What's your favorite baitcaster for bass fishin'? Mine always has been the Pflueger President, but recently I bought a Lew's Speed Spool Tournament. This thing is awesome...I may have a new favorite. It's the smoothest, easiest to use baitcaster I've ever fished with.
                                                                                                                                                                                            

well i don't use many bait casters, But the one that i use a lot for salt and fresh is a guide series GS56 Reel with a I-M8 Graphite 6'6 Pole.

Its not the fastest, But its durable. I Have brought in flounder to bass to trout to carp its a 5:2:1 costed me around $120 for the set.

The 5.2 to 1 gear ratio is a good one '151. It gives you better cranking power than the 6.4 to 1 and 7 to 1. I ordered my new Lew's reel in that gearing...it lets me fish big spinnerbaits and crankbaits without making my shoulders feel like they're gonna fall off!
                                                                                                                                                                               

I'm still using my trusty old Shimano Curado CU201 as my primary reel. Its starting to grind and pop and click a bit so I just bought a new Curado. I haven't had a chance to put line on it yet so I don't know if I like the new one as well as my old original. I also have 1st and 2nd edition Cabela's Prodigy by Diawa. Bought both of them at 50% off sales for boat rods and they are totally worth $60. I'd even pay full price for one. A buddy of mine uses the Pflueger President also. I tried it once, but I fish lefty and he's a righty so it was kind of like taking a test drive blindfolded

Hey Hoss, your trusty old Curado is a LOT of people's favorite...and rightly so...it's one of the all time greats! Keep us posted as to how that brand new one performs.

I only have 3 baitcasters...they multi-task...I use them in salt and in freshwater...I have the Cabo cbc30 (2) and Engery PTS...I like the PTS alot better...for bass fishing anyways...I can cast it a good ways...and it's got a smooth retrieve...the CBC's are bit more beefy...better for saltwater speices...

i use two that i would say are my goto. On is a bass pro shops emigma 5.2.1 the other one is a daiwa megaforce plus with a twitchin'bar 7.1 JOHN

I've had a Curado CU 201 for about 15 years that still works great. I've had it serviced a few times during the off-season throughout its life so some parts have been replaced, but overall, very happy. About 5 years ago, my sister bought me a 201-BSF which has also been great. A couple months ago, I bought a 201e7 after trying out a buddy's. It performs far better than the earlier models so I strongly recommend it, although they discontinued it and replaced it with something else that I haven't tried. Hard to beat a Curado, at least IMO.

Man...these are all great reels...makes it tough to pick a favorite. 

One of my favorites is the Abu Revo !!!!and I can get em in Lefty's!!!!!!!!!

I recently picked up an Abu SilverMax and its an awesome reel for the buck. It's not gonna keep up with a high dollar reel, but for a mid priced baitcaster, IMO it can't be beat. Paired it up with a Berkeley Lightning Rod-Shock series and it's becoming my favorite. I also use a Browning Midas series for throwing jigs and heavier finesse baits.

Posted By cedwards0823 on 17 Dec 2011 03:37 AM
I recently picked up an Abu SilverMax and its an awesome reel for the buck. It's not gonna keep up with a high dollar reel, but for a mid priced baitcaster, IMO it can't be beat. Paired it up with a Berkeley Lightning Rod-Shock series and it's becoming my favorite. I also use a Browning Midas series for throwing jigs and heavier finesse baits.

You might be surprised about that, most companies mid-priced reels CAN keep up with their high dollar stuff. Usually important details like the frame material and gearing are the same. The only difference is the top of line model has a few more bearings...often in places that just don't make much difference. Or they have a few more pounds of drag pressure. My Pflueger President boasts over 20lbs. max drag pressure, but who's ever gonna need that much for bass fishing? Now granted, a Silver Max is not a Revo MGX, but both are great reels that should last a long time with regular maintenance.
                                     

Too many anglers get caught up in the number of bearings in a reel. Come on, folks, do we really need ball bearings in the handle paddles? I would think that 5 ball bearings + 1 roller beating is plenty for any use. I'm not real familiar with the working parts of a baitcaster but an example would be where do you put 10 ball bearings in a spinning reel? One on each end of the main shaft, one on each end of the pinion (handle) shaft and MAYBE one in the line roller should do it, right?

I've only started using baitcasting reels recently in the last few years. So for general bass fishing, my favorite would be the Shimano Metanium MG7.

Posted By slipperybob on 17 Dec 2011 11:12 AM
I've only started using baitcasting reels recently in the last few years. So for general bass fishing, my favorite would be the Shimano Metanium MG7.

Wow Slipperybob! If you just started using baitcasters, you didn't waste any time getting a good one...that's a $350 reel...great choice!
                                                                                      

I have always been a Pflueger fan and last year I bought 4 of thier Patriarch baitcasters 2 7.1:1 and 2 6.4:1 and all I can say is WOW these are some really nice reels and quickly became my all time favorite reels.

The PATRIARCH...that one word says it all. This one is the flagship of Pflueger's fleet. You're a lucky man basbandit! I love my President, but someday I will have a Patriarch!

Posted By mo65 on 19 Dec 2011 12:14 PM

Posted By slipperybob on 17 Dec 2011 11:12 AM
I've only started using baitcasting reels recently in the last few years. So for general bass fishing, my favorite would be the Shimano Metanium MG7.

Wow Slipperybob! If you just started using baitcasters, you didn't waste any time getting a good one...that's a $350 reel...great choice!
                                                                                      

I started with a $25 Shimano Coriolis on a $40 Shakespeare Ugly Stick Lite.  Got me so so far only and didn't really care much for baitcasters.  I didn't believe in the expensive stuff, but after hearing the advice of others I decided to try it.  The expensive reels really do cast effortlessly, along with a good rod.  It's a world of difference when there's no birdnests to deal with.

Good point Slipperybob...just like one of those $49.99 pressboard guitars from Sears ain't no Fender Statocaster! Jimmy Page could make either one of them sing, but the average "Joe" would get better results from the Strat. There's probably not much sense in trying to learn to use a $25 baitcaster...that does sound like an accident waiting to happen. My best advice would be to start with a mid priced model, something like the one cedwards0823 was talking about.
                                                                                             

Good point about the baitcasters, but if I may add, when learning how to cast with a baitcaster, there are 3 things to consider and keep in mind, brake control, spool tension knob and thumb control. Always make sure your brake and spool knob are set according to the weight of your lures and knowing how to maintain line control with your thumb.

Something that continues to amaze me is how easy a baitcaster is to adjust but how many people still say they can't use them.

Hey Mo, when I was in the Army, we had this rule...called the 10% rule. You have to be 10% smarter than your equipment your using! LoL. This rule carries over into civilian life as well...LoL

So this explains Zebco's success...huh?! 

LoL...yeah, Zebco made a ton of money on spincast outfits, because a lot of fishermen aren't 10% smarter than a baitcaster....lol

My 1st baitcaster was a Abu Garcia 5501 C3. This is the old round type of baitcaster, the kind that you have to be dedicated to before you can cast it consistently. It's 10ish years old now, still in good shape and only used for punching bass. My main reel is a Curado 201E7. It's a great baitcaster. I did super-tune mine with ceramic bearings and some very careful polishing. Casts a mile and very well balanced. I would like to try the new 'G' series Curado. I have a birthday coming up (hint, hint).

Vito you would be surprised at the number of people I have run across that aren't 10% smarter than a spincaster!

Posted By Pegsguy on 29 Dec 2011 10:29 AM
Vito you would be surprised at the number of people I have run across that aren't 10% smarter than a spincaster!

Whoa, Nellie! Now this does present a problem...guess there's always the cane pole.

Yup sadly the 10% rule still applies!!!!!!

Lmao!

Posted By cedwards0823 on 17 Dec 2011 03:37 AM
I recently picked up an Abu SilverMax and its an awesome reel for the buck. It's not gonna keep up with a high dollar reel, but for a mid priced baitcaster, IMO it can't be beat. Paired it up with a Berkeley Lightning Rod-Shock series and it's becoming my favorite. I also use a Browning Midas series for throwing jigs and heavier finesse baits.

cedwards0823,

I have to agree with you on the reel & rod, I have 2 Silver Max's and 2 Berkely Lighting Rods which I purchased from Dick's. I had accidently broken the tip of on rod while closing the bed cap door down! Well I took it back to Dick's to see if they would replace it or would I have to send it of to a rod repairer. Dick's said just go back to Sporting goods and get a new one and that was it. I also have Black Max, this also works very good even though it's not as good as the counter part Silver Max. I bought a another baitcaster Prodigy from Cabela's  and a BPS Tournament rod.  I like the BPS with the expandible butt twist long or short.

I have 7 of old curados and 3 chronarcs  I am still using today that I bought in 1999. I have bought many more expensive reels since then and no trouble at all with the curados all still in good working condition. Hard to mess with success. Scott

I have 7 of the old curados and chronarcs that i bought in 1999 all of them in great working condition. I have purchased many other more expensive reels then them since then and had problems with many of them. I may never get rid of them. Scott

sorry didnt know it took the first time. Scott

Ive got a Diawa Twitchin Reel and a Smoke reel I love. Nice stuff ! I usually use spinning reels though

i ahve atleat 15bait casters ..all are from abu 6600c4,6500c5.6600.black max,blacmax c,6500c5magx,& the others i cant remaber the names theyre all great reels& have lasted forever i use them all every year,,i wouldnt use any other reels,only other brands i use are my spinning reels

Pinnacle vision slyder, had one for a while now and couldnt get used to any other one.

Posted By mo65 on 13 Nov 2011 09:43 AM
What's your favorite baitcaster for bass fishin'? Mine always has been the Pflueger President, but recently I bought a Lew's Speed Spool Tournament. This thing is awesome...I may have a new favorite. It's the smoothest, easiest to use baitcaster I've ever fished with.
                                                                                                                                                                                            

I've got a Plunger President and a Plunger Trion.  I suppose they are ok, but they sits on the shelf gathering dust.  I feel a Citica or  Citori or even some of the mid price bass pro reels are as good for less money.  For every day fishing I have several Quantum Accurists (AC500PTs and CXs and a few AC570PTs) spooled up with 65lb braid for flipping and frogging (these get some serious abuse), and a bunch of Shimano Curado 200 BSF, D, and E reels for everything else.  The D is probably the smoothest and toughest, but its also the biggest and heaviest.  The E is pretty good all around.  I liked the BSF best for a long time, but the spool tensions adjustment is too finicky.  The 200F gets an F just looking at it.  Sorry.  Don't even have to fish with one to see they made it cheaper to try and get people to step up to the next level reels. 

I would like to try a Quantum Smoke as a potential replacement for the Curado now that Shimano put it to the pooch on that line.  but its a little above my price point.  I guess I'll just keep waiting until I run low on good reels before I make a decision on what to try next. 

Posted By Bob La Londe on 20 Jan 2012 10:15 AM

I've got a Plunger President and a Plunger Trion.  I suppose they are ok, but they sits on the shelf gathering dust.  I feel a Citica or  Citori or even some of the mid price bass pro reels are as good for less money. 

Hmm...I don't know about that. The Citica is a pretty good reel, but come on, its no President. The Citica has four bearings...the President has 10. The Citica has 11lbs. max drag...the President has 20. I would suggest blowing the dust off your Pfluegers and fishing with them!
        

How many of you were pro's the first time you picked up a baitcaster? Thats right, ZERO! Who are you to poke fun at folks who struggle with them? I put my first baitcaster away for an entire season after I got sick of nesting it constantly. Does that make me stupid? Am I a dumb ass because I couldn't use my baitcaster at first? It takes some practice to get used to. Maybe thats just me though.
With that said, I still only have that 1 baitcaster. Except now it has become one of my favorite combos. It's a cheapy also. A Mega Cast by BPS(made by Shakespeare). The combo was only 30 or 40 bux, but I love it. I'm currently looking into a baitcasting ultra light set up. Havent done much research on them as of yet though.

I don't think your struggle learning the baitcaster makes you stupid...I think your struggle was a direct result of learning on that cheap reel. Maybe a better reel would have shortened you learning time. The latest baitcaster I bought is the Lew's Speed Spool Tournament that I mentioned in the first post of this thread. And like I said then, it is the easiest baitcaster I've ever used. I would have liked to had it to learn on...probably wouldn't have taken 10 minutes to learn on this jewel!
                                                                                                        

Posted By Bassbum on 20 Jan 2012 05:53 PM
How many of you were pro's the first time you picked up a baitcaster? Thats right, ZERO! Who are you to poke fun at folks who struggle with them? I put my first baitcaster away for an entire season after I got sick of nesting it constantly. Does that make me stupid? Am I a dumb ass because I couldn't use my baitcaster at first? It takes some practice to get used to. Maybe thats just me though.
With that said, I still only have that 1 baitcaster. Except now it has become one of my favorite combos. It's a cheapy also. A Mega Cast by BPS(made by Shakespeare). The combo was only 30 or 40 bux, but I love it. I'm currently looking into a baitcasting ultra light set up. Havent done much research on them as of yet though.

The proof is in the cast.  Plunger just isn't the company it was before it sold out. 

I think one of the main reasons that "folks" who struggle with baitcasters is they give up on them too easily. I don't see why you would put your b/c away for an entire season? That tells me you weren't practicing, or if you were, you weren't giving it your 100%. We live in a day and age were people just want results, they don't want to put in the time or the effort. I'm no brain child or rocket scientist, but I did get my b/c ing down in 3 outings...Bottom line, if you put in the effort, you'll see the results, sooner than later.

Hey Bob...who is Plunger...are you talking about Pflueger? If so, you're right, they aren't the company they used to be. I have a few Pflueger products myself, and the President I fish with is a long way from the Summit(circa 1957) in my vintage collection. While the Summit is truly a thing of beauty, It would be no match for that new President at the lake. Pflueger is currently owned by Pure Fishing, who also owns Abu Garcia, Penn, Mitchell, Berkley, Shakespeare, and a host of others! Pure Fishing has made improvements to all these products, and continues to innovate. Here's a couple of pics...past and present...I love 'em all!
                                                                                    
1957 Pflueger Summit...this one coined the phrase "they don't make 'em like they used to".



This is my Pflueger President...still my favorite way to "git 'er done".

I wasn't real familiar with baitcasters, or how they worked, when I bought mine. I didn't know about adjusting by the weight of the bait, the thumb stop, or anything else. The year I put it away is when I started doing my homework on it. I didn't have anything else to do during the winter, so I started watching videos and how to's to teach myself. Once spring rolled back around it didn't take long to get used to. Spooling with braid helped me alot also.

has anyone tried a pfleuger monarch. My first baitcaster havent got to try it out yet and didn't want to spend a whole lot in case i didn't like it.

This is a great thread! I am currently looking into getting my first bc reel. so I picked up a few things while reading this. I have been practicing on an old Abu Garcia found in my brother-in-laws shed. Got the hang of it, but I have to agree with others on here, a newer one has GOT to be easier to use.
Looking at the Silver Max right now. Falls into the price range i'm ok with and from all reports, a good reel.

When I got my first B/C last season. I had a little bit of an idea on how to work it. But what helped me the most is going on you tube. There is a video on everything. How to work it, fine tune it and ones on how to take it apart and clean it. It’s always a good idea to have a B/C pick. It will still take some time to get it down. I suggest anyone just starting to go and get some cheap line to practice with. I only have one so far and it’s the BPS pro qualifier and it works great. On the BPS site it has almost 500 reviews and it has 5 stars. Haven’t had any problems with it

Happy Fishing

Bassman

Hey RedK71...Thanks for the comment on the thread! Yes...the Sliver Max would make an excellent first baitcaster...good luck!

Bigchip80, that Monarch is on the lower end of Pfluegers scale...but still plenty good enough to learn on...good luck!

RED: the Silver Max is a good starter reel, there are a lot worse out there!!

thanks mo tried it out in yard yesterday weather supposed to be pretty good monday high 40s may try to go to local pond where i usually catch some good ones. Think i got the hang of it pretty good.

Great news bigchip80...just remember...out on the lake the wind will work against you. Just tighten her up a hair if that's the case...and keep those bearings oiled for best performance.
                                                    

Yeah like mo said if you are casting into the wind try to keep it low. Because there is a good chance you could get some backlash. Like I said I recommend getting a B/C pick very handy.

well i just bought one of those curado's it hasnt made it in yet, but im hoping for the best... i havent done much bass fishing with baitcasters mainly spinning outfits but im really fond of my abu garcia 5000 for the big cats...

Yeah there great for all your baits that you want to burn. They really come in handy. I didn’t have one until last season and I love them.

Well, the new rod and reel came today! casting out in the yard. wind rain and 40 degrees make me not want to head to the lake. Getting the hang of it. Can't wait to get on the water with it!

Glad to hear you guys are having a good time with your new baitcasters!