I'm looking for a conventional swimbait reel so I don't get blowing the gears out of my flipping and pitching reel. I'm looking in that 200 size range to throw some waver 168s gantarels+gantarel Jr's, and of corse Hudson and Hudson style baits like the Castaic baits trout. I have seen good reviews and heard good things about the shimano cardiff for only 120, but also was curious if anyone has experience with the kastking rover, because it's under half the price. Haven't had the best of luck with kastking/piscifun/CDM products but there are some beautiful gems such as my sword2 fly reel and tsurinoya bfs reel.

 

Calcutta ?

 

Calcutta 200b is what I've used for years.  I modded mine a tiny bit with a Curado E series handle and knobs and Carbontex drag.

 

26 minutes ago, Catt said:

Calcutta ?

 

Ya know didn't even think about them, I live in socal coastal region so alot of these are for sale from the Upper rich coastal guys going out for yellowtail n stuff that buy em for one time trips, end up on Craigslist and stuff for $150-200, perhaps may just be better to buy a used Calcutta and buy extra parts if they die

10 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Calcutta 200b is what I've used for years.  I modded mine a tiny bit with a Curado E series handle and knobs and Carbontex drag.

 

Found a Calcutta 100 for 50, and a Calcutta 250 for 80, which would you get, looking for a smaller sized swimbait reel for the swimbaits above, 2-5 oz max, what would you reccomend

40 minutes ago, Catt said:

Calcutta ?

 

this or a 5500c3 Ambassadeur.....both are bulletproof.

The Calcutta 250 is at least 10 years old and used+in salt water will need to be professionally serviced. I owned and the 250 for nearly 20 years, good reel.

I wouldn’t use anything less then a 300 size, the 250 is today’s 300 size reel and good for 2 to 8 oz swimbaits loaded with 165 yards of 25 lb Sunline Armillo.

You need to consider line diameter vs line capacity. Making long casts 50 to 60 yards.

Tom

A 200 size reel would be fine with 20# line, which is what I'd use for those baits listed.

1 minute ago, WRB said:

The Calcutta 250 is at least 10 years old and used+in salt water will need to be professionally serviced. I owned and the 250 for nearly 20 years, good reel.

I wouldn’t use anything less then a 300 size, the 250 is today’s 300 size reel and good for 2 to 8 oz swimbaits loaded with 165 yards of 25 lb Sunline Armillo.

You need to consider line diameter vs line capacity. Making long casts 50 to 60 yards.

Tom

That's good to think about, didn't even think about line capacity, will look for a new 300 size reel or a old 250 in good condition.

The Calcutta D has fine close tolerance gears and very smooth reel, the B has standard gears not as refined.

The Cardiff is a good swimbait reel at the price point. Abu 5000C with low quality Chinese gears and undersized drags, IMO. I used Abu reels for over 30 years and decent reel when made in Sweden.

Tom

 

21 minutes ago, WRB said:

The Calcutta D has fine close tolerance gears and very smooth reel, the B has standard gears not as refined.

The Cardiff is a good swimbait reel at the price point. Abu 5000C with low quality Chinese gears and undersized drags, IMO. I used Abu reels for over 30 years and decent reel when made in Sweden.

Tom

 

Interesting, I have heard quality of abu has gone down

The c3 and up are still great reels...anything retailing cheaper then a c3 is a throw away reel.

 

A calcutta with basic maintenance will last forever...I have a 250 I got new years ago that's still going strong.

The Calcutta 100 doesn't really have the line capacity, 200 & up.

 

If I were to dedicate a reel to swimbaits it would be a Calcutta Conquest.

Conventional Cardif if you want to save money and calcatta Conquest.

Also to just let you know you can go low profile with Shimano TranX300(thats the one I use for baits you mentioned), I never have any problem with 300 size.

44 minutes ago, ATA said:

 you can go low profile with Shimano TranX300(thats the one I use for baits you mentioned), I never have any problem with 300 size.

 

   TranX 300A is a veritable beast!            jj

Get a tranx. You won’t regret it. Great reel for swimbaits.

44 minutes ago, JWall14 said:

Get a tranx. You won’t regret it. Great reel for swimbaits.

been looking at a tranx, Was thinking about it, have heard very good things, price to be honest is setting it apart, there are so many used calcuttas here in california from saltwater anglers, tranx's as well but there is more demand for them than the calcuttas, you can find the cardiffs here almost new for 50-40 bucks if your lucky too.

I’m happy with my Cardiff 200 for medium size swimbait/topwater up to 3oz. I even sometimes use my Curado 200iPG for the same application. I don’t use too big of a line 15 Copolymer and 200 size reel hold plenty. I don’t feel bad to only use these two old reels only a couple times a year. 

 

 

2 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

I’m happy with my Cardiff 200 for medium size swimbait/topwater up to 3oz. I even sometimes use my Curado 200iPG for the same application. I don’t use too big of a line 15 Copolymer and 200 size reel hold plenty. I don’t feel bad to only use these two old reels only a couple times a year. 

 

 

wow that looks super fun! I really need to step up my swimbait game, ive thrown them a few times, looks like your cardiff 200 casts really well, thats awesome to see, Leaning towards the calcutta (if i find a good used deal) or a new cardiff 200, looks like your having fun

I use both the 300D and the TranX 300

A-Jay

 

You're not going to tear up a quality 200 sized reel with those baits. I fished a lot of swimbaits with a 200B Curado for years with no ill effects. 

 

I've got a 300 Cardiff, it'll handle all but the biggest swimbaits. 

Surprised no one has mentioned the Curado 300K. That said ... Calcutta 

I use a Lews super duty wide spool for my swimbaits.

4 minutes ago, Born 2 fish said:

I use a Lews super duty wide spool for my swimbaits.

 

   Yeah ...... and?

 

   Which rod is it on? Which line are you using? How heavy are the swimbaits? How long have you had it? Any downsides to it?

 

   C'mon, man! Out with it! This is a FISHING FORUM!!!!  It's not like we're disinterested third parties here!     ???                             jj

7 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

 

   Yeah ...... and?

 

   Which rod is it on? Which line are you using? How heavy are the swimbaits? How long have you had it? Any downsides to it?

 

   C'mon, man! Out with it! This is a FISHING FORUM!!!!  It's not like we're disinterested third parties here!     ???                             jj

It’s on a Dobyns 795 sb 20 lb big game I’ve been using it 4 years now with absolutely no issues it casts great and holds plenty of 20 lb line. Lures I throw mostly 

s-waver 200s  spro rat 50  8” slammers 6-8 “ bullshads you get the picture.