texasfishingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Power-Pole CS, T-Rigger, JoeGoes, EcKo
119150 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
hopalong 120,565
TexDawg 119,511
Bigbob_FTW 94,879
John175☮ 85,892
Pilothawk 83,259
Bob Davis 81,478
Mark Perry 72,280
Derek 🐝 68,311
JDavis7873 67,416
Forum Statistics
Forums59
Topics1,037,811
Posts13,934,937
Members144,150
Most Online39,925
Dec 30th, 2023
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Best Swimbait Reels #10844954 05/14/15 11:05 PM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 7,610
3
361V Online Content OP
TFF Celebrity
OP Online Content
TFF Celebrity
3
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 7,610
Just started using some "medium sized" soft swimbaits. 2-4 ounce sizes like 3:16 Rising Suns... I have a Revo Winch. What have y'all found appropriate for these heavy baits?

Moritz Chevrolet - 9101 Camp Bowie W Blvd, Fort Worth, TX - Monte Coon (817) 696-2003
Re: Best Swimbait Reels [Re: 361V] #10844992 05/14/15 11:30 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,336
T
T54 Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
TFF Team Angler
T
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,336
Curado 300E

Re: Best Swimbait Reels [Re: 361V] #10845020 05/14/15 11:43 PM
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,731
Paul - Lake Fork Online Content
Extreme Angler
Online Content
Extreme Angler
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,731
Shimano Calcutta 200A Silver or 200B Gold 5.0:1 ..Just my 2cents


In order to catch Big Fish..Sometimes you gotta Suffer.




Re: Best Swimbait Reels [Re: 361V] #10845077 05/15/15 12:13 AM
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,259
KC Injection Baits Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,259
Lew's super duty 5.4:1

Re: Best Swimbait Reels [Re: KC Injection Baits] #10845125 05/15/15 12:46 AM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 16,814
E
ezbassin Offline
TFF Guru
Offline
TFF Guru
E
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 16,814
Originally Posted By: KC Injection Baits
Lew's super duty 5.4:1


+1 for the smaller baits and or the Calcutta 200 Conquest.
Daiwa Luna (5-1) gear ratio for the larger heavier ones.
Daiwa Lexa 300 (6-1) gear ratio for top water glide baits.

Last edited by ezbassin; 05/15/15 01:32 PM.
Re: Best Swimbait Reels [Re: 361V] #10845163 05/15/15 01:03 AM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,241
E
ETBA Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
E
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,241
I use the Lexa 300's and plan to add a Luna or two(I'm obviously a daiwa fan)
Calcutta's and 300 series curados are also really Solid reels for the bigger baits.


Swimbaits Only.
Re: Best Swimbait Reels [Re: 361V] #10845277 05/15/15 01:46 AM
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,884
D
DKennimer Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
D
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,884
Don't know its the best, but I like my Shimano Calcutta TE DC100. Smooth and tough. I also use a Shimano Chronarch D5 for swimbaits up to 2 oz. it's the best reel ever made. IMO.

Re: Best Swimbait Reels [Re: 361V] #10845426 05/15/15 02:45 AM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,072
B
Big Swimbait Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
B
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,072
All good choices. But I have really enjoyed my Lews BB2 Pro Wide.


Less gritchin', more fishin'
Re: Best Swimbait Reels [Re: 361V] #10845504 05/15/15 03:26 AM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 72,281
Mark Perry Online Content
Super Freak
Online Content
Super Freak
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 72,281
Daiwa Lexa 300 and Daiwa Tatula 200HD are tough to beat.

Re: Best Swimbait Reels [Re: 361V] #10845750 05/15/15 10:07 AM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 4,724
F
Flippin-Out Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
TFF Team Angler
F
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 4,724
I think the heavy baits will destroy a Revo Winch in time. (I have two of them and won't be throwing swimbaits with them.) The Lexa 300 isn't enough in my opinion, and the 400 is like mounting a brick on the rod. I'll be amazed if a Tatula will hold up over time with the 2+ oz. baits just as with the Winch, and especially with anything over 4. I agree on the Calcutta (but in 400 size) and Luna 300 as good choices. I've started using Quantum EXO 300SPT reels as a swimbait reel. That model weighs in at an amazing 7.5 ounces and holds 200 yards of 20# mono. The EXO 300 has more than just size. The main gear and shaft are brass in the 300, but lighter metal in other models. There is also a ratchet/pawl for anti-reverse in addition to the roller bearing.

Be wary of the Lexa "300" that really isn't a 300 size in my opinion. It weighs 10.5 oz. but holds only 120 yards of 20# mono! (Yet, the Daiwa Luna 300 holds 190 yards of 20# mono.) To be on par with the EXO 300, one must choose the Lexa 400 reel that holds 190 yards of 20# mono. That beast weighs 15.3 ounces! That Lexa "300" seems more like a 200 size; I guess that's one way to make a "300" labeled reel seem better on some specs than a REAL 300 reel.

Will you actually need 200 yards of line to cast? Of course not. But, the casts are long, and with 20# or higher test line, the spool diameter gets small very fast. Keeping the measured line-on-spool diameter as large as possible through-out the cast is desired when casting swimbaits, hence the slant toward reels that will hold a LOT of 20 or 25# test line. Something that only holds 120 yards 0f 20# typically spells trouble, or at least dissatisfaction.

If you want a budget swimbait reel, try a Shimano Cardiff 400A. It's the popular value priced swimbait reel in the west. I have and use two; they are actually decent.

Re: Best Swimbait Reels [Re: 361V] #10845824 05/15/15 11:56 AM
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 52
R
reedaggie10 Offline
Outdoorsman
Offline
Outdoorsman
R
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 52
Ive been throwing big swimbaits (up to 7-8 oz.) for several years and now have three Lexa 300's. While I haven't fished any of the other high dollar reels on the market, I find it hard to believe that you can find a better reel, for the price, on the market. I have not had one single problem (other than user error) with any of them. If you want to spend the money on a more expensive reel, go for it, but I think your best bet is a Lexa 300.

Re: Best Swimbait Reels [Re: 361V] #10846008 05/15/15 01:15 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 820
Viper Rods Offline
Pro Angler
Offline
Pro Angler
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 820
Shimano Calcutta 200b gets my vote





Re: Best Swimbait Reels [Re: Flippin-Out] #10846092 05/15/15 01:38 PM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 172
B
BigTex9 Offline
Outdoorsman
Offline
Outdoorsman
B
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 172
Originally Posted By: Flippin-Out
I think the heavy baits will destroy a Revo Winch in time. (I have two of them and won't be throwing swimbaits with them.) The Lexa 300 isn't enough in my opinion, and the 400 is like mounting a brick on the rod. I'll be amazed if a Tatula will hold up over time with the 2+ oz. baits just as with the Winch, and especially with anything over 4. I agree on the Calcutta (but in 400 size) and Luna 300 as good choices. I've started using Quantum EXO 300SPT reels as a swimbait reel. That model weighs in at an amazing 7.5 ounces and holds 200 yards of 20# mono. The EXO 300 has more than just size. The main gear and shaft are brass in the 300, but lighter metal in other models. There is also a ratchet/pawl for anti-reverse in addition to the roller bearing.

Be wary of the Lexa "300" that really isn't a 300 size in my opinion. It weighs 10.5 oz. but holds only 120 yards of 20# mono! (Yet, the Daiwa Luna 300 holds 190 yards of 20# mono.) To be on par with the EXO 300, one must choose the Lexa 400 reel that holds 190 yards of 20# mono. That beast weighs 15.3 ounces! That Lexa "300" seems more like a 200 size; I guess that's one way to make a "300" labeled reel seem better on some specs than a REAL 300 reel.

Will you actually need 200 yards of line to cast? Of course not. But, the casts are long, and with 20# or higher test line, the spool diameter gets small very fast. Keeping the measured line-on-spool diameter as large as possible through-out the cast is desired when casting swimbaits, hence the slant toward reels that will hold a LOT of 20 or 25# test line. Something that only holds 120 yards 0f 20# typically spells trouble, or at least dissatisfaction.

If you want a budget swimbait reel, try a Shimano Cardiff 400A. It's the popular value priced swimbait reel in the west. I have and use two; they are actually decent.


Really good input here! Adding to this, another critical piece to this is whether you see yourself throwing 3-10oz baits occasionally when the bite is "right", or if you see yourself committing to them and throwing them all day every trip for many years to come. Many people think they will commit until they get a good dose of a 7-8 trip skunk and they just want a bite of any kind. A 400 class Calcutta is going to hold up to the abuse over that kind of timeframe, but you pay for it. I personally have two Curado 300E's, but they seem a little light in the seat for my liking. They've been workhorses so far with alot of hours chunking big baits, but time will be the true test over the next several years.

Re: Best Swimbait Reels [Re: 361V] #10846118 05/15/15 01:43 PM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,746
JPeel Offline
TFF Celebrity
Offline
TFF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,746
A line thru like the rising son, osprey, etc.. doesn't put much stress on a reel so using your normal gear reel isn't going to be an issue. If a revo winch will wear out throwing those baits, it's gonna wear out with anything else. You really have no need for a large 300 or 400 series reel either. That's overkill for the line thru's you're talking about.

My personal preference is the Revo inshore for lighter baits and Revo Toro's for the bigger soft plastic and hard baits. I would recommend that you get away from the winch-slow retrieve speed and use a 5.4 or 6:1 ratio. Slow retrieves are good but being able to catch up to a fast running big fish is a good thing.


the fisherman formerly known as Blu-Ranger....
Re: Best Swimbait Reels [Re: Flippin-Out] #10846224 05/15/15 02:15 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 72,281
Mark Perry Online Content
Super Freak
Online Content
Super Freak
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 72,281
Originally Posted By: Flippin-Out
I think the heavy baits will destroy a Revo Winch in time. (I have two of them and won't be throwing swimbaits with them.) The Lexa 300 isn't enough in my opinion, and the 400 is like mounting a brick on the rod. I'll be amazed if a Tatula will hold up over time with the 2+ oz. baits just as with the Winch, and especially with anything over 4. I agree on the Calcutta (but in 400 size) and Luna 300 as good choices. I've started using Quantum EXO 300SPT reels as a swimbait reel. That model weighs in at an amazing 7.5 ounces and holds 200 yards of 20# mono. The EXO 300 has more than just size. The main gear and shaft are brass in the 300, but lighter metal in other models. There is also a ratchet/pawl for anti-reverse in addition to the roller bearing.

Be wary of the Lexa "300" that really isn't a 300 size in my opinion. It weighs 10.5 oz. but holds only 120 yards of 20# mono! (Yet, the Daiwa Luna 300 holds 190 yards of 20# mono.) To be on par with the EXO 300, one must choose the Lexa 400 reel that holds 190 yards of 20# mono. That beast weighs 15.3 ounces! That Lexa "300" seems more like a 200 size; I guess that's one way to make a "300" labeled reel seem better on some specs than a REAL 300 reel.

Will you actually need 200 yards of line to cast? Of course not. But, the casts are long, and with 20# or higher test line, the spool diameter gets small very fast. Keeping the measured line-on-spool diameter as large as possible through-out the cast is desired when casting swimbaits, hence the slant toward reels that will hold a LOT of 20 or 25# test line. Something that only holds 120 yards 0f 20# typically spells trouble, or at least dissatisfaction.

If you want a budget swimbait reel, try a Shimano Cardiff 400A. It's the popular value priced swimbait reel in the west. I have and use two; they are actually decent.


The Tatula HD has beefier gearing than regular Tatula. It is designed for larger baits. The bonus is its in a 200 sized reel.

That being said you mentioned some great choices so hopefully any prospective customer will research and buy what is best for them.

Page 1 of 2 1 2
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 1998-2022 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3