Hey all!

 

I am new to this forum, pike fisher from the Netherlands, and would like to use your extensive knowledge on bass reels.

 

For my light nothern pike rod (casting weight 1/2 to 2 oz), i am searching for a low profile reel. I have a curado 301e on my heavier jerkbaitset, great reel, but for this rod I am looking for something lighter and smaller. Budget between 100 and 160 dollars.

 

The baits I will cast will be between 1/2oz and 2 oz and will include jerkbaits and spinnerbaits (which normally demand a lot of a reel). I will use braid of around 30lb.

 

I was first thinking on buying a lexa 100 in 6.3 ratio. I guess great value for the money. After extensive internet searches I found out about Lew's reels, which are very popular. I almost bought the praised Tournament Pro, but then I realized that the tournament MG and Super Duty might be better for the "heavier" lures i would like to cast. The BB1 looks also good. 

 

What would be the best reel for me? Other suggestions are also welcome.

 

Looking forward to your reactions! tween

 

 

Welcome to the forum.  My Tournament Pro does a very good job with 1/2 oz. spinnerbaits on a MHF bass rod.  No experience with the other Lews.  They do get great reviews, tho.

 

New I can't help you, but used I can give a couple suggestions.  For a bit more money I would highly recommend a used Zillion.  The Chronarch 100/101B would make a great reel, and can be found withn your budget.  I feel one of the older Cabela's Prodigy (the gray one) might work as well.  These were (and still are) made for Cabela's by Daiwa.  Mine feels as solid as a tank.  The Daiwa HSTA (Prodigy is very similar) is reported to be a workhorse reel.  One of a few Daiwas I don't have.....yet. 

 

I feel that the Pflueger line doen't get the respect it deserves.  For the weights you are using, the lowly Trion would cast them a mile.  It has an aluminum frame, but a graphite side plate.  DVT cleaned an older one for me, and I have to say it casts great and is quite smooth on the retrieve.  A $100 reel currently on sale for $70 at Cabela's.  There are 2 wide spool models for holding more line if that is important to you.  No idea how the sideplate would hold up to your pickeral, but I don't foresee any problem with the size bass I will be catching on it.  Of course, the Patriarch would suit you better, and probably could be found within your price range on ebay.  Doesn't have the line capacity of the Supremes and Trion, tho.

I am very happy with my Lew's Super Duty!!! Extremely lightweight with plenty of power for Northern Pike and Muskie, I can't imagine another reel this size equaling the efficiency of this super strong, super smooth, and long casting machine. I am glad I made this switch! I took it on a Salmon Trip and although the drag was a little light for these tanks (W/both reels) in swift current it and a Calcutta 400B shared the duty of landing some real tanker's!!! It was a lot more fun with the much smaller Super Duty, but was a "reel test" and the largest fish of the trip was landed with the Super Duty. Even big Northern Pike are no problem with this reel. 

Abu garcia Revo toro. I throw huge baits on these for musky and they hold up awesome.. Otherwise look into the abu garcia stx. 

Abu garcia Revo toro. I throw huge baits on these for musky and they hold up awesome.. Otherwise look into the abu garcia stx. 

Doubt either can be found new in the OP's price range...a new Winch is, but the 5.4:1 ger ratio might be slower than he'd want.  A used STX for sure can be gotten for less than $150, and would work well.  I use an STX Gen 1 with 40# braid for fishing the slop when I visit Florida.  Very nice reel.  A Gen 2 will have dual braking...Gen 1 has magnetic braking.

 

Couple nice fish there, Capt Bob. 

I would think it's the round Garcia crankbait reel. I have two bait caster setups using this round Garcia reel. To me it's heavier duty over the low profile bait casters.

Thanks for all your replies thus far! Nice photo Capt. Bob!

 

I am looking at a lefthanded reel, with a 6.4-7 gear ratio. The toro (which is the same size as my curado 301e) and round abu reels (have several of them) are to big for my taste. The STX looks very nice (and light!), but why is this reel more suitable for "heavier" applications then other bass reels?

 

I will look into the Pflueger reels as well. For now I am leaning towards a Lew's Super Duty ratio 6.4.

Since you got a 301E curado, look into the used 201E curados. I have used one for years and recently became my 2oz crankbait reel and is still strong, real workhorse. You can also upgrade the drag to carbontex

 

There is one in the Flea Market section here, I don't know if the guy is willing to ship to the Netherlands but it's worth a shot.