Hey guy, I'm trying to decide on one of 3 reels for tossing swimbaits from 1-6 oz. on 25lb mono

My 3 top picks:

Daiwa Lexa 300

Shimano Curado 300 E

Quantum EXO 300 PT

Which one should I get? I'm leaning towards the lexa as it is only $200 but the exo is a lot lighter.

Is there a chronarch 300e or did you mean curado 300e? I would say lexa cause all of those reels can throw really far and daiwa will last long and not cast as much. My second choice would be the shimano cause it is more durable then the lexa but it is more expensive..

What rod will this going on?  Just to let you know that the Lexas have a big foot and may have an issue fitting on your reel seat.  Just a FYI, well the 300 series maybe different..the 100 series has problems fitting on some of my rods from different manufacturers.  Are you talking about the Curado 300E?  I hear good things about that reel, so I'd probably choose this reel.

Is there a chronarch 300e or did you mean curado 300e? I would say lexa cause all of those reels can throw really far and daiwa will last long and not cast as much. My second choice would be the shimano cause it is more durable then the lexa but it is more expensive..

What rod will this going on? Just to let you know that the Lexas have a big foot and may have an issue fitting on your reel seat. Just a FYI, well the 300 series maybe different..the 100 series has problems fitting on some of my rods from different manufacturers. Are you talking about the Curado 300E? I hear good things about that reel, so I'd probably choose this reel.

my mistake, meant curado. Edited my post. The rod will be an okuma 7' 6" Heavy guide select big bait rod.

I vote for the curado 300, look for them used and they'll be around $200. Hell of a good reel

I have been heading so many good things about the lexas. A lot of swimbait fishermen use the lexas. If you want, you can get a Shimano Cardiff 300 which is $119. That way you could get more swimbaits and have a tank of a reel.

I use a Toro Winch for my big bait fishing. I found it new on ebay for about $200. If I hadn't found it, I would have gotten the Curado. The Lexa wasn't out at the time. I wouldn't worry too much about reel weight for the simple fact that the rod is going to be tip heavy. A little added weight at the reel will help balance things out.

No matter what brand of reel your wanting to mount on the rod........

The smart thing to do would be to take the rod with you  and mount the reel on it before you by, to see first hand how the system will feel in your hands...

 

Tight Lines 

I have a 300e on my swimbait setup.  There are quite a few guys on here with your exact rod though, so I am sure one will chime in soon enough.....

 

Jeff 

I have the Lexa 300, throw everything from muskie baits to frogs with it.  Really a versatile piece of kit.  I hunted online and found it for 150+ship and had it price matched at a local Scheels.  Wouldn't trade it unless someone gave me retail+

Between those three, the 'Rado.

 

The problem with running 25# line on 300 size reels is that at the end of a long cast, your reel is half-spooled; and that cuts down on IPT. That Okuma might have a hard time throwing a 6 oz bait too. It tops out at the ROF5 hudd (~4 ozs).

Between those three, the 'Rado.

The problem with running 25# line on 300 size reels is that at the end of a long cast, your reel is half-spooled; and that cuts down on IPT. That Okuma might have a hard time throwing a 6 oz bait too. It tops out at the ROF5 hudd (~4 ozs).

I may end up getting the 7'11" H. Should I throw 65lb braid? I don't want any breakoffs and using mono for expensive swimbaits worries me.

In the musky world all those reels I see are popular... I bought the toro winch 60.. I see a lot of guys love the Abu Garcia NaCl in 5.4 hear ratio...

$200+ on your first baitcaster when youre not even sure if youre going to like it?.. why?

 

and 65lb braid for muskie?.. i have to ask, do you actually know how to fish?

$200+ on your first baitcaster when youre not even sure if youre going to like it?.. why?

and 65lb braid for muskie?.. i have to ask, do you actually know how to fish?

What did you read that led you to believe this was his first baitcaster or that he was musky fishing? You might want to tap the brakes a bit.

I just got a Revo Toro for the Bull Shad.  Love it.  

Curado 300

I may end up getting the 7'11" H. Should I throw 65lb braid? I don't want any breakoffs and using mono for expensive swimbaits worries me.

 

If I were you, I'd 

1. buy a 400 size reel if I was planning to fish 8"+ baits more than smaller baits (a bigger reel can throw smaller baits on heavy (25#) line if the rod loads up correctly.

or, 2. buy a 300 size reel and spool with 15# or 20# mono

or, 3. if I had to fish braid- I don't like braid- I'd spool at least 80 lb braid AND tie a leader on to prevent possible cast offs.

 

Good luck.

 

P.S. Apparently there's a lexa 400 in the works.

I fish that rod with a Calcutta 300D on it.

 

I like it.

 

A-Jay

 

I may end up getting the 7'11" H. Should I throw 65lb braid? I don't want any breakoffs and using mono for expensive swimbaits worries me.

Trust me, you want to use mono. I use 25# Berkley Big Game and it is so smooth on a cast. + When you backlash, you won't lose your baits like you will with braid.

I may end up getting the 7'11" H. Should I throw 65lb braid? I don't want any breakoffs and using mono for expensive swimbaits worries me.

i'd just love to see you or anyone for that matter break off a bass on 25lb mono. i cant even break it when i snag up on something when catfishing. and it handles nice stripers with ease for me. normally if i get snagged, i will end up bending the hook before i break the line on 25lb mono...

I don't know how 65# braid is, but I can tell you 30# braid will snap a 1/2 oz. jig off easy as pie if the line wraps around the end if the rod.