Hey Everyone! I have been looking for a workhorse reel to pair with a heavy rod. I am trying to decide between The 13 Fishing Concept A2 with 25 lbs. drag at $180, the Shimano Curado 200K with 22 lbs. drag at $180, or the Bruin Outdoors ELS Legend Series reel with 22 lbs. of drag at $180. All three reels have some of the highest amounts of 5 star reviews I have ever seen a reel get. All three are buttery smooth with high end components. The Curado is notoriously famous for being amazing, but the Bruin has some features that are hard to find in some $400 reels. I would love to hear your suggestions. Thanks!

I don't see the need for reels with that much top-end drag unless you're surf-fishing for salt-water stripers.

 

I don't think I've ever set my drag above 8#-10# - and that's when punching into heavy cover with 50# braid...most times I'm set at 3#-5#.

 

Added top-end drag really doesn't give you anything for bass fishing.

Curado 300K > Curado 200K

 

Where are you getting those drag figures from?? 

 

200K = 12lbs

300K = 22lbs

LJ,

 

Why do you have it in mind that very high drag numbers are that important? Real question.

Oh. Ok. I thought that heavy drag would be good for pulling bass out of heavy grass so I don't have line slipping out of the reel. Are those reels still good choices???

2 hours ago, garroyo130 said:

Curado 300K > Curado 200K

 

Where are you getting those drag figures from?? 

 

200K = 12lbs

300K = 22lbs

 

Oh, I must have mixed em' up. Oops!

TranX 300/400 sizes are what you looking for.

15 minutes ago, LunkerJunky said:

I thought that heavy drag would be good for pulling bass out of heavy grass so I don't have line slipping out of the reel.

When the weeds and pads are in full bloom it doesn't get any worse than where I fish. Never had a problem pulling any fish out of the junk using single disk drag Daiwas like a Fuego or a Tat CT/SV. They aren't the last word in published or tested drag numbers, but are quite up to the task for bass fishing. I've locked down the drag and pulled in logs using them with heavy braid that wouldn't break. Don't sweat published drag figures.

3 hours ago, LunkerJunky said:

I have been looking for a workhorse reel to pair with a heavy rod.

Exactly which baits will you be throwing?

There isn’t a fresh water bass rod that can withstand 10 lbs of lifting force. Try lifting a gallon jug of water with your rod, that is 8 lbs.

Tom

7 minutes ago, WRB said:

There isn’t a fresh water bass that can withstand 10 lbs of lifting force. Try lifting a gallon jug of water with your rod, that is 8 lbs.

Tom

Just make sure it's a rod you don't care too much about.

Those high drag numbers are there just to look good on paper.  A standard 10# drag on lockdown isn't going to budge unless you do some weird crap like hook setting with your whole body and heaving the fish into the boat all in one rod endangering motion.  This is a thing people do now because they saw it on TV or so they don't have to bend over or something.  If you are doing this then maybe a higher drag number will benefit you.  Even then a 13# drag should be more than enough for this.... behavior.

3 hours ago, LunkerJunky said:

Hey Everyone! I have been looking for a workhorse reel to pair with a heavy rod. I am trying to decide between The 13 Fishing Concept A2 with 25 lbs. drag at $180, the Shimano Curado 200K with 22 lbs. drag at $180, or the Bruin Outdoors ELS Legend Series reel with 22 lbs. of drag at $180. All three reels have some of the highest amounts of 5 star reviews I have ever seen a reel get. All three are buttery smooth with high end components. The Curado is notoriously famous for being amazing, but the Bruin has some features that are hard to find in some $400 reels. I would love to hear your suggestions. Thanks!

Ok.  One reel is plastic and another one is some chinease thing.  I would scratch those two off the list right away but that is me.  The Curado 200k is an excellent reel but you might want to cross shop it with the 150 MGL.  

Shimano Calcutta 100A, Max drag  9.5 lbs

 

35 double digit bass from heavy cover without locking the drag down.

 

 

In theory, high drag number should be matched with high strength gears; that's what "heavy duty reel" means IMO.  But in reality, that's almost never the case with today's many reel brands.  Without a rigid frame, a strong gear set, and other parts, high drag only means worn/damaged gears in a short time period. 

The Curado will be the safest bet out of the 3 of them. Love my Tatula 150 on a heavy rod though. 

What are ya trying to accomplish?

 

If you're wanting move big bass out of cover a heavy duty reel ain't necessary. 

 

The only time I would use a heavy duty reel is throwing big swimbaits. The reason being line capacity.

 

For bass fishing 50-100 series reels are more than adequate to land any bass that swims.

 

I don't care what Joe Pro tells you locking your drag completely down is totally unnecessary!

I would think the new Curado K 300 would be best bang for the buck for a heavy duty reel 

Ok. Thanks everyone for the feedback I will probably try out the Curado 200k or the Daiwa Tatula 150. Thanks!

The "toughest" most "heavy duty" casting reels" made are Shimano Calcuttas.  I have an old Calcutta 200 that I have owned for years.  I've caught everything on it from bass to 30 pound snook and 150 pound tarpon.  You could winch your boat on the trailer with that thing.   I never use a drag when bass fishing.  I hammer it down and free spool if I need to. Drags are for serious pulling fish.   

 

15 hours ago, WRB said:

There isn’t a fresh water bass rod that can withstand 10 lbs of lifting force. Try lifting a gallon jug of water with your rod, that is 8 lbs.

Tom

Obligatory Ugly Stik comment. I remember seeing a video of a guy attempting to break one, I think he did the gallon jug thing if I recall correctly. 

 

Not that you actually want a GX2 mind you. 

The Curado is a solid choice for sure. I'll submit another solid choice. I've been very happy with my Lew's Super Duty G's for heavy cover, heavy line techniques. My oldest one is starting it's 5th season, and is still smooth. It's spent it's entire life on a flippin stick and is my most used reel.