I will use it mostly for spinner and buzz baits/heavy topwater.  Is the BPS Johnny Morris Carbonlite good?

There are so many choices. The carbonlites aren't bad, but for your price range you can do better IMHO. A used Curado would be my first choice followed by a Lew's TP. The new generation Citicas are also nice and are machined in a factory with newer equipment, thus having tighter tolerances. 

Another vote for a Curado.

For $160 U can get a new curacies or a lews tourney pro off eBay.

Look at Lew's Tournament MG.

Super smooth, well built.

130.00

For $160 U can get a new curacies or a lews tourney pro off eBay.

who makes curacies?

who makes curacies?

Apparently that's my phone's auto correct for Curado. my mistake.

i would look on ebay for a lews Touranment Pro

If you look around you can find the Tournament Pro from Lew's for around $125.00 or their Tournament for around $100.00, either one of these reels are best bang for your buck candidates,,,,, and both have Magnetic and Centrifugal braking,,,   If you are patient for $165.00 to $175.00, slightly more than your preferred budget you can get the Team Lew's Gold, and after 4 of them I can safely say, "you wont buy a better reel for twice that amount"!!! The Tournament was the reel that caused me to sell all my Shimanos and go all Lew's on low profile reels, I am even more convinced today, over two years later, this was the right move for me!!  I think you can buy reels as good as Lew's,,,,they just seem to cost much more???

I'd also recommend the BPS Pro Qualifier over the JM Reel.  You can use the money you saved on new line/lures.

When do you need the reel by? If you're not in a huge rush for them, I'd wait to see what new reels icast has to offer before jumping onto anything. The recommendations made to you are fine, but it's always nice to see what other new options you have!

Just saw some Lew's at a tackle shop today. Man says they selling more then other brands they have. This time around I am using gift card for basspro my wife gave me, do not think they sale the Lew reel.

Just saw some Lew's at a tackle shop today. Man says they selling more then other brands they have. This time around I am using gift card for basspro my wife gave me, do not think they sale the Lew reel.

When do you need the reel by? If you're not in a huge rush for them, I'd wait to see what new reels icast has to offer before jumping onto anything. The recommendations made to you are fine, but it's always nice to see what other new options you have!

Real soon, that was my onky baitcaster.

A couple questions, is a 7:1 ratio to much fir spinner or buzz bait. I relative new at understanding right ratios

What is differences between curado vc citica.

Well, I think it's somewhere along the lines of 2 weeks until iCast. Your call.

Gear ratios for spinnerbaits and buzzbaits depends on what you plan on doing with these baits.

I find 7:1 it's quite easy to keep baits up on the surface, but if you plan on slow rolling a spinnerbait across the bottom, I prefer a slower reel. Burning spinnerbaits works on the good days, and a 7:1 will make it easier, but slowing down I find pretty hard. With a 6:1 gear ratio it's not bad to slow roll baits, but speeding it up on a day where they are chasing becomes quite tiring. In other words, both works - it just depends what you're more comfortable with.

Good luck in your search.

Well, I think it's somewhere along the lines of 2 weeks until iCast. Your call.

Gear ratios for spinnerbaits and buzzbaits depends on what you plan on doing with these baits.

I find 7:1 it's quite easy to keep baits up on the surface, but if you plan on slow rolling a spinnerbait across the bottom, I prefer a slower reel. Burning spinnerbaits works on the good days, and a 7:1 will make it easier, but slowing down I find pretty hard. With a 6:1 gear ratio it's not bad to slow roll baits, but speeding it up on a day where they are chasing becomes quite tiring. In other words, both works - it just depends what you're more comfortable with.

Good luck in your search.

Is icast a sale at basspro??

Hi,In my humble opinion,Pro Qualifier,berkley L.R Shock and your out the door  for @150.00 For top water,7.1-1.

Is icast a sale at basspro??

No Icast is a Manufacturers' Expo........kind of like an auto show........and last years gear will be on clearance along with all the new "bling" they will be showing off for this year.  It's in Las Vegas this year in about a month, but could be wrong.

ICAST 2013 starts July 9th i believe.

Plenty of good suggestions, let me add the Daiwa Lexa. Solid reel, casts very light baits, Daiwa quality. Can be had from $100-115 from reputable eBay sellers.

If you want to take a chance like I did, find a Shimano Chronarch E series on eBay. You could win a bid around $150... I use my chronarch for almost everything I used a spinning setup for.

I've tried a Lexa 100 and its pretty solid. Usually I stay away from Daiwa and Shimano's low end stuff although the top end stuff is unbeatable.

That being said I'd go used Curado or Chronarch. A used Quantum Smoke or a used Abu Garcia Revo is also a good choice IMO. All reels I have used and approve of.

Another vote for Lews. I have a Lews Tournament in 6.4:1 ratio with 12lb seagur invisx fluorocarbon and love it. Great for spinnerbaits, topwater and crankbaits, the 6.4:1 is 3 inches per turn less than the 7.1:1 so you can still burn a lure but it's a little easier to slow fish a lure.

I wanted something asap so I went with chronarch.

I wanted something asap so I went with chronarch.

Best bait caster I've ever used. You will love the Chronarch.