Bantam vs. 2020 Metanium

[The Maestro]

Anyone own both that can comment on how they compare? Any major differences besides weight?

[Basswhippa]

1 ounce and $100

[STBen1215]

Metanium is a magnesium frame. Bantam is a aluminum frame. The Metanium utilizes more bearings over the Bantam. Plus the MGL III spool in the Metanium. 

 

Personally I always bring my decision based on reels to balance and how you plan to utilize it. Both have brass bears but I prefer the Bantam for heavier duty tasks due to the aluminum frame. 

[NHBull]

The Bantam is a fine reel, I really like mine.  That said, I I would want the Met in my hand more often.  If I was mainly fishing the slop, I might change my mind

[The Maestro]

Does the magnesium body alter the feel when reeling compared to the Bantam?

[jbsoonerfan]

I own both and by the end of next week the count should be 6 Bantam MGL's and 3 Met MGL B's. I will use the Bantams for moving baits: deep cranks, med cranks, squarebills, spinnerbaits, lipless, vibrating jigs, etc. The Mets will run bottom contact duty and will have to share some of the work till I can buy a few more. I used them both side by side last week and I feel they are about as close as they can be as far as feel on the retrieve. Both are about as smooth as you could ask for. I like to put my index finger right under my line when fishing a texas rig, jig, etc. and they way the nose is built on the Met just feels like it fits perfect. Both great reels and if money isn't an option the Met is the way to go. If one were trying to decide and the extra money was an issue then I would not hesitate to recommend the Bantam instead. Shimano got it right with these two reels IMFO. (In my fanboy opinion)

[The Maestro]

1 minute ago, jbsoonerfan said:

I own both and by the end of next week the count should be 6 Bantam MGL's and 3 Met MGL B's. I will use the Bantams for moving baits: deep cranks, med cranks, squarebills, spinnerbaits, lipless, vibrating jigs, etc. The Mets will run bottom contact duty and will have to share some of the work till I can buy a few more. I used them both side by side last week and I feel they are about as close as they can be as far as feel on the retrieve. Both are about as smooth as you could ask for. I like to put my index finger right under my line when fishing a texas rig, jig, etc. and they way the nose is built on the Met just feels like it fits perfect. Both great reels and if money isn't an option the Met is the way to go. If one were trying to decide and the extra money was an issue then I would not hesitate to recommend the Bantam instead. Shimano got it right with these two reels IMFO. (In my fanboy opinion)

Great answer. Thanks. I already have some Bantams and really like them a lot. Still trying to decide if I really want to chance it with the Metanium or stick with what I know.

[jbsoonerfan]

Just now, The Maestro said:

Great answer. Thanks. I already have some Bantams and really like them a lot. Still trying to decide if I really want to chance it with the Metanium or stick with what I know.

Oh, get the Met, you will love it!

 

Wait, I bought one, used it 2 days and now have 2 more on the way. Maybe you shouldn't do it. 

[The Maestro]

1 minute ago, jbsoonerfan said:

Oh, get the Met, you will love it!

 

Wait, I bought one, used it 2 days and now have 2 more on the way. Maybe you shouldn't do it. 

I might just do that. Thanks.

[LegendaryBassin]

5 minutes ago, The Maestro said:

Great answer. Thanks. I already have some Bantams and really like them a lot. Still trying to decide if I really want to chance it with the Metanium or stick with what I know.

You won't be disappointed either way. Great reels

[Tywithay]

If you already have a Bantam, you'll always wonder about the Metanium 

[BrianNJ31]

Regretfully, I did not purchase the new Metanium when there was some store availability.  Everywhere I look now shows there won't be availability until end of May (at the earliest).  I am looking to add another rod/reel to handle moving baits - chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, ploppers, etc. 

 

After reading this thread and many others, sounds like a Bantam may be better suited to handle my needs.  Is there anything that I am really sacrificing by going with the Bantam over the Met?

[jbsoonerfan]

3 hours ago, BrianNJ31 said:

Regretfully, I did not purchase the new Metanium when there was some store availability.  Everywhere I look now shows there won't be availability until end of May (at the earliest).  I am looking to add another rod/reel to handle moving baits - chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, ploppers, etc. 

 

After reading this thread and many others, sounds like a Bantam may be better suited to handle my needs.  Is there anything that I am really sacrificing by going with the Bantam over the Met?

There is a certain auction place where there are plenty available.

 

Just a tiny bit of palmability (is that a word) in my opinion, but if you are using it for moving baits then I don't think it will make a difference. See my post above.

[Manifestgtr]

You won’t be disappointed with the met if you go that route. Mine has been amazing  thus far. We’ll see how it holds up 5 years down the road...
 

The “smooth” descriptor has always bugged me with reels. If you pick up just about any new, high end reel produced in the last 5 years, it’s going to be smooth. But these “core solid” mm reels are on another level, man. The retrieve has this liquid quality to it...it’s tough to describe. If you didn’t know how reels worked, you’d never guess there was gearing in there. 

[Edwin Leong]

On 5/9/2020 at 7:33 AM, Basswhippa said:

1 ounce and $100

Itzi possible bantam gear fit with metanium 2020 ? Cause wanna get pg ratio 5 gear set seen metanium 2020 lower ratio only 6.

[MidwestBassAttack]

I had a Bantam and now am up to four Metaniums (2016 versions with brass gear sets). The Bantam was super solid but felt tiny to me. The Metaniums are slightly longer front to back and they just fit my hand better and felt more comfortable (to me).

[Glenn]

FYI - Edwin is reaching out to us all the way from Asia (hence the grammar).  Welcome Edwin!

[flat]

I watched an in depth review of the bantam. One of the suggested issues with it was the short distance between the spool and line guide. The reel was squirrelly when using 14# fluorocarbon, and casting distance while good, isn't the best. Anyone here have issues using fluoro with the bantam? I've got a lifetime supply of 14# so that's all I use on my crankbait rod.

[lunkerboss923]

Here are the facts. You can't find Bantam reels. They are all sold out and when more come available, they sell out. Metaniums are easier to come by, most likely because the Bantam is priced right in the sweet spot. It's hard to justify almost $460 for a reel. I've always been told to spend on the rod not the reel. Which why I got the Chronarch...great reel by the way. 

[flat]

10 minutes ago, lunkerboss923 said:

Here are the facts. You can't find Bantam reels. They are all sold out and when more come available, they sell out. Metaniums are easier to come by, most likely because the Bantam is priced right in the sweet spot. It's hard to justify almost $460 for a reel. I've always been told to spend on the rod not the reel. Which why I got the Chronarch...great reel by the way. 

I bought one Saturday from japan and had it in my hands yesterday. The chronarch is a solid reel, still have a 101a that I use.

[JustJames]

2 hours ago, lunkerboss923 said:

Here are the facts. You can't find Bantam reels. They are all sold out and when more come available, they sell out. Metaniums are easier to come by, most likely because the Bantam is priced right in the sweet spot. It's hard to justify almost $460 for a reel. I've always been told to spend on the rod not the reel. Which why I got the Chronarch...great reel by the way. 

Just a quick checked on first two websites, I found bantam MGL in stock so they are not all sold out.

And for 2020 Met I also found it in USA for 360 not 460 as you mentioned. I’m not even gonna mention, that you can find 2020 Met under 300 super easily.

Oh and I’d bet you all my rods are under 200 but I can fish head to head with average joe like you who use the most super sensitive high end rod. 

these are real facts.

[Fishingmickey]

7 hours ago, flat said:

I watched an in depth review of the bantam. One of the suggested issues with it was the short distance between the spool and line guide. The reel was squirrelly when using 14# fluorocarbon, and casting distance while good, isn't the best. Anyone here have issues using fluoro with the bantam? I've got a lifetime supply of 14# so that's all I use on my crankbait rod.

I've found nothing squirrely about my Bantams. I used them with 12", 15# and 17" fluoro.  I use them for everything, bottom contact, Cranking and reaction baits (spinner and chatter). 

FM

[flat]

38 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

I've found nothing squirrely about my Bantams. I used them with 12", 15# and 17" fluoro.  I use them for everything, bottom contact, Cranking and reaction baits (spinner and chatter). 

FM

Thanks, I have my rod on the way and put it on a 66 ml to play with it. Throwing a 1/8 oz crank it took more tuning than I'm used to. Hopefully the 705b cr will throw it better. 

[NathanDLTH]

Let me share my experiences:

 

I have fished my Bantam for almost two seasons and before that I had an Alderberan, Chronarch MGL, Curado K plus lots of Daiwas. Simply put the Bantam is a workhorse of a reel and can pull fish from the thickest weeds, pads, and out of the deep. Change the handle to something 96 or bigger, buy the 7:1 gear ratio in the correct hand you’ll be set. The Bantam is the only Shimano reel I still own, it rivals my Steezes in smoothness, beats everything in sheer power. If I had to choose one reel platform to fish for everything from Shimano, it would be the bantam. 

[flat]

8 hours ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

Just a quick checked on first two websites, I found bantam MGL in stock so they are not all sold out.

And for 2020 Met I also found it in USA for 360 not 460 as you mentioned. I’m not even gonna mention, that you can find 2020 Met under 300 super easily.

Oh and I’d bet you all my rods are under 200 but I can fish head to head with average joe like you who use the most super sensitive high end rod. 

these are real facts.

Well duh, of course you can. SoCal guys only need a rowboat and a treble hook. ?