Longest casting baitcasting reel

[FryDog62]

Curious to what reel you get most casting distance from?  I grew tired of having to whip the Daiwa SV reels too hard to get distance and traded most of them off (except for those I skip lures with). I experimented with several reels that get much more distance - the two best I found were:

• Shimano Chronarch MGL 
• Daiwa Tatula Elite 

If I had to rate them in terms of casting distance, I would give the Tatula Elite a 10, and the Chronarch MGL a 9.5.  Both are great reels, this is not a Chevy/Ford debate, trying to alleviate chronic elbow tendinitis ~

 

I am looking to add one more reel and contemplating if I go with another Tatula Elite.  I'm completely fine with that, but always willing/interested to try something new/different if it's potentially better. The reels I'm considering are:

• Shimano Antares. Only cast a friend's once a few years ago, but was before I bought the above 2 reels so I'm not completely sure how it would compare.  Plus its dam expensive...
• Other Shimano "MGL III" reels (Bantam, Curado 200 M) I hear that spool is designed to get even further/smoother distance over the standard MGL. 
• Others? 

 

Thoughts?  

[Pogues2300]

I have Tatula and zillion sv’s. Used to own a couple chronarch mgl’s. But my longest casting reel is easily my metanium mgl b . 

[MediumMouthBass]

I have 23 baitcasting reels, from Lews, Daiwa, Abu, and Shimano.

And i agree about the SV reels, mines good for flipping and great for skipping and close stuff but when it comes to distance it goes around 40-70% of what my other ones go to.

But if i tied a 1/2oz lipless on and put the reel on the correct rod with the right line i could cast farther that anyone would need with my Lews BB1 Pro (which is made for long casting crankbaits) or my Shimano SLX MGL 70.

These arent as expensive as your 2 options but just a thought, they also cast very nicely and dont need the rod whipped out there into space.

[looking45]

Before you spend more money, try changing your technique. Stop trying to cast as hard as you can. By doing this, you compromise the action of the rod. Let the rod do what it was designed to do  Let the rod load on the backswing and use a nice easy motion on the cast. No need to whip the rod

[Reel]

My longest casting reel is a Shimano Calais DC... similar to the Antares

[Darth-Baiter]

my personal record has been a 3/4 oz Teckle Kicknocker with a garden variety Shimano SLX DC reel.  the rod is a MegaBass Triza Dragoon, so not a whippy catapult by any means.  It is crazy watching the spool empty on a bomb cast. 

 

I can only imagine what a Curado 150 DC could do.  the DC allows me to play "chicken" with the spool.  I still thumb it at the ragged end.   I'll own the Curado 150 DC by the time I visit OK for stripers next year.  

[FryDog62]

46 minutes ago, looking45 said:

Before you spend more money, try changing your technique. Stop trying to cast as hard as you can. By doing this, you compromise the action of the rod. Let the rod do what it was designed to do  Let the rod load on the backswing and use a nice easy motion on the cast. No need to whip the rod

Not an issue… my question is about using the same strength/mechanics - which reel(s) cast farther? In the case of the SV reels, you really have to over compensate and whip harder to get anywhere near the same distance as a Tatula Elite or Shimano MGL spool. 

[KP Duty]

I have daiwas and 13 fishing reels ATM, and of course the centrifugal brakes on my 13 Fishing reels will outcast my daiwas.  Of the reels you listed, I'd probably choose the Bantam for bombing 3/8oz and up.

[dodgeguy]

if we are talking normal weights and line then lews bb1.

[badfish79]

Not much experience with many brands, but between the Shimanos (Tranx 150 and SLX XT) and the Lews (Tournament MB and BB1) that I have, the Lews hands down cast much farther. I really gotta swing for the fences to get any significant long distance cast on my Shimanos where the Lews effortlessly cast far.

 

I have more time with the Lews, so my brake settings might be more optimal. I'm hoping I can find the sweet spot on the Tranx, but so far its a little disappointing.

[WRB]

Casting distance has more to do with the rod and techque.

My original casting reel was a knuckle buster Langley 330 Lure Cast that I could cast 50 yards (all the 10 Dacron braid) the reel held. The rod a 5 1/2’ Connolin FeatherLite in the 50’s.

So how far do you want to cast?

My “average” cast with 7/16 oz jig is about 40 yards, occasionally 50 yards. I practiced on a football field, known yardage.

Every reel I owned over the past 65 years could cast 50 yards, I tuned them.

Back to the rod, today’s jig & worm 7’ MHF is a little too stiff for ease of casting motion to achieve tip speed and loaded up the rod.

If your elbow is sore from casting your wrist motion and position may be incorrect. Most angler I what casting have poor casting motion. I think this may be from learning to cast 2 handed? Your wrist should b pointed to your towards. Your ear at the top of the cast and towards your side at the end. If the wrist is point up at 12 o’clock you strain your elbow tendons.

Tom

[WRB]

Buzzer are difficult to cast, poor aerodynamics.

3 Advil’s might help.

Shimano SLX MGL 70 is a good distance reel.

Tom

[FishTank]

57 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

The elbow tendinitis is from probably too many sliders in my early days of pitching, but more recently cranking the winch on my boat in/out of the water and Trailer Valet in/out of my garage. Add that up with 2 trips a week and it's a lot of cranks and strain on the tendons. I do physical therapy off an on (a.k.a. the Tyler Twist) and the elbow is better overall but still barks once in awhile. The casting is only a reminder that the elbow can still be tender at times. I probably need to reduce how many times I pat myself on the back everyday too lol...

 

SV reels serve their purpose, and I do still have two for skipping lures. But when tossing lighter/high profile lures like a buzzbait or ToadZ, SV reels come up short. I don't want to over throw them and risk aggravating the elbow. With the Tatula Elite, I easily get 20% maybe 30% more in distance and with less effort and good mechanics. I am looking to trade out one more SV and although happy with the Elite reel, and am always open to something else that might be as good, or possibly better. 

 

Could easily get another Elite, but intrigued by the MGL III spools...

 

I have been dealing with tennis elbow for a few months now. It comes and goes based on how hard I push my self (gym, work, fishing, etc). When it comes to having it while fishing, I turn to BFS gear when it gets bad but if I actually hook into a good fish at anytime, I am putting myself at more risk. 

 

As far as what reel I have that casts the furthest, the Shimano Antares 70A has been the best but as @WRB mentioned, the rod has a lot, if not more to do with it, and also line for that matter.  I try to put my reels on a rod that will help it reach the reels best potential. I don't always get that lucky but I try. 

 

Below in order is what casts the furthest for me besides the Antares 70A

 

Shimano Antares 2012 

Daiwa Steez AII

Daiwa Zillion SV TW 

Shimano Curado DC

Shimano Metanium MGL

Shimano Conquest 101

Shimano Bantam MGL

Lews BB1 Pro

Shimano Core 101

Daiwa Steez SV TW

 

 

[Bird]

I've never put a range finder on a bait after a cast ? but feels like my Shimano's cast a little further than my Abus and Lew's.

They all do what I want them to do though.

[12poundbass]

https://kastking.com/products/kastking-ireel-one-ifc-smart-fishing-reel
?

[LrgmouthShad]

Of my lowly reels, I think Curado MGL 150 and JDM Zillion are competing. Zillion might have a slight edge. 

[newyorktoiowa57]

For pure distance the AntaresDC/Excense DC will be best but you are looking at 500-550 even in the JDM market. 

 

Among what I have used I would go metanium or curado DC.  I have a chronarch and for me they cast further.

[Darth-Baiter]

we should collective get onto a football field and let it rip.  my eyeball tape-measure/range finder is probably blowing my own accomplishments way out of proportions.  everyone tie on a 1/2 oz bullet weight.  hahahhaha..

 

sorry, i dont think i know where a football field is.  

[newyorktoiowa57]

Now that I think about it, on my first day with the 13 Concept A (1st gen), it cast further than any reel I have ever used. Unfortunately I got a backlash in the middle of a long cast, the lure broke off,  and the reel made a grinding noise from there on out and was never the same. 

 

But for that 1 hour, it was absolutely throwing moonshot

[corey90]

my favorite reel is the 2019 Antares A70 i brought it from japan much cheaper it is a great caster. i also have the 2023 Steez A2 i also brought from japan and the 2 reels cast about the same for me. The Zillion TW HD also cast forever as well 

[WRB]

1 hour ago, Darth-Baiter said:

we should collective get onto a football field and let it rip.  my eyeball tape-measure/range finder is probably blowing my own accomplishments way out of proportions.  everyone tie on a 1/2 oz bullet weight.  hahahhaha..

 

sorry, i dont think i know where a football field is.  

You can use a hundred foot tape measure and place a bucket at 90’, 120’ and 150’ on a flat grass area in a park.

Good practice skill getting close to a bucket.

Tom

[813basstard]

I’m a couple credits shy of my MD but I battled elbow pain for a while. Thought it was from the casting. It wasn’t. It was from gripping the fishing rod to tight for to long. That tendon is tight when you grip it for hours on end. It hurts worse when your casting so you think it’s from that…hell I ain’t a Dr, take the advice or don’t but ever since I stopped it, I’ve been pain free.

[casts_by_fly]

I have the chronarch 150 mgl and agree that it doesn’t take much to get a bunch of different lures to zing off of it. I have a metanium mgl (jdm) which I think is a 70 size. Similarly light level of force and maybe even better to fling stuff, but the small spook limits casting distance on the whole. Out to 35 yards or so is no difference. At that point there isn’t a ton of line left on the spool (I’m using 16 lb sunline). The new zillion (also jdm) is similar to the met for casting, maybe a little bigger spool. Mine has 17 mono. All three will do about the same for total distance with normal setups. If you want the best for light flicks and most distance then the met will give you 25 yards with the least effort. If you are banging out 40 yards with crank baits then they are all three about the same. 
 

The longest casting reel will in my arsenal is actually an Abu stx gen 4 with well used 30 lb braid. It takes a little more effort to get it to 30+ yards but the lure just keeps going beyond that. 50 yards with a red eye shad is normal for me with that reel on a 7’ rod. 

[djhands]

I have the 19 Antares, the 16 Antares DC,  the 21 Antares DC, and the 18 Antares MD DC.  The best is probably the 16 Antares DC 

[DogBone_384]

I have 22 baitcasters.  They're a mix of nearly every brand.  

 

My longest casting are:

1. 13 FIshing Concept Z
2. Abu Revo MGX (Tuned by DVT in '17)
3. Diawa SV TW 103