Your all time favorite Shimano baitcaster.

[ABU is overpriced]

What is your favorite shimano baitcaster of all time? The one model that you consider as the best offering from Shimano.

I think mine is the 24 Met DC. I got it in February, and only used it twice this year, but i am really not seeing any negatives about this reel. Very comfy frame, light enough, silky smooth and casts very well. I also really like how the line modes are external because i am alway changing these modes even when using braid pretty much exclusively. So unless something goes wrong, the 24 Met DC is pretty much what i consider as the best reel from Shimano.

[MiceNReets]

Shimano is overpriced  

 

But so far my fav are my Bantam MGLs.   Quite possibly my Antares 70 once I use it this year.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

I mean the original Calcutta 100/200 models are the reels that ushered us into what we now come to expect from reels.   To me that's the reel that marked the turn to next generation reels, that's the reel that spoiled millions of Bass anglers.

 

Personally though, the Calais 100a is my favorite.    Such a robust and timeless reel imho.

 

FWIW, I'm a Daiwa man for the most part

[Mike L]

Curado 200E7

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Bird]

It was a gold Shimano Bantam from the 70's, my 1st caster lost in a boat flip 🙃 

[wdp]

1 minute ago, Mike L said:

Curado 200E7

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

You beat me to it. 200 E7 all the way. Workhorse of a reel. Wish they were still in production. 

[zell_pop1]

Citica 100 DSV. It was my first and second Shimano reel, preferred it to the E series. 

[ABU is overpriced]

50 minutes ago, MiceNReets said:

Shimano is overpriced  

 

But so far my fav are my Bantam MGLs.   Quite possibly my Antares 70 once I use it this year.

If only they made a Bantam MGL Light Edition made out of magnesium, and getting its weight to around 6.5oz. What a reel that would be.

[OkobojiEagle]

Left hand crank Chronarch E5... only Shimano reel I've ever owned.  Traded it for a 2nd Gen Abu Premier.   The Premiers are still my reels of choice.

 

( I always wanted a burgundy Scorpion...  they just looked sexy)

 

oe

[MiceNReets]

17 minutes ago, ABU is overpriced said:

If only they made a Bantam MGL Light Edition made out of magnesium, and getting its weight to around 6.5oz. What a reel that would be.

Would that not be a metanium then? 🙃 

[r83srock]

I’ve never owned a super high end reel, but always drooled for a Calais 100A, or the original Calcutta. I have my dad’s old bantam 10xg on my work bench that I’m fond of. My Curado 100b and citica 100d reels stand out also, but I think the 150 mgl is tops, for me. 

[Catt]

[A-Jay]

Shimano Calcutta 200D ~

A-Jay

I have & fish 3.

Wish I had 3 more.

Suits my style.

 

[Columbia Craw]

Castaic

[MRQturbo]

Current metanium generation... I have every variation except for the DC.. 

[stk44]

I’ve never felt the need to go better than Curados. I like the Curado MGL 70. Smooth as butter, low profile, fits in my hand perfectly, and the spool size is perfect for pitching and mid range casts with braid. I will say I own abu Garcias up to the revo mgx and most of the Curado line is just slightly below the performance of an mgx in my opinion. I’d really like to try out a metanium, but since I’m now a boat owner, I haven’t been buying as many rods and reels. 

[F14A-B]

200 D in 5 speed. That reel was an amazing crank bait reel. Used on Kentucky lake and rebuilt twice. 
 

50 E. Such a sweet little reel. I own 1 Bantam 22 in 8 speed but to be honest my faith in the micro-module gear isn’t  convincing. I’m using 3 new Daiwa Zillions that I’ve purchased in the past 6 weeks or so and they are unbelievable reels. I’ll have a couple more in a month. 

[Kev-mo]

2 hours ago, OkobojiEagle said:

(I always wanted a burgundy Scorpion...  they just looked sexy)

 

oe

And they are.  I have a 1001 XT, sweet little reel.

[WRB]

My 1st Shimano was the Bantam 1000 sweet reel. The Calcutta 250 was my 1st swimbait reel a real workhorse.

Currently SLX 70MGL best performing reel under $150 on the market IMO.

Tom

[FishTank]

Core 101 MG. 

[Darth-Baiter]

mine.  Curado DC 150MGL.  so good I bought one immediately after losing mine in Mexico.   it casts sick.

 

I have a Bantam, and the Curado DC cast further easily.  it is my furthest casting reel actually.  to be honest, I also love my boringass Curado200K.  it casts bigger baits and I never think about it.  not sexy, not light, but dang....

[KP Duty]

Chronarch Mg50 circa 2004.

[ABU is overpriced]

2 hours ago, MiceNReets said:

Would that not be a metanium then? 🙃 

My last two Mets, the 2015 Met DC and the one i am using currently, the 24 Met DC, don't have the torque for high resistance baits that the Bantam has. I also prefer the Bantam frame by a tiny bit.

2 hours ago, r83srock said:

I’ve never owned a super high end reel, but always drooled for a Calais 100A, or the original Calcutta. I have my dad’s old bantam 10xg on my work bench that I’m fond of. My Curado 100b and citica 100d reels stand out also, but I think the 150 mgl is tops, for me. 

Why not? You're a grown ass man, put money on the side, and get the reel you were always wanting to get. Buy from Japan, it won't even be that expensive.

[Big Hands]

25 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

I also love my boringass Curado200K.  it casts bigger baits and I never think about it.  not sexy, not light, but dang....

 

I like mine so much, I scooped up another I found locally for $100. Score.

 

==============================

I really like the SLX 70 MGL so much, I would be willing to try the same model Curado.

==============================

OTOH, I have three other shimano baitcasters that all cost more than the ones I mentioned above that I am at least a little underwhelmed with.

[T2DM]

22 Bantam 6.2