$100 (+ or -) reel for spinnerbaits

[jimmyjoe]

   Friend of mine passed away. Had a massive collection of 5/8 oz. spinnerbaits, single and tandem blades. (He poured them himself.) Some are used, some new. I can get these cheap. They weigh right at 1 oz total, and the single Colorado ones pull like a freight train. I have 2 rods that I could use with these, but I'm gonna need a new reel.

   What's a good, durable, RELIABLE reel for fishing with these? I'd like to stay reasonably close to the $100 mark if I could.  Thnx.    jj

[Russ E]

Nearly any $100.00 reel would work. I would not go much higher than 6.3 to 1 on the gear ratio. 

Any higher will wear out your hand and wrist with jumbo spinnerbaits.

In that price range I prefer the diawa fuego.

[new2BC4bass]

I bought one last year, put it away, and forgot I had it.  The Okuma Helios SX.  Ebay has a 7.3 for $104.99 + $8.30 shipping ($230 at TW).  This reel has a long handle and big knobs, but the reel itself is small.  7.3 may be a bit too fast for that size spinnerbaits, but what a great deal on the reel.

 

I'd grab another one, but my reel collection is getting out of hand. 

 

You are going to be able to cast those things quite far.  Curious.  What rods are you planning on using with them?

[swhit140]

6 minutes ago, Russ E said:

Nearly any $100.00 reel would work. I would not go much higher than 6.3 to 1 on the gear ratio. 

Any higher will wear out your hand and wrist with jumbo spinnerbaits.

In that price range I prefer the diawa fuego.

What he said on the Fuego CT, I have 3 of them now. I've been really happy with the reel, they can be had for $70-80. I don't know if you can get a better reel for that price.

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, swhit140 said:

What he said on the Fuego CT, I have 3 of them now. I've been really happy with the reel, they can be had for $70-80. I don't know if you can get a better reel for that price.

I've enjoyed my Fuego CT-XS for flipping/pitching/topwaters and such. I'm looking at replacing the Nitrous with another Fuego CT in the 6.3 for cranks/jerks/heavy spinners-chatters.

[WRB]

Shimano Cardiff 

Tom

[Bass Rutten]

Daiwa tatula 200 (6.3) is what I use for 1/2 to 1 1/2oz lures, performs like a champ, I don’t think you can do much better for $120 (on eBay). The 100 size reels feel under powered for my spinnerbaits, usually 3/4 oz, but with trailers come in around 1 1/4- 1 1/2oz

[Pogues2300]

Just a friendly reminder that black Friday is approaching fast. I have multiple tatulas for various techniques and love them all. Maybe wait and get one on sale for your desired price point. Good luck

[Fishes in trees]

I've used various Shimano reels for throwing spinner baits.   I think that a 5 something to 6 something gear ratio works best for spinner baits.   A few years ago I settled on Shimano Calcuttas as being a decent spinner bait reel, specifically the 250 TEGT.  I really liked how it handled 17 and 20 lb mono/copoly, my favored lines for throwing spinner baits.

This season I got the Curado 150 DC - specifically for throwing spinnerbaits and I like it.   I like the low profile better than the round reel.    The Curado 150 gets me noticeably better distance and accuracy, throwing half ounce spinner baits.   Actually, right now the Curado 150 DC has became my favorite reel for throwing reaction baits - cranks, square bills, chatter baits/ spinner baits, what have you.  I only regret that I only own 1 of them right now - so the Calcutta 250 TEGTs aren't retired yet.

My advice for a spinner bait reel is DO NOT SKIMP OR SETTLE.   Purchase the best quality reel that you can afford.  

[jimmyjoe]

50 minutes ago, Russ E said:

In that price range I prefer the diawa fuego.

 

39 minutes ago, swhit140 said:

What he said on the Fuego CT,

 

33 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I've enjoyed my Fuego

   A couple months ago, I would have agreed. But I stripped the gears in one and need to send it in. Don't want to take a chance on another one going south.

 

28 minutes ago, WRB said:

Shimano Cardiff 

Tom

  Honestly, I had not thought of that. I'll chk into it.

 

19 minutes ago, Bassjam2000 said:

Daiwa tatula 200 (6.3) i

   There's another one that I hadn't considered, mostly because I didn't know about the fleabay price. I'll chk into this one, too.

 

18 minutes ago, Pogues2300 said:

Just a friendly reminder that black Friday is approaching fast.

   Oh, yeah. How well I know! My list is already long. That's one reason to keep the price down.

 

   Thank you, all of you. Now I've got some things to look into.    ?   jj 

  

[Deleted account]

I throw big spinnerbaits with a calcutta or a 4600. If you are going to go LP, I would go with one with good line capacity and 6. something gear ratio or less. 

[jimmyjoe]

1 hour ago, new2BC4bass said:

Curious.  What rods are you planning on using with them?

   I have a modified Cabela's Tourney Trail MH/MF, that I've had forever. 7' long, 3/8-1 oz. Ideal for spinnerbaits.   jj

[Russ E]

I mentioned the fuego, because of the price . it is hard to beat in that range. I own a couple.

Personally I use a gen 4 Abu Garcia revo sx in 6.6 to 1 gear ratio for cranking heavy spinnerbaits.

It is built like a tank. It runs around $150.00. If you are patient it goes on sale once in a while for quite a bit less

 

[LonnieP]

Daiwa Tatula 100. 109 at Sportsman’s Outfitters 

[zell_pop1]

Daiwa Tatula CT or 150 with the 5.5 to 1 gear ratio for big blade baits, or any 5x gear ratio power reel.

[jimmyjoe]

30 minutes ago, LonnieP said:

Daiwa Tatula 100. 109 at Sportsman’s Outfitters 

   If I can get the 200 size for 10 bucks more, I doubt I'd consider the 100 size. Thnx anyway.     jj

[WRB]

2 hours ago, Fishes in trees said:

I've used various Shimano reels for throwing spinner baits.   I think that a 5 something to 6 something gear ratio works best for spinner baits.   A few years ago I settled on Shimano Calcuttas as being a decent spinner bait reel, specifically the 250 TEGT.  I really liked how it handled 17 and 20 lb mono/copoly, my favored lines for throwing spinner baits.

This season I got the Curado 150 DC - specifically for throwing spinnerbaits and I like it.   I like the low profile better than the round reel.    The Curado 150 gets me noticeably better distance and accuracy, throwing half ounce spinner baits.   Actually, right now the Curado 150 DC has became my favorite reel for throwing reaction baits - cranks, square bills, chatter baits/ spinner baits, what have you.  I only regret that I only own 1 of them right now - so the Calcutta 250 TEGTs aren't retired yet.

My advice for a spinner bait reel is DO NOT SKIMP OR SETTLE.   Purchase the best quality reel that you can afford.  

Where can anyone find a Calcutta for $100???? Cardiff is in that price range not Cakcutta.

Tom

 

[Bass Rutten]

You won’t regret getting a 200, with an 8’ rod I can bomb a 1oz lure to the next county if need be, it also makes a great deep cranking reel. The tatula is pretty palmable too and weighs in just over 8oz.

[waymont]

Tatula 150 is a sweet reel for something like that.

[Fishes in trees]

I was referring to the quality of reels that I prefer for spinnerbaits.  I didn't give any thought to the price range suggested by the original poster.  I think that if you spend $100 for a bait caster you get what you pay for.

If you fish like I do and rotate between 20 or so different rigs, a C-note bait caster might last a couple of years.  If you have fewer bait casters and use them more frequently I don't think that they are likely to last as long.

 

By the same token I have 4 Calcutta TEGTs purchased 2004?  2005? and they are all still going strong.  The Calcutta have been relieved from pitching/bottom contact duties because I've went to lighter reels for that, but for reaction baits, IMO, they still work great.   I'll stand by my original statement, i.e. DON'T SKIMP OR SETTLE ON REACTION BAIT REELS.

[Tizi]

Tatula CT Type R - can find them on ebay for $120.

[Joe_w1234]

Sorry to hear about your friend. I would go with any Shimano or daisy or abu Garcia reel in your price point. 

[JediAmoeba]

19 hours ago, Russ E said:

I would not go much higher than 6.3 to 1 on the gear ratio. 

Any higher will wear out your hand and wrist with jumbo spinnerbaits.

Why do you say that?  I use a Daiwa Lexa 400 (8.1:1) ratio, 42 inches of retrieve for 8+ hours straight casting huge bucktails without any trouble.  

[jimmyjoe]

   Local retailer will get Tatula 150 and 200 models in b4 Christmas. We'll see then. Local word of mouth has it that the Cardiff is very reliable but doesn't cast very far. This was from catfishermen, though. If they could sit on one side of the river and hit the other bank, they'd say that was almost good enough.   ?    jj

[new2BC4bass]

5 hours ago, JediAmoeba said:

Why do you say that?  I use a Daiwa Lexa 400 (8.1:1) ratio, 42 inches of retrieve for 8+ hours straight casting huge bucktails without any trouble.  

I am guessing because spinnerbaits have a lot more drag than a jig.  I know my rod arm tired out pretty fast hauling a 1/2 oz. spinnerbait with Colorado blades through the tops of weed beds.  Of course, I am an old fart that hasn't exercised since....??