Buddy buying 1st baitcasting reel: Your suggestions valued

[RandyFish]

My fishing partner is finally feeling confident enough to buy his first baitcasting reel.

I am suggesting that he go with a magnetic brake style -- only becasue they tend to be easier to adjust to different lure weights -- and you do not have to monkey with the internal centrifical brake.

I have Quantum with magnetic braking and I like it overall (it's my texas rig set up) .... it just does not "free spool" very well.

Any suggested reels? His price range would be $60-$100 or so. And, this would be his only baitcasting reel, so general purpose is the rule of the day.

I am looking forward to your help.

Randy Fish

[Deitz Dittrich]

The number one selling bass reel on themarket now is the Shimano Curado.. try to talk him into spending a couple more dollars.. they retail for $119.

[loebs93]

When line is being pulled off the spool of the Curado does the guide allow it to be pulled straight off (moving across the spool) or is it stationary, therefore pulling the line across the spool. I just got the Cardiff and really like it but that guide is stationary and it seems like it would take a toll on the line. Do you have any thoughts on this topic Deitz?

[Deitz Dittrich]

Loebs-no it doesnt move.. then again, I perfer ones that dont. Look at it this way.. if the spool and the worm gear were connected druingthe cast.. you are robbing power of the cast to power the worm gear with the spool. your line has to adjust to get threw each and every guide anyway.

Thats just my opinion..

I do know..event the highest dollar shimano, the ones that retail at about $700 are the same way, the worm gear and spool are not connected.. its why shimanos cast so smooth!

[beeflover]

I just bought my 8 year old a Curado bantom 100. He's handling it just great already.

Look at the Bass Pro catalog, you can get a Curado superfree rod/reel combo for $170

If budget is a concern buy the Bass Pro extreme combo in either regular or lite models. $99. They speak very highly of them on the Texas forum, but I haven't bought one.

[Ray Esboldt]

I vote with the Curado crowd as well. I finally got off my wallet and bought one last year after a lifetime of blowing up Quantums, Pinnacles, and the other Johnny-come-lately brands. My Shimanos, Daiwas, and the large breed of Abus (4600 and up) all have made it many years with constant abuse. And, as of this day, I have yet to destroy a Shimano baitcaster. That includes one, that is semi-retired, that is 19 years old.

Back to the Curado, it's the best performing reel I've ever owned. They're spendy, but if I can get 10 years out of one, I don't have a problem shelling out for one. With that being said, I will not be purchasing any of the class of reels that are 200+. Unless they come with a 28" barrel and a 12 gauge chamber, that's a little too much to catch a fish.

[andy j]

I to am a Curado fan, Like Ray said if you want something that will last stick with a shimano, Diawa, or Ambassadur, but I am not a fan of Abu's low profile bass reels, not as good as their roundreels. Stay away from anything Silstar (pinicle, pflugger, shakespere)

[FlipR70]

I have several curados & really like them. If he has an absolute $100 ceiling on how much he's going to spend, he could consider getting a used one. I've bought several used from fishing classified & off of hsolist & have yet to have any problems with them.

Just a thought to keep it cheaper ...

FlipR70

[Granny]

I just picked up a Daiwa Procaster 100H 6.3:1 on clearance for $47. Are these good reels? Any pro's or con's? The last Daiwa I had was very cheap and didn't last long but thats what I get for going cheap.

Thanks,

Granny

[HawgTide]

Andy, IMHO, you are way off the mark on the Pflueger statement. I don't know if you've tried the new President series, but they are excellent reels. I have 4 now! I'm not a rep for any company. I have a Shimano Castaic SF($170), Curado ($120), Abu Torno ($160), Johnny Morris Signature ($150), 2 Quantums ($100)and 4 Pflueger Presidents ($130). The Presidents are my favorites of the bunch. I've never owned a Pflueger before these, so maybe their other stuff is not so good.

[FishinBill]

Couldn't agree more with the above statement. Pfleuger President is amazing. I have 2 myself and I am looking at one or two more by the end of the season. If you go to Cabela's right now and sign up for a cabela's visa card, they give you $15 off anything you buy. He might want to look into that

[bucketmouth64]

I have a Pflueger Trion and it is a great reel for under $100. If you want to venture into off brands try bps Extreme or a Rick Clunn. I have both and they have been excellent reels. You can pick these up for under $100 and many times they are on sale for further savings.

[Wayne Ek]

RandyFish, have you friend take a look at the new Quantum

Accurist PT (500)It has all the tech. from the 600 and 800 series and the price point should be around $119.

[andy j]

All I know is that Silstar has had some durability issues from what I have heard and from the few that I have owned I had problems with, also heard that reel repair places are filled with Silstar stuff, I don't like the loose feel when cranking on Silstar reels, I could be wrong but I think this is gearings, I know silstar reels have high ball-bearings but I think they skimp on the gearings. Gearing are just as important especially for durability/longivity of the reel. Shimano's have superior gearings and you can feel the difference, Pick up a Curado and a Trion, and feel the difference, they are both smooth but the trion is loose and the curado is tight, Remember high ball bearings in not everything, many companies now up their bearings and skimp on things like gearings because a lot of consumers think more ball bearings the better. shimano has a great balance and I believe that is why the last longer. I would take a 4 ball bearing shimano or Diawa over a 8 ball bearing Silstar any day. I have heard that the president are nice from a few guys, Maybe they are better. I have never used them, I will have to look at them. Just my 2 cents.

[river rat316]

I have a pinnacle baitcaster that has been a pretty good reel for the 79$ I paid for it its way smoother than other reels (mainly the curado) in the price range. I know a lot of people love the curado, and Ive never fished with one, but from what I see just testing em instore the president and pinnacle reels feel better to me. As far as durability goes, since I mainly wade or shorefish nothing really likes those conditions anyway (submersing em, dropping em on sand and rocks) the only thing that has really lasted more than a couple of years is an old Abu my dad gave me, you cant kill that thing, otherwise shimano, pflueger, pinnacle, daiwa it dont matter they all go to sh*t eventually under those conditions

[delmuts]

i love my diawas' . but we have two of the trions and so far i am impressed with them. i also just got a BP pro qualifier 1000S. ( i was told that phlueger makes them, and they look like it) the 1000 is the smaller one . but for the price it may be worth looking at. i can't wait to get out and try it. the S is a 5.0:1 ratio. slow, but i bought it for crank baits.

[jt24]

I have also been looking at the curado. A buddy of mine has one that he wants to sell but its a 3.8:1 ratio. Does it make much of a difference and would this work? Thanks

[Deitz Dittrich]

JT24-The Curado Model with the 3.8-1 gear ratio is designed to throw deep crankbaits. By having the lower gear ratio it causes you less fatigue when pullin gin baits that can be hard to pull in.. kinda like a pully effect. Personally I would only use this reel for that application. Most often I would want the higher gear ratio reel, Otherwise you end up doing a lot more reeling than needed. And on baits that require a fast retrieve, you may have trouble..IE buzzbait!

[panolo]

The Pflueger President series bait casters are every bit as nice as the Curado, IMO nicer even, and the Curado is a superb reel. The Trion is also great for the price. I own 9 diff Pflugs and have never had to warranty one. I am hard on my reels too.