KK Mega Jaws Elite

 

It's a tie between a Jigging Master and a Daiwa Saltiga. 

my favorite for over 40 years has been and still is the Zebco Cardinal 4. dependable is key word for me.

i've had 4 stradics , never use them.

Most guys would by one of something before committing to the brand and series. 

Why would you have four that you don't use?

Just arrived from Japan (Daiwa 20 Steez AIR TW 500XXH):

Well it's going to be pretty hard to beat my Daiwa Steez SV.

 

If I am going to factor in cost, the Daiwa BG is going to be hard to beat though.

On 5/15/2022 at 3:35 PM, A-Jay said:

Shimano Callcutta 200D ~

Good Line capacity ~ Super solid at 9 ounces

5.7:1 gear ratio with so much power ~ S-Compact Body for useful in-hand comfort

A-Jay

Nice round reel

On 5/15/2022 at 6:39 PM, Bassbuster93 said:

Love that Pflueger.

Don't understand why Pflueger is not making baitcasters

40 minutes ago, dodgeguy said:

Don't understand why Pflueger is not making baitcasters

They have one left - the President XT.

 

I actually wrote them asking about the other lines - specifically the Patriarch (got two now, want more).

Answer back was 'we have no plans to add more series to our baitcasting reels'

 

So it looks like the Pres-XT is it for Pflueger casting reels for the foreseeable future....and only in 7.3:1 (31IPT), right handed.

Shimano Core 101MG. Still my favorite. 

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

They have one left - the President XT.

 

I actually wrote them asking about the other lines - specifically the Patriarch (got two now, want more).

Answer back was 'we have no plans to add more series to our baitcasting reels'

 

So it looks like the Pres-XT is it for Pflueger casting reels for the foreseeable future....and only in 7.3:1 (31IPT), right handed.

I used them for years. They were great. Highly underated. That's a shame.

Casting:  SV103XS and SV103H (also the Megabass IP68)

 

Spinning:  Luvias Airity LT 4000CXH and Certatat LT 4000CXH

My Calcutta conquest 51 custom with floating BFS spool and mag brake.

 My favorite reels for bass fishing are Shimano and Penn spinning reels.

On 5/28/2022 at 7:28 PM, WPCfishing said:

Are you fishing for Bass with the Luvias?

Yes. My drop shot reel.

On 5/15/2022 at 11:59 AM, Bassbuster93 said:

Let's see your favorite reel in your arsonal,old or new and why! 

No dubt my Antares DC 21 Casting

Exsence 3000 Spining

Pitching heavy cover is my favorite way to catch 'em, so I gotta go with my Lew's Super Duty's. They get a steady diet of big hooksets with straight braid, on stout rods, and they take that lickin and keep on tickin. The oldest is on it's 5th season, and it's still smooth and reliable.

24 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

Pitching heavy cover is my favorite way to catch 'em, so I gotta go with my Lew's Super Duty's. They get a steady diet of big hooksets with straight braid, on stout rods, and they take that lickin and keep on tickin. The oldest is on it's 5th season, and it's still smooth and reliable.

Lew's makes good stuff.

9 hours ago, T-Billy said:

Pitching heavy cover is my favorite way to catch 'em, so I gotta go with my Lew's Super Duty's. They get a steady diet of big hooksets with straight braid, on stout rods, and they take that lickin and keep on tickin. The oldest is on it's 5th season, and it's still smooth and reliable.

I have two Super Duty G, oldest is on 5th year in the salt. 

I did need to replace the brake magnets at the onset of salt corrosion. 

You can also see I love the reel enough to decorate it with upgrade parts.  If shallow braid spools were available for it, I probably wouldn't own any other reel. 

They're truly a workhorse with surprising light lure capacity when the spool is loaded for it (big mono backing, thin working line). 

SD also Must be the best value in a reel.  I paid $130 for my first from an ebay vendor, and $144 (shipped) for the second direct from Lew's, who keeps a closeout price going indefinitely (list price is $180).

 

Note, however, they are discontinued (Lew's is putting all their eggs in the ACB basket).  If you want one, now's the time. 

 

I have a couple of reels that will out-distance them - I mentioned my braid-modified Zillion at the light end on the 2nd post of this thread, and ZPI Alcance at the heavy end, but I could have bought 5 more SD for the cost of those 2.   What gives both of those reels an edge is shallow, light spool.  And what gives SD its edge over most others is its clean deep spool (no mass add-ons). 

This is one of my favorite Daiwa reels I own, Daiwa Tatula CT100HS CS. It is a import Tatula version and it just bombs a frog out there like no other. 

I wish I would of purchase half a dozen of them.

 

 

18 hours ago, FishTank said:

Shimano Core 101MG. Still my favorite. 

My newest "favorite" is the Conqust 100, but the Core still rules!

 

 

 

                                               

Just now, roadwarrior said:

My newest "favorite" is the Conqust 100, but the Core still rules!

 

 

 

                                               

 

I have the old US version of the Calcutta TE 101GT. Love this reel for crankbaits.  I found it new in the box recently.  Couldn't believe it.  I have been looking for an excuse to buy the newer, Conquest version.  Maybe next year?

Actually, I still fish the Calcutta TE 100, too. That's a great reel!

1 hour ago, roadwarrior said:

Actually, I still fish the Calcutta TE 100, too. That's a great reel!

 

Just curious.... How does it differ from the new Calcutta?

9 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

Note, however, they are discontinued (Lew's is putting all their eggs in the ACB basket).  If you want one, now's the time. 

Thanks for the heads up. I didn't know that. Shame, they're outstanding. Oddly enough, I find them easier to skip with than the SLP that was designed for skipping. Go figure.

@T-Billy - I'm honestly not surprised.  Mag brake is all you need, especially with a good centrifugal cast.  The ACB shines at starting big weights. 

I embarrassed myself setting up a Team Pro SP for salt ML (embarrassed myself twice that day, let an over-slot redfish get tangled in my drift sock and break off).  When I put the 1/8-oz swim jig on my Super Duty MM, it seemed to cast farther. 

When I got home, I took on the task, reducing the ACB to start-up backlash, and it couldn't catch the Super Duty distance with the same light weight.  I sold the Team Pro SP and a very nice Tournament Pro LFS I had fished once and kept in my kayak back-up box - bought another Super Duty and the Zillion to modify for my braid ML niche.