Low profile reel

[mrklean]

I am looking at adding another combo next year and want to ad a low profile reel something that will be a general purpose some bucktails up to 10's, dawgs, topwaters, its not going to be burning bucktails all day so hopefully i wont have to worry about burning it up. Im not sure which one to get i always hear Revo's Curado 300 EJ, Lexa 300 or 400 im not opposed to buying used and want to stick around $200 or less. Not sure which would be better as a all use reel or am i missing one?

[RawHog]

You pretty much summed it up for options of low-pros. My vote for you would go to Revo because it's going to need to be versatile. Curados, to me, don't handle soft plastics and 10s all that well. Although I am more than sure that someone will disagree with my last claim. I own multiple of both reels btw too.

[Jmeyers]

I'm sure others will chime in, but I think the Curado EJ is going to win this battle...

[RawHog]

Jmeyers is right because Shimano pretty much makes superior reels for muskie fishing more than an other company. If I weren't left handed I would own curado 400's instead of revos. You should forget about the low profile thing and just buy a calcutta B or D 400, but in the case that your "dead-sure" about wanting a low pro, buy the curado EJ, they're 260 dollars. Most retailers offer them at 10% maybe 20% off during sales. If you shop smart you'd end up about or a little under $250 deep after tax into a new curado.

[Deet]

I have two Revo Toro's and love them. I throw #8 to #10 bucktails half the time and then glides, jerks, cranks, and rubber splits up the other half. One reel is the now-unavailable low-speed (not the winch), the other is the high-speed. The high-speed is better.

If it wasn't for a huge sale I found a few years ago, I wouldn't have either. Bought the first for $140 and liked it so much that I had no problem buying the high speed a year later for $200, which was another sale price.

[RuKiddingMe]

Quantum has the EXO 300 also, I have no experience with this reel but I sure like my PT bass baitcasters.

[Esox_Magnum]

I run all Revo's now nice reels and if theres an issue I'm 15 minutes from Pure Fishing and normaly they fix or relplace while I wait...I do also have a few Shimanos left that are great to....

[73h h4x]

Shimano Curado.

I've never owned a Revo, only used my buddy's.. but i like the way the shimanos cast, in particular. I have read that shimanos are more robust and last longer.

I own the 201E and the 301E. My first year of heavy musky fishing, I only used the 201E and it handled double 10's and mag dawgs without issue. Even though you could tell the 201E was not designed for such abuse, it took it.

The 301E is just as good, but obviously able to handle the bigger baits. I use it for everything, and I actually like it better than my Calcutta 401TE. It casts farther with less effort, fits better in my palm and has more line pickup per crank. I throw pounders with it and have no problem.

From what I hear.. the Revos work fine right up until they don't. Shimanos just keep working fine.

[MuskieFever]

Couldn't be happier with my revo NaCl 60 5.4. At first I likes the real but had some doubts about its speed and effort. I put on the power handle....Wow, simply amazing the difference it made. So much less effort on blades and you can fish em fast comfortably. If you're fishing a lot of rubber and gliders I'd go with the 6.4 otherwise the 5.4 is extremely versatile. I've heard most prefer the size 50 because it's easier to palm but I feel comfortable with the 60 and the line capacity is huge!

[tolle141]

This is being constantly discussed on the muskie first boards. Lexa 400 looks promising. Revos are pretty much silly-me proof.

Very hard to do it all with one reel.

[not_nuf_time]

I've had a Revo for three years and (knock on wood) have had zero issues. Love it for jerk baits, like it for blades, love it for soft plastics. Also cast real nice, can count on one hand how many times I've birds nested the reel. I would connsider it very versatile, and if you check online you can probably get one for 170. Thats what I paid # years ago and don't regret it at all.

[Jmeyers]

I've had a Revo for three years and (knock on wood) have had zero issues. Love it for jerk baits, like it for blades, love it for soft plastics. Also cast real nice, can count on one hand how many times I've birds nested the reel. I would connsider it very versatile, and if you check online you can probably get one for 170. Thats what I paid # years ago and don't regret it at all.

Also nice reel for jigging

[Huey]

I'll put in a vote for the Curado EJ. I got one last summer and it like it lot. I mostly use it for small bucktails and topwater. It is also nice for jerkbaits.

[mrklean]

im leaning toward the Lexa 400 now with the Toro NACL second i really like the way it felt, gotta save those cabelas $$$ up and a few gift cards from santa the reel is almost paid for

[Esox_Magnum]

Lexa is new, so no feed back on them yet, NACL is a sweer reel I have a couple....

[fishcast]

I picked up a Lexa 400 in the high speed with 7.1:1 gear ration. i will be using it in the keys for barracuda and tarpon and more. I'll let ya guys know what i think after a week with it. I also plan to use it for ripping in regular and mag bulldawgs, bucktails, and top waters for skies eventually.

[mrklean]

I just picked up the Lexa 400 a couple weeks ago new and got a sweet deal on a used 300