Reels for heavier applications

[Bass Junke]

I am adding an extra heavy rod to my arsenal. Not a swim bait rod, just a 7' 1/2oz- 2oz. It will be for pads and grass. I am looking at the Shimano Bantam. I live in Massachusetts so normally 12lbs. of drag is more than enough. Is 12lbs. of drag enough to pull bass out of heavy cover? 

[MiceNReets]

Go Steez A II TW and forget about it.  LoL

 

but the bantam will do just fine.  

[WRB]

Bantam is a small reel but strong enough. The line capacity may not be suffice for larger diameter line.

If need to add force just clamp your thumb down on the spool.

Tom

[Hulkster]

what about a Tranx 300?

[FishTank]

The Zillion HD or like mentioned above, the Steez A II. The Bantam is a good solid reel but I am not sure how I feel about it for heavier lures. I am sure it would be fine though. 

[KP Duty]

I've been looking for a 1/2oz+ reel for a heavy/moderate rod, and I'm eyeing the '19 Scorpion mgl 150.  Stats on JLS say it holds 100yds of 16lb line.  The paint looks nice as well.  Larger framed reels seem to scare me off, even though I won't be palming the reel for this setup.

[MidwestBassAttack]

Bantam would definitely be more than capable. Might also want to look at the new Curado 200 M as well. Tranx 200 would be another good option but might be a little overkill for freshwater.

[Columbia Craw]

This would be the situation when you would want the frame and side plate to be alloy.  Something to consider.

[Bass Junke]

Thanks everyone. I am kind of on this Shimano kick right now. I would love a Calcutta but even the JDM's are a bit much. Other reels I am considering, Abu Ambassadeur C4, Tatula 300, or the Lew's Super Duty 300. I suppose line capacity could be a consideration, I might find myself throwing some smaller swim baits. 

@KP Duty I just checked out the Scorpion MD 300. That might be the way to go, for me anyway. 

[bulldog1935]

hmmm

 

[Bass Junke]

@bulldog1935 that's beautiful. I love that they are still made in Sweden. That looks like the one I actually considered on Japan Tackle. Do I want a solid brass reel? Are they heavy?

[bulldog1935]

Well, mine has a "few" upgrades - I bought Akios barstock frame on Yahoo, lighter and stiffer than brass, drops the spool 8 mm closer to the rod - also full-BB level-wind and Avail 5-mm spool

https://noppin.com/yahoos/detail/d1099807623

I set this up for my surf-lure rod.  

[928JLH]

Bantam will do great. Coworker is on a 3rd season of deep cranking with his and it's held up great. Seen some good jdm deals jut recently everything seems out of stock. 

[softwateronly]

I did some rod/reel switching around this year and ended up fishing the bantam on a 7' rod rated 3/8-3oz.  Spent spawn and post spawn with a chad shad tied on and it handled it flawlessly.  I also deep crank with the '18 model.   It seems impossible to beat up that reel from just fishing.  Line capacity would be the limiting factor, unless you're braid to leader.

 

scott

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

12# of drag is more than enough for any bass fishing application. Actually 7-8 is good enough. 

[GreenPig]

My Scorpion 300 MD performs great but I wouldn't want it for 1/2 and 3/4 ounce baits. I'd look at 200 sized reels.

[PhishLI]

 

On 12/3/2023 at 6:54 AM, Bass Junke said:

Abu Ambassadeur C4, Tatula 300, or the Lew's Super Duty 300. I suppose line capacity could be a consideration, I might find myself throwing some smaller swim baits. 

Reels like the Tat 300, which is fantastic, is a bit much for what you've outlined as well as any other 300 sized reel. Something different to consider that's right on the money regarding line cap and is built like an absolute tank.  Daiwa Zillion TW HD Casting Reel | Tackle Warehouse

 

I have a JDM Catalina TW which is a variant of this platform. Same frame, gears, and 100 mm handle. No problem chucking a 3/8oz jig with trailer on 20lb mono/fluoro, then just tying on and slinging a 2 oz swimbait without adjusting a thing. Easily one of my best purchases.

[djhands]

I bought a 16 Antares dc from the bay I put it on my evergreen super stallion.   The rod is rated 3/8 to 3 ounces and the reel can handle everything the rod can

[Bass Junke]

When I first joined this site I swore I would never start a thread " Which Rod/reel/bait should I get?"

 

@Delaware Valley Tackle this was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you. 

 

@GreenPig Thank you. I went too far in the other direction. Agreed, 300 too big. 

 

@PhishLI I always appreciate your comments. Particularly on gear thank you. 

 

So I have some stuff to think about. I am building an extra heavy and a BFS rod this winter. I have the blanks. At some point I will pull the trigger on a Metanium. 

 

The Met will end up on a med rod

The Chronarch that is on the med is going on the NFC rod I built as a BFS rod last year. It is kind of in between a BFS and medium. 

The Curado BFS will end up on the new Immortal blank. 

I have a heavy with a Revo SX gen4 on it 

Which leaves the extra heavy. How about a Curado 200K which is currently on my med hvy swim jig rod? 

[Captain Phil]

On 12/3/2023 at 10:09 AM, bulldog1935 said:

hmmm

 

 

In bass fishing, you can get away with most any reel. You don't even need a drag as long as you have some experience.  If you are going to tackle larger fish, you'll need something a little stouter like a Shimano Calcutta.   A Calcutta 200 is about as strong as it gets. Most salt water sport fish will turn a Chronarch into a pile of parts.   While they are heavier than most, those old round Abassadeurs can take a beating and if they break, you can fix them with a nail file. 😅

 

 

[TnRiver46]

@bulldog1935beat me to it 

[Catt]

On 12/6/2023 at 8:13 PM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

12# of drag is more than enough for any bass fishing application. Actually 7-8 is good enough. 

 

Calcutta 100A 9# maximum drag

 

 

[Big Hands]

The Tatula 300 is a beast of a freshwater reel. I have a Tatula 300P (a real stump puller at 5.3:1 and 28.7 lbs drag) and a couple of Tatula 200's. The Tatula 200 is plenty beefy for what you're describing.

 

A Shimano Curado 300 is like the between size of a Tatula 300 and a Tatula 200, and the Curado 200 is smaller than the Tatula 200.

 

As for the drag, the Tatula 300 will absolutely take the Curado 300's lunch money. Same with the Tatula 200 vs the Curado 200.

[Susky River Rat]

Go with a tranx 500 HG. You’ll be able to winch your boat on the trailer with it 😂😂.  I’m only kidding that’s def over kill for what you’re doing.

[Tackleholic]

On 12/6/2023 at 11:56 PM, PhishLI said:

 

Reels like the Tat 300, which is fantastic, is a bit much for what you've outlined as well as any other 300 sized reel. Something different to consider that's right on the money regarding line cap and is built like an absolute tank.  Daiwa Zillion TW HD Casting Reel | Tackle Warehouse

 

I have a JDM Catalina TW which is a variant of this platform. Same frame, gears, and 100 mm handle. No problem chucking a 3/8oz jig with trailer on 20lb mono/fluoro, then just tying on and slinging a 2 oz swimbait without adjusting a thing. Easily one of my best purchases.

The Catalina is not generally familiar to the masses but I find it to be a great reel for many purposes;  I always have one on board.