One Trick Pony

[Tony Christian]

I'm looking for a lo pro baitcaster that can do it all. Frogging, jigs, spoons, spinnerbaits, big channel cats, and cranks (deep and shallow). I'm also using it for striper surf fishing in the Lower Hudson and Sandy Hook during the season. Is there a reel that can do it all under $200?

[Jrob78]

That's not what "one trick pony" means.  I would look at something like the Daiwa Tatula 200 or Curado K 300. The have the line capacity to hold a decent amount of heavier mono but not knowing what line you're planning to use it's hard to say. That's asking a lot out of 1 reel, especially below $200. Finding a rod to do all of that will be even harder.

[J Francho]

54 minutes ago, Tony Christian said:

Is there a reel that can do it all under $200?

Maybe, but probably not many of them very well.  I can't think of a rod that could do that at all.

[thunderblack]

ugly stick 

[Tony Christian]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

Maybe, but probably not many of them very well.  I can't think of a rod that could do that at all.

do you think a revo sx could? I was thinking of that but I wanted some advice.

[Tony Christian]

4 hours ago, Jrob78 said:

That's not what "one trick pony" means.  I would look at something like the Daiwa Tatula 200 or Curado K 300. The have the line capacity to hold a decent amount of heavier mono but not knowing what line you're planning to use it's hard to say. That's asking a lot out of 1 reel, especially below $200. Finding a rod to do all of that will be even harder.

40 lb sufix 832. I'm also using a spinning rod with 12 lb flouro for highland reservoirs.

[newapti5]

Low profile reel? IMO not likely. Even though there's a couple of options available, they won't last long for what you described.  You'll need this: 

 

[Darth-Baiter]

you are looking for a multi-tasker!  that is a wide range of needs.  drawing a blank.

[Tatulatard]

Tatula 150.  7:1

[MickD]

Where can one get a Calcutta for $154?

[webertime]

Tatula 200/HD

Used Zillion HD

Used Daiwa Catalina (JDM zillion hd)

 

I have a Catalina on a Perfect Pitch and it does basically everything you are looking for. 

[Hulkster]

1 hour ago, MickD said:

Where can one get a Calcutta for $154?

I think that's Amazon.mars. 

 

 

I would also go with the Curado 300K. 

 

for a rod, maybe an IMX Pro Swimbait rod??

 

but it will be a $600 combo.  

[newapti5]

3 hours ago, MickD said:

Where can one get a Calcutta for $154?

 

Amazon Japan, but it is only for 100 size, left-handed, sold by a third party seller.

[Big Hands]

On 10/11/2022 at 10:45 AM, Tony Christian said:

I'm looking for a lo pro baitcaster that can do it all. Frogging, jigs, spoons, spinnerbaits, big channel cats, and cranks (deep and shallow). I'm also using it for striper surf fishing in the Lower Hudson and Sandy Hook during the season. Is there a reel that can do it all under $200?

Assuming "lo pro" refers to low profile.

 

If a reel has a low profile, and relatively high line capacity, the only way(s) to achieve additional capacity would be a thinner arbor on the spool and/or a wide spool. There's only so much room between the spool arbor and the reel foot. 

 

Big channel cats and stripers in the surf can take you for quite a ride and that means line capacity could definitely be an issue. You honestly should also be looking at reels that are made to withstand saltwater fishing environments (salt and sand), and that level of sealing adds cost for sure.

 

Unfortunately, you're asking for a unicorn and I can't even pretend for a grown adult that unicorns exist. Please don't misunderstand me, there is nothing AT ALL wrong with asking, and you're asking because if it did exist, that would be a great thing for a one combo solution to exist, especially at a semi-budget price point. However, this is like asking for a vehicle that can tow a 24' boat, launch on sandy beaches, handle like a Porsche, seats 8, gets 45 mpg, and costs less than $30K. It doesn't exist at any price, and if it did, it would most certainly cost more than $30K.

 

I also can't think of a rod that would do all of them well, even conceptually other than a two or three piece that could have different middle and top sections. Even then multiple piece rods are generally not likely to perform or be quite as light as a purpose built one piece. 

 

And contrast a frogging rod with one that also works for shallow running crankbaits? If it does either of those reasonably well, it's going to suck at the other.

 

Honestly, in my estimation, you're going to hate your fishing life to try to do all of those things somewhat reasonably well with anything less than three rod/reel combos and those are going to run at least an average of $300 to $400 for each rod/reel combo, and that doesn't include putting line on them. 

[Tatulatard]

Yep, thats a tall order for a reel let alone rod.  That's why my recommendation would be an all around heavy or heavy plus rod on a high cap big spool low pro reel with a long handle and a medium ipt.  A tatula 150 7:1 and some sort of flipping and swimbait rod that can handle frogs like a bass x 710H to plug a forum sponsor.  7:1 seems fast but that long handle and 34 mil spool should keep the line recovery down to handle moving baits.  The aluminum frame and handle side plate also keeps the drive train aligned, smooth and low effort cranking under load.  

[Tony Christian]

19 hours ago, Big Hands said:

Assuming "lo pro" refers to low profile.

 

If a reel has a low profile, and relatively high line capacity, the only way(s) to achieve additional capacity would be a thinner arbor on the spool and/or a wide spool. There's only so much room between the spool arbor and the reel foot. 

 

Big channel cats and stripers in the surf can take you for quite a ride and that means line capacity could definitely be an issue. You honestly should also be looking at reels that are made to withstand saltwater fishing environments (salt and sand), and that level of sealing adds cost for sure.

 

Unfortunately, you're asking for a unicorn and I can't even pretend for a grown adult that unicorns exist. Please don't misunderstand me, there is nothing AT ALL wrong with asking, and you're asking because if it did exist, that would be a great thing for a one combo solution to exist, especially at a semi-budget price point. However, this is like asking for a vehicle that can tow a 24' boat, launch on sandy beaches, handle like a Porsche, seats 8, gets 45 mpg, and costs less than $30K. It doesn't exist at any price, and if it did, it would most certainly cost more than $30K.

 

I also can't think of a rod that would do all of them well, even conceptually other than a two or three piece that could have different middle and top sections. Even then multiple piece rods are generally not likely to perform or be quite as light as a purpose built one piece. 

 

And contrast a frogging rod with one that also works for shallow running crankbaits? If it does either of those reasonably well, it's going to suck at the other.

 

Honestly, in my estimation, you're going to hate your fishing life to try to do all of those things somewhat reasonably well with anything less than three rod/reel combos and those are going to run at least an average of $300 to $400 for each rod/reel combo, and that doesn't include putting line on them. 

I'm gonna use it for a year, then I can upgrade to a surf reel for the salt and also a curado. I won't have to hate myself for too long. Thanks for the information though.

[Crankin4Bass]

Shimano Tranx

[Dwight Hottle]

3 minutes ago, Crankin4Bass said:

Shimano Tranx

 

X2 Either a 200 series or 300 for more line capacity. 

[jitterbug127]

I've spent countless hours trying to figure this out. Its really impossible to do all of bass fishing one 1 rod. At an absolute minimum I'd need 2, and I'd have to all but forget about either finesse or cranking. If i was going to do only 1 rod/1 reel I'd go with a lews bb 1 pro reel in 7.1:1 gear ratio. Rod is tough. I'd probably go with something like a 7'4" medium heavy or heavy fast action rod. This would cover the way i fish the best. 

[dodgeguy]

Lew's BB1pro.

[JS8588]

Penn Fathom LP 300 size