Suggestions on Choosing Casting Reel

[Unk]

1 hour ago, rtwvumtneer6 said:

I have Dobyns Fury's too, and like them, but for the same price I really like my LowRiders.

Thank you . I looked up the LowRiders . There was a mention about them having smaller guides . Everything about them sounds really good but I wondered - if I ever had to use a leader - would the guide size restrict the cast ?

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Daiwa and Shimano are personal choices, both are good. I would avoid DC reels that add cost and little else to a skilled caster.

Just as important to a new reel is the rod you choose.

 

Thanks Tom . If it's possible , it sounds like you were doing this even before I started . I agree that the rod is as important if not more so . Things have sure changed . Back then there were only two rods . Pool cues or hickory switches  

1 hour ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

Those are all nice reels. My vote goes to the Curado.

Thanks Kevin . Much appreciated .

[Unk]

45 minutes ago, PressuredFishing said:

All are excellent choices

Thank you . I appreciate the help .

17 minutes ago, WC53 said:

I have most of the reels on your list and a few Lews. Diawa’s braking system is simply amazing. I think it is top of the pack, which saddens me as a longtime Shimano guy. 

Thank you . My spinning rig has a Shimano Stradic (sp?) and I like it a lot .

20 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

Start here, see if this helps: 

Really appreciate you taking the time to help with this .

[Lead Head]

For a "do all" rig, that tatula sv will check pretty much every box you have. It will handle both light and heavy lures and have the added bonus of being extremely user-friendly when you first start casting again. In my experience, about the only thing the shimanos will do better is maybe get you a bit more distance. My experience however, does not include the mgl spools. 

 

The key take away for me is you are wanting a "do all" rig, and in my hands nothing is more versatile than a sv spooled Daiwa. Personally, I would go with a 6 speed retrieve because I find it much easier to reel fast when needed, as opposed to reeling slow for entire retrieves with moving baits. This is a personal preference thing. 

 

As to rods, I'm not much help. I will suggest you avoid anything labeled extra-fast and look hard at rods that have a reputation for being more on the moderate side of fast. Again, this is another personal preference thing, but I find rods like this to be more versatile and it sounds like that is your goal. 

[Catt]

10 hours ago, Unk said:

The last reels I had ( and loved at the time ) were Ambassadeur 5500C

 

Any Abu Garcia, Daiwa, Lew's, or Shimano would fit your needs.

 

Since you have experience casting a 5500 you undoubtedly have an educationed thumb & should not need a lot of help from the reel.

 

With age comes arthritis, I had to switch from Calcuttas to low profile because of the weight & bulk. I chose Lew's Team Lite over Diawia or Shimano mainly because of simplicity.

[Unk]

2 hours ago, Lead Head said:

The key take away for me is you are wanting a "do all" rig, and in my hands nothing is more versatile than a sv spooled Daiwa. Personally, I would go with a 6 speed retrieve because I find it much easier to reel fast when needed, as opposed to reeling slow for entire retrieves with moving baits.

Thanks Lead Head . I understand the "do all " rig is sort of a pipe dream but this helps me at least get close . I had thought of going with a 7.x retrieve but only out of ignorance and the fact that it was the middle ground choice . What you say about a 6.x speed makes sense .

[Captain Phil]

My first casting reel was a Pflueger Akron, so you know I've been around awhile.  When the 5500C came out, we thought it was the best reel we had ever seen.  Those early Ambassadors were smooth as silk compared to everything else.  I am sure all the reels you listed would do the job.  The first thing you will notice about them is how small and light they are.   I still use a Shimano Calcutta (5/1) for spinnerbait fishing as I find the small reels too small for my hands.  I own a Shimano Chronarch MGL and a Shimano Zodias casting rod.  I don't like the DC reels and feel the computer braking is unnecessary.  My combo is the lightest most sensitive casting outfit I have ever used.  The majority of my casting reels are older Shimano Chronarch 100s (7/1).  If you take care of them, they last forever and have never let me down.  

[Unk]

27 minutes ago, Catt said:

Any Abu Garcia, Daiwa, Lew's, or Shimano would fit your needs

Thank you Catt . I'm afraid that my thumb has been attached to it's owner for too long and forgotten most of what little it ever knew . Yep , Arthur has always been bad company :)

[Unk]

8 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

Those early Ambassadors were smooth as silk compared to everything else.

Thanks Captain . Other replies have suggested that the new reels are much better than the Ambassadeurs but , like you say , I thought they were pretty good . It'll be really something if the new ones are all that much better . Can I ask what the initials "DC" in your post stand for ?

[Captain Phil]

14 minutes ago, Unk said:

Thanks Captain . Other replies have suggested that the new reels are much better than the Ambassadeurs but , like you say , I thought they were pretty good . It'll be really something if the new ones are all that much better . Can I ask what the initials "DC" in your post stand for ?

 

The DC stands for Digitally Controlled.   They have an internal microprocessor that adjusts the braking of the spool to help control backlashes.  I think it's better to learn to cast, but that's just my opinion.  I don't like the sound they make either.  For someone totally new to casting reels, they are probably easier to cast.  Sort of like training wheels on a bike.

 

5500Cs where great in their day.  I still have a couple, but I rarely use them as they seem clunky and heavy compared to the new reels.  If you buy a quality casting reel today, you will like the difference. 

[Unk]

16 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

The DC stands for Digitally Controlled.   They have an internal microprocessor that adjusts the braking of the spool to help control backlashes.  I think it's better to learn to cast,

Thanks again . I could not agree more !

[Unk]

10 hours ago, fish n freak said:

I would reccomend the Shimano scorpion 150 mgl.  they are available now at Japan lure shop for around 171.00. the shipping will run about 13 dollars.  total cost will be less Than the Curado 150 and Japan lure shop always includes a free lure/gift with every purchase!

Thank you . Somehow I missed this but will check them out for sure .

[rtwvumtneer6]

9 hours ago, Unk said:

I looked up the LowRiders . There was a mention about them having smaller guides . Everything about them sounds really good but I wondered - if I ever had to use a leader - would the guide size restrict the cast ?

They are not micro guides, rather a single foot guide that sits closer to the blank. 

 

Personally not a fan of braid to leader for the applications I use mine for, but I used to throw #50 braid to a #20 fluoro leader on my BuCoo without issue.  I believe the BuCoo uses the LowRider guide, but I'm not 100% certain.  Hope that helps. 

 

[WC53]

10 hours ago, Unk said:

Thank you . I looked up the LowRiders . There was a mention about them having smaller guides . Everything about them sounds really good but I wondered - if I ever had to use a leader - would the guide size restrict the cast ?

Thanks Tom . If it's possible , it sounds like you were doing this even before I started . I agree that the rod is as important if not more so . Things have sure changed . Back then there were only two rods . Pool cues or hickory switches  

Thanks Kevin . Much appreciated .

I bought the SLX DC on impulse. And while it is a good reel, I don’t find myself reaching for it that much. It does help in wind or long distance.  Watching some reviews, it seems the more expensive DC reels have better control, but…. 

The Curado have always been my workhorse standard. I see them moving into all mag brakes like the Curado BFS. All my full size Curado’s are a bit older, so I am not up on their current braking . 
The Diawa Air TW etc are just excellent casters. Maybe not as much distance as the Curado if you are good.  Ford vs Chevy ;).

 

The Falcon low riders and clearwater coastal are excellent all around rods. I prefer a bit more moderate action and they are firmly in my wheelhouse and what I take if I am in my kayak.

[Unk]

1 hour ago, rtwvumtneer6 said:

They are not micro guides, rather a single foot guide that sits closer to the blank. 

Thanks again RT . I just misread the info or more likely just didn't understand . 

[Unk]

31 minutes ago, WC53 said:

I bought the SLX DC on impulse. And while it is a good reel, I don’t find myself reaching for it that much.

Thanks WC . From a few comments that have been made earlier , I'd just about ruled out the SLX DC reel and what you say reinforces that . From what you say and from some other replies , I'm getting the impression that the Daiwa SV may be a bit easier but the Curado may give longer cast . My guess is that either reel's strong points will really be dependent on how much time I'm willing to put into it ?

[Lead Head]

The reels recommend are probably going to be so much nicer than what you used in the past that you will love any of them. The Daiwa/Shimano debate really is a Ford/Chevy type thing. It usually comes down to which brake system you like the best. Don't sweat it too much. If you are on the fence, pick one based on price or cosmetics. You can always try the other one for your next combo... there is ALWAYS a next combo.

[FishTank]

So for if you going to only have one casting rig. Depending on lure weights.....

 

Shimano Curado 150 MGL and a St. Croix Avid 7' M Fast

 

Or

 

Shimano Curado K and a St. Croix Avid 7' MH Fast

 

 

These will cover just about everything and last a long time. 

 

[Unk]

1 hour ago, Lead Head said:

You can always try the other one for your next combo... there is ALWAYS a next combo.

Thanks again Lead Head . I have read several comments here about a small hairy primate that causes a world of trouble for members  

10 minutes ago, FishTank said:

These will cover just about everything and last a long time.

Thanks Fish Tank . I'm going to make a run tomorrow to see if I put hands on some rods . May take awhile but probably will be time well spent . I believe a nearby Cabela's has a St. Croix MoJo Bass . Not sure about the Avid .

[GetFishorDieTryin]

You should check out Ark rods.  Your not going to find a better blank for less $.

[Big Hands]

Of the reels you mentioned, I have the:

• Daiwa Tatula SV TWS
• Shimano SLX 150 DC

 

I also have:

• Shimano SLX MGL 70
• Shimano Curado 200K
• Shimano Curado BFS
• Daiwa Tatula 100

Personally, I would rather use the Shimano SLX MGL 70 than the SLX DC 150, even for use with a MH/F rod. I like it more for four reasons:

It casts better

It takes less line to fill it

It's plenty strong

It costs less

 

I like the Daiwa SV TWS better than the SLX DC 150 too.

 

They are all excellent choices though. JMHO

[Big Hands]

Of the reels you mentioned, I have the:

• Daiwa Tatula SV TWS
• Shimano SLX 150 DC

 

I also have:

• Shimano SLX MGL 70
• Shimano Curado 200K
• Shimano Curado BFS
• Daiwa Tatula 100

Personally, I would rather use the Shimano SLX MGL 70 than the SLX DC 150, even for use with a MH/F rod. I like it more for four reasons:

It casts better

It takes less line to fill it

It's plenty strong

It costs less

 

I like the Daiwa SV TWS better than the SLX DC 150 too.

 

They are all excellent choices though. JMHO

[Unk]

8 hours ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

You should check out Ark rods.  Your not going to find a better blank for less $

Thank you . Will do some checking on Ark . I've narrowed the reel choice down but the decision on the rod is going to be even harder .

4 hours ago, Big Hands said:

Personally, I would rather use the Shimano SLX MGL 70 than the SLX DC 150, even for use with a MH/F rod. I like it more for four reasons:

It casts better

It takes less line to fill it

It's plenty strong

It costs less

 

I like the Daiwa SV TWS better than the SLX DC 150 too

I appreciate the help . I had just about ruled out the DC reel . I'm now looking into rods and it is turning out to be an even harder job then the reels .