Mid Size Swimbait Reels - Got a minute?

[Big Hands]

Disclaimer: If details are not your thing, I understand. I realize brevity is not an attribute I possess. The TL/DR version is I am looking for a reel for swimbaits mostly ranging in size from about 2 oz to 4 oz, but may exceed that a bit in either direction. I suspect that a reel that does everything perfectly does not exist and that there will be compromises. I am trying to figure out how to deal with those and which are the most important to consider. So much for brevity, it's the best I can do. And besides, it's the hard water silly season, so hopefully you have a few minutes to chew the fat.

--------------------------------------------

Context: First of all, for me, the term "swimbait" is referring to bigger swimbaits like anything from 1 oz to infinity (as it relates to bass fishing). I know there are "swimbaits that are 3" long and weigh 1/4 oz, and those are best used with a completely different type of rod and reel and are what I would categorize as "small swimbaits" that range up to an ounce or two. So, for the purposes of this thread, rightly or wrongly, I am referring to baits that generally fall in the 1 oz to 5 oz category (with the sweet spot being 1.5 oz to 3.5 oz). FOR ME and the purposes of this discussion, a 6 oz swimbait falls into the lower range of the "big swimbait" category.

 

I fully expect that there isn't likely to be universal agreement about the what best attributes are for a swimbait reel. And, much to Bait Monkey's sheer delight, there are niches within the niche, and that is where my dilemma originates.

 

I have a bunch of swimbaits in this category, but have not had a proper setup capable of throwing them since I got rid of my Phenix PSW869H Deck hand rod and Tranx 400. It would handle baits up into the large swimbait realm. It was a fine rod and reel setup, but it was not lightweight or close to it in a general sense and it was not fun to use for long stretches of time. It would make for a fine inshore rig for yellowtail or tuna we get in this area, but it was a beast for me for swimbait fishing. And, my next most expensive rig only cost 2/3 of what that did, and my main interest is not this type fishing at this time. 

------------------------------------------

Fast forward to today, and I now have a Daiwa Kage 8'6' R/H rated rod (you'll find almost nothing about this rod online and although Daiwa still has a few in stock, it has been discontinued). I guess it's one of those rods that if you know, you know, but most likely you had no idea it even existed. But I think other rods like it exist and this is more about the reel at this point. After trying it out yesterday, I really like it. It casts the swimbaits I tried further than I actually expected it to, and I liked what action I could impart to them.

 

My intent is to use 17-20 lb mono or fluorocarbon line. The reel I want would have adequate line storage for my purposes, but if I have my way, I don't see me ever need more than 150 yards of capacity. I also want to have a reel that is not too bulky even though I do have "Big Hands". These may be specifications that may have to be compromised on. 

 

The areas of most concern for me are (not necessarily in order):

• Drag capacity
• Ability to withstand this type of use for the long haul (durability)
• Fatal flaws
• RoR ('Rate of Retrieve' for both eliciting strikes and bringing fish to the boat)
• Casting ability/manners

 

I think I can reconcile most of these attributes individually. Added all together, and I am beginning to detect the smell of old tires burning trying to come to a solid conclusion. I am having the thought that maybe a rig that is OK at many things may not do anything particularly well.

 

Taken in a vacuum, the rate of retrieve is the one that strikes me as having to be the most compromised in one way or another. Many types of "mid-sized" swimbaits are effective using a VERY slow rate of retrieve. And then, when Bertha Muffintop decides to inhale the offering, many have the belief that it's best to turn the fish and keeping coming to the boat and directly into the net so the fish doesn't have a chance to shake the heavy bait loose. Reels with a low rate of retrieve are often very powerful, but the low RoR makes it easier for them to minimize the tension enough to turn or head to the surface for some tail dancing and head shaking.

 

Then, some of the reels with the slowest rates of retrieve are 400 sized reels. and I really don't want the added line capacity, weight and bulk. Maybe I just need to learn to slowly and effectively retrieve my bait with a reel that has a higher RoR so that I can have the higher RoR when trying to boat the fish.

 

When trying the new rod out, I employed a Curado 200K with a 6.2:1 ratio that has a 26" RoR and I was having to turn the handle VERY slowly to get the action I wanted from the baits I was using such as the Baitsanity Antidote. I am pretty sure that hucking baits like that is going to be the death of that Curado 200K, but I do think that many 300 size reels are durable enough for the task for the long haul.

 

Some (mostly 300 or 400 size with some exceptions) reels that I think include some versions that may meet some of the criteria:

 

• Shimano Calcutta
• Shimano Tranx
• Shimano Cardiff
• Shimano Curado
• Shimano Scorpion MD (JDM)
• Daiwa Coastal
• Daiwa Lexa
• Daiwa Tatula
• Daiwa Ryoga
• Daiwa Prorex
• Daiwa Zillion TW HD
• Penn Fathom
• Penn Squall
• Lews Super Duty
• Okuma Komodo
• Okuma Citrix
• Abu Garcia Revo

 

Some of the above reels I think wouldn't make the short list, in case anyone thinks there are some I may have missed (which I probably have missed, just not these). If you know of others that merit some consideration, feel free to list them. Also, since this isn't necessarily the main type of bass fishing that I do, I don't want to shell out a large sum of money for this if it isn't necessary. If it is really necessary to get what I'm looking for, then I am certainly open to looking for previously owned reels. If you have made it this far, thank you for considering all of the details I have included. If you went the TL/DR route, I understand ;~)

 

At any rate, if you feel my logic is flawed, I'm all ears. How do you reconcile all of these things?

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

I tried to read all of that because you are basically going through what I went through a couple months back. 

 

I did lots of research and a big criterion for me was not buying too much reel than I actually needed, same goes for rod.    As you mention, weight is paramount with these setups given they already are going to be heavy in a perfect setup.     

 

I narrowed it down to two reels, the JDM Tatula 300 and the JDM Zillion TW HD.    There is huge difference in size and line cap b/t the two, however I opted for the Zillion TW HD which has brass gears, holds plenty of 17lb Flourocarbon which is what I'm using, and is dynamite with its oversized handle and knobs for wenching in toads the way Tactical Bassin teaches and how you mentioned above.   7.1 ratio, but you can always slow down if need be.     I still think I'm going to grab the Tatula 300 so I can use this reel for Jig fishing, but it works perfect for mid range big Swimbait fishing.  

 

I opted for the smaller yet still robust Zillion because I'm not launching 8-10" Glidebaits across long open points for example, I use mine Swimbait setup for more cover and dock fishing.    In the beginning I was launching A Rigs and 3oz Swimbaits, then my shoulder said that's enough.   

 

Rod matters way more than the reel ultimately.   You might be over thinking this aspect a bit.    

[WRB]

You looking for a lighter weight Shimano Tranx 300A, 5.8:1 ratio, 25 lb / .016D Sunline Defier Armillo 165 yd spool fills perfectly. Looked and found lower and higher gear ratios in 300 sizes light weight swimbait reels.

 

[A-Jay]

43 minutes ago, Big Hands said:

Disclaimer: If details are not your thing, I understand. I realize brevity is not an attribute I possess. The TL/DR version is I am looking for a reel for swimbaits mostly ranging in size from about 2 oz to 4 oz, but may exceed that a bit in either direction. I suspect that a reel that does everything perfectly does not exist and that there will be compromises. I am trying to figure out how to deal with those and which are the most important to consider. So much for brevity, it's the best I can do. And besides, it's the hard water silly season, so hopefully you have a few minutes to chew the fat.

--------------------------------------------

Context: First of all, for me, the term "swimbait" is referring to bigger swimbaits like anything from 1 oz to infinity (as it relates to bass fishing). I know there are "swimbaits that are 3" long and weigh 1/4 oz, and those are best used with a completely different type of rod and reel and are what I would categorize as "small swimbaits" that range up to an ounce or two. So, for the purposes of this thread, rightly or wrongly, I am referring to baits that generally fall in the 1 oz to 5 oz category (with the sweet spot being 1.5 oz to 3.5 oz). FOR ME and the purposes of this discussion, a 6 oz swimbait falls into the lower range of the "big swimbait" category.

 

I fully expect that there isn't likely to be universal agreement about the what best attributes are for a swimbait reel. And, much to Bait Monkey's sheer delight, there are niches within the niche, and that is where my dilemma originates.

 

I have a bunch of swimbaits in this category, but have not had a proper setup capable of throwing them since I got rid of my Phenix PSW869H Deck hand rod and Tranx 400. It would handle baits up into the large swimbait realm. It was a fine rod and reel setup, but it was not lightweight or close to it in a general sense and it was not fun to use for long stretches of time. It would make for a fine inshore rig for yellowtail or tuna we get in this area, but it was a beast for me for swimbait fishing. And, my next most expensive rig only cost 2/3 of what that did, and my main interest is not this type fishing at this time. 

------------------------------------------

Fast forward to today, and I now have a Daiwa Kage 8'6' R/H rated rod (you'll find almost nothing about this rod online and although Daiwa still has a few in stock, it has been discontinued). I guess it's one of those rods that if you know, you know, but most likely you had no idea it even existed. But I think other rods like it exist and this is more about the reel at this point. After trying it out yesterday, I really like it. It casts the swimbaits I tried further than I actually expected it to, and I liked what action I could impart to them.

 

My intent is to use 17-20 lb mono or fluorocarbon line. The reel I want would have adequate line storage for my purposes, but if I have my way, I don't see me ever need more than 150 yards of capacity. I also want to have a reel that is not too bulky even though I do have "Big Hands". These may be specifications that may have to be compromised on. 

 

The areas of most concern for me are (not necessarily in order):

• Drag capacity
• Ability to withstand this type of use for the long haul (durability)
• Fatal flaws
• RoR ('Rate of Retrieve' for both eliciting strikes and bringing fish to the boat)
• Casting ability/manners

 

I think I can reconcile most of these attributes individually. Added all together, and I am beginning to detect the smell of old tires burning trying to come to a solid conclusion. I am having the thought that maybe a rig that is OK at many things may not do anything particularly well.

 

Taken in a vacuum, the rate of retrieve is the one that strikes me as having to be the most compromised in one way or another. Many types of "mid-sized" swimbaits are effective using a VERY slow rate of retrieve. And then, when Bertha Muffintop decides to inhale the offering, many have the belief that it's best to turn the fish and keeping coming to the boat and directly into the net so the fish doesn't have a chance to shake the heavy bait loose. Reels with a low rate of retrieve are often very powerful, but the low RoR makes it easier for them to minimize the tension enough to turn or head to the surface for some tail dancing and head shaking.

 

Then, some of the reels with the slowest rates of retrieve are 400 sized reels. and I really don't want the added line capacity, weight and bulk. Maybe I just need to learn to slowly and effectively retrieve my bait with a reel that has a higher RoR so that I can have the higher RoR when trying to boat the fish.

 

When trying the new rod out, I employed a Curado 200K with a 6.2:1 ratio that has a 26" RoR and I was having to turn the handle VERY slowly to get the action I wanted from the baits I was using such as the Baitsanity Antidote. I am pretty sure that hucking baits like that is going to be the death of that Curado 200K, but I do think that many 300 size reels are durable enough for the task for the long haul.

 

Some (mostly 300 or 400 size with some exceptions) reels that I think include some versions that may meet some of the criteria:

 

• Shimano Calcutta
• Shimano Tranx
• Shimano Cardiff
• Shimano Curado
• Shimano Scorpion MD (JDM)
• Daiwa Coastal
• Daiwa Lexa
• Daiwa Tatula
• Daiwa Ryoga
• Daiwa Prorex
• Daiwa Zillion TW HD
• Penn Fathom
• Penn Squall
• Lews Super Duty
• Okuma Komodo
• Okuma Citrix
• Abu Garcia Revo

 

Some of the above reels I think wouldn't make the short list, in case anyone thinks there are some I may have missed (which I probably have missed, just not these). If you know of others that merit some consideration, feel free to list them. Also, since this isn't necessarily the main type of bass fishing that I do, I don't want to shell out a large sum of money for this if it isn't necessary. If it is really necessary to get what I'm looking for, then I am certainly open to looking for previously owned reels. If you have made it this far, thank you for considering all of the details I have included. If you went the TL/DR route, I understand ;~)

 

At any rate, if you feel my logic is flawed, I'm all ears. How do you reconcile all of these things?

 

First Off ~ Nicely Done.

I thoroughly enjoyed your OP, Really I did.

And I bet you know why.

However my response may not require quite as much detail.

Most ALL of my 'swimbait' fishing, at least the type you've described above, happens south of the border.  Most baits are in that 2-4 oz range.  I use 20, 22 & even up to 25 lb Mono & FC. 

The Shimano Calcutta 300D is By Far my favorite reel for actually fishing the baits. 

It has accounted for several very respectable swimbait bass. 

At  5.7:1 I think, it just seems like the magic deal. It's a round reel and not the easiest to palm but it's do-able. 

However - the lower IPT is NOT the best when big fish rush the boat or race to the surface in an effort to throw the heavy swimbait.  I was losing what I felt like was too many big fish.

Enter the Shimano Tranx 300 and the 300HG.

Low profile with the same TANK durability and is available in a 7.3.1 speed.

Had to slow my roll on the retrieve but I landed more fish.

All these reel cast great and are built to be maintained, which I like. 

Good Luck with your search

A-Jay

[Big Hands]

39 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

 

 

 

52 minutes ago, WRB said:

You looking for a lighter weight Shimano Tranx 300A, 5.8:1 ratio, 25 lb / .016D Sunline Defier Armillo 165 yd spool fills perfectly. Looked and found lower and higher gear ratios in 300 sizes light weight swimbait reels.

 

I have had a feeling that the Tranx 300 was going to be on the short list. Interesting that the Defier Armillo is mentioned by both of you. My relationship with heavy Fluorocarbon on casting reels definitely needs to be addressed.

 

39 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

The Shimano Calcutta 300D is By Far my favorite reel for actually fishing the baits. 

It has accounted for several very respectable swimbait bass. 

At  5.7:1 I think, it just seems like the magic deal. It's a round reel and not the easiest to palm but it's do-able. 

 

However - the lower IPT is NOT the best when big fish rush the boat or race to the surface in an effort to throw the heavy swimbait.  I was losing what I felt like was too many big fish.

Enter the Shimano Tranx 300 and the 300HG.

Low profile with the same TANK durability and is available in a 7.3.1 speed.

Had to slow my roll on the retrieve but I landed more fish.

All these reel cast great and are built to be maintained, which I like.

 

This is precisely the dilemma I am trying to reconcile.

 

Where do I want to have the disadvantage?

 

During the presentation or the fight?

 

Maybe I can't be too heartbroken about bites I never get, but to have multiple big fish I have hooked come and shake the bait loose because I can't control them would definitely be heartbreaking. 

 

Thanks for the thoughtful responses.

[A-Jay]

6 minutes ago, Big Hands said:

 

 

 

I have had a feeling that the Tranx 300 was going to be on the short list. Interesting that the Defier Armillo is mentioned by both of you. My relationship with heavy Fluorocarbon on casting reels definitely needs to be addressed.

 

 

This is precisely the dilemma I am trying to reconcile.

 

Where do I want to have the disadvantage?

 

During the presentation or the fight?

 

Maybe I can't be too heartbroken about bites I never get, but to have multiple big fish I have hooked come and shake the bait loose because I can't control them would definitely be heartbreaking. 

 

Thanks for the thoughtful responses.

If I was on the deck of my own boat, I could use the trolling motor to help keep fish pinned.

If that were the case, I'd use the round reel all day everyday.

Gotta get the bites first And that's were my confidence lies.

I use a 200D locally just about every trip.

A-Jay

[king fisher]

Diawa Coastal 200.  I had one that I lost overboard. It was my favorite reel for light inshore use as well as deep cranks, and A rigs for bass.  It casted 2 OZ poppers well, and I landed many Jacks, and Rooster fish up to 35 pounds with no difficulties.   I would have used it for swimbaits, but the Monkey has not won that battle yet.  I replaced it with a Tat 150 because I was trying to save money.  The Tat 150 works fine, but not even a close comparison to the Coastal.  Just goes to prove, sometimes you don't know what you got until it is gone.  I also have a Coastal 150, it is a good reel, but between the two I had, I think the 200 is by far a better reel.

[Tatulatard]

Tatula 200 or 300 but both are big reels.  

1 hour ago, king fisher said:

Diawa Coastal 200.  I had one that I lost overboard. It was my favorite reel for light inshore use as well as deep cranks, and A rigs for bass.  It casted 2 OZ poppers well, and I landed many Jacks, and Rooster fish up to 35 pounds with no difficulties.   I would have used it for swimbaits, but the Monkey has not won that battle yet.  I replaced it with a Tat 150 because I was trying to save money.  The Tat 150 works fine, but not even a close comparison to the Coastal.  Just goes to prove, sometimes you don't know what you got until it is gone.  I also have a Coastal 150, it is a good reel, but between the two I had, I think the 200 is by far a better reel.

What did you like about the coastal 200 over the tatula 150?  The tatula 200 and coastal 200 are basically the same reel. 

[king fisher]

3 minutes ago, Tatulatard said:

Tatula 200 or 300 but both are big reels.  

What did you like about the coastal 200 over the tatula 150?  The tatula 200 and coastal 200 are basically the same reel. 

The Coastal 200 fit my hand better I liked the big handle, it felt more solid, and was over all a smoother reel.  I fished the coastal often in the salt for three years, and it was quiet , smooth, great drag, and casted as far as any reel I ever owned from the day it was new, until the day it went swimming.  I don't know what the difference is between it and the Tatula models besides the price, but I am convinced there is a difference.

[WRB]

The Shimano Cardiff 300A is 8 oz with 5.8 ratio, not expensive but fills nearly all the bullets points.

Tom

[Hammer 4]

Years ago I used a Shimano 301 E7 Curado, one of the best reels I had. Fast forward to today, I bought the Diawa Tatula 300, got a good recommend from one of the mods here, as he also had the older E 7 Curado, and found the Tatula 300 to be every bit as good, to which I agree. 

[WRB]

It’s not light weight.

Tom

[Cbump]

My zillion tw hd would not make my list for big swim baits at all. 
 

I would go Lexa HD or the Tranx 300. Or do what I did, have an Abu Ambassadeur completely customized. That turned out to be really cost ineffective though so I don’t recommend. 

[Tatulatard]

Tatula 300 sounds like a good match based on your requirements.  It has a large diameter spool with fast ratio options making it very quick.  The magnetic brake handles big stiff line and glide baits with ease.  It palms better than the old lexa and has a more refined feeling and I'm a fan of the old lexa 300.

[webertime]

Tranx or Scorpion MD, and I'm a Daiwa guy. The tunabilty of the Scorpion and handle length choices are certainly intriguing. I have 2 Tatula HD reels and a Catalina TWS (zillion HD frame) and I have dinner plates for hands and the few Tranx I've tried palm better.  Fast ratio but longer handle is actually easier to slow down than a shorter handle and same ratio.

[jhoffman]

I cant get down with big honking round reels. My big swimbait rod is using a revo winch.

[Hulkster]

I have a tranx 400A and its awesome. I use 20 pound test Sufix Siege on it 

[Big Swimbait]

For anything over 3 oz, it's a Tranx 300. Under 3 oz I use a Lew's Super Duty 300. I use Defier Armilo on both.

[Primus]

I can't comment on other brands but I own a few Tranx 301's and love it for swimbait fishing , I've used the Curado 301 and prefer the Tranx . Most of the swimbaits I use are in the 2 - 6 oz range and typically 25 lb Floro is the heaviest I throw. For extra large swimbaits and even heavier line I would probably step up to a Tranx 401 but I have not owned one up to this point. As a sidebar , one of my combo's is a Dobyns 795 with a 201 size Calcutta D that I have spooled with 65 lb power pro using a leader . I feel that the Calcutta D has the power I need but the narrow spool seems to minimize birds nest and it has a fair amount of line capacity for a 200 reel. I typically use this combo for soft swimbaits with a jig hook along with some that require a beast hook . 

[Big Hands]

19 hours ago, webertime said:

Tranx or Scorpion MD, and I'm a Daiwa guy. The tunabilty of the Scorpion and handle length choices are certainly intriguing. I have 2 Tatula HD reels and a Catalina TWS (zillion HD frame) and I have dinner plates for hands and the few Tranx I've tried palm better. 

 

The Scorpion MD 300XG has been on my radar. It has a 40" ipt, and if I have trouble with it I will have to have it sent to Japan instead of sending it 75 miles away to Shimano USA. The weight is around what other choices are and the price is not terrible.

 

19 hours ago, webertime said:

Fast ratio but longer handle is actually easier to slow down than a shorter handle and same ratio.

 

There's a lot to like about the Scorpion MD and I have considered that the long handle option could help to slow down the speed of the retrieve just because it takes longer to go around the larger circumference. The longer handle would also provide more leverage.

-------------------------------------------------------

 

4 minutes ago, Primus said:

I can't comment on other brands but I own a few Tranx 301's and love it for swimbait fishing. Most of the swimbaits I use are in the 2 - 6 oz range and typically 25 lb Floro is the heaviest I throw. For extra large swimbaits and even heavier line I would probably step up to a Tranx 401 but I have not owned one up to this point. As a sidebar , one of my combo's is a Dobyns 795 with a 201 size Calcutta D that I have spooled with 65 lb power pro using a leader . I feel that the Calcutta D has the power I need but the narrow spool seems to minimize birds nest and it has a fair amount of line capacity for a 200 reel. I typically use this combo for soft swimbaits with a jig hook along some that require a beast hook . 

 

This is the range of baits I intend to throw with a 10" Magdraft being at the extreme and maybe just scaling back to the 8" Magdraft and living with that. Mostly 2 to 4 oz baits in the sweet spot, but could go up to 5 or six. In addition to the bigger swimbait rod I recently acquired (which this thread is about), I already have a couple setups rated for up to 3 ounces for that range.

 

The realization that I may be searching for a Unicorn has occurred to me (and then some) and I will: 1) have to choose my poison and live with it 2) switch to a different reel if I find the retrieve speed not to my liking 3) consider a second rod with a more moderate action for treble hook baits, and reel to compliment what I have. Maybe one 300 size reel with a slower retrieve and another 300 size reel with a faster retrieve. I could then mix and match as I feel the need to. Just trying to perform my due diligence before throwing down and seeing if I can possibly get by with an all-around setup, straddling the fence and not really finding it good for anything in particular or just one thing. 

 

If I truly feel the need more than a two rod solution to throw and fish both single hook baits and treble hook baits in this weight range, I may end up just selling my big swimbait gear altogether  and moving on from those aspirations. I know there are anglers with massive swimbait rod/reel collections and I like that there are those that can put together very specialized rigs for each new bait that comes along.

 

But having been a little involved on and off with big swimbaits for close to three decades, I also know that the flavor of the month regularly changes as bass seemingly become accustomed to various baits, and I don't see myself going any further down the that rabbit hole of trying to be that specialized.

 

Bait Monkey, don't think for a second that I don't see your sneaky insidious self. Mostly when I look into the mirror.

[Tatulatard]

On 12/19/2022 at 9:04 PM, king fisher said:

The Coastal 200 fit my hand better I liked the big handle, it felt more solid, and was over all a smoother reel.  I fished the coastal often in the salt for three years, and it was quiet , smooth, great drag, and casted as far as any reel I ever owned from the day it was new, until the day it went swimming.  I don't know what the difference is between it and the Tatula models besides the price, but I am convinced there is a difference.

The coastal 200 and tatula 200 should fit your hand the same since they are the same platform.  You can swap frames all internals and side plates between the two.  The coastal does get big ol knobs and some more salt friendly bearings.  And also that slick blue and black paint .

[ATA]

I have so much exprience in this matter due to my addiction to big soft swimbait/glide baits.

Since you already have the rod, I am not going to talk about them. ill give you straight answer, You want Revo Toro Beast 60 size(you can do 50 size as well), The only reason I am recommending this over TranX is the way Revo beasts are sitting very well on the rods eat and it will make it very low profile, Also the drag system and drag power which is awesome as well. Dont forget to get toro beast 3(new generation. use it and if you dont like it you can return it. But coming out of team Shimano member you can make sure that is what you really after. I have one and I can send you pictures or if you have any question(mine paired with Dobyns champion XP 807 and it is 60 size).

[WRB]

Toro Beast weights 13.8 oz, heavier then Calcutta 400 (11.8 oz) the OP thinks is too heavy.

Tom

[Big Hands]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Toro Beast weights 13.8 oz, heavier then Calcutta 400 (11.8 oz) the OP thinks is too heavy.

The Toro Beasts apparently have some great qualities that are appreciated. That said the 60 size is WAY more than I'd need, quite the Beast weight wise as well and I'm not ready for that type of commitment, LOL. It looks like the 50 size is discontinued and difficult to find spec's for. With the cost of high quality line these days, I am very hesitant to employ a reel that requires way more line than I'll ever need and I see no reason to have backing just to take up unneeded space.

 

The 40 size is actually closer to the line capacity I feel I need and weighs 9.6 ounces.

 

I guess the questions I would have to ask myself are, 1) is it worth spending $90 more TO ME (generally being a Tatula or Curado type of angler) than the Curado 300K and 2) is the Tranx 300A worth spending $70 than the cost of the Curado 300K?

 

If I am being honest, probably not worth it . . . . TO ME . . . . given that this portion of my fishing isn't likely to occupy more than 10% to 20% of my fishing time (probably closer to 10%) . . . . . unless the chunky hawgs just can't resist me ?

----------------------------------------

Currently, I am leaning toward the Curado 300HGK or 300K for the rod I have, and then adding a more parabolic, possibly slightly lower powered rod with whichever Curado 300 ratio that I don't have. The Tranx 300A is built sturdier than the Curado 300K, but I'm not sure I need that given the frequency of use I am anticipating and some self-induced budgetary constraints. 

 

It seems that a fast taper rod may work best for driving home a single hook and then manhandling the fish to net, whereas the more forgiving rod may have a better chance to keep fish pinned to a treble hook bait. And if the rod is soft enough to keep a treble hooked fish pinned, it may not be well suited to driving a single hook of a fully engulfed soft bait home.

 

I think I will try one of the Curado 300 models on my current fast taper rod and see how I feel about it as a hybrid using all types of baits before moving forward with a second rig.

[WRB]

Suggest contacting Dan Isaac @ ReelEx 650/454.4938.

Dan super tunes Shimano reels for $30 plus $11 shipping.

Ask Dan What he thinks.

Tom