I have never used a baitcaster and i want to give one a try,but i have no idea what to look for in one. What would be a good one?

Round Abu from Sweden.

The Abu Garcia ambassaduer 5500 is a nice bass reel & the 6500 is great for catfish.

^^YEP^^

If I am bass fishing only, I love my Curado.

Starting off, I would start with an Abu Silvermax or blackmax. They are cheap but good quality. I would string only a couple of casts with of line to learn how to cast and pull out "birds nest". Once you master that, add more line on each new spool. Good luck

H20 XPress Mettle MT2 reel from Sports Academy...high quality and working-man friendly price...

Depending on sales or not $49- $59...

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I learned on an entry level daiwa. Learn on something less expensive. You could prob find a decent used one on here.

You can pick up a used Abu round here for cheap. Later, you can let one of the reel guys on here soup it up for you by replacing the bearings if needed. The old Swedish made Abus are heirloom quality. You actually just missed a great opportunity to grab a really good deal, right here in the classified.

Update: actually you did not miss out. Grab this 5000C, perfect choice for a good deal on a great starter reel that will last a lifetime and take you well past starter reel quality. He has two reels left. I left them for you. I'll still grab them if you don't.

Red 5000 C

I am an Abu man but I tried a Okuma and I really like that as well.

You may also look at the Lews stuff. I got a buddy that has one and likes it.

Thank you sir

This is what I have left:

2013 Record No.50 Silver, in great shape 9.5 cosmetic / 10 mechanical: $110
2005 5000C Original Red, 8.5 cosmetic / 10 mechanical: $35

Lews American Hero bait cast combo. A portion of what you pay goes to help wounded vets.
These things are awesome and you will think you are throwing a $250 rig.
http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/lews-american-hero-610-mh-baitcast-rod-and-reel-combo

I bought whatever was on sale back 15-20 years ago. only reels I have left that still function well are shimano curados and an abu garcia that was my first baitcaster from the 1970s.

I love H20 Xpress Mettles from Academy. I have Curados and Lews and 13 Concepts and what not, but I still mainly use the H20's. They are cheap, cast a mile, smooth, and have life time warranty. If anything on it messes up, they'll exchange it at Academy no questions asked.

Dollar for dollar you can not beat a Abu Garcia Black Max. Really good and cheap. Sometimes Academy will run the combo on sale for $38.00. I have been using mine for years and still works fine. Just have trouble finding my left handed ones. I am right handed but I never understood anyone who would rather throw right handed and switch the reel in hand just to reel right handed.

Make sure that you get a good one. Good does not mean expensive. The Lew's for instance all cast about the same. It'll save you heartaches in the learning curve in trying to cast something that just doesn't cast well. Choose the right rod to pair it up with. The rod ti makes a difference on the castability depending on the lure weight.

good afternoon,

BPS pro quailifier..........set the internal brake at 2 and external at about 3.5, adjust the tension spool and cast away...

i got 6 of 'em..........

good luck,
PURA VIDA,
bluebonnet2

Man, just go with the Curado. If your trying to learn, you might as well learn with a reel that's going to last.

^ x2 Hard to beat a Shimano Curado, they are about 179 in stores, I just found 2 on Facebook fishing group for 100 each. they are on here from time to time around 140 each. you get what you pay for and they will last you a LONG time.

I have a couple of these. They cant be beat for the price.

I've got an H20 Mettle MT2, a Maxim and a Motive. I got the Maxim for my Dad, but he did not adjust to baitcasters. At 84, he's a "spinner."

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I will sell you a new Curado 200i that they are referring to for $120 if you are interested.

If you buy anything on this forum search the user name and make sure you do it in person. Eyes wide open.

Sent you a PM californiabass22

$50 : Daiwa Laguna H20 Mettle

$75 : Pflueger Supreme Daiwa Aird

I have a few older Black max and a silver max I think. Where you located. I will give you one if you are close.


Barry..

I bought a couple Abu Garcia 5000s (red) used back in 1981 for $35 each and they are still a core in my arsenal of fishing rod/reels. Those were some real workhorses. I bought an Okuma (chinese) a couple years ago and really like it. You can back off the tension on the spool on that reel and spin the spool by hand and it will continue to spin for almost 45 seconds! Bad news was a plastic gear that failed (my fault really) and that took contact with Okuma directly to find the replacement part. On the upside, the company representative was great and sent me two new gears for free!

My first was a lews and really like it, but then I bought a Shimano Curado and have had no reason to try any others. I know own 4 Curados and looking to buy another soon....

I think BibGassB says it all with the Curado, buy one and you are done. My Okuma model was just a copy of that Curado!

Another Curado fan chiming in. I own a couple of Revo STX's and an ambassedeur, also good reels. But my new favorites are Shimanos! I think a lot of people on this forum agree.

The Sports Academy H20 Mettle M2 baitcaster, a very nice baitcaster, is on sale again at $39. Get an Ethos rod while there.

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H20

if youre going for a cheaper reel id say the black max, im not an abu fan at all but those arent bad reels. ive been given mettles for gifts and have had everyone of them [censored] out on me within a year and theyre pretty rough. if youre looking for a nicer reel go for lews or shimano

I've always had great luck with ABU Garcia's and love my new Duckett... it's a little pricy but darn worth it. $249.00

Curado +1

What this guy said. My first bait caster was an Abu silver max. And plenty of birdnests later, I've upgraded. But there are still times I take my silver max off the shelve, and take it out fishing. And it still performs like it did on day one, even after taking it saltwater fishing dozens of times.

Some basspro bait casters are good as well, for a decent price tag. I picked up a "Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier Baitcast Reel" on ebay for $50 years a go. Very nice bait caster, for the same price as an Abu silver max, if you don't mind a used reel.

If you are a first time baitcaster user, I would recommend casting a one ounce weight, and gradually go down.
With bait casters, it all depends on the settings, so getting those under control will determine a lot - and in my opinion, it's easier to get it down with heavier lures.

Good luck out there.

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