Good baitcaster under $200?

[dodgeguy]

   Lew's tournament pro.   Lew's pro sp. Lew's BB1pro LFS. All great reels that you should try. I regularly outcast my buddy who has diawa and Shimano even the dc. We are both on the same level. He tried my BB1 pro crankbaits reel and was amazed .

 

[new2BC4bass]

1 hour ago, Tony Christian said:

Believe it or not,  the Tatula HD. I may have just gotten a bad one, but it kept locking up when I was reeling.

Yup.  You got a bad one.  I bought a 'blem' Elite figuring it was a cosmetic blemish because that's what 'blem' means to me.  It is internal and can't be used as purchased.  Bought a used Pixy Airy Red that had to be sent out for repair.  Among other things a couple parts were missing.  These are the only 2 Daiwa reels I've ever had problems with.  I've got about 50 Daiwa casting reels from the TD-S to a Steez SV103 and both Coastal models.  (Nothing newer, but sure would like that Zillion.  ? )

[Revival]

2 hours ago, Tony Christian said:

Believe it or not,  the Tatula HD. I may have just gotten a bad one, but it kept locking up when I was reeling.

Gotcha.  Appreciate the reply.  Do some research on the newer Zillion SV before you totally pass on Daiwa.  Tons of feedback on this forum in the recent months.

55 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

Yup.  You got a bad one.  I bought a 'blem' Elite figuring it was a cosmetic blemish because that's what 'blem' means to me.  It is internal and can't be used as purchased.  Bought a used Pixy Airy Red that had to be sent out for repair.  Among other things a couple parts were missing.  These are the only 2 Daiwa reels I've ever had problems with.  I've got about 50 Daiwa casting reels from the TD-S to a Steez SV103 and both Coastal models.  (Nothing newer, but sure would like that Zillion.  ? )

What are you waiting for?  ?

[new2BC4bass]

3 minutes ago, Revival said:

What are you waiting for?  ?

Already have about 15 more reels than rods.  If you read the following post, you would have seen that I've been out very little over the past 4 years.  Don't see that changing until I can move near my in-laws in Florida.  I've gotten tired of just testing new and new-2-me gear over the past 13 years with few fish caught except when visiting in Florida.  I can't see spending more money...no matter how good the product....if I'm not going to put it to use.  I've got more than enough gear for practicing my casting which is about all I do locally.

 

 

[Derek1]

I don’t think you can empty the spool on a currado k, which any regular size line on it. It holds a lot. 

[MN Fisher]

6 minutes ago, Derek1 said:

I don’t think you can empty the spool on a currado k, which any regular size line on it. It holds a lot. 

110yds of 14# mono is what's published.

All my Pfluegers (President XT, Supreme, Patriarch) and my Fuegos hold more than that.

[Derek1]

2 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

110yds of 14# mono is what's published.

All my Pfluegers (President XT, Supreme, Patriarch) and my Fuegos hold more than that.

I’m not saying it holds more line then others. I’m saying I don’t see anyone casting it all of, because it’s still a lot of line. . I should have quoted the post I was referring to. 

[Revival]

3 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

Already have about 15 more reels than rods.  If you read the following post, you would have seen that I've been out very little over the past 4 years.  Don't see that changing until I can move near my in-laws in Florida.  I've gotten tired of just testing new and new-2-me gear over the past 13 years with few fish caught except when visiting in Florida.  I can't see spending more money...no matter how good the product....if I'm not going to put it to use.  I've got more than enough gear for practicing my casting which is about all I do locally.

 

 

My apologies.  In your previous post you were implying that you were interested in the Zillion SV, but I wasn’t aware you were inactive.  Sorry to hear.

 

With that many reels, I personally would sell some and buy couple Zillions for whenever you make your return, even if it is months/years from now.  They are that good!

[new2BC4bass]

17 hours ago, Revival said:

My apologies.  In your previous post you were implying that you were interested in the Zillion SV, but I wasn’t aware you were inactive.  Sorry to hear.

 

With that many reels, I personally would sell some and buy couple Zillions for whenever you make your return, even if it is months/years from now.  They are that good!

I am interested, but with extra reels, I am beating the Bait Monkey back.  Actually this post has me considering getting a new Zillion just because of how everyone is hyping them.  And because of their current price.  Plus I love baitcast reels.

 

I haven't given up entirely.  I'll still go out 3-4 times next year just to keep my casting up.  If I can retire to Florida next year, then I will be doing a lot more fishing.  One of my B-I-L's loves bass fishing.  Actually two do, but I've only gone out once with the younger one.  His ability leaves my ego bruised.  ?

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

At $100> msrp, among the name brands you can hardly go wrong quality wise. If you have specific features or preferences post them and you’ll get suggestions beyond just everyone’s personal favorite. 

[Tony Christian]

3 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

At $100> msrp, among the name brands you can hardly go wrong quality wise. If you have specific features or preferences post them and you’ll get suggestions beyond just everyone’s personal favorite. 

Thanks. I'm a bank fisherman ever since I made a horrible decision of selling my Old Town. I would like an all around workhorse reel, I don't need one for lighter baits, because I have a spinning setup with 6 lb flouro. I just want one that can bomb 3/8+ oz lures into the teeth of the wind I'm still leaning towards a Curado K or mgl.

[Catt]

On 11/9/2022 at 7:00 PM, dodgeguy said:

 Lew's tournament pro.   Lew's pro sp. Lew's BB1pro LFS

 

If it ain't Diawia or Shimano you're wasting your money!

 

11 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

At $100> msrp, among the name brands you can hardly go wrong quality wise

 

A well maintained Abu Garcia, Diawia, Lew's, or Shimano will serve any angler well for years.

[PhishLI]

8 hours ago, Tony Christian said:

I don't need one for lighter baits, because I have a spinning setup with 6 lb flouro. I just want one that can bomb 3/8+ oz lures into the teeth of the wind I'm still leaning towards a Curado K or mgl.

If it's blowing hard outside, literally the last reel I'm bringing out with me is a Curado K. It really sucks casting into the wind. My first choice would be a new Zillion 1000.

[SproDD79]

I just picked up a Zillion 1000 5:5 from digitaka and I'm very impressed. I really don't need any more reels, but the monkey is now liking this Zillion so much I may have to get him another one in a higher gear ratio. 

[softwateronly]

5 hours ago, SproDD79 said:

I just picked up a Zillion 1000 5:5 from digitaka and I'm very impressed. I really don't need any more reels, but the monkey is now liking this Zillion so much I may have to get him another one in a higher gear ratio. 

Pretty sure this Zillion bug is highly contagious. I have that and a bantam crossing the pacific as I write this. 
 

scott

[T-Billy]

50 minutes ago, softwateronly said:

Pretty sure this Zillion bug is highly contagious. I have that and a bantam crossing the pacific as I write this. 
 

scott

Sure is. I bought an HD 1000 and after fishing with it once, I ordered a second. There'll probably be a couple more coming after Christmas. 

On 11/9/2022 at 8:00 PM, dodgeguy said:

He tried my BB1 pro crankbaits reel and was amazed .

I like my BB1 but, the Zillion HD 1000 will outcast it, is smoother, FAR less touchy to dial in, and the Daiwa braking needs no maintenance. I won't be buying another BB1, but I'll probably have four HD's when I hit the water next spring.

[Tony Christian]

14 hours ago, PhishLI said:

If it's blowing hard outside, literally the last reel I'm bringing out with me is a Curado K. It really sucks casting into the wind. My first choice would be a new Zillion 1000.

Thanks for the advice. I want to try and stay under the 200 budget. I also want to try something other than lews, revos, and daiwas. In all my year's of baitcasting, the only time I tried a shimano was the chronarch my friend lent me when I forgot my revo sx. Super impressive. I was scared of the price of shimano for so long, but the bait monkey has been whispering in my ear for quite a while about the curado series, and now I am convinced I need one. Would an mgl work?

[PhishLI]

1 hour ago, Tony Christian said:

the bait monkey has been whispering in my ear for quite a while about the curado series, and now I am convinced I need one. Would an mgl work?

If you're going to be casting into the "teeth of the wind" as you say, then perhaps a DC reel is what you should be considering. The SLX DC is under $200 new, or find a used Curado DC. Even Shimano doesn't tout their centrifugally braked reels as anything special when casting into the wind, MGL or not, but they do with their DC reels. 

[NYWayfarer]

On 11/9/2022 at 11:19 AM, Tony Christian said:

I had some really bad experiences with my daiwa reels. I want to try Shimano, too. Any suggestions?

Shimano SLX DC

[zell_pop1]

Just go with the standard $99 SLX and get two of them in different gear ratios. The old VBS brakes work great.

[Aaron_H]

On 11/11/2022 at 8:05 AM, PhishLI said:

If it's blowing hard outside, literally the last reel I'm bringing out with me is a Curado K. It really sucks casting into the wind. My first choice would be a new Zillion 1000.

 

Is the SVS braking really that finicky? I cast my standard $99 SLX reels into the wind all the time and the VBS is fine. I don't get as much distance as my DC, but it's never unfishable IMO. All of my best jerkbait days this year were with the wind in my face throwing them on a standard SLX.

[PhishLI]

46 minutes ago, Aaron_H said:

Is the SVS braking really that finicky?

Compared to other types, I'd say definitely, especially if it isn't dialed in just so. And it also depends on which reel it's in with the K being at the bottom of the list. I still own them and use them, but I don't love them, regardless of their build quality. BUT, I switch bait types often due to the nature of how I fish, and I have other reels that don't require that I dick around with adjustments, so when I'm forced to or else, eh, it's just ponderous.

 

A person can fish with any reel throwing baits into the wind with varying results depending on their skill, but certain braking implementations are simply better than others here, especially when chucking wind catching baits into the wind.

46 minutes ago, Aaron_H said:

All of my best jerkbait days this year were with the wind in my face throwing them on a standard SLX.

Unless you're throwing 1/4oz balsa jerkbaits, they tend to cast pretty well on most typical bait casters, especially now that many have weight transfer systems.

 

Personally I'm not taking my Shimano, Lew's, or Quantum centrifugal reels out night fishing in the wind. There's no upside. While I can get through the night without grief if I make a point of it when using those, I can avoid diverting my attention from fishing to managing a spool by instead taking my Daiwa SV/Mag Z types out on windy trips and not even think about it. They're simply a better tool under these conditions using a variety of baits, IMO. If Daiwa comes out with a purely centrifugally braked reel I wouldn't take that out either in those conditions.

[Aaron_H]

14 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

Compared to other types, I'd say definitely, especially if it isn't dialed in just so. And it also depends on which reel it's in with the K being at the bottom of the list. I still own them and use them, but I don't love them, regardless of their build quality. BUT, I switch bait types often due to the nature of how I fish, and I have other reels that don't require that I dick around with adjustments, so when I'm forced to or else, eh, it's just ponderous.

 

A person can fish with any reel throwing baits into the wind with varying results depending on their skill, but certain braking implementations are simply better than others here, especially when chucking wind catching baits into the wind.

Unless you're throwing 1/4oz balsa jerkbaits, they tend to cast pretty well on most typical bait casters, especially now that many have weight transfer systems.

 

Personally I'm not taking my Shimano, Lew's, or Quantum centrifugal reels out night fishing in the wind. There's no upside. While I can get through the night without grief if I make a point of it when using those, I can avoid diverting my attention from fishing to managing a spool by instead taking my Daiwa SV/Mag Z types out on windy trips and not even think about it. They're simply a better tool under these conditions using a variety of baits, IMO. If Daiwa comes out with a purely centrifugally braked reel I wouldn't take that out either in those conditions.

 

Thank you for the detailed response. I just picked up my first SVS reel and haven't gotten to throw it yet so I was second guessing a little after seeing your post, but we just fish a bit differently from each other. I have heard nothing but great things about Daiwa's magforce breaks and if they could put that in something with Shimano ergonomics I'd jump at trying that out.

[PhishLI]

21 minutes ago, Aaron_H said:

I just picked up my first SVS reel and haven't gotten to throw it yet so I was second guessing a little

Don't worry about it at all and just go fishing. 

[new2BC4bass]

I have to agree with PhishLI.  The SVS is more finicky to dial in than my older Shimanos.

 

I had my 50th Anniversary Zillion at a boat ramp when a guy started talking to me.  He had one baitcast reel that he seldom used.  Said he'd make 4-5 casts and backlash.  I let him try the Zillion.  About 15 minutes later he came back and asked, "How to you backlash this reel?"  ?