Started By
Message
locked post

What's the best low-profile baitcaster for under $200?

Posted on 2/16/11 at 4:56 pm
Posted by The Last Coco
On the water
Member since Mar 2009
6920 posts
Posted on 2/16/11 at 4:56 pm
I am looking to buy a new low-profile reel soon and was wondering which one y'all would recommend. It will be mainly used for bass fishing, but the occasional inshore trip is to be expected. My budget is $200.

I currently have the following reels:

2 Daiwa Inshore Specials
Ambassadeur 5600 C4
Calcutta 200B

Which of the following would you recommend for my next purchase? Please provide personal experience and insight.

Shimano Curado
REVO STX
REVO Winch
REVO SX
Quantum KVD PT
BPS Johnny Morris Gold Series
ETA: BPS Nitro Series

Thanks for the advice
This post was edited on 2/16/11 at 5:19 pm
Posted by Bleeding purple
Athens, Texas
Member since Sep 2007
25348 posts
Posted on 2/16/11 at 5:01 pm to
Im a big fan of the BPS nitro series. I own 5 and love them. (many of the same parts as the Johnny Morris)

I did not like any of the 3 KVD Quantum reels as they all had failures within 2 months.
This post was edited on 2/16/11 at 5:21 pm
Posted by PapaPogey
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2008
40468 posts
Posted on 2/16/11 at 5:07 pm to
Fish with a shimano myself so im gonna go ahead and say the Curado. Beautiful looking reel matched with VERY smooth spool action.

Have used mine for a few years now without a problem. Use it for both salt and freshwater and its still as smooth as when I purchased it.
This post was edited on 2/16/11 at 5:10 pm
Posted by Bama and Beer
Baldwin Co, AL
Member since Oct 2010
84862 posts
Posted on 2/16/11 at 5:16 pm to
quote:

BPS nitro series
What I have. I like it.
Posted by Devious
Elitist
Member since Dec 2010
29399 posts
Posted on 2/16/11 at 5:33 pm to
I went with the Curado when I purchased my fist baitcaster. It's silky smooth out of the box and will handle anything. Properly maintained, it'll last a lifetime. I've got both the 7:1 and 5:1 models and wouldn't trade them for any other reel you're considering.
Posted by LSUtiger17
New Orleans
Member since Mar 2009
3092 posts
Posted on 2/16/11 at 7:06 pm to


Check out the Pfleuger Patriarch. I got one two years ago and it's flawless. Very low profile and it fits my hand really well. Really solid and well put together. Never had a problem with it.
This post was edited on 2/16/11 at 7:11 pm
Posted by Bayou
Boudin, LA
Member since Feb 2005
41722 posts
Posted on 2/16/11 at 7:09 pm to
I recently purchased the Okuma serrano and absolutely love this reel - it's compact. Shimano makes a lot of reels for under $200 you can't go wrong with.
Posted by offshoretrash
Farmerville, La
Member since Aug 2008
10726 posts
Posted on 2/16/11 at 7:21 pm to
quote:

Check out the Pfleuger Patriarch


I've heard good things about them. I have bought my last Shamano after the chronarchs I bought fell apart and weren't that good of throwing reels like the old ones.
Posted by BayouRat15
DAUPHIN ISLAND,AL
Member since Jan 2004
10182 posts
Posted on 2/16/11 at 7:23 pm to
Posted by SCUBABlake
RIP WT6
Member since Jan 2008
40338 posts
Posted on 2/16/11 at 7:25 pm to
quote:

Shimano Curado
Posted by bbqguy
uppa LA
Member since Jul 2006
495 posts
Posted on 2/16/11 at 7:27 pm to
Don't let anyone bullshite you. Shimano and nothing else.
Posted by logomount
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2011
33 posts
Posted on 2/16/11 at 7:27 pm to
I'm an Abu Garcia Guy so I've gotta say a Revo SX or STX. I own three of each and they are some awesome reels.
Posted by JBlood9
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2010
2478 posts
Posted on 2/16/11 at 7:30 pm to
when you get into prices around 22 they're all good reals. If i was buying a reel right now, it would definitely be the Curdao. I fish with my brothers very often and it is just top notch. The Quantum Smoke is also a very well made reel for 199
Posted by LSUtiger17
New Orleans
Member since Mar 2009
3092 posts
Posted on 2/16/11 at 7:46 pm to
quote:

Don't let anyone bullshite you. Shimano and nothing else.

Don't be quite as narrow-minded as this guy. I know Pfleuger probably isn't quite as much of a mainstream brand as Shimano, at least not here in LA, but check this link, Cabelas Reviews, out.

If 20 reviewers out of 21 reviews gave it 5 stars out of 5, there's something going on (and the retard that gave it 4 stars did so because "everything had to be tuned right or it overcasts"). That's better than any of the Shimano's, just saying.
This post was edited on 2/16/11 at 7:56 pm
Posted by citgojosh27
lake charles
Member since Aug 2008
469 posts
Posted on 2/16/11 at 7:49 pm to
Okuma serrano hands down the best reel I've ever owned. Ive used every reel imagjneable.
Posted by Devious
Elitist
Member since Dec 2010
29399 posts
Posted on 2/16/11 at 7:56 pm to
Check out the Curado's reviews on the Bass Pro website...4.9 out of 5 - 172 reviews. There's definitely something going on there.
Posted by offshoretrash
Farmerville, La
Member since Aug 2008
10726 posts
Posted on 2/16/11 at 8:03 pm to
quote:

Don't let anyone bullshite you. Shimano and nothing else.


I used to think this way, I own over ten Shimanos but the last ones I bought fell apart and I be damned if I will pay $270 for a reel that don't last 3yrs. I bought 2 Revos last year and so far they do good.
Posted by LSUtiger17
New Orleans
Member since Mar 2009
3092 posts
Posted on 2/16/11 at 8:05 pm to
quote:

Check out the Curado's reviews on the Bass Pro website...4.9 out of 5 - 172 reviews. There's definitely something going on there.

Check out the Patriarch's reviews, too(Hint: 4.9 out of 5 also). Albeit, not as many reviews, but that still speaks well of the product. I didn't say anything to the effect that the Curado is bad. I've never touched a Curado, that I can think of. I also bet most people haven't touched a Patriarch, and I know that it is a less common brand here, so I'm just trying to expose some people to, what I think, is a great reel.
Posted by Devious
Elitist
Member since Dec 2010
29399 posts
Posted on 2/16/11 at 8:37 pm to
I gotcha. Like you, I want to offer as much info as I can so the buyer can make a well-informed decision.
Posted by Zoom8
Walker
Member since Aug 2008
397 posts
Posted on 2/16/11 at 8:50 pm to
BPS gold series, w/o a doubt for me. For $129 you cant beat it. I prefer it over my curado and revo,jmo. Better hurry though they are being discontinued so when they are gone they are gone.
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 2Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookXInstagram