Need some REEL help.

[Thatnewguy92]

  So ive recently purchased two new rods from ***, they were having a buy one get one.. I got a 7'2 ML spinning and a 7'3 MH casting.. i began looking for a baitcaster in the ~200ish range, aaaaaaand im lost.  Any suggestions with some thought process behind it? 

[Jig Man]

Suggestion.....Shimano in your price range Sometimes good ones are in the flea market here.  I have bought 3 of them myself.

 

Thought process.....I switched to them an haven’t looked back.  I now own around 30.

[JustJames]

Take your rod to local store and ask to try with all the reels in that price range. Pick the one more comfortable for you to hold. Most of the time you would hold your rod at 45 degree so the one you can hold at that position the longest without being tip heavy is the ideal. Reel around 200 all should be good doesn’t matter daiwa, shimano or others.

[Fishes in trees]

On the bait casting side, If you're going to use the reel for reaction baits, I'd recommend the Curado DC.   For bottom contact baits I don't think that you ever throw far enough for the DC feature to be worthwhile - Get the Shimano that fits your hand the best - for me that is a 50 size Curado or Chronarch.  If I could afford the more expensive Shimano reels, I'd probably go there, but I can't so I don't.

 

I'm not so much a Shimano bigot when it comes to spinning reels.  I got a Shimano NASCI a year, year and a half ago and I don't like it because it doesn't have a manual anti-reverse switch.  I'm old school that I do back reel occasionally.  In the last year I've purchased a couple of the Pflueger Presidents for a modest amount of money ($60 more or less)

and I like them AND they have the manual anti reverse switch.  I like the smaller size ones because they are lighter and fit my hand ok - your decision might be different.  I see posts where lots of guys like the 30 size reels for bass.

 

The advice of going to your local tackle store to pick out a reel is good advice.   I would never buy a reel on-line that I hadn't handled first.  If your local tackle store has a limited selection of Shimano bait casters, I'd go to a store that had a greater selection.

[new2BC4bass]

Here is a great price on a $220 reel.  $100 off.   https://www.amazon.com/Okuma-Helios-Profile-Baitcasting-Reel/dp/B07KPNYYKP/ref=asc_df_B07KPNYYKP/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312855047749&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11509263010671149935&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9006934&hvtargid=pla-645487961171&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=61622829349&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=312855047749&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11509263010671149935&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9006934&hvtargid=pla-645487961171

 

Do a search.  Only a few posts mentioning this reel, but all are good.

 

Shimano Citica is on sale.  Suppose to be a very good reel at full price.  I can find the Curado 70 for as low as $142.

 

I've bought many reels without ever handling one first.  A few of us seldom notice handling quirks while many others are very picky about how a reel feels in hand.  Sure...I like some better than others, but don't dislike any.  Don't really notice how a reel feels in hand very often when fishing.  I am more focused on other things.