I would have to disagree with "best worm reel ever designed". Maybe best closed face reel but not best worm reel ever. Many bait casters are way better.

Those are some high dollar reels there! That Core really looks sharp. How do you like the Calcutta? Only round reel I ever had was an old school Ambassadeur 5500c. What do you use yours for?

It works fairly well as a big Carolina Rig casting 3/4-1 ounce weights. The Digital Control braking helps make long casts. It weighs 10.2 ounces so it's a bit heavy. Can't buy them anymore. They came before the Calais 200DC which were only about an ounce lighter but low profile. I have 8 of those Calais's. Can't buy them anymore either save ebay.

Lew's Tourney Pro LFS, works great for me.

Favorite 2 reels of all time- Daiwa zillion type r and Shimano metanium mgl.....

I have always wanted to try a reel with the digital braking. None of the reviews out there seem to say anything negative about those reels equipped with it. Those are a bit out of my price range at the moment, but maybe if I come across a good enough deal on a used one I could get the chance to try it out.

I have a Curado DC. $250. I would rather have another Chronarch for $279. The Chronarch has a much better feel in my hand. I hate trying to pitch with the Curado , I can't get my thumb where it needs to be for that much repetition. The DC will backlash if you make a bone headed cast just like any reel. If you make a good cast and leave your thumb off the spool and watch the bait hit the water, you will probably only get a few loose coils. I don't fish that way, my thumb is always on the spool , and I only backlash if I make a bone headed cast, like pushing the distance into the wind or a low probability side arm under the overhanging tree branches. The DC will blow up trust me. I like my spool loose for a few reasons.

It would be a good choice for someone that can't or doesn't want to take the time to learn thumb control.

Because the proper set up has the spool free wheeling with zero spool tension, It will backlash like any reel set up with no spool tension anytime is is freewheeling and too slow for the DC to kick in. On my other reels I set with a loose spool but I have the option to adda little tension for whatever I am doing, not practical with the DC, it takes some time to get it set back proper.

Long winded, but I hate for anyone to spend $250 not really understanding the negative side to DC.

Actually we do agree on this - closed face spin casting reels is what I meant since they hadn't been posted. I said it clumsily. They still are the champion worm reel in that genre imo.

Awesome video 1956 - Educating and well worth using the (my) ol' standard Zebco's. I still have many Zebco reels even before the perennial 33's. Remembering in 77 when caught a 7# ray off 61st in Galveston with a worm rod. Lot of folks total surprised even when cinching the drag to bring the ray up due to no net/gaff.

Even have the original 101 with green reel and combo rod. Saving that for grandson's collection.
Gonna be checking out your tutorials. Lucky to have found these. Take care and may God bless !!

Thanks for that - and what a great gift to pass on! For light overhaul and just general clean up a search for - "Grandpa's Zebco 33" with my name (Matt Mattson) will keep one running for generations (many already have run for generations) and if anything heavier is needed:
Zebco 33 Gear Removal Vid will do it. God Bless and good fishing to you (and everyone for that matter)!

My favorites would be ( No specific order)
Curado
Chronarch
Core
Aldebaran
Metanium
Lews Super Duty
Revo Winch
Daiwa Zillion
Crazy Cranker
For a spinning reel I prefer the Stradic.

Just got a Shimano Scorpion MGL 7.4-1. I really like it so far, great casting distance and really smooth.

Shimano Bantam MGL
Chronarch MGL
Curado

I have a couple Metatanium DC’s and really like them. For spinning, I use Shimano Stradic Ci4+ reels

Good to know, guess I’ll be avoiding getting one then. The MGL looks like a super nice reel, those do look a lot better for only $30 more.