Round Bait Cast Reels Vs. Low Profile

[catch anything]

iv look at both which is better for generral all round bass fishing and the rare catfishing what yall thoughts

[steezy]

Get whichever feels the best in your hand.

[roadwarrior]

If you are only buying one, low profile is the ticket.

I like them both for different applications.

[Dwight Hottle]

Round baitcasters in the 100 series are very palm able like a low profile based on your hand size. You need to try them on a rod to help you decide.

[BobP]

I use both but prefer the low profile reels. Yes, small round reels can be palmed but not as comfortably as a larger low-pro. Another advantage is that low-pro reels almost always have better access to the spool and line, which makes picking out a backlash easier. Lastly, the low-pro reels are dominating the marketplace these days so they offer more reels to choose from when you're reel shopping. That's not to say that there aren't excellent round reels out there. If I were looking for a reel to use on both bass and stripers, I'd look at one of the Abu Revo models that have much higher drag ratings than most other brands. I have a Revo SX with 20+ lb of drag that you could retrieve an anvil with.

[Catt]

The choice is 100% personal preference, mine is a Calcutta100: solid as an anvil, versatile as a pair of Channellocks®, & dependable as a 30/30

I grew up fishing with Penn & Abu Garcia Ambassadeur Reels so a low profile feels totally foreign in my hand.

I’ve caught big bass in matted vegetation, double digit stripers, bull redfish, alligator gar, & Bonita on my Calcutta’s with no problems ever.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

The choice is 100% personal preference, mine is a Calcutta100: solid as an anvil, versatile as a pair of Channellocks®, & dependable as a 30/30

I grew up fishing with Penn & Abu Garcia Ambassadeur Reels so a low profile feels totally foreign in my hand.

I’ve caught big bass in matted vegetation, double digit stripers, bull redfish, alligator gar, & Bonita on my Calcutta’s with no problems ever.

X2

I personally prefer the size of my round reels over my low profiles. They fit my giant hands better.

[Vafthrudnir]

X2

I personally prefer the size of my round reels over my low profiles. They fit my giant hands better.

Another round reel fan here. My low profiles come and go with the latest-greatest, but my Calcutta and Daiwa round reels stay and seem to get better with age.

[Fishes in trees]

I have both and I don't think it matters very much as long as it says Shimano somewhere on the reel. When I was doing the co-angler BFL back of the boat thing, I got a few of the Shimano Calcutta TEGT reels with the 11 ball bearings, and I feel like I have unlimited pitching distance. Fishing from the back of the boat in a tournament situation, I think extended range is important. So, round reels are my favorites right now. In comparison, I've got a couple of the low profile 11 ball bearing reels, the Calais, and while they are great reels, I like the Calcuttas better.

[joshholmes]

while it is personal preference, i beleive they both have their place. for almost all bass fishing scenarios a low profile baitcaster is better, but for big game like catfish, stripers, musky etc... i beleive a round baitcaster is better

[slonezp]

I have fished with Abu 5500 C3's for the last 30 years and bought my first Revo 3 years ago. Have purchased 2 more since then. I still use the round reels for large swimbaits and casting for salmon. The Revo's work great for bass and the ocassional musky or pike. It did take a short time getting used to them, but I'm able to throw much lighter lures with them versus the 5500's.

[Bluebasser86]

It's a personal preference like others said. Get to a baitshop and get some in your hands, on the rod you're going to be using it on if possible. I don't have very big hands so a low profile is easier for me to palm. I've got a couple big friends that can't palm a low profile very well because they have bear paws for hands so they fish round reels for everything.

[dude loves to fish]

Low Profile - saves your wrists.

[new2BC4bass]

II've got a couple big friends that can't palm a low profile very well because they have bear paws for hands so they fish round reels for everything.

I hear ya! Got a friend who's shoe size kept up with his age until he turned 16. His hands (and rest of him) weren't far behind. I got him into fishing and hunting many years ago. (I'm surprised his wife still talks to me!) Luckily for him he is a very good woodworker (along with anything else he sets his mind to). Makes his own pistol grips and stocks to fit his body size. Last I knew he only used spinning gear, tho.

I'll have to take some of my gear with me next time I head North to see how it fits him. Course that could wind up being a bad thing if he decides to go all out on baitcasting gear. Bad for me. His wife is likely to use one of his guns on me! LOL.

[B-Dozer]

I have fished with Abu 5500 C3's for the last 30 years and bought my first Revo 3 years ago. Have purchased 2 more since then. I still use the round reels for large swimbaits and casting for salmon. The Revo's work great for bass and the ocassional musky or pike. It did take a short time getting used to them, but I'm able to throw much lighter lures with them versus the 5500's.

You should try the 4600 series. I have them in C-3,C-4 mag, and C-5 mag. I also use Cabela's round Prodigy reel. I can't say they are better than a Revo, cause I haven't used one for any length of time. Too bad we didn't live in the same area, we could switch off. I haven't any problems with light weights, Zoom trick worms, or say a Rapala s/shad #5. Rod is at least as important when casting, especially light stuff.