I'm looking for a small baitcaster reel (100) or smaller that I can fish 6lb mono or braid (12-20 lb) line on. I currently have a Piscifun Torrent II with 6lb mono that I dropshot with. I wanted a Piscifun Carbon XCS but just found out they are not producing them any longer. The Torrent is OK but I've had line get caught inside the spool housing 1x. I'm looking for something that has a tighter tolerance. I don't really want a BFS reel because I need something that can bomb my baits. My home lake has great structure about 40 yards from shore. I'd like to reach it with a finesse set up but need the extra yardage not offered with a BFS spool. Please advise or educate me.

This is a very well made 70 size baitcaster as an BFS alternative in the XCS price range.

 

 

Tatula 80.  If you only want to spend Piscifun XCS money then maybe the Piscifun Alloy M or Seasir M1.  I would advise against the XCS.  I have one and while it is a cool looking compact reel, the brakes are difficult to dial in and winding in a fish with the rod loaded feels like a chore.  

If I were doing that I'd put it on one of my MGL shimanos like my chronarchs, but thse are 150 sized.  Honestly, what you're talking about is spinning rod territory.

34 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

If I were doing that I'd put it on one of my MGL shimanos like my chronarchs, but thse are 150 sized.  Honestly, what you're talking about is spinning rod territory.

 

I wanted to get away from the braid wind knots associated with spinning gear. I usually don't have any problems with baitcasters and braid. But yes I use spinning gear also.

1 hour ago, MAN said:

This is a very well made 70 size baitcaster as an BFS alternative in the XCS price range.

 

 

This is very helpful. Thanks 

No mention of  budget, but it's hard to beat the daiwa alphas sv tw 800 for bang for the buck (well under 200 jdm). A very good, compact, finesse capable reel.

What weight baits?  What rod are you using?

Shimano 2024 model SLX 70 can easily handle .008D line plus it’s a Shimano reel with factory parts and customer service. The 2024 has MGL 3 spool!

Sales are going on now

Tom

Ideally you want more than just a small reel but a small reel with a light weight spool and if you intend to use light braid you want that light weight spool to be shallow.  The cheapest Tatula 80 you can find and a Ray's spool would be the best value option.  You can get by with cheaper but the Tatula 80 isn't going anywhere and parts will be available years from now.  This is not something I can say about Amazon/Aliexpress mystery meat reels.

3 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

What weight baits?  What rod are you using?

1/4-3/8 (7g-10g) med 7' rod.

Daiwa Alphas SV 800 . 149$ on Amazon

55 minutes ago, C.Rig21 said:

1/4-3/8 (7g-10g) med 7' rod.

May be out of your price range since you are looking at Piscifun reels, but try finding a used Pixy in good condition.  Holds 95 yards of 6# mono.  Will handle those weights with ease.  Should make the 40 yards.

7 hours ago, Bigbox99 said:

Ideally you want more than just a small reel but a small reel with a light weight spool and if you intend to use light braid you want that light weight spool to be shallow.  The cheapest Tatula 80 you can find and a Ray's spool would be the best value option.  You can get by with cheaper but the Tatula 80 isn't going anywhere and parts will be available years from now.  This is not something I can say about Amazon/Aliexpress mystery meat reels.

where is the tw80 $90?

I have three "BFS" reels and all three will hold enough 6 lbs mono to cast so far that any farther, and there would just be too much line out. The 6 lbs mono can pull the bait towards me just lifting the rod tip much past horizontal when I fish with a bait like a Tiny Brush Hog with a 1/16 oz or even a 1/8 oz tungsten sinker.

 

I did have 6 lbs mono get under the side plate one time due to a nasty professional overrun with one of the KastKing BFS reels I have, and it was not the cheaper one even though I have owned it twice as long as the other.

 

I don't know how long the KK's will last, but at this point, for the way they perform, I would buy either one again without hesitation. Both of the KK's outperform the Curado BFS with lighter lures. The stock spool on the KK Kestrel BFS weighs only 5.5g and the reel weighs 4.41 oz.

 

I am determined to try some quality braid on my BFS gear again at some point, but it will be after several rounds of some thorough analysis paralysis and hand wringing before I invest.

 

If you're determined not to go with reels carrying a BFS label, I would consider an SLX 70 MGL. Great all around versatile reel that casts well in a smaller size and I think it can be had for somewhere near $120 these days.

7 hours ago, Thembones said:

where is the tw80 $90?

Aliexpress.  I got my 80 from there for $105 a while back.  Tatulas and Curados are much cheaper there than with US retailers.  

I will add that there is a possibility that there may be no US warranty for these reels even though they are identical to USDM reels.  They all have a line capacity by line type sticker on the bottom of the handle side plate as is commonly found in chinease market reels.  If one of these come across a US Daiwa service desk it is possible that they would identify it as a CDM reel and refuse to warranty it.  You can always remove the sticker if you like.  I do because I think it looks tacky. 

I have 3 shimano curado 100b for sale they are small and have deep spools . And will handle 6 lb line ..

19 hours ago, Maxximus Redneckus said:

I have 3 shimano curado 100b for sale they are small and have deep spools . And will handle 6 lb line ..

Are you selling them separately or all together? What are you asking for each one?

18 hours ago, C.Rig21 said:

Are you selling them separately or all together? What are you asking for each one?

All together 

18 hours ago, C.Rig21 said:

Are you selling them separately or all together? What are you asking for each one?

All together message sent