kent_man

Thanks everybody, I made my decision and purchase! Gander mountain actually gave a pretty good deal. They matched Dicks $20 off $100 online orders coupon in store, they even one upped it and let me split my purchase into two transactions and I got $20 off the reel and $20 off the rod, the rod had a rebate that they couldn't find so the took another $10 off. I went with the Lew's Tournament Pro, got it for $129.99! They didn't have the 7.1 so I settled for the 6.4, I hope I don't regret that.

Thanks everybody for your responses. It seems I can't go wrong with any of these, I may swing by and get a hold of each of these reels one more time then try to decide.

What online retailers would you suggest? I have seen that Tatula cheaper on eBay, but I would like to avoid auction sites if possible. I have been burnt too many times on eBay and don't care to give them my business.

Could you elaborate?

I do plan on casting as well, may use the fleuger for pitching and flipping.

Care to elaborate as to why?

I know this gets asked all the time, I have searched and read through various forums, but a lot of posts are either dated or not specifically comparing the reeels I am at the price I could buy them. I'm comparing the Tatula 7.3 ($129.99) to the Lews Tournament Pro Speed Spool 7.1 ($139.99) to the Chronarch 200e7 ($159.99) My upper price limit is really $150, but the chronarch is on sale for $40 off, if this reel happens to be the best I could over spend. I am not interested in the curado at $179.99 so that's why it isn't in the running. I am looking for an all around reel for kayak fishing, but I'm going to be setting this up on a 7'6" Heavy extra fast rod for flipping pitching and frogging, but may fish it other ways too. I have one other baitcaster a Fleuger Supreme that uses centrifugal brakes. I really havent used it all that much, my go to setups have generally been spinning rods. I was pretty much sold on the Tatula, but I was watching a few videos and there seems to be an excess of plastic parts. From actually holding and looking at it I would say the drag star appears to composite or plastic. I didn't noticie while holding it, but apparently the spool tensioner and handle nut are plastic. I'm not sure if this matters or if I should care. This reel is the newest of the three not sure if that is good or bad. I like the idea of the T-wing system and externally adjustable brakes. The Lew's Tournament Pro seems like it is high quality from the exterior, metal components, carbon fiber reel handle. I know they use more bearings, but I'm sure they aren't as good as Shimano's or Daiwa's from what I've heard of course. Exterior looks to be higher quality than the Tatula, not sure that it is though. Grew up with low end Shimano and Daiwa, never a Lew's though. The Chronarch looks to be of high quality as well. I have read that the chronarch is just a painted older curado and people complained. But is it the curados that were coveted and regarded as amazing? Personally I like the feel of this better than the new curado I. I would rather it had externally adjusted brakes, but my other baitcaster you have to open up so not huge deal. It just seems like you can super fine tune the others. This reel I believe is made in Japan, which I know used to be a big deal not sure if it still matters. The sale ends tonight for the Tatula and the Lew's, the Chronarch goes back up on the 26th I believe. Thanks in advance guys!