As a newbie to bass fishing, i had to familiarize myself with rod brands, actions, lengths and powers and understand where rods shine and the applications and limitations, pros and cons within.  I think i have a good understanding of that now so thank you to the kind people who have helped me thus far.

Now i need some help when it comes to reels. I am still not clear on understanding the power and strengths of certain reels compared to others, where each one shines over others and the limitations as well, in terms of applications and weights of lures etc, so i need some help

 

So before i ask the questions, let me just say that if anyone feels the need to insult my inexperience or my curiosity - please do us both the favor and don’t comment.  No need for that, move on.   I’m only asking those who want to help, provide personal experience and insight.

 

Of the reels listed below, 

1) how would rank them in terms of handling lightweight vs heavy weight applications (lightest to heaviest)? i listed them in the order i would rank them i terms of duty.

2) What would be the range of weights (or applications/techniques) in ounces that each reel could handle, min to max.

 

i broke them out in 2 categories, low profile reels and round reels 

 

Thank you in advance for any feedback. 
 
Low profile reels 
Steez CT SV
Zillion SV TW
Steez SV 
Steez A 
metanium DC
Zillion HD
Antares MD DC
Lews SD
Shimano Tranx

Round reels 
Calcutta Conquest 100
Calcutta Conquest 200
Calcutta Conquest 300
Cardiff 300

The SV reels are way over-braked for me but make casting light lures easy for people with no experience with a casting reel. The Steez A casts better for me and would be an all around reel since it can handle 1/4 and up easily and doesn't feel over-braked to me. The shimano dc's are cool and I love the noise but I would take the non dc versions personally. The dc isn't perfect and you can still blow up a spool but they do help if you're fishing into a head wind like always seems to happen to me. The tranx is a beast that can do everything but bfs, much like the round reels you listed. The Calcutta and Cardiff handle 1/4 and up.The lews SD surprised me, I bought it for the deep spool to load up for 1/2oz football jigs only. I got in a rut one day and couldn't buy a bite and started throwing a 1/8oz finesse jig with it and it handles that great. I've not went below the finesse jig but I've chucked close to or over 2oz with it. If you're still new and not good controlling the spool by thumb go with a magnetic reel first, once you get confident with that then look to a centrifugal system or stay with what you're comfortable with. The bass don't care if you catch them on a thousand dollar setup or a zebco 33. I prefer centrifugal reels personally but can see the appeal if magnetic reels especially for people just getting into fishing. You cant go wrong with any of the reels listed, they are all nice reels.

I grew up with round reels and I can't see a need to ever own another. Anyway, do yourself a favor and buy a Curado or Tatula and learn to fish. 

At this point I think it's silly to spend that kind of money on a Steez or Antares ect.

If your a Beginning golfer you can buy the most expensive set of clubs on the market and still not be able to break an egg.

Once you have some decent equipment and experience and if you think you've outgrown it then I get it..   Time on the water is more valuable than any equipment.

I started bass fishing with a Pflueger Akron reel in the early 60s. Since then, I have probably fished with every reel imaginable.  My current casting reels are all Shimano.  My favorite casting reels are some old Chronarch 100s that I have rebuilt dozens of times.  I use a round Shimano Calcutta 5/1 exclusively for spinnerbait fishing.  I own a couple of new Shimano Chronarch MGLs too.  Shimanos never let me down.

 

The most important factors in a casting reel are weight and comfort. This is totally subjective and could be different for each fisherman.  The second most important is line retrieve rate.  Today's reels are too fast for many bass fishing techniques.  If you use a 8/1 reel for worm fishing, you may not be fishing on the bottom at all.   Spinnerbaits attract bass by vibration.  Cadense is very important with these baits.  You will catch many more bass on a spinnerbait with a 5/1 reel than a 7/1 or a spinning reel.   On the other hand, Rattle Traps are better fished on faster reels.  What I'm saying is, there is no one reel that will do it all.  To cover all the bases you need one slow casting reel, one fast reel and a spinning outfit for finesse fishing.

1 hour ago, rangerjockey said:

If your a Beginning golfer you can buy the most expensive set of clubs on the market and still not be able to break an egg.

You see this in all sports, and in some cases it's just silly and misguided, but in others, it can be detrimental to progressing and learning the required skills efficiently, and in some cases it can lead to injuries and mishaps, (and disappointment)... Not in bicycles of course, get the most expensive latest technology top of the line model, I know a guy...  

 

20 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

If you use a 8/1 reel for worm fishing, you may not be fishing on the bottom at all.

I disagree. The rod is what should be moving the bait when worm fishing, not the reel. The reel should be used to pick up the slack, and for that reason an 8:1 is desirable. 

29 minutes ago, Jar11591 said:

I disagree. The rod is what should be moving the bait when worm fishing, not the reel. The reel should be used to pick up the slack, and for that reason an 8:1 is desirable. 

 

In a perfect world, I would agree.  Most bass fishermen I have seen use the reel to retrieve a worm at least part of the time. When you do this, you are actually swimming the worm which has some merit.  Truth is, you would catch more bass on a worm without a reel. ?

If you are truly a beginner and really wanna learn how to catch those bass. I think it is way better to concentrate on Technique, how,  when and where to catch them, than what reel can handle what weight better. I have seen you asked questions related to just high end gear from BFS all the way to 6-8oz swimbait and never get into detail of why when where to use utility the techniques.

Most of the reel you mention can pretty much cover weight range unless specific reels for BFS or big swimbait.

My reels can cast from 3/16 to 1 oz easily and effectively but that not really matter more than technique and where to fish them.

I would start here.  

 

 

When it comes to reels, companies don't really specify a weight range but they may, in some cases, give a "It's capable of" number. For example the Shimano Aldebaran BFS,  Shimano says it capable of casting a 1/16oz lure but I know a guy that throws 1/2oz jigs with a trailer on 17lb line. This is not what the reel is designed to do but he likes the size of reel and the small spool for flipping jigs.  Another example,  another guy I know has nothing but Tranx 300 reels. He uses them for everything from 1/4oz jigs to 3oz swimbaits. He likes the size of these reels better since his hands are as big as a tennis racquet. 

 

If you are just beginning and want to sort out the confusion,  I would pick a few techniques and the guys here can steer you to the right equipment. 

 

Also, think of the rod, reel, and line as a system that works together and not as an exact science, even though I'd like it to be. For instance first on the list,  the Daiwa Steez CT... I use this reel for light weight softplastic (roboworms, shakey head, small swimbaits) with a G. Loomis NRX 802c and 8lb fluorocarbon. So the line and lures fit the rod and the reel is suited for those techniques.  This setup/system works for me but there are always alternatives,  price points and in some cases,  skill levels that change what you might need.  

i dont own any alpha type reels.  i have the full spectrum.  old hand me down Lews and Abus..and some new Daiwa and Shimano.  with respect to strength.. i would go at ANY fish i care to catch with any of them.  from 1lb white bass to a dream fish of a 10lb striper.   any of them i would punch a bait into heavy weed mats.  the reels alone are robust.  just need to make the rest of the system match the technique somehow.  i was throwing light lures with any of them at one time or another before forums like this told me i was wrong and needed light shallow spools

 

i am going overseas to fish soon.  i am bringing one of the hand me downs.  haha..

Reels are not nearly as technique specific as rods, which is also over emphasized. At the root low capacity, lightweight spools start up easier to cast light baits better. Higher capacity heavier spools have more inertia to help bomb heavy baits a long way. Metal frames and good drag for heavy duty: large hard running fish and heavy cover.  There are varying opinions and subtleties but this is a start.  

7 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Reels are not nearly as technique specific as rods, which is also over emphasized. At the root low capacity, lightweight spools start up easier to cast light baits better. Higher capacity heavier spools have more inertia to help bomb heavy baits a long way. Metal frames and good drag for heavy duty: large hard running fish and heavy cover.  There are varying opinions and subtleties but this is a start.  

So how would you characterize the reels listed, 

which are lighter duty and which are heavier duty and how would you further categorize them in what their suited best for?

 

10 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

i dont own any alpha type reels.  i have the full spectrum.  old hand me down Lews and Abus..and some new Daiwa and Shimano.  with respect to strength.. i would go at ANY fish i care to catch with any of them.  from 1lb white bass to a dream fish of a 10lb striper.   any of them i would punch a bait into heavy weed mats.  the reels alone are robust.  just need to make the rest of the system match the technique somehow.  i was throwing light lures with any of them at one time or another before forums like this told me i was wrong and needed light shallow spools

 

i am going overseas to fish soon.  i am bringing one of the hand me downs.  haha..

So, what you’re saying is that there is no need to think of these reels in terms of limitations, they can handle any lures or applications, it’s more of a personal preference?

On 1/11/2023 at 5:51 AM, rangerjockey said:

I grew up with round reels and I can't see a need to ever own another. Anyway, do yourself a favor and buy a Curado or Tatula and learn to fish. 

At this point I think it's silly to spend that kind of money on a Steez or Antares ect.

If your a Beginning golfer you can buy the most expensive set of clubs on the market and still not be able to break an egg.

Once you have some decent equipment and experience and if you think you've outgrown it then I get it..   Time on the water is more valuable than any equipment.

Why dont you like round reels?

So it sounds like I should just go with what feel right. 

 

A Steez CT can certainly hanlde punchin gup to 2 oz or thoriwng a bigger swimbait, if I choose to do so?

 

I just want to know where the limits (generally) are with each reel. 

I think you're looking for a problem in every solution.  If you want to try Steez go buy one. Big swimbait? buy a Tranx .Only you can say whether or not it's good for you.

Where do you fish that you need to punch a 2oz. weight? What rods do you actually own that you plan on putting all these reels on ?

You have been given some good advice by folks with years of experience and know what they are talking about. I would suggest at some point you take it.