Help me pick a casting reel 2025
Chief250 reply :
I'm looking for a high end casting reel that can cover a bunch of bases. Primarily though this reel wheel be on a 7'6 MH throwing 5 & 6 inch weightless senkos. In the lake that I'd be using it most I get bit on the fall. If they don't bite getting it back and throwing it again is important. Thus, speed to me is important. I subscribe to the I can always slow down theory. I've had my heart set for awhile on the ultra light weight Aldebaran but have started to pull back on that due to drag capabilities. I also was considering garbing the Abu Garciz MGLExtreme2 instead of the alderbean due to it being similar in weight, drag & being able to be had for much less. It's also about 4-5 IPT faster. I know it's MSRP is $500 but I've found them as low as $240. I just recently came across the LEW Hypermag SLP in 8.3.1. To me it seems to be the best of both worlds. It's 5.4 ounces, so close to the Abu MGL & Shimano but with more speed at 33 IPT and 20LBS of Drag. My current reels are Lew lfs's which I've thrown for 3 years without any maintenance and they throw just like new. I can also purchase the Lews Hypermag for $197 down from $299. Also lets throw in the new 10.1 Revo rocket in there for comparison. I know it's heavy but the line retrieve intrigues me.
Lews Hypermag 8.3.1, 33 IPT, 5.4 Ounces, 20lbs of drag. $197
Abu Garcia MGL Extreme, 2 8.1, 33 IPT, 4.5 Ounces, 11LBS of drag or more like 7lbs, $260
Abu Garcia Revo Rocket, 10.1 - 41 IPT, 7.3 Ounces, 18LBs of drag- $189 Might slip on hook-sets?
Shimano Aldebaran MGL, 7.4.1 - 29 IPT, 4.8 ounces, 10lbs of drag -$285 Might slip on hook-sets ?
Shimano Chronarch 8.1. 34IPT, 6.7 ounces, 10lbs of drag -$221
Any other ideas?
NittyGrittyBoy reply :
Have you checked out Diawa? Alot of guys on here push Diawa or Shimano for upper end reels.
Chief250 reply :
On 11/10/2018 at 10:57 PM, NittyGrittyBoy said:Have you checked out Diawa? Alot of guys on here push Diawa or Shimano for upper end reels.
I haven't too much. Their top end reels seems heavy and IPT is pretty slow. I've also read that they are some of the best made reels in the business.
LionHeart reply :
For lite lures, Diawa's braking system is tough to beat. I'm a Lew's fanboy but Diawa has made a believer out of me.
OkobojiEagle reply :
10 lbs is quite a bit of drag for bass fishing...
oe
LionHeart reply :
On 11/11/2018 at 12:24 AM, OkobojiEagle said:10 lbs is quite a bit of drag for bass fishing...
oe
Completely agree.
J.Vincent reply :
On 11/10/2018 at 10:51 PM, Ryan Michael said:I'm looking for a high end casting reel that can cover a bunch of bases. Primarily though this reel wheel be on a 7'6 MH throwing 5 & 6 inch weightless senkos. In the lake that I'd be using it most I get bit on the fall. If they don't bite getting it back and throwing it again is important. Thus, speed to me is important. I subscribe to the I can always slow down theory. I've had my heart set for awhile on the ultra light weight Aldebaran but have started to pull back on that due to drag capabilities. I also was considering garbing the Abu Garciz MGLExtreme2 instead of the alderbean due to it being similar in weight, drag & being able to be had for much less. It's also about 4-5 IPT faster. I know it's MSRP is $500 but I've found them as low as $240. I just recently came across the LEW Hypermag SLP in 8.3.1. To me it seems to be the best of both worlds. It's 5.4 ounces, so close to the Abu MGL & Shimano but with more speed at 33 IPT and 20LBS of Drag. My current reels are Lew lfs's which I've thrown for 3 years without any maintenance and they throw just like new. I can also purchase the Lews Hypermag for $197 down from $299. Also lets throw in the new 10.1 Revo rocket in there for comparison. I know it's heavy but the line retrieve intrigues me.
Lews Hypermag 8.3.1, 33 IPT, 5.4 Ounces, 20lbs of drag. $197
Abu Garcia MGL Extreme, 2 8.1, 33 IPT, 4.5 Ounces, 11LBS of drag or more like 7lbs, $260
Abu Garcia Revo Rocket, 10.1 - 41 IPT, 7.3 Ounces, 18LBs of drag- $189 Might slip on hook-sets?
Shimano Aldebaran MGL, 7.4.1 - 29 IPT, 4.8 ounces, 10lbs of drag -$285 Might slip on hook-sets ?
Shimano Chronarch 8.1. 34IPT, 6.7 ounces, 10lbs of drag -$221
Any other ideas?
Have you ever seen these reels in person or physically handled any of them ? Also what is you current experience with $100 to $150 dollar reels ?
ww2farmer reply :
Your placing way way too much importance on drag force...especially for bass fishing, and double especially given your location in PA where a big fish might be 5-6lbs
NittyGrittyBoy reply :
I personally throw the unmentionable brand of reels and flat enjoy them. I was a Lew's guy and had a couple revo's, but I'm sold on the concept line... 22lbs of drag, and throws smooth as silk!
Derek1 reply :
The currado i is the only one I e ever used and it’s awful nice. I don’t have anything to compare it to but it’s super smooth and casts well.
Currado k sorry
Chief250 reply :
On 11/11/2018 at 12:43 AM, J.Vincent said:Have you ever seen these reels in person or physically handled any of them ? Also what is you current experience with $100 to $150 dollar reels ?
I have not had any of them in my hands. Here in central PA we do not have a shop that stocks anything over $199 MSP. I do not have any experience with any other reels other than the lew lfs ($99) I've been wanting to try high end casting gear just like I wanted to try high end spinning tackle. That's when I got into an NRX & a Dobyns Champion XP for spinning with the new tatula spinning reels. It completely changed how fun fishing is. I have decent higher end casting rods but nothing more that 6.4.1 ratio Lews lfs that are going on four years old. I'm very much interested in the higher end reels. I think they will last longer and be worth the investment. I almost just want to buy a Metanium XG and start there. I like that you can get the higher end reels for a large discount through ebay or Japanlureshop.
J.Vincent reply :
Oh ok I think we understand what you are trying to find; maybe a Curado K or Chronarch would be a good choice .
new2BC4bass reply :
I'd be more concerned with the Aldebaran's line capacity on a 7'6" MH rod rather than the amount of its drag pressure. I fish with older Fuegos on MH rods and they are listed as having 5 lbs. of drag. I have gone to Carbontex drags in mine, but have no idea what drag pressure is with them.
A reel you didn't mention was the Bantam MGL. Everything I have read about this reel has been great. I'd imagine it would balance the rod out better than a reel weighing less than 5 oz.
I picked up a used older Shimano Exsence (only way I can afford one), and have to say it is a great reel. 8:1 ratio. Heavier than any of the reels on your list, but I didn't notice a balance problem on a 7' MH rod. But then my wife says I am clueless. 
anderb54 reply :
On 11/11/2018 at 2:28 AM, Ryan Michael said:I almost just want to buy a Metanium XG and start there
I promise you won't regret it. Also, I have an Aldebaran (2015 version) and have had no issues with the drag... 10 lbs is more than enough.
The Chronarch is an awesome reel too, the difference in performance between it and the Metanium is very, very small.
fishwizzard reply :
Buy a $5 luggage scale from ebay and never worry about drag strength ever again. I was shocked at how low I keep my drags set when I thought to measure it.
NHBull reply :
Met Mgl and call it a day
Boomstick reply :
It's pretty tough to beat a Daiwa SV (Tatula, or Steez depending on your budget) for lures 3/8oz and under.
I'm probably going to try a Pflueger Patriarch next year for light lures as well which I hear is good for light lures with its double braking system, as I got my son a Supreme XT and it's a totally fantastic reel.
burrows reply :
Any of the MGLs.
diehardbassfishing reply :
On 11/10/2018 at 10:51 PM, Ryan Michael said:Lews Hypermag 8.3.1, 33 IPT, 5.4 Ounces, 20lbs of drag. $197
Sure about this price? Seems way too low...
Karl
new2BC4bass reply :
On 11/11/2018 at 11:05 AM, Boomstick said:I'm probably going to try a Pflueger Patriarch next year for light lures as well which I hear is good for light lures with its double braking system, as I got my son a Supreme XT and it's a totally fantastic reel.
I can't comment on those 2 reels, but I have the older Patriarch XT. I have no problem with weightless 10" ribbontail worms on a 3/0-5/0 EWG hook and a MHF rod. I know this isn't the lightest combo, but the reel is set with one internal brake on and 3 on the external brake. This is a lower brake setting than I can use on my other reels. I use another dual brake reel to cast 3/16 oz. Shad Raps....older Carbonlite reels. Can cast as far with these as a tuned TD-Z 105H. That probably says more about my lack of skill than anything. 
BaitFinesse reply :
I like Daiwa reels with SV spools for weightless plastics like Senkos primarily for two reasons:
A) The SV reels are meant to be cast without any spool tension and are hard to backlash. Without any spool tension on a baitcast reel you can get Senko to fall vertically and strip line off the spool like you would see with a spinning reel. Normally the spool tension on a baitcast reel makes the falling bait swing in a pendulum moton.
I often skip weightless plastics like wacky senkos under docks and low hanging branches and the SV spools are well suited to skipping.
Nathan.bass.canada reply :
Sadly again this is a case of getting the lightest reel possible when on a rod of that power and lenght, you would want something with a bit more mass. Getting a super finesse reel for a lenghty all around rod seems very odd to me. I have a 7'4 champion XP paired with an older zillion SHLA, and a SC extreme with an antares (both heavy reels) but balance is perfect. If you want a combo that you'll enjoy get something that balances the rod better than just getting a light reel.
fishballer06 reply :
On 11/11/2018 at 2:28 AM, Ryan Michael said:I have not had any of them in my hands. Here in central PA we do not have a shop that stocks anything over $199
That's not true. You're fairly close to a Cabelas, BassPro, and SFT Tackle. All of which carry numerous high end reels, not to mention there are quite a few Field and Stream stores near you as well that carry a decent selection of higher end reels as well.
That being said, my vote goes to the Chronarch MGL. No issues with drag slipping on up close and personal fish while flipping.
fishwizzard reply :
On 11/11/2018 at 2:28 AM, Ryan Michael said:I have not had any of them in my hands. Here in central PA we do not have a shop that stocks anything over $199 MSP.
Susquehanna Fishing Tackle is in Columbia, PA and has a great selection of high end tackle. I live maybe 3ish hours away and drive up at least once a year.
Chief250 reply :
On 11/11/2018 at 10:29 PM, diehardbassfishing said:Sure about this price? Seems way too low...
Karl
American legacy fishing has them on sale for $221, 10% off coupon code had it down to $197
I purchased an new Chronarch MGL XG on ebay for $169. I hope it's legit. Supposed to be shipping today.
Yumeya reply :
I would say MGL also.
burrows reply :
On 11/13/2018 at 2:50 AM, Ryan Michael said:American legacy fishing has them on sale for $221, 10% off coupon code had it down to $197
I purchased an new Chronarch MGL XG on ebay for $169. I hope it's legit. Supposed to be shipping today.
You got a good deal and a bad a$$ reel.
rtwvumtneer6 reply :
On 11/11/2018 at 12:54 AM, Derek1 said:The currado i is the only one I e ever used and it’s awful nice. I don’t have anything to compare it to but it’s super smooth and casts well.
Currado k sorry
The Curado K is tough to beat. It's built like a tank. The CU200XGK has a 8.5:1 at 36 IPT if you're looking for speed. 11 lb drag is plenty. It's really worth taking a look at.
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