Anyone have a good recommendation for a bait caster reel for a lightweight set up?

[Jack Lasaon]

Hi, i’m looking for some recommendations on a bait caster that would work good for a light weight combo mainly for weightless plastics, Thanks 

[jimmyjoe]

   Someone could probably help you better if they knew:

 

   Is this from a boat or shore?

   What do you mean by "light weight combo",  as in which power and action? Or don't you have one for this purpose yet?

   What kind of weightless plastic? How small/ light?

   What test line are you intent on using? Which brand?

   What do you mean by "work good" ? What one fisherman thinks is miserably pitiful, another may think is just fine. It would help to know what YOU expect. (You never know until someone tells you.)

 

   BTW .... welcome to BR.    ?      jj

[Jig Man]

I use a Curado X70 with 6# fluorocarbon for Ned fishing.

[Jack Lasaon]

1 hour ago, jimmyjoe said:

   Someone could probably help you better if they knew:

 

   Is this from a boat or shore?

   What do you mean by "light weight combo",  as in which power and action? Or don't you have one for this purpose yet?

   What kind of weightless plastic? How small/ light?

   What test line are you intent on using? Which brand?

   What do you mean by "work good" ? What one fisherman thinks is miserably pitiful, another may think is just fine. It would help to know what YOU expect. (You never know until someone tells you.)

 

   BTW .... welcome to BR.    ?      jj

boat fishing, light weight as

in thats the type of lures i will be using, mostly weightless creature and weightless senko baits. i plan on using some 15lb powerpro smooth cast braided line. as in terms of “works good” i want something that is consistent, will last a long time and casts light lures far. thanks Jimmy. 

[Finessegenics]

12 minutes ago, Jack Lasaon said:

boat fishing, light weight as

in thats the type of lures i will be using, mostly weightless creature and weightless senko baits. i plan on using some 15lb powerpro smooth cast braided line. as in terms of “works good” i want something that is consistent, will last a long time and casts light lures far. thanks Jimmy. 

Invest in a DC reel. SLX dc, curado dc, metanium dc...whatever your budget can afford. Theyre a must for light lures

[jimmyjoe]

2 minutes ago, Jack Lasaon said:

boat fishing, light weight as

in thats the type of lures i will be using, mostly weightless creature and weightless senko baits. i plan on using some 15lb powerpro smooth cast braided line. as in terms of “works good” i want something that is consistent, will last a long time and casts light lures far. thanks Jimmy. 

   15 lb. braid is pretty small diameter braid for a baitcaster. However .... you're in a boat, and that helps. Not only that, but there have been several members here that use low-diameter braid on baitcasters with no problems.

   Make sure you have a rod that is loaded by the lure. No loading means bad accuracy and inconsistent results.

   I, like @Jig Man, have a Curado 70 XG. I've usually kept 8 lb. Yo-Zuri Hybrid line on it. I removed one side shield on the spool bearings, and I use TSI321 for lube. I've used other lubes in the past, but settled on TSI321. This reel casts 5" Yum Dingers to my great satisfaction.   ??

   I also have a Shimano Casitas 150. It does reasonably well with lightweight lures. Not as well as the baby Curado, but definitely usable. You might be able to find one on sale, and they're a lot cheaper than the Curado.

   I also have a Daiwa Fuego CT100. I don't like to use it for weightless plastic. Some people do; I don't. YMMV.

   Good luck!    jj

[WRB]

Have given any thought to the rod you will use?

15 lb PP braid is .008D very small dia for baitcasting reels. You will need a very shallow light weight spool.

If you go with a new reel they are expensive or look into a aftermarket shallow spool for size 100 reel or used Daiwa Pixy 68 with a light spool.

Tom

[kayaking_kev]

Fishband BFS GH100 for $50 

Daiwa JDM Alphas Air

Shimano Metanium MGL

Shimano Scorpion DC

Shimano Aldebaran MGL

[JustJames]

Weightless senko is not light weight in my book, any reel should work just fine. 15lb braid for senko on full size reel, you’d better take it easy on the cast. 

 

[22RangerZ520R]

Shimano Aldebaran MGL

[ike8120]

Checkout the KastKing line of baitcasters.

[browne762]

I have had much better/consistent distances with light lures on the Curado 70 over the Curado DC. I use 30lb Power Pro or Sufix most of the time though.

 

If your budget is far greater then there are other Shimano options as well, but the Curado 70 doesn't seem to break the bank. 

 

ETA: The Curado 70 will be 30%-60% off in a couple days a Tackle Warehouse. 

[evilcatfish]

10 hours ago, Jack Lasaon said:

Hi, i’m looking for some recommendations on a bait caster that would work good for a light weight combo mainly for weightless plastics, Thanks 

What’s your budget?

[fishballer06]

The Aldebaran will always get my lightweight reel vote. 

[FryDog62]

Throwing a light plastic, or skipping a weightless Senko is kind of the ultimate test for a finesse type of baitcasting reel.  After using several brands - Shimano, Lew’s, Abu, etc.  the only one that I can consistently use for the really light stuff are the Daiwa SV spool reels. (And specifically, not the Tatula or even Zillion for 3/16 oz or less)  The reels that work best for the ultra light stuff for me are the Steez SV TW or the Alpha SV.  And even these if you are casting into the wind or skipping a weightless lure, will take practice and adjustments.  But it can be done and once dialed in is effective and enjoyable.  
 

3rd and 4th place reels for light plastics (although I wouldn’t skip with them) would be Curado 70 and Daiwa 100 (on sale now at Am Legacy from $159 now $89).
 

I also find it helpful to go down as low as 20 lb braid to cast the light stuff on the Steez and Alpha.  Have found it helps in casting distance and have not found it to bury into the spool at that diameter very often.  15 pound might be pushing it though...

[OnthePotomac]

My favorite Senko rigs are with a Curado 70XG and an SLX 8.2:1, both spooled with 12 Lb Invizx and both are on 7' MH Carbonlites.  Easy to throw all day.

[browne762]

Curado 70 is $130 right now at Tackle Warehouse. 

[a1712]

Lightweight as in doesn't weigh much or lightweight as in able to cast small stuff? Brian.

[new2BC4bass]

2 hours ago, a1712 said:

Lightweight as in doesn't weigh much or lightweight as in able to cast small stuff? Brian.

According to the OP's 2nd post...light as in light lures.  As in "mostly weightless creature and weightless senko baits."

 

Jack, not to get picky, but that still leaves us guessing as to what you consider light.  As mentioned, there are quite a few plastics that are heavy enough to be cast with pretty much any reel.  Personally I can't cast a weightless 4 inch trick worm on baitcast gear.

On 12/9/2019 at 8:46 AM, evilcatfish said:

What’s your budget?

It helps to know.  You can spend over $500 or less than $100.

[Shimano_1]

I agree with the above about the daiwa sv spool reels. I fish a weightless senko a lot and sometimes smaller ned type rigs on these reels and they are the deal for light stuff

[Boomstick]

The Shimano Curado 70 is pretty light and would be perfect to run 30 or 40lb braid on. If you plan on running mono, fluoro or heavier braid than 40lbs, I have a Pflueger Supreme that is about the same weight and holds more line. The Daiwa Tatula SV is also worth checking out -- while a little heavier, it's great with weightless plastics.