Small Baitcasters

[NittyGrittyBoy]

So I'm in the market for a small baitcaster. I have a couple M 6' rods I want to use for river fishing casting lightweight lures. These are not bass rods per se, Zebco Omega Rods I use to panfish and crappie fish with. Only problem i dont use em because there are zebcos on them. So hence to reason for smaller baitcasters. 

 

I dont want to spend crazy amount. ~$150 and below. Recommendations? Pictures? 

[jimmyjoe]

   I use a Curado 70 from Shimano on a UL casting rod rated 1/16 to 1/4. Works OK down to 1/8 oz, reasonable distance and good accuracy.

   I know it's not little, but if you can get a Daiwa Fuego CT100, I have a Ray's BFS spool that will cast a little better, and if you buy the reel on the web, the total saves you money.          jj

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Tacklewarehouse had Shimano 70's on clearance, but the reviews had me with mixed emotions. I would like to cast 1/16 lures but I know that's not reasonable. I'd be happy with 1/8 for sure.

 

Also what pound line would yall recommend? And flouro, mono, braid? I've never done lightweight stuff with baitcaster. 

[Cityangler7]

On 4/14/2020 at 7:55 PM, NittyGrittyBoy said:

So I'm in the market for a small baitcaster. I have a couple M 6' rods I want to use for river fishing casting lightweight lures. These are not bass rods per se, Zebco Omega Rods I use to panfish and crappie fish with. Only problem i dont use em because there are zebcos on them. So hence to reason for smaller baitcasters. 

 

I dont want to spend crazy amount. ~$150 and below. Recommendations? Pictures? 

This lews is very comfortable to palm

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Lews_Speed_Spool_LFS_Casting_Reel/descpage-LSSCS.html

[jimmyjoe]

9 minutes ago, NittyGrittyBoy said:

Tacklewarehouse had Shimano 70's on clearance, but the reviews had me with mixed emotions.

   I understand. I have mixed emotions about mine. It's kinda like an Austin-Healey Sprite; small, fun and high maintenance.

 

  

11 minutes ago, NittyGrittyBoy said:

. I would like to cast 1/16 lures but I know that's not reasonable.

   You're right.

 

  

12 minutes ago, NittyGrittyBoy said:

Also what pound line would yall recommend? And flouro, mono, braid?

   I don't use anything lighter than 11 mil (.011") mono line on the Curado. On the Ray's spool I can go down to 4 lb. Stren.

   So far I haven't had any luck casting light stuff with braid. Of course, I'm a braid-hater, so take it for what it's worth.     jj

[GreenPig]

3 hours ago, NittyGrittyBoy said:

Tacklewarehouse had Shimano 70's on clearance, but the reviews had me with mixed emotions. I would like to cast 1/16 lures but I know that's not reasonable. I'd be happy with 1/8 for sure.

 

Also what pound line would yall recommend? And flouro, mono, braid? I've never done lightweight stuff with baitcaster. 

I've thrown a 1/20 Ned jig with a TRD on my Curado 70 out 25 to 30 yards with 10 lb mono and it's fishable. The 10 lb is a little much, 6 or 8 lb would be a better choice IMHO.

[JustJames]

1/20oz Jig head plus TRD is about 3/16oz. 25-30yds is still an excellent distance on 70 with 10lb line. The question is which rod? In order to cast 1/8oz lure you would need at least 1/8oz rod or better yet 1/16. I’m not sure spec of your 6’ M rod, it might not play well with 1/8oz lure. Remember even same weight, jig head plus small plastic or kastmaster would cast further than regular lure.

If you want small reel in stock form aldebaran 30/50 MGL or alphas SV is the way to go, otherwise you might have to get into BFS or spend more money on shallow spool. I found that magnetic brake is better control than centrifugal brake when come to ultra finesse.

[kayaking_kev]

SLX MGL 70 for $125 is an alternative to the Curado 70. I haven't thrown anything less than a 1/4 yet, but it has done great with that.

 

https://fishing.asian-portal.shop/category/select/cid/352/bid/49/pinfo/10000-to-19999/pid/295258

[new2BC4bass]

Look for a used Pixy or Prolite.  Don't know about the Prolite, but the Pixy is a small reel and you should be able to find one in good shape within your price range.

[Jig Man]

I use a Curado 70 with 6# fluorocarbon for Neds.  3/16 oz is as low as I go.

[FryDog62]

In your price range, I would say to nab the Curado 70 which is on sale many places right now.  I have several and have thrown light lures (down to 1/4 maybe 3/16 in ideal conditions) on 7 lb Sniper and it’s ok but 20 lb braid casts smoother/farther.  A better option would be a Daiwa Alphas SV with either the Sniper or 20 lb braid.  But it’s $225+.  It casts even lighter stuff as well as anything you’ll find.  I use it as my dedicated Ned reel and even can skip a few when using the braid. 

[Beeno]

3 hours ago, kayaking_kev said:

SLX MGL 70 

https://fishing.asian-portal.shop/category/select/cid/352/bid/49/pinfo/10000-to-19999/pid/295258

^no need to look further ^ 

[Junger]

I really like the Alphas platform, and just picked up a used, but mint condition/modded Alphas Finesse Custom. I plan to throw it 1/16-1/4oz lures for white perch/crappie. If you're not looking for brand new/mint condition, the finesse variants of the Alphas are attainable for $150 or less.

 

 

[dodgeguy]

Lews tournament pro $139 at sportsmans outfitters

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Yall have givin tons of options and that's what I needed?

 

Now I'm gonna pilfer through reviews and narrow it down! 

[FishTank]

 

 

This might be helpful... and a good reel.

 

[NittyGrittyBoy]

I actually own 2 SLX's and have nothing but good things to say about them. They're also in the running. 

[JustJames]

In that video, the rod that cast the lure, reel just hold line. This rod is very noodle, must been one of his cheap UL 1/32-1/8oz. Also to only fill line only about 1/4 full on deep spool, I can see some problem. The line will develop tight coil to small arbor spoon fast and once memory set in, you won’t be able to cast that far. 

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Theres alot more to casting UL baits than I thought. 

[Grim_Reaver]

My friend had a similar problem, he just ended up buying another SLX. He needed a reel to cast 1/8oz spinnerbaits and buzzbaits in creeks. I can ask him what size line he is using if you want.

[The Bassman]

15 hours ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

In that video, the rod that cast the lure, reel just hold line. This rod is very noodle, must been one of his cheap UL 1/32-1/8oz. Also to only fill line only about 1/4 full on deep spool, I can see some problem. The line will develop tight coil to small arbor spoon fast and once memory set in, you won’t be able to cast that far. 

You're one who really understands this stuff. Don't you just shake your head when this guy keeps complaining that his lure is going left. A near empty spool tends to cause that. He should check his IPT also. Maybe 12-14" lol.

[JustJames]

46 minutes ago, NittyGrittyBoy said:

Theres alot more to casting UL baits than I thought. 

Pretty much, if you haven’t started and not really settle for baitcasters, spinning is the way to go. There is nothing can beat a versatile and easiness of spinning when come to light lure. For overall 1/4oz you can get away with any modern reel if you have a suitable rod, but truly weight 1/8oz and below you need both specialty rod and reel.

All of those 1/8jig, 1/8oz spinnerbait, you will end up with 1/4oz total weight or more, which is fine for any reels this day.

Regarding to line, you are not gonna expect 30-40 yds with light lure and if you are not ready for 6-10lb braid then 4lb mono/copolymer or 6lb FC is the way to go. You don’t need a lot of line 50yds on mono should be more than enough.

[JustJames]

5 minutes ago, The Bassman said:

You're one who really understands this stuff. Don't you just shake your head when this guy keeps complaining that his lure is going left. A near empty spool tends to cause that. He should check his IPT also. Maybe 12-14" lol.

I would love to get 14-20” IPT on my reel. All my Daiwa even the 7.2 air, I converted to the lowest I can find 5.8 (IPT 25”). Actually he is right one thing if lure wonder to the left meaning too much brake. The one I shake my head the most is when ppl compare 1/8oz whatever jig to  1/8oz lure. The profile and total weight is totally different.

[WRB]

I weighed my vintage Langley 340 Target free spool reel 4.12 oz.

Looking at eBay there is one for sale $35. Have no idea what condition the reel is in and you will need to know to cast using your thumb only, no brakes. You will have to clean this reel and it should cast 1/8 oz lures with 6 lb mono over 40 yards, I can cast 3/16 oz 50 yards with my Target 340.

$150 you can find Diawa TD Fuego, the original red reel, for sale and  will also cast 1/8oz lures with ease. The Daiwa Pixie can be found but prices are between $135 to over $250.

Tom

[Junger]

2 hours ago, The Bassman said:

You're one who really understands this stuff. Don't you just shake your head when this guy keeps complaining that his lure is going left. A near empty spool tends to cause that. He should check his IPT also. Maybe 12-14" lol.

Reel Test on YT doesn't really understand the mechanics of casting. All he really does is weigh spools, measure distances and say "Oh, look Shimano reels win again on distance". He sets up his reels all the same way, when they are clearly different braking mechanisms and should be set up optimally for the the reel. Stopped watching his videos a while ago when I started to palmface while watching them.