I just got a new Cardiff 300a in the mail. I was going to use it for swimbaits. Right out of the box it wasn't smooth at all and made a bunch of noise. When I shake the reel I can hear stuff moving around inside. Is this normal?

Sounds like something vibrated loose during shipping. If possible return the unused reel to the seller and request it to be replaced with another new reel. If you bought the reel second party, no warranty, you need to take it a good reel technition to be checked and serviced. The Cardiff is a good smooth operating reel, you shouldn't be having any issues with it.

Tom

Sounds like something vibrated loose during shipping. If possible return the unused reel to the seller and request it to be replaced with another new reel. If you bought the reel second party, no warranty, you need to take it a good reel technition to be checked and serviced. The Cardiff is a good smooth operating reel, you shouldn't be having any issues with it.

Tom

It was though tackle warehouse so I will be able to return it. What do you think about the Calcutta B series? Is it worth the extra 80 bucks?

The Calcutta B series doesn't offer a 300 size, closest is the 400B and It's a wide reel. TW has a 30 day trail program, I would call them and ask about it, you could try both the Cardiff and Calcutta, keep the reel want, return the other.

If you look at Matt Newman TW video for Santa Margarita lake II, he is using a Cardiff 301A. And Mike B at Roboworms also uses the same reel, I use the 300A, they are good swimbait reels.

Tom