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Recs on a new baitcaster

Posted on 4/21/20 at 3:13 pm
Posted by SoFla Tideroller
South Florida
Member since Apr 2010
30489 posts
Posted on 4/21/20 at 3:13 pm
Any strong opinions on a new baitcaster - in the neighborhood of $250 or below? Used mainly for small lake and pond fishing for largemouth. Had an ad at the bottom of my TD page come up with the following reels (but, obviously, not limited to these. The ad just got my $$$ warmer in my pocket):

Diawa Lexa Type WN

Shimano Citica, Cardiff or Corvalus

Lew's MG

I don't need to spend money just to spend it so if there's a better value for the price model, I'm game.



Posted by Tigerfan29
Alexandria
Member since Dec 2007
2209 posts
Posted on 4/21/20 at 3:27 pm to
quote:

Lew's MG


Can't go wrong with a Lew's
Posted by Kashmir
Member since Dec 2014
7846 posts
Posted on 4/21/20 at 3:27 pm to
buy a $150 lews and a $100 worth of lures. win-win.
Posted by hall59tiger
Member since Oct 2013
2507 posts
Posted on 4/21/20 at 3:30 pm to
Go look on sportsman’s outfitters at the lews lite speed spool lfs. Somehow they sell it for like 169.99 after you put it in their cart. Figured that out and went ahead and bought two not long ago
Posted by reggo75
Iowa, LA
Member since Jan 2016
1433 posts
Posted on 4/21/20 at 3:31 pm to
Lots of great choices in that price range.

I like the Shimano reels... you can get Citica or Curado for that kind of money. If you were willing to jump a little the Chronarch is an excellent reel that is just a tad above your price point.

Personally I would buy a Citica and get a decent rod to pair with it.
Posted by TheBoo
South to Louisiana
Member since Aug 2012
4569 posts
Posted on 4/21/20 at 3:33 pm to
You can get a Lew's tournament pro on amazon for $177. I have several of the previous model and several of the current model. Can't beat it for the money.
Posted by The Last Coco
On the water
Member since Mar 2009
6842 posts
Posted on 4/21/20 at 3:44 pm to
Abu Garcia REVO Rocket - MSRP is $300, but usually available for $250ish on ebay
Shimano Curado DC - $250

Both of these reels are awesome. For pond fishing, I LOVE the rocket. Tons of power and the 10:1 gear ratio makes fishing a blast. You can pull fish out of anywhere quickly and take up line in a snap.

The Curado DC is great too for pond fishing when you're often fishing small lures and left with inopportune casting angles (into the wind!). The DC component helps reduce backlashes a LOT in those situations.

I think you'd be very happy with both.
Posted by Bigryno7
Nashville
Member since Jun 2009
1465 posts
Posted on 4/21/20 at 3:52 pm to
Chronarch MGL. Perfect reel that can do it all. Get in a 7:1 or 8:1. 7:1 is the perfect middle ground.

Call Blaine Shelton at Shelton's in Alabama. He has the best pricing on Shimano's but he cannot advertise the price due to Shimano's price listing rules. My last one I picked up from him was around $200, which is a steal IMO. My chronarch MGL's perform every bit as good as my Metaniums IMO. Great reel for the price. Plus its a Shimano, so 10 years from now, you can still source any parts you need.
Posted by dandyjohn
Member since Apr 2009
804 posts
Posted on 4/21/20 at 4:16 pm to
quote:

Lew's MG


Was coming here to say this. I have two of the "lower" end of these and they are the best I have.

Compared to my abu garcia and my daiwa coastal, the Lews LSG1HMG is by far my favorite. Durable, smooth casting, easy reeling.
Posted by lsufan1971
Zachary
Member since Nov 2003
18517 posts
Posted on 4/21/20 at 4:25 pm to
Shimano Curado DC. Fished with mine for the first time last weekend. I am very impressed. I have a Citica as well but the Curado is a game changer.
Posted by johnnyrocket
Ghetto once known as Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2013
9790 posts
Posted on 4/21/20 at 4:43 pm to
Diawa’s I run 13 Tatulas in different models and you can get a nice one under $200 easily.
Sometimes Tackletrap puts the Japanese versions on eBay for a few bucks less. Yes, they are slightly better as I own a few from 1 yrs old 15 years old and still work great.

Shimano makes great reels also and I got ones back to the Original Lews which was made by Shimano.

I own Lews BB1’s for cranking only as I like the slower version without the anti reverse bearing. Besides that I stick with what last and it hands down is Diawa or Shimano.
Posted by TheBoo
South to Louisiana
Member since Aug 2012
4569 posts
Posted on 4/21/20 at 4:47 pm to
OP, if you lean to Lew's check out that website with the Team Lew's Lite. Looks like the Team Custom Pro is under $200, and they even had the Pro Magnesium at $190 before it sold out. The Tourney pro's are all sold out except for the left handed models. Wish I would have caught those in stock.
This post was edited on 4/21/20 at 4:51 pm
Posted by elprez00
Hammond, LA
Member since Sep 2011
29478 posts
Posted on 4/21/20 at 7:21 pm to
My two favorite reels are my Curado and my Abu Revo SX. Shimano has the SLX at the $100 price point and it’s a fine reel.
Posted by Itismemc
LA
Member since Nov 2008
4725 posts
Posted on 4/22/20 at 9:13 am to
DAIWA TATuLA 150 - buy 2

the 100 and the 200 are also on sale
Posted by Flats
Member since Jul 2019
22114 posts
Posted on 4/22/20 at 11:02 am to
Any Daiwa with the SV spool. It's amazing.

I have a mid-upper Lews and still have a Citica E. Unless the Daiwa SV isn't durable or lets me down in some way, I won't be buying Lews or Shimano baitcasters any time soon.
Posted by Homey the Clown
Member since Feb 2009
5734 posts
Posted on 4/28/20 at 8:15 am to
quote:

in the neighborhood of $250 or below


I don't have much experience with the $250 range, but I do have experience with the "below" range. Lews Tourney Pro is a good choice. Curados are really nice, I have two I bought off a friend of mine, and they are fantastic. And of course Revos are a personal favorite as well; I got two of them as well.
Posted by Teague
The Shoals, AL
Member since Aug 2007
21706 posts
Posted on 4/28/20 at 8:39 am to
I bought a Lew's tournament MB last year for something like $140. I've barely used it, but it's a nice reel. I'd definitely buy another.
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