Combos

What reels would you pair with the following rods. I would prefer Shimanos and want to keep it below $300.00 a reel. I’m leaning towards chonarchs and 1 Stradic CI. Let ‘er rip and Thanks.

DC735, frogs and swimbaits
DC744, jigs and C rig
DC705: glass, med cranks, J/B
DC702, wacky, D/S

I've got Chronarch MGL's for all of those techniques. They do everything well. The only exceptions are my square bill and jerk bait rods. I use the SLX and SLX XT on those. Cast well, built well, solid reel for the price and ya don't need to spend a pretty penny for chuckin and winding. My two cents.

The Shimano SLX is an awesome reel.

SLX or Curado DC's

Appreciate the input guys. Tough decision between the DC and Chronach.

slx reels a nice smooth reel for 100.00

Chronarch MGL over the DC all day.

Great choice with the Cronarchs. Easily upgraded now, thanks to Academy H2O 110 mm 30ton Carbon fiber handles with 4 bearings.

I have been trying to decide what to pair with my DRX 755C but haven't nailed it down!

"ya don't need to spend a pretty penny for chuckin and winding. My two cents."

Please explain for guys like me that are not so gear savvy. My best reel is a Chronarch and it is on my Topwater rod because that is my favorite technique and the technique I feel requires the most accurate cast and the one that a backlash or lost bait is going to make me cuss the most. My cheapest reel is a BPS Pro Qualifier , $49 on sale, on my Pitching and Flipping stick. I set it up real loose and it works well for me as far as getting the jig where I want it, now getting em to bite is a different story !!

Just curious what technique you feel merits using your best reels?

I know guys like Mr Harper and Mr Perry will say they use the same reel on everything, but some of us have a variety of brands, and a collection of cheap junk to the best they could afford at the time the gear junkie impulse hit us. Thanks

My absolute best reels(Steez’s)go on the presentations that use the lightest line. I want the best, most consistent drag on those setups. I have the micro module geared reels (my Cronarchs and Curados) on baits that are cast, reel, repeat. I have the tanks(Team Lews Pros) on the heavy and extra heavy rods.

For me, when I'm cranking or throwing a jerk bait I'm either throwing a 1/2 ounce or heavier crank bait and the jerk baits are well designed to pierce wind and are heavy enough so that, on a well suited rod for those techniques you can launch those baits as far as you need to with a "cheap" reel. If you're fishing small baits then you may need to pony up on better reels that can throw lighter baits farther but for me I don't have that issue. I also like to power fish first and foremost and those SLX reels just fit great and feel great in my hand. The Chronarchs are just a tad bigger.

Agreed. DC's will cast to infinity and beyond but I just don't like the giant reel handle, personally. Have had it for about a year and it's still weird every time I fish with it.

Steez - do these handles work on the Curado E7's? I lucked into a batch of 20 brand new ones about 2 years ago and its all I have but have had some of my older ones have the knobs "melt" away and need to replace the handles.

Don’t know for sure. I bet they would. If not, Academy also sells the Lews cork/rubber combo handle knobs by themselves as well. They come with two bearings per knob as well. The packaging says “fits Shimano Curado and SLX”, but I put them on chronarchs as well. No issue.

What's the purpose of the retrofit handles? Are they lighter? Smoother? Just curious.

I had them on 1 of my old curados. For me it was all about extra grip.

I bought a bunch of dobyns a few years back and I personally pair them with Shakespeare and Zebco reels. The quality and durability in these reels is unmatched for the price, highly recommend either reel.