almost all major brand $200 new model reels are very good to great.

[hwright38]

1 minute ago, CrankFate said:

At this price, IMO, the question should be which is the worst. Because almost all major brand $200 new model reels are very good to great.

+1

[Falkus]

Curado 70 - due to small profile. 

 

SV103H/SV103XS - I know they are out of production but they are a beast

[SMITTY0045]

I just picked up the Daiwa Tatula SV after comparing ones in it’s price range. It gets my vote

[onenutinthewater]

1 hour ago, SMITTY0045 said:

I just picked up the Daiwa Tatula SV after comparing ones in it’s price range. It gets my vote

Of the dozen + newer reels that i have the Tat SV is my favorite for everything from trout to salmon.

[rosshilk]

The Tatula SV would be my vote. Extremely easy to skip baits with this reel. Casts like a dream, and I love the purple.

[dodgeguy]

My personal choice is a Lews Tournament Pro LFS. I used Pflueger reels previously for years. A friend let me try his Lew's and I've never looked back.

[new2BC4bass]

3 hours ago, dodgeguy said:

My personal choice is a Lews Tournament Pro LFS. I used Pflueger reels previously for years. A friend let me try his Lew's and I've never looked back.

Any experience with the Supreme XT?  Couple years ago a fellow member mentioned how well he liked his.  He used to tournament fish and has used some pretty expensive reels.  I've got one (new) I plan on taking to Florida at the end of this month.  Don't know yet whether to spool with braid or either 12# AN40 or Mean Green.

[KentuckyBlueBass]

Shimano Curado K without a doubt

[dodgeguy]

Used the Patriarchs. Had the first versions. Titanium deposition finish. Used round trions for years.All of them were great reels.bought a Abu Garcia mgx and loved it with the externally adjustable brakes. It cast really far. Then it turned into a coffee grinder. That's when I got turned onto Lew's.

[PhishLI]

33 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

Any experience with the Supreme XT?  Couple years ago a fellow member mentioned how well he liked his.  He used to tournament fish and has used some pretty expensive reels.  I've got one (new) I plan on taking to Florida at the end of this month.  Don't know yet whether to spool with braid or either 12# AN40 or Mean Green.

I picked up two XTs thanks to the heads-up-thread you started. So thanks! I bought these as knock around reels for 2 pc. rods that I can keep in the back seat. But they're way better than that. 6.5oz. Comfortable to palm. Easy to dial in. I've set the brakes with 3 on, spaced at 120 degrees apart . It works fine, even though the paperwork recommended evenly opposing brake blocks only. The cam lock side plate is really nice. I spooled one with 12lb big game and took it out. I didn't throw anything under a 1/2oz. It casts very nicely all around. What it's exceptional at is long casting with those weights and above. It can really, really, bomb way out there.

 

I can throw farther with this reel with those weights than I can with the K, and the K is no slouch. I weighed the spool on my other one when I got home. It's 21 grams with the bearing, which is heavy. I'm not sure it'll be great with lighter weights, but it sure is something else with heavier ones. The handle is a bit short. It really doesn't bother me, but I might upgrade to a longer one eventually. So, I'm really digging the reel. One's going on a frogging rod. I like bombing frogs when I need to. I don't think I'll be disappointed.

[LonnieP]

Tatula SV