Casting Reel Advice....REVO, Daiwa, Shimano? I want to do it right the first time! 2024

RushFan2112 reply :

Hey All, Been using spinning gear my whole life for bass fishing. I use heavy Abu casting reels for the pike and musky up north, but have never used casting reels for bass fishing. Simply put - I'm tired of line twist that comes with spinning gear, and I want the control of the spool that I get with my heavy setups. I'm always jealous of the casting distances and control that my fishing buddy has when we're out with his casting setup.

So, I want to buy my first casting reel, but I want to do it right and get a nice one with dual braking, etc. I'm a huge Daiwa fan - always have been. My Bradia 2500 and Shimano Compre spinning setup is my "go to " rig for almost all bass fishing situations. Considering that i'll spend between $100 and $200(max), I'm aware that I should also be looking at other brands besides Daiwa. I've never used a low-profile casting reel, so I may also consider a round caster if you have a good one to suggest. So, for general bass fishing situations in northern Illinois/Wisconsin lakes and ponds, which reel would you choose and why? I've been looking at the Revo's, Ambassadeur's, Tierra, Sol, Millionaire, Curado, etc. Thanks in advance for your replies.

SeanW reply :

The Revo STX is the one, the right one.

The Rooster reply :

Man you're gonna get a dozen different answers here.

I'll go ahead and get mine out of the way, either a Shimano Citica or Curado. Simply put, they are sweet casters in that they are light weight, very smooth cranking, cast good distances with fairly light baits and great distances with common sized ones, they come in a variety of gear ratios depending on what your primary needs for a caster are, and are built to last. They do not have dual braking, just centrifugal only, but with the ability to have 2, 3, 4, or 6 brakes working, or none at all, you should have plenty of options for braking.

But you may also want to consider the Abu Garcia Ambassadeur reels in the 5600 sizes also. I fished them for many years and never had problems, they always casted plenty far enough for me, though I will say my Shimanos will do better on the same baits and will cast lighter baits than the Abus would, at least in my hands. But they are what you are already used to so it would be familiar. And they come in several ratios too, a C3 for 5.3:1 or a C4 for 6.3:1 high speed. As I understand it now, they also have 6 pin centrifugal brakes too.

uicdent11 reply :

They all make good reels. Definitely go to Cabelas or BPS (depending on where you are in N. IL) and play around with them all. Try LH and RH reels on different rods.

With that said, I prefer Shimano baitcasting reels and Daiwa Spinning reel.

BASSclary reply :

For your price range, I'll have to recommend the SHIMANO Curado E7, which comes in both Lefty and right to suit you.

However if you can bump it up to about $269, I HIGHLY recommend the Daiwa Zillion(also come in left and right, and available in 7.3, 7.1, 6.3, and 4.9). They are very smooth, cast very far, and Im in love with the Magforce-Z Braking system.

SeanW reply :

He mentioned dual braking system, no Curado I ever owned had a dual braking system. Revo STX and Premiers have dual. I know there are some others but Curado and Citca are not them.

BASSclary reply :

Quote
He mentioned dual braking system, no Curado I ever owned had a dual braking system. Revo STX and Premiers have dual. I know there are some others but Curado and Citca are not them.

Aren't Pure Fishing Products the only products with Dual Braking?

And I know he mentioned he wanted Dual Braking, but from personal experience any quality braking system can work, mag, cent. or dual.

The Rooster reply :

Quote
He mentioned dual braking system, no Curado I ever owned had a dual braking system. Revo STX and Premiers have dual. I know there are some others but Curado and Citca are not them.

Yeah, I stated that in my suggestion that they do not have dual brakes. Also I take his statements where he says "dual braking, etc." as a generalization about getting a reel that has lots of good features, and not necessarily a specific requirement that it has dual braking. Not to mention the fact that he actually stated he was looking at a Curado as well as a few others that do not have dual brakes either. :

SeanW reply :

Sorry, didnt read your entire response, just saw those listed. It happens when Im watching a movie and reading.

GLoomis711 reply :

Curado, no doubt, built to last with Shimano's fantastic bearings.

And I can't help but notice you're a Rush Fan.

Rush is the greatest band to ever walk the earth.

The Holy Triumvirate !

jacobhookem reply :

Curado all the way!!

Shane J reply :

I'm going to have to say... The STX is the way to go. It has the dual brakes, is built to last, casts ridiculously far and smooth, is available in left and right retrieve, and comes in a couple different speeds. I don't think there's a better choice for a new-to-baitcasting angler in that price range.

dodgeguy reply :

pflueger patriarch.built on the same frame as a revo.has dual brakes etc.... casts just as far as the rest if not furthur.the best thing is the titanium depostion finish.it will look good years after the others look bad.this finish is next to impossible to damage.

roadwarrior reply :

Strong, smooth, silent and reliant.

I think you would be very pleased with the Curado CU200E7,

I am.

choupique reply :

Quote
The Revo STX is the one, the right one.

What he said.

MaxumBass reply :

I have Curado's, Citica's and an STX. I prefer the Curado and Citica over my STX. But thats me.

Fishohio reply :

I would do as already posted. Go to your local outfitter and play around with some reels. You don't have to have dual braking to get a nice casting reel. If you like round reels check out the Abu C4. Casts a mile very easy to service yourself. I have 2 I've been using for 10+ yrs still work perfect!

Any of the brands mentioned will have Quality Reels you'll fish a long time

0119 reply :

The reels for you, dont rely on the opinion of invisable internet people! You say your a forever Daiwa fan, then stick with them and you'll be happy. You already use Ambassadeurs for other species, theres lots to be said for sticking with the same equipment across the board. The 5600 is way to big for bass. The 4600C3 is perfect for bass and can handle way tougher.

roadwarrior reply :

Quote
The reels for you, dont rely on the opinion of invisable internet people!

The poster is asking for some advice. It's pretty hard to select

a reel when they all look nice new and seem to perform perfectly.

I own a few Shimano reels and the STX. At the poster's pricing

point, I recommend the Curado.

00 mod reply :

Roadwarrior, what do you consider a few? LOL! More than 10 is a TON!

PS> get the Curado

J Francho reply :

I'm 90% Daiwa guy. Get a Curado. Great, proven reel, at your budget.

Chris at Tech reply :

Another vote for the STX from me.

DpDvr reply :

I used the round Abu reels until two years ago when I bought two Revo S. I loved them and then last year I bought a Curado. I will have to say that I like it better than any reel I ever used. Good luck choosing!

lightsout reply :

Quote
I used the round Abu reels until two years ago when I bought two Revo S. I loved them and then last year I bought a Curado. I will have to say that I like it better than any reel I ever used. Good luck choosing!

I have had a similar experience. I have used and enjoyed many abu's for years. Santa brought me an E7 last year and I have to say I find myself using that outfit more (even if its not rigged with the lure I'd prefer at the time) just because of the reel.

rayrock99 reply :

Another vote for the Curado, but I like the 50E over the 200E.

breezy reply :

You should be fine with almost any mid range reels from Abu, Daiwa, Shimano or even Bass Pro. It really comes down to personal preference. For example Curados are extremely popular, I've owned one and it did perform very well but just felt too cheap/"plasticy" to me so I returned it.

Your best bet is to just go to a store, handle all of the reels and decide which one feels best to you. Some you should probably check out:

-Revo series (wide price range so pick one in your budget)

-Shimano: Curado, Citica

-Bass Pro: Pro Qualifier, Carbonlite

BTW, I ended up picking up a carbonlite after returning the curado. It has two graphite sideplates also but feels much more solid IMO. I couldn't be happier so far, for $120 you get dual braking, swept carbon handle, etc...features found on more expensive reels like the $280 revo premiere.

steezy reply :

Its hard to beat the BPS Pro Qualifier as a great reel with Dual Brakes.

RushFan2112 reply :

Wow! I did not expect 26 replies when checking in tonight, but dang, you guys rock. In reading the responses, I should've clarified that dual braking was NOT mandatory. I just figured the all of the reels I was looking at all had dual. Sorry bout that.

ROOSTER - You were right on. Many mixed responses to my question. I'm just going to hit BPS and check out the reels in my hands.

GLoomis711 - Yep, MONSTER RUSH fan here. Long live the kings!

Thanks again all for your responses. Honestly, all of the responses just further complicate my decision. I'm just going to see which feels best in my hands for the price range that I'm in and take things from there. Love the site!

skunked_again reply :

off topic: Dual Braking???

what is dual braking? is mechanical brakes/spool tension dual braking?

Hammer 4 reply :

We don't need no stinking dual braking.... ;D

Curado ...nuff said..

Micro reply :

Abu's dual braking system is unnecessary. It's an attempt to take the burden of becoming a competent caster (with one brake system or the other) off the user. It's an attempt to make their reel fool-proof. It controls the cast so you don't have to.

I'd recommend (in your price range):

Shimano Curado E7 with centrifugal brake

Daiwa Advantage HSTA with mag brake

Revo SX with mag brake, or S with centrifugal

brake.

You will become an compentent caster with any of them. Mastering a baitcaster is part of the fun of bass fishing. Using a reel you don't really need to master isn't much fun after awhile.

CWB reply :

Dual braking is a combination of centrifugal pin brakes and magnetic brakes which are used on the STX and a few BPS reels. I think the worm is turning. A little while ago you would get 75% Shimano lovers responding. Now it looks like 50/50 Shimano/Revo. I have both and both are great reels but I personally prefer the Revo. It fits the way I palm my set-ups better. Everyone will and should have his/her own preference.

CWB reply :

Quote
We don't need no stinking dual braking.... ;D
Curado ...nuff said..

Where's Muddy when you need him? :-/

jeb2 reply :

Quote
Dual braking is a combination of centrifugal pin brakes and magnetic brakes which are used on the STX and a few BPS reels.

It's also used on the Revo Premier, at least the 2010 version. Some of the early DBS didn't work great, but the newer ones like on the Premier are fantastic. Gives the reel so much versatility! I have a core 50, curado 200E7, 4 Premier's, as SX, a JM Gold, a Calais DC (Steez arriving today, according the FedEx site). The Premier's are just fantastic reels and I think the DBS is a big part of the reason for that. I prefer them over all the other reels, except the DC. The DC is a bigger, heavier reel, but it's hard to top it's casting performance on a windy day.

Quote
I think the worm is turning. A little while ago you would get 75% Shimano lovers responding. Now it looks like 50/50 Shimano/Revo.

Agreed. I think Abu's 2010 lineup has really boosted their credibility. Put a little more durable finish on the Premier and it would easily compete with other $400 reels out there.

trevor reply :

I like Ardent or Daiwa casting reels. Abus feel nice too, but I don't have one. Don't really like Shimanos for a few minor reasons, but I think pretty much anything the big three offer in the $150+ range will be good.

SeanW reply :

Quote
Abu's dual braking system is unnecessary. It's an attempt to take the burden of becoming a competent caster (with one brake system or the other) off the user. It's an attempt to make their reel fool-proof. It controls the cast so you don't have to.
I'd recommend (in your price range):

Shimano Curado E7 with centrifugal brake

Daiwa Advantage HSTA with mag brake

Revo SX with mag brake, or S with centrifugal

brake.

You will become an compentent caster with any of them. Mastering a baitcaster is part of the fun of bass fishing. Using a reel you don't really need to master isn't much fun after awhile.

You do realize that some people just have a hard time with bait casters dont you? I mean they really just never get good with them. My son bought one of those anti back lash reels(backlash proof) and he would get a real mess in that thing no problem. Others pick it up real quick.

I like the dual braking system. I dont use the mechanical at all, but for some they can set those, then fine tune without having to open the reel. Casting into a strong wind versus casting with it. Throwing a light rip bait compared to a DD22. So while you dont feel a need for it others do.

Scorpio reply :

Get a Daiwa ProCaster 100HN. It will cost you under $50 and is a great reel to learn on. Braking system is great and works as well as any I have tried.

LAO162 reply :

DBS systems have their merits. Because I am limited in the amount of time I get at the water, I appreciate the forgiving attributes of DBS reels. Since I throw a lot of lighter baits, I especially enjoy the ability to adjust the brakes without pulling off the side plates.

That said, when I'm "on" I get fantastic performance from my Chronarch MG51 and Quantum TE reels. However, when I mess up I either spend 10 minutes pulling out tangles, or I put aside the combo and pick up another one in its place. DBS backlashes occur less often and are usually less severe.

Since you have a background with spinning gear, you may want to consider left hand models.

Leon

Quillback reply :

On a well known auction website they are offering the new Abu Premier 2011 model (7:1 retrieve ratio) for $196 with free shipping, it's a "Buy now" so not an auction. Darn good price for that reel, if I needed another reel I would have bought one.

CWB reply :

With dual braking reels, you have the option of tuning the magnets off if you are used to centrifugal, turning the pins off if you prefer the magnets, or tinkering with a combination of both. 3 options are usually better than one. Still, it comes down to what you can afford, and what you are used to and comfortable with.

RussBert reply :

Quote
I'm a huge Daiwa fan - always have been.
...between $100 and $200(max)

Hi. I recommend the Daiwa Sol, which can be had through ebay for around $170.

It's a fine reel, easy to cast and casts light baits extremely well

Nibbles reply :

Daiwa Advantage HSTA hands down. This reel is basically a Zillion without CRBBs but with a 4 bearing handle instead of 2, making it incredibly smooth.

Really, either the HSTA or the Curado E7 should suit you fine. It comes down to whether you prefer Daiwa's Magforce Z braking system or Shimano's 6 pin centrifugal braking system.

The Daiwa Sol is also an option, although I would personally say it's better for smaller finesse presentations. It's great for tossing lighter baits in the 1/4 oz range and uses Magforce V instead of Magforce Z, which means it sacrifices a little bit of casting distance for the ability to pitch light baits well.

GLoomis711 reply :

Quote
Wow! I did not expect 26 replies when checking in tonight, but dang, you guys rock. In reading the responses, I should've clarified that dual braking was NOT mandatory. I just figured the all of the reels I was looking at all had dual. Sorry bout that.
ROOSTER - You were right on. Many mixed responses to my question. I'm just going to hit BPS and check out the reels in my hands.

GLoomis711 - Yep, MONSTER RUSH fan here. Long live the kings!

Thanks again all for your responses. Honestly, all of the responses just further complicate my decision. I'm just going to see which feels best in my hands for the price range that I'm in and take things from there. Love the site!

Yepp, they are definitely the kings, the sad thing is, their is so many people that don't recognize their unbelievable talent.

&&& Go with the Curado

It's the RUSH of reels.

kikstand454 reply :

i love rush.... i play bass.

while any of the big companies have great reels for that price range....i agree somewhat with scorpio... the daiwa 100hn is an awesome reel for a beginner that has brakes that actually work.

imho i think that when youre just starting out a solid competent reel that is midly forgiving is better to get than a "pro" level ridiculously smooth reel that is designed for people that are more advanced in their casting.

that is not to say that you can not learn on these type reels... and their might be the argument to do so sets you up for better casting in the future.... but i think just starting out a high quality ROD is much more important.

get a <100 dollar reel and get a >100 dollar rod.

Or you could get a bps pro qualifier combo which is the general consensus on this site as the best rod/reel for the midlevel price.

repper reply :

I think you will be very pleased with your new Curado 200e7. Check them out on Ebay, and you can probably pick one up for ~$140.00-$150.00 with free shipping and no tax. And then just go learn how to cast it. I think having too many controls on your first baitcaster will just make it harder to go have fun with it. All of the major players make great high end reels. But you'll love your new Curado.

shimanogloomis man reply :

I always bought shimano so im ganna say shimano they never let me down so in that price range curados thewto go.now my twin bro is a diawa guy and he has the team daiwa hsta i think thats the model # it cost around the same price as a curado. Fished both all around id take the curado hands down flipped and casted better the daiwa might have been a tab bit smother but not much of a difference..Curado ;)and never look back

2735

Casting Reel Advice....REVO, Daiwa, Shimano? I want to do it right the first time! 2024

related Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic

previous topic

next topic

most viewed Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic