I'm aware of the spec differences like weight, bearings, material etc. I only bank fish in Central Florida so I typically only have a few places to cast from and almost always am fishing in heavy grass, weeds, etc. I know the Bantam is more ideal for heavy grass, but if the Metanium casts 10ft or so further that could be the difference between me being able to reach my target or not. 

Each and every reel is going to vary from one reel to the next. I had some 18 Bantam's that would cast better than my 20 Mets and my Mets would cast better than a couple of the 18 Bantams. There is really no way to tell.

I have a met20 and 18 bantam. The only thing the Met does better is 1/4 or lower baits. Can't go wrong with either.

If you're fishing in shallow grass and need long casts, that weight can make a All the difference. 

A 1/4-oz neutral-density soft jerk bait (TSL Grasswalker) fishes well in the zone with a slow retrieve. 

If you try throwing a 1/4 oz (or more) jighead, even with fast retrieve, you'll be hauling up a lot of grass. 

The sweet spot may be 1/8 oz jighead, where the reel makes All the difference. 

 

You should be responsible for your own spool bearings, so there aren't any differences from "one reel to the next"

On 5/26/2022 at 12:52 PM, James1 said:

I'm aware of the spec differences like weight, bearings, material etc. I only bank fish in Central Florida so I typically only have a few places to cast from and almost always am fishing in heavy grass, weeds, etc. I know the Bantam is more ideal for heavy grass, but if the Metanium casts 10ft or so further that could be the difference between me being able to reach my target or not. 

What's the lightest total weight you'll be throwing? The newest Bantam has a conical line guide placed farther away from the spool than the '18 which will help reduce friction. MGL spools at 12-14 grams are light enough to deal with most typical baits without issue.

 

The real question is what are your expectations? Bomb casting from shore isn't the same as plinking 50-80 foot casts from a boat. Tuned for max distance with high arc casts a Met or Bantam will launch a lure, but expect to be on your toes. Either reel is not forgiving when brakes are set low near the redline, and they require a fair amount of consistent user input to control them, especially if any wind whatsoever is in the equation. That's just the nature of SVS Infinity braking.