What are the things you wouldn't do with the aldebaran and why? I have a MET Mgl, a chronarch mgl, and curado DC and the aldebaran and I really love this little reel. I'm just wondering you guys thoughts on what it can't go. I believe the drag is just about the same as all the standard best shimano freshwater reels. 

 

1. Too low of weight to balance a heavier rod? 

I don't have one.  I want one.  I see it more as a soft plastic/feel bait reel as opposed to a reaction bait reel.

7 hours ago, Fishes in trees said:

I don't have one.  I want one.  I see it more as a soft plastic/feel bait reel as opposed to a reaction bait reel.

This is how it serves me. The small profile makes contact bait fishing very efficient. Moving baits work fine, too. I just don't care for the feel of the aluminum gears that comes with this technique. I hear of guys using these for heavier apps with no problem.

It might not balance on a big heavy rod, but imo there's nothing it "can't" do. It's my favorite reel.

It is a great all around reel. For almost everything.But I would not use it in deep water. Once adjusted properly, you can cast to the end of the small spool on the 50. It doesn’t have the spool capacity for 150’ deep and very large fish.

It won’t save you any money.

I have all of the reels you listed, except the Curado DC, and the Aldebaran is my favorite of the 3. The "limiting factor" in my opinion is the line capacity, so things that require a ton of line would be the only downfall. I'm not sure I'd really want to use it for heavy baits either, but that's probably more of a mental thing than anything

Its line capacity is a pro and a con. I love how lightweight it is and wanted to use it for everything but found its limit - frogging at distance. Using 50lb PP braid, I often cast almost all the line off the spool. After cutting off and retying a few times, it's worrying when I see the metal of the spool at the end of a cast. For everything else, even punching, I wouldn't mind using it but distance frogging gets a no from me. 

3 hours ago, Khoa Vu said:

Its line capacity is a pro and a con. I love how lightweight it is and wanted to use it for everything but found its limit - frogging at distance. Using 50lb PP braid, I often cast almost all the line off the spool. After cutting off and retying a few times, it's worrying when I see the metal of the spool at the end of a cast. For everything else, even punching, I wouldn't mind using it but distance frogging gets a no from me. 

Using smackdown helps due to its small size 

1 hour ago, Cheif250 said:

Using smackdown helps due to its small size 

PowerPro 50lb - .370mm

Seaguar Smackdown 50lb - .360mm

 

don't think it will help much. retie a few times and you're toast. I tried adding leaders too and casting with 50lb leader knot is not fun. 

9 hours ago, Cheif250 said:

Using smackdown helps due to its small size 

Seaguar uses JDM line ratings. Stated test is lower than USDM. Diameter is what counts, not stated breaking strength.

Core a apple...

On 6/5/2019 at 11:49 AM, LxVE Bassin said:

It won’t save you any money.

But switching to Geico may.

I bought one about 4 or 5 months ago, added some braid and slapped it on to a punch rod. Unfortunately, never got out to even use it. LOL! The more I think about it, I will just stick to my 201e7 for that application. I'll probably end up getting an Expride frogging/pitching rod and put the Aldebaran on that.