Best reel under $200

[Natepezold]

In your opinion what is the best reel under the $200 dollar price point. I’m thinking about getting another reel and was thinking about the slx dc but I’ve heard mixed reviews about them. Thanks 

[Catt]

Lew's Tournament MP 

[NYWayfarer]

I have the Shimano SLX DC. My review would be it’s fantastic. 
 

The advantage of the DC technology to me is when you are using 1 baitcaster to throw lures of different weights in the same session. I can tie on a heavy spoon and cast it then cut it off and throw a Ned rig without having to fiddle with the cast control knob. Using Mono, my brakes stay on 2 unless I am throwing something really aerodynamic then I can go down to 1

[dodgeguy]

Lew's tournament pro. Lew's mp LFS. Lew's BB1 LFS.

[FrnkNsteen]

From the top of your budget down I think my initial choices would be thw following but depend on what you want to use it for....

Daiwa Tatula SV $199

Shimano Curado Mgl 150 $199

Daiwa JDM Alphas 800 SV TW $180ish

Shimano SLX MGL 70 $150

[ironbjorn]

To me the Tournament MP has been a dud. It's not a Tournament MB by any means. The Lew's KVD is better. I really like the Lew's Tournament Pro @ 200, and for truly under $200 I think nothing beats the value of the Shimano SLX XT.

[Manifestgtr]

Depends on what you’re looking to do and whether or not you’re willing to go used. 
 

The best <$200 I ever spent was on a 13 metanium xg. It was used but in great shape and it’s been a workhorse ever since. 

[Revival]

Tatula SV or Alphas SV.  Sometimes you can even get a Tatula Elite for way under $200.

[Catt]

7 hours ago, ironbjorn said:

To me the Tournament MP has been a dud. It's not a Tournament MB by any means.

 

I have both & don't see any difference between the two.

 

In you opinion what makes the MP a dud?

[zpelletier]

If I was going to spend $200 on a reel right now I’d be looking at JDM, the exchange rate is fantastic. Bump up to $240ish and grab a Zillion, or an Alphas for $180ish. A Scorpion MGL is $160ish. 

All the gen 4 Revos are on clearance right now too. The Okuma Hakai is supposed to be great. 
 

There’s plenty of good options in the price range, it’s hard to go wrong. 

 

[new2BC4bass]

12 hours ago, NYWayfarer said:

I have the Shimano SLX DC. My review would be it’s fantastic. 
 

The advantage of the DC technology to me is when you are using 1 baitcaster to throw lures of different weights in the same session. I can tie on a heavy spoon and cast it then cut it off and throw a Ned rig without having to fiddle with the cast control knob. Using Mono, my brakes stay on 2 unless I am throwing something really aerodynamic then I can go down to 1

You've been using the wrong brand of reels then.  ?

 

Only have experience with one DC reel, and as long as I keep the brake at MAX or use any other of the settings there is never a backlash problem.  But I could say the same thing about Magforce 3D reels.  You'd have to turn the brakes off (with side to side spool tension play) in order to occasionally get into trouble...and it would be your fault.

 

OP.  Pick your poison.  It's mostly personal preference.  Lots of good reels at that price.  We have Shimano fanboys, Daiwa fanboys, Lew's fanboys, etc.  I'm a baitcast fanboy.  I'll try any brand and haven't found one yet I dislike.  I do have a few I find a greater pleasure using than some others.  BUT that list is longer than it should be. 

[Tatulatard]

Tatula elite 

15 hours ago, NYWayfarer said:

I can tie on a heavy spoon and cast it then cut it off and throw a Ned rig without having to fiddle with the cast control knob.

That's everything reel I own.  

[casts_by_fly]

The gen 4 Revo STX at $145 is a good deal.  A curado mgl at $200 would be a step up if you want to spend the full budget. 

[NYWayfarer]

1 hour ago, Tatulatard said:

Tatula elite 

That's everything reel I own.  

I am not going to debate the issue but I find it hard to believe anyone can go from casting a 3/8 oz lure to a 1/8 oz lure without some adjustment. 

[ska4fun]

The Alphas CT SV. Can be found under your price range.

[ThatZX14Fella]

Right now the Ambassadeur 100th anniversary is on sale at Tackle Warehouse for $150. I got mine in a couple of weeks ago. Being a round reel guy, I don’t think you could find a better deal. If round reels aren’t your thing, then I’d suggest a Curado. I just got a Tatula SV, and I think the Curado is probably the better reel for the money. The Tatula is great, don’t get me wrong, but I feel that the Curado is smoother, casts slightly better, and feels better in the hand. I’m wishing I would have went with a Curado 70 MGL instead of the Tatula.

[Tatulatard]

2 hours ago, NYWayfarer said:

I am not going to debate the issue but I find it hard to believe anyone can go from casting a 3/8 oz lure to a 1/8 oz lure without some adjustment. 

Every reel I own get the spools tension set to minimize side to side play.  All the daiwas I run middle range on the mag dial unless I am skipping.  The only variable between a 1/8 oz and 3/8 oz bait is that I don't throw that weight range on a single rod and have different reels for each.  I certainly can throw that weight range without having to touch the spool tension or mag brake on a single reel.  If I change anything it would be the spool.  I don't want a heavy spool with a lot of heavy line on it throwing 1/8 oz.  It'll do it but it's not ideal.

[PaulVE64]

2 hours ago, NYWayfarer said:

I am not going to debate the issue but I find it hard to believe anyone can go from casting a 3/8 oz lure to a 1/8 oz lure without some adjustment. 

The new Ultegra

 

 

(but it's a spinning reel)

[ironbjorn]

9 hours ago, Catt said:

 

I have both & don't see any difference between the two.

 

In you opinion what makes the MP a dud?

Some Lew's reels require the brake dial to be turned up really high, like only a few notches off max. I've found the MP to be one of these reels. This is probably the most finicky reel I've ever used, almost impossible to set up. It's entirely possible that only I had the duds, but I doubt it, and in the past I've had others on here agree with me about this reel. Normally I have my brakes set to almost the bare minimum, but this reel required almost maximum brakes and had poor casting distance. The slightly cheaper KVD doesn't have this problem and performs much, much better. It's a painted over MB. The MP, I'm not even sure what that's supposed to be.

[dodgeguy]

The KVD has p2 pinion and is not a painted over mb. Obviously you and dual braking don't get along.

[garroyo130]

2 hours ago, NYWayfarer said:

I am not going to debate the issue but I find it hard to believe anyone can go from casting a 3/8 oz lure to a 1/8 oz lure without some adjustment. 

 

The 3/8 lure in question is a spoon ... that makes a difference

[NYWayfarer]

3 hours ago, Tatulatard said:

Every reel I own get the spools tension set to minimize side to side play.  All the daiwas I run middle range on the mag dial unless I am skipping.  The only variable between a 1/8 oz and 3/8 oz bait is that I don't throw that weight range on a single rod and have different reels for each.  I certainly can throw that weight range without having to touch the spool tension or mag brake on a single reel.  If I change anything it would be the spool.  I don't want a heavy spool with a lot of heavy line on it throwing 1/8 oz.  It'll do it but it's not ideal.

Touché 
 

I can’t speak for Daiwa reels. I only have one Daiwa baitcaster and it’s the Megaforce with the twitching bar.

 

 

[Mojo Bass]

Revo stx on sale for 139.99 idk how you beat that in value ??‍♂️ I’m tempted to grab one and I don’t even need another reel 

[Natepezold]

Thanks for all the responses

[ironbjorn]

On 7/31/2022 at 3:37 PM, dodgeguy said:

The KVD has p2 pinion and is not a painted over mb. Obviously you and dual braking don't get along.

I don't think that's obvious at all based on my dislike of one line of reel from one brand. My most used reels are dual braking. Believe it or not Lews is as susceptible to a bad line as every other brand and do not sit upon the holy grail.