On 6/21/2021 at 6:06 PM, Glenn said:

If you could get any new baitcasting reel right now - money is no object - what would you get and why?

Why are you holding out on us? Spill.?

On 6/22/2021 at 7:40 PM, J Francho said:

What about deep water would prevent a reel from working?  

If that’s in response to me, I meant if you have 100’ of line or less, you can’t fish in 150’ of water. I also would not make 90’ casts targeting the Legendary Carp that I am planning on catching this summer. (Looks to be 30-40 pounds)

 

16 hours ago, kayaking_kev said:

I'd like to try an Aldebaran MGL 50 or 30.

Get it. One of my favorites. I’m thinking of getting a 30 just for the lighter paint job because the 50 is so awesome. 

Not saying im loaded but if I really wanted a reel Id buy it.  So if I had this choice Id go with something  historical like a reel that caught the world record biggest bass or a bassmaster classic used winning reel.

Shimano Antares, because "Shimano".

Shimano BEASTMASTER......just to see if one could get use to it.

But in reality, no way I pay that.

11 hours ago, YoTone said:

 if I really wanted a reel Id buy it.  

 

One of the Steez variants or the new Zillion. I have a Met B and Bantam. Love them both and the Met B is the best reel I’ve ever handled. But I haven’t thrown any of the high end Diawas. I’ve owned just about every Tatula line and really enjoy the Elite and Coastal. 

I’m looking to try the best daiwa has to offer.  Always looking for the best weightless worm reel.  Right now the aldebaran holds that distinction for

me.  
 

hopefully daiwa can get a few stores some stock sooner than later.  

Diawa Steez A TW, would be nice..?

Since I have never used a $500 or $1,000 reel I couldn't tell you if I like them or not. My favorite reel in my arsenal is my Lew's KVD baitcaster and it's only $139 if you can find them in stick.

 

So I guess I'd get one of those fancy, $1,000 reels if it was free, put it on eBay, then buy some more of the KVD reels and maybe add a Curado or Tatula to see what they are all about.

 

Serious question - aside from price, why is a $500 or $1,000 reel so much better than a $150 reel?

48 minutes ago, Koz said:

Serious question - aside from price, why is a $500 or $1,000 reel so much better than a $150 reel?

Not really a even curve, but a $300 reel is a huge leap over $100 reel.  The $500+ reels aren't that much better than the $300 reels. 

$500 reel and $300 reel - the former has worm-gear ball bearings v. bushings.  

You definitely get a spool improvement on the $300 step.  

@Koz

I dig my Lew's Super Duty's, but these reels will get you down to distance-casting 1/16 oz, while the SV brake will let you cast well over 1 oz with the same reel (and without any adjustment).  

 

3 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

$500 reel and $300 reel - the former has worm-gear ball bearings v. bushings.  

You definitely get a spool improvement on the $300 step.  

@Koz

I dig my Lew's Super Duty, but these reels will get you down to distance-casting 1/16 oz.  

 

The Steez SV is also Magnesium which cost more than aluminum but also 33% lighter on average.

A good slow (5:something) that is left handed. There are not really that many of these reels that I’ve found but I’ll take any one of them ?

After browsing post in this topic, and thinking really hard to come up with my answer, I just realized one thing: I have too many reels; I need to stop.

6 hours ago, Koz said:

Since I have never used a $500 or $1,000 reel I couldn't tell you if I like them or not. My favorite reel in my arsenal is my Lew's KVD baitcaster and it's only $139 if you can find them in stick.

 

So I guess I'd get one of those fancy, $1,000 reels if it was free, put it on eBay, then buy some more of the KVD reels and maybe add a Curado or Tatula to see what they are all about.

 

Serious question - aside from price, why is a $500 or $1,000 reel so much better than a $150 reel?

I bought a couple of the Lews KVD reels in January or February and they're some of my favorites too.

I have 3 met b already and to me there isn’t a better reel regardless of price. It’s only weakness is it doesn’t hold a ton of line. Strong, light, small, casts farther than dc reels and feels great.

Well it’s a moot point now.  My local dealer just placed their Daiwa order and a Zillion G has my name on it.  

Of all the reels I've owned over the past 5 decades, I can think of 3 that "blew me away" and I would buy again:

 

• Steez SV TW. I can load it with 20 lb braid and skip a weightless Senko as well or better than any spinning reel I've had. Never thought I could do that ~
• Daiwa Alphas Air TW. My only venture into the dark BFS world lol. I use this reel to cast 1/16th oz hair jigs and am absolutely amazed how the puff-ball lure just floats through the air effortlessly for 30+ yards. Problem is I get fixated on how fun it is to cast and have to remember I'm trying to catch a fish!
• Tatula Elite. Nothing launches lures farther. As a comparison, I also have a Shimano Chronarch MGL 150 that many think is the farthest casting baitcasting reel. On a scale of 10 for distance, the MGL is a 9 but the Tatula Elite is a 10. I've had to learn not to cast too hard or I launch lures into the upper deck on shore... 

Daiwa Steez CT SV. I have the perfect rod to pair it with, but have yet to pull the trigger. I love my other steez reels and have no doubt the CT will be impressive as well 

Shimano Metanium DC 

 

Since I don’t have a DC baitcaster yet.

Shimano Calcutta 400. If this wasn't limited to baitcasters, then a 1000 or 2000 sized Daiwa Exist. While I technically can afford one, I'd never pay that for a trout/panfish reel. Give me one for free & I'd use it all the time.

On 6/25/2021 at 8:24 AM, LrgmouthShad said:

A good slow (5:something) that is left handed. There are not really that many of these reels that I’ve found but I’ll take any one of them ?

Shimano makes the Curado K (5.0) and the Calcutta D (5.6) in left handed versions. I have the Calcutta D and it's very nice if you like round reels.

Still, most of you guys don't get the imaginary spending OP's imaginary money here.  

Shoot for the stars, like a ZPI Zpride, which is a bench-tuned Metanium

 

or one of Don Iovino's custom Ambassadeurs

 

Always have to wonder why these threads turn into platitudes, but the psychology isn't pretty.  

I would have exactly the same baitcasting reels that I have currently...

 

Because I know myself...

 

Step one: get the baitcaster of my dreams

Step two: decide I need more than one "dream" baitcaster...

Step three: decide I need a few "dream" spinning reels to compliment said baitcasters...

Step four: well, with all those new reels...time for rod upgrades...

Step five: time to upgrade electronics...

Step six: thinking about a new trolling motor...can you say "Ulterra"??

Step seven: time for a new outboard...

Step eight: well hell, while I'm at it...let's just order up a new boat(!)

Step nine: time for a new truck.  Strike that...already driving the "dream" truck

Step ten: Headline: "Man stabbed in neck by wife after unapproved shopping spree"

 

: )