Compact, palmable baitcasting reels

[FryDog62]

What are everyone’s favorite compact, very palmable baitcasting reels?  I’ve always liked the Curado 70 MGL K - any others people really like? 

[PBBrandon]

Best palming reels I’ve had in no particular order:

 

Alphas SV 800

Curado 150 MGL

Zillion SV 1000

Tatula SV 103

 

been wanting to try a Curado 70 MGL out. Might get one down the road

[dodgeguy]

Lews custom Lite . Small strong drag casts well and 4.9 oz.

[Hulkster]

Even though its a 200 size reel, the Curado 200i is really comfortable and easy to palm 

[KP Duty]

 

13 fishing's concept series frame palms best in my lineup.  More comfy than my tat 80 or steez sv tw.

[LrgmouthShad]

Lews LFS and Curado MGL 150, depending on the rod they are on, are my most comfortable

[FrnkNsteen]

5 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Lews LFS and Curado MGL 150, depending on the rod they are on, are my most comfortable

I was going to mention those same reels and add the SLX series (except the SLX DC) .... But especially the SLX MGL!

[LrgmouthShad]

11 minutes ago, FrnkNsteen said:

I was going to mention those same reels and add the SLX series (except the SLX DC) .... But especially the SLX MGL!

I oughta try the SLX MGL. I want another Curado MGL at some point and already have 3 Lew’s LFS’s. They are easy picks. Just like a “I dunno what reel to put on this rod…. Well an LFS will work”

[MeatHead1313]

For reels I currently have or have had in the past, these have been the most comfortable for me to palm 

Daiwa Alphas sv 800  

Daiwa Zillion sv 1000 

Shimano Chronarch g  

Shimano Curado 71hg  

Daiwa Tatula sv103   

 

[Dye99]

Shimano Alderbaron

[waymont]

Alphas 800 SV tw

Not compact but I love the Zillion SV tw. Very comfy

Met MGL

CORE 50/Aldebaran 50 MG7

 

[Columbia Craw]

Any 100/150 platform Daiwa

[casts_by_fly]

The shimano met 70 disappears in your hand.

[FishTank]

The current Metanium seems to fit my hand the best for jigs, the Steez A II for cranks, and the Zillion for soft plastic. 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

19 hours ago, KP Duty said:

 

13 fishing's concept series frame palms best in my lineup.  More comfy than my tat 80 or steez sv tw.

Id like to try one but Ive never been able to find one in person.  I did a see a budget 13 reel the other day that fit in my hand great, but I cant remember what it was.

 

Out of all the reels Ive handled, my favorite fit is the 20 Met.  It has a little more seperation from the reel foot then some other reels, because of the frame design, but its so small and round it doesn't matter.  The right reel seat will eliminate the increased standoff space.  

[FryDog62]

On 9/3/2023 at 10:59 PM, casts_by_fly said:

The shimano met 70 disappears in your hand.

Where's the best place to find one? 

[badfish79]

I always thought the lews LFS frame was the best, but recently picked up a Tranx 150 and it's so tiny. I imagine the Curado 150 MGL is the same.

[casts_by_fly]

7 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

Where's the best place to find one? 

mines from digitaka from the spring. I haven’t looked for one lately. 

[NorthernBasser]

The Tatula SV TW 70 is a tiny little sucker. 

[FryDog62]

8 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

mines from digitaka from the spring. I haven’t looked for one lately. 

See if you can find an old link... I have looked and can only find the 100.  Thx! 

[KP Duty]

2 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

See if you can find an old link... I have looked and can only find the 100.  Thx! 

There is no Metanium 70....only the 100/150.

[shackman]

8 hours ago, KP Duty said:

There is no Metanium 70....only the 100/150.

You are correct. I think people call it a 70 cause they say it has a 70 size spool. I have one and it holds about the same amount of line as the Ch-50mg/ Cu-100D 

Mine came from Digitaka 

[greentrout]

KK Royal Legend Elite

[casts_by_fly]

14 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

See if you can find an old link... I have looked and can only find the 100.  Thx! 

this is the one I have. Apologies if it’s actually a 100. I thought it was a 70.  The link doesn’t say. Either way it’s tiny in the hand. I compared it to the chronarch (which is lighter but longer) and the current jdm zillion (which is a little taller and wider) in another thread. The met is the most palmable to me. Definitely the smallest. The abu Garcia mgx gen 2 is close but no where near as structurally sound and rigid. 
 

https://www.digitaka.com/item/5/4/2/4969363041142

[FryDog62]

On 9/3/2023 at 5:58 PM, MeatHead1313 said:

For reels I currently have or have had in the past, these have been the most comfortable for me to palm 

Daiwa Alphas sv 800  

Daiwa Zillion sv 1000 

Shimano Chronarch g  

Shimano Curado 71hg  

Daiwa Tatula sv103   

 

Although the SV reels from Daiwa are compact, I'm not a fan. I used to have a dozen of them from Tatula to Steez.  I still have two SV's I use for skipping lures but traded the other ten off.  The SV reels just don't cast well IMO... yes, they prevent backlash but at a cost - casting distance.