I am looking for a new baitcaster. I am looking for a higher gear ratio to throw swim jigs. I bought a new Lews Tournament SLP spped spool reel 2 months ago and all the thing does is backlash. I changed lines and dialed it it and was overall not impressed. I don't know if that was just a lemon or usual. I have had numerous baitcasters but haven't been in the market in 5 yrs. Trying to stay under 200 bucks.

Cuardo 70

ABU Revo STX on sale at Cabelas now $129 normally $199 and offer it in 6.41 7.1 and 8.1 ratios

Revo SX in 7:1. Now on sale for 119 everywhere. If you want an 8:1, I love the Lews Tournament MB. I'm a Revo guy, but I have the STX and I'm not wild about it

Buy a used Curado 200e7 and be done with worrying about a reel

I would buy 5 of these right now if I could find some in good condition

Pay a little more and get a Shimano Chronarch. Totally worth the money! The new ones are the real deal.

Hit me up with a pm if you want to sell the Lew's SLP.

I've tried and tried but could never find a reel I liked better than a Garcia 4600c3. They never break down, smooth casting, easy to maintain and I can cast any lure with them. Also use a 5500c3 for large crankbaits and Carolina rigs. Both fit nicely in the palm too.

curado. best longevity for the money

The Curado 70 is hard to beat for $200.

Lews is all that I use now. You probably don't have it adjusted correctly if you are having backlash problems.

+1

2 Daiwa Tatula CTs....the smaller frame compared to original Tatula with t-wing system is a best value compared to others mentioned. 100.00 each!

Backlash is a fact of physics related to the decreasing spool mass and shrinking effective spool diameter as line plays out during the cast. A higher end reel has a spool that is more freely spinning than a lesser product, so it's going to backlash more easily IF NOT PROPERLY ADJUSTED. Everything we do in adjusting a reel to reduce backlash is adding resistance to the spool that would otherwise spin very very freely.

An angler accustomed to a lesser reel often has to tighten down anti-backlash adjustments when moving up to a good reel so that they can get used to the superior free-spin of the better reel. I would venture that incorrect adjustment of settings is the #1 cause of angler's slamming a reel model generally accepted to have good quality - when it's really user error. I also vote that the issue is adjustments....