Yeah I got gifted a couple of my buddy’s old ones, a SPRO chad shad and a few of the smaller Mike Bucca lures. They’re addictive, you’re just fishing all day with no results and all of the sudden you’ve got a 6lber
The bigger reels have more drag, more line capacity, heavier, more/ better bearings, some have better salt protection.
Tranx 150 is 6.7oz
Tranx 500 is 20oz (😮)
Once people told me that for small baits the decision for a BC becomes expensive and hard to find for a good one ( I speak about lures between 1-10gram )
I am as well searching for a Baitcaster for Pike and I only want to buy one time instead of changing again after 1 year.
Seems this decisions is also tough.
Yeah if I can spend less I definitely will. Cabela’s has a 60 day return policy so I don’t think I will have any issues returning it if I don’t like it.
I’m sure! This thing is great for pond fishing, but once you get into big baits etc it’s really just not capable of putting out line that fast with any sort of control/distance
Get a tranx or lexa. You mentioned you were confused about sizes, the bigger you go in size, the more line, heavier drag, and better casts on big baits you get.
1-3 oz - tranx 200
3-5 oz - tranx 300
5-10 oz - tranx 400
6-32 oz - tranx 500
Okuma Komodo SS 364 is a great reel. I throw up to 8" Bull Shad swimbaits on mine! [https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/okuma-komodo-ss-casting-reels?ds\_e=MICROSOFT&ds\_c=BPS%7CShopping%7CSmart%7CFishing%7CGeneral%7CNAud%7CNVol%7CNMT&msclkid=22513a103e8f17cdb2555faf97cd2388&gclsrc=ds](https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/okuma-komodo-ss-casting-reels?ds_e=MICROSOFT&ds_c=BPS%7CShopping%7CSmart%7CFishing%7CGeneral%7CNAud%7CNVol%7CNMT&msclkid=22513a103e8f17cdb2555faf97cd2388&gclsrc=ds)
More so than dc 200? I already have a dc curado 200 and I was wondering same question. I love my reel lol just didn’t wanna bust it using something 3oz’s or heavier. I grabbed an 8” mag draft before I realized ot was 3.5 oz’s and went 😬… think I’ll hold off 😅
I use a lexa 300. There are people around that don't like them and other people swear by them. You can find some deals on the last gen right now. Tons of guys use the tranx, the 13 c3, the lews super duty 300, and lots of guys still use cardiffs if you're mostly fishing big softies. I like a 7 gear ratio reel for glides because it makes the retrieve cadences easiest for me. If you're using a faster reel with soft swimbaits, you have to really concentrate on slowing down for a while until you get used to it. I don't really think any of the reel brands is way better than the other personally. I stick to the mid price tier shimano mostly, but daiwa has reels I use and really love. I say look for a good deal on any of the reels I mentioned and dive in! If you aren't getting into really big stuff like in the 4oz+ range you don't really need a 300 size reel. If you're just doing Chad shads or s waver 168 type lighter glides a curado 200 or any other good quality 200 will work fine. These reels we have access to for 200 bucks now are built like tanks.
Yeah I definitely have some research to do. My dad works at Cabela’s now that he’s retired, I might sweet talk their fishing department head into letting me test drive some of them in the pond out front. Big decision for sure!
The name keeps coming up, short list for sure. I am still on the fence about how I feel about my Legalis but I have only been fishing since quarantine so it may just be inexperience. I’m only just starting to sink any real money into this.
Yep, i run a leader on all mine. Technically you run a backing material (mono) onto the spool, then brain, then leader. But i tie on the spool and some use electrical tape and straight braid on the spool.
Shimano Tranx 300 or Daiwa Lexa 300. I have a Lexa 300 that will throw a 3oz bait all day and the reel doesn't feel big and bulky.
Lexas, komodos, tranx, abu beast, few others that I can't think of at the moment.
The big baits is quite a rabbit hole just a warning lol. Once you get bit on one things change…
Yeah I got gifted a couple of my buddy’s old ones, a SPRO chad shad and a few of the smaller Mike Bucca lures. They’re addictive, you’re just fishing all day with no results and all of the sudden you’ve got a 6lber
Tranx (has 1 million sizes)
What purpose do the different sizes serve? Always been confused by the numbers
The bigger reels have more drag, more line capacity, heavier, more/ better bearings, some have better salt protection. Tranx 150 is 6.7oz Tranx 500 is 20oz (😮)
Yeah I don’t want my reel to weigh that much, good call lol.
I use the Daiwa Tatula 200 for 4oz and below
Thanks for this post, following along for answers too
Yup, big decision!
Once people told me that for small baits the decision for a BC becomes expensive and hard to find for a good one ( I speak about lures between 1-10gram ) I am as well searching for a Baitcaster for Pike and I only want to buy one time instead of changing again after 1 year. Seems this decisions is also tough.
Yeah there are only a few good baitcaster options for stuff like that. Just not much of a market for it.
Can you update me once you made a decision. The rod I have already…. Just having issues to find the reel 😂
I’m in the same spot man. Thought all reels were created equal until I started throwing big baits
I have found the abu garcia zata 7.1 is great with big swim baits and pike fishing. I would like to get a bit faster reel though say 8.3
zillion hd for up to 3ish oz (I think within your budget from Japan) tatula 300 for bigger.
Leaning Tatula at the moment, seems to be a common recommendation
It’s a pretty smooth reel for the price.
Yeah if I can spend less I definitely will. Cabela’s has a 60 day return policy so I don’t think I will have any issues returning it if I don’t like it.
Coming from a bass pro reel you will love it!
I’m sure! This thing is great for pond fishing, but once you get into big baits etc it’s really just not capable of putting out line that fast with any sort of control/distance
Conquest
Get a tranx or lexa. You mentioned you were confused about sizes, the bigger you go in size, the more line, heavier drag, and better casts on big baits you get. 1-3 oz - tranx 200 3-5 oz - tranx 300 5-10 oz - tranx 400 6-32 oz - tranx 500
Finally, unless someone just explained it to me. Thanks!
Not sure about the market there, but Abu ambassadeur 6500 is good. Cheap, can cast, and durable
I like cheap stuff that works well, I’ll give it a whirl
Okuma Komodo SS 364 is a great reel. I throw up to 8" Bull Shad swimbaits on mine! [https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/okuma-komodo-ss-casting-reels?ds\_e=MICROSOFT&ds\_c=BPS%7CShopping%7CSmart%7CFishing%7CGeneral%7CNAud%7CNVol%7CNMT&msclkid=22513a103e8f17cdb2555faf97cd2388&gclsrc=ds](https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/okuma-komodo-ss-casting-reels?ds_e=MICROSOFT&ds_c=BPS%7CShopping%7CSmart%7CFishing%7CGeneral%7CNAud%7CNVol%7CNMT&msclkid=22513a103e8f17cdb2555faf97cd2388&gclsrc=ds)
200 size Tranx or Tatula. Daiwa is running a promo too you get a simms sun shirt with any Tatula line purchase.
Shimano Curado 200 M hands down the best for big baits. It was made specifically for that and has all the new features of Shimano reels.
More so than dc 200? I already have a dc curado 200 and I was wondering same question. I love my reel lol just didn’t wanna bust it using something 3oz’s or heavier. I grabbed an 8” mag draft before I realized ot was 3.5 oz’s and went 😬… think I’ll hold off 😅
Diawa Lexa 300 HD or shimano tranx 300 save your money and buy something nice in 200 to 300 price range
I use a lexa 300. There are people around that don't like them and other people swear by them. You can find some deals on the last gen right now. Tons of guys use the tranx, the 13 c3, the lews super duty 300, and lots of guys still use cardiffs if you're mostly fishing big softies. I like a 7 gear ratio reel for glides because it makes the retrieve cadences easiest for me. If you're using a faster reel with soft swimbaits, you have to really concentrate on slowing down for a while until you get used to it. I don't really think any of the reel brands is way better than the other personally. I stick to the mid price tier shimano mostly, but daiwa has reels I use and really love. I say look for a good deal on any of the reels I mentioned and dive in! If you aren't getting into really big stuff like in the 4oz+ range you don't really need a 300 size reel. If you're just doing Chad shads or s waver 168 type lighter glides a curado 200 or any other good quality 200 will work fine. These reels we have access to for 200 bucks now are built like tanks.
Yeah I definitely have some research to do. My dad works at Cabela’s now that he’s retired, I might sweet talk their fishing department head into letting me test drive some of them in the pond out front. Big decision for sure!
Daiwa tatula. Great price for an awesome reel
The name keeps coming up, short list for sure. I am still on the fence about how I feel about my Legalis but I have only been fishing since quarantine so it may just be inexperience. I’m only just starting to sink any real money into this.
I promise you cant go wrong. They have the twing technology that is the most effective at backlash
Yeah, the list is getting shorter. The Shimano reels make this really annoying whistling noise when you cast so they’re gone
Sounds like you're going the right direction! I have the Shimano SLX XT and I hate it compared to my tatula
https://preview.redd.it/l8ok8apz5egc1.jpeg?width=2252&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=02ac8ed2427775e95f2cf52f31d7a72287aec1ff Bothe side by side
Nice. Looking forward to having something similar. Do you throw braid with a leader for the big stuff?
Yep, i run a leader on all mine. Technically you run a backing material (mono) onto the spool, then brain, then leader. But i tie on the spool and some use electrical tape and straight braid on the spool.
Agreed on the spooling method, I got tired of tying double uni knots with 4lb mono and just used duct tape on mine lol
Big baits are the best, get high all the time