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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
30019 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
7553 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
2413 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 hall59tiger
Member since Oct 2013
2413 posts
Posted on 4/21/20 at 3:32 pm to
Lews Lite Speed Spool LFS
This post was edited on 4/21/20 at 3:37 pm
Posted by TheBoo
South to Louisiana
Member since Aug 2012
4485 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 PillageUrVillage
Mordor
Member since Mar 2011
14731 posts
Posted on 4/21/20 at 3:35 pm to
quote:

Lew's tournament pro


Can’t go wrong with that one
Posted by The Last Coco
On the water
Member since Mar 2009
6840 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
1458 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 SoFla Tideroller
South Florida
Member since Apr 2010
30019 posts
Posted on 4/21/20 at 4:03 pm to
Never used a Lew’s but the OB keeps reccing them so I’m kind of leaning that way. All my saltwater reels are Shimanos and have had nothing but good luck with all of them. But may get a Lew’s just to scratch the itch. Thanks.
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
18118 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 TheBoo
South to Louisiana
Member since Aug 2012
4485 posts
Posted on 4/21/20 at 4:25 pm to
I've had one Curado in the past. It was very similar to the tourney pro in function and smoothness, but the tourney pro was just easier for me to set the brakes and felt better in my hand. Both have stout drag systems so that was a wash. The new model has a little bit different profile and a few more features. Haven't messed with a Shimano in years.
Posted by TheBoo
South to Louisiana
Member since Aug 2012
4485 posts
Posted on 4/21/20 at 4:28 pm to
quote:

Lews Lite Speed Spool LFS


Damn, $170 for a Team Lew's Lite. I also have a few Tournament Lite's but they don't make them anymore. Great reel that weighs next to nothing. The Team Lite used to be $100 more than that. Crazy.
Posted by hall59tiger
Member since Oct 2013
2413 posts
Posted on 4/21/20 at 4:33 pm to
I legitimately emailed them to confirm that price. I couldn’t believe it haha
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
4485 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 johnnyrocket
Ghetto once known as Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2013
9790 posts
Posted on 4/21/20 at 4:52 pm to
I find sportsman outfitters, Simmons in Alabama, and TackleTrap seem to be the players on eBay for Lews, Shimano, or Diawa.

Posted by SoFla Tideroller
South Florida
Member since Apr 2010
30019 posts
Posted on 4/21/20 at 5:06 pm to
Think tonight when it's slow I'll pull the trigger on the LFS.
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