Swimbait/Glidebait Reel

[UmairF]

What’s a good reel to throw anything from a magdraft to a KGB Chad Shad that I can also put on other rods for regular bass fishing techniques? Currently have a Daiwa Lexa 300 2023 but it’s too heavy/bulky for me I hate fishing with it. Would pair with a Dobyn’s Champ XP 794.5 AR (although I don’t really care for dobyns rods anymore). Only looking for Shimano and Daiwa reels at any price point. Reels released 2022 or recent would be preferred.

Also, any line recommendations? Thanks!

[Reel]

There is a new Shimano Tranx coming out that would be worth a look.

[Smirak]

For the price, tactical Bassin recommends the Cardiff round reel. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

The Zillion HD TW is perfect for that role, and it's what I use mine for.   I throw a Chad Shad a lot, and it's about the max size glide I like to throw with a 200 sized beefed up reel.  

 

Honestly, I'd just buy a Tatula 300 that way you can throw any big bait you want without having to make compromises.

 

 

[Derek1]

I have a tranx 300 on the rod I use for the spro Chad Shad and other similar sized baits. If I were to redo that set up, I would just get another currado k 200. 

[webertime]

You are fine using "regular" casting reels for up to about 3oz.  My .75 to 3oz rod runs an old Shimano Citca E.  The reel is 12? Years old and functions fine for what it has to do.  I run Tatula 200s on my up 6 and up to 8oz rods solely because of line capacity.

 

 

Side note...  a Daiwa 200 is basically a Shimano 300 line capacity-wise.  And darned near the same palming size

[Smirak]

I’ll add, I use a lexa 300 for pretty much all my “big” baits. It is a little bulky, but I traded for it for some no longer used stuff…

[UmairF]

7 hours ago, Reel said:

There is a new Shimano Tranx coming out that would be worth a look.

Is it coming out this year? I didn’t see it on their new for 2025 post yesterday 

 

Also, would it be alright for me to use a 100 sized reel? I have a Shimano metanium dc 100 that I can use too.

[MediumMouthBass]

A round reel or 300 sized reel is only needed for above 3 ounces. And are usually very bulky like you mentioned.

 

Anything 3 ounces or under the Daiwa Tatula 150/200, Zillion HD, or Lews BB1 Pro/Superduty LFS come to mind.

I own each one but the Zillion HD and am happy throwing 1-3oz swimbaits, glidebaits, big chatterbaits too on them.

 

The BB1 Pro, and Superduty LFS arent very large reels either, the 150/200 Tatulas are a bit big.

 

[softwateronly]

I definitely prefer the zillion hd and the bantam for that sized glide.  The 300 size reels are less comfortable palming and weight for me and would rather stretch out one of these little tanks.  I use braid as a mainline so line capacity hasn't ever really effected me.  I would also go to a Tat 200 before moving up to the 300 size reels.

 

scott

[UmairF]

What size braid to fluoro leader do you use? I think the rod I’m using is fine but the issue is with my reel and line choice. Still not sure if I can use the metanium dc 100. Thinking maybe 20lb straight fluoro? Although, I might be able to get more line capacity with braid…

21 minutes ago, softwateronly said:

I definitely prefer the zillion hd and the bantam for that sized glide.  The 300 size reels are less comfortable palming and weight for me and would rather stretch out one of these little tanks.  I use braid as a mainline so line capacity hasn't ever really effected me.  I would also go to a Tat 200 before moving up to the 300 size reels.

 

scott

What size braid to fluoro leader do you use? I think the rod I’m using is fine but the issue is with my reel and line choice. Still not sure if I can use the metanium dc 100. Thinking maybe 20lb straight fluoro? Although, I might be able to get more line capacity with braid…

^Sorry it copied my post twice lol

[softwateronly]

23 minutes ago, UmairF said:

What size braid to fluoro leader do you use? I think the rod I’m using is fine but the issue is with my reel and line choice. Still not sure if I can use the metanium dc 100. Thinking maybe 20lb straight fluoro? Although, I might be able to get more line capacity with braid…

What size braid to fluoro leader do you use? I think the rod I’m using is fine but the issue is with my reel and line choice. Still not sure if I can use the metanium dc 100. Thinking maybe 20lb straight fluoro? Although, I might be able to get more line capacity with braid…

^Sorry it copied my post twice lol

 

I'm still finishing off bulk spools and currently have 30 & 50lb pp across the bantams and 50lb on the zillion hd.  Similarly, fc 100 shock leader in 16lb & 25lb.  When I plan for it, 50lb to 25lb is preferred.

 

scott

 

PS - totally my opinion that isn't well researched, I'd think you'd be pushing a met dc with these intentions.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

At some point reducing IPT and line capacity is going to kill the action of a Chad Shad.   A 100 sized reel with 20lb FC is well past that point imho.  

 

To be perfectly honest, 20lb FC on a 200 sized Zillion HD is pushing it in regard to line capacity and IPT.   

 

Arguably the biggest advantage of going with a 300 sized reel is that you can run straight 20-25lb FC or mono, and when making casts you don't burn so much of your line capacity and spool diameter.  

 

If you rely on reel handle turns alone to work a glide for example, this absolutely has to be taken into account.    

[djhands]

The new line of Shimano scorpion 200 MD or 300 MD are solid options 

[UmairF]

I only have a handful of “big baits” that I throw. Don’t throw the chad shad as often but that’s at the higher end weight-wise:

 

- 6” magdraft/freestyle with beast hook

- Gantarel Jr.

- DRT TK

- Spro KGB Chad Shad

- Osakana Slide 170

[PhishLI]

12 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

To be perfectly honest, 20lb FC on a 200 sized Zillion HD is pushing it in regard to line capacity

Agreed. It isn't really a 200 sized spool either with its MagZ Boost. More like a current standard-brands150. The Tat 150 ( MagZ) is actually a 200 sized spool, and the Tat 200 (Magforce) is more like a 235-240 sized spool if you can imagine that.

 

Both are housed in the same frame with metal gearbox side plates. In order for Mag Z to work, its mechanical requirements dictate a minimum sized arbor which is the limiting factor. Any smaller and you only get Magforce which is perfectly fine for heavier baits.

 

24 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Arguably the biggest advantage of going with a 300 sized reel is that you can run straight 20-25lb FC or mono, and when making casts you don't burn so much of your line capacity and spool diameter.  

That's true, but there are weight penalties with typical 42-43mm tall and deep 300 sized spools. Love the Tat 300, but in my experience, it gets tricky controlling fluff and over runs with baits less than 3ozs, especially on bomb casts.

 

In this case, the Tat 200 is nearly ideal, especially if 20-25 fluoro mainline is a possibility. This is where the T-wing shines above standard LP reels with their much smaller line guide apertures. Heavy plastic lines simply flow through the T wing.

 

My brother bought 2 Tranx 300s impulsively. He didn't hate them, but he didn't love them either. After spending time with my Tat 200, he quickly sold each Tranx and got 2 Tat 200s which he loves. Trouble free, and not twitchy at all with his lighter glides and wakes and just fine with baits up to 4 ozs.

 

1 hour ago, UmairF said:

I think the rod I’m using is fine

If you're considering heavy braid to a 25lb leader, be sure your upper guide train is large enough (not even semi-micro). Even slim knots are bulky with that test. If you're sensitive to a connection knot banging through your guides, you might not like that.

[UmairF]

2 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

Agreed. It isn't really a 200 sized spool either with its MagZ Boost. More like a current standard-brands150. The Tat 150 ( MagZ) is actually a 200 sized spool, and the Tat 200 (Magforce) is more like a 235-240 sized spool if you can imagine that.

 

Both are housed in the same frame with metal gearbox side plates. In order for Mag Z to work, its mechanical requirements dictate a minimum sized arbor which is the limiting factor. Any smaller and you only get Magforce which is perfectly fine for heavier baits.

 

That's true, but there are weight penalties with typical 42-43mm tall and deep 300 sized spools. Love the Tat 300, but in my experience, it gets tricky controlling fluff and over runs with baits less than 3ozs, especially on bomb casts.

 

In this case, the Tat 200 is nearly ideal, especially if 20-25 fluoro mainline is a possibility. This is where the T-wing shines above standard LP reels with their much smaller line guide apertures. Heavy plastic lines simply flow through the T wing.

 

My brother bought 2 Tranx 300s impulsively. He didn't hate them, but he didn't love them either. After spending time with my Tat 200, he quickly sold each Tranx and got 2 Tat 200s which he loves. Trouble free, and not twitchy at all with his lighter glides and wakes and just fine with baits up to 4 ozs.

 

If you're considering heavy braid to a 25lb leader, be sure your upper guide train is large enough (not even semi-micro). Even slim knots are bulky with that test. If you're sensitive to a connection knot banging through your guides, you might not like that.

Yeah you’re absolutely right about the leader knots. I only tie the FG and I tried 50 and 65lb braid to 20-25lb fluoro. Even with larger guides it’s scary casting these baits out lol. I think I’m going to stick with straight 20lb fc sniper.

[Bigbox99]

The Tatula 200 is actually a 300 capacity reel and has an identical spool dimensions (thus capacity) as the old non TWS Lexa 300.  If it wasn't for the Lexa 300 having a spool bearing mounted on the spool then you could swap spools between the two.  I own both reels and the only reason the old Lexa 300 is bigger is because it is longer to move the level wind a mile from the spool to help non braid line flow out smoothly.  The Tatula 200 gets around this thanks to the TWS and is much shorter in length than the old Lexa 300. 

 

The modern Tatula 300, modern Lexa and Tranx 300 use a different approach than the 36mm wide spools of the old Lexa 300 and Tatula 300.  They use a 43mm tall bit narrow spool to have the reel palm less wide but taller.  

 

You may want to palm a Tatula 150 or 200 in store to see of you prefer that low but wide palming profile over the modern tall but narrow take.

[webertime]

65lb braid to a leader on my small bait rod (what you have currently).  Won't dig in as much compared to smaller braid, casts just as far and fewer cast offs.  16lb sniper leader works fine for that class of baits.  Straight fluorocarbon 18lb Sniper or Samurai is fine too.  20lb+ is reserved for S-waver 200 to Deps 250 class baits

 

Tatula 200 line capacity = 16/185

Curado/Tranx 300 =17/150

Curado 200. 14/110

All are more than enough for what you're tossing. 

 

Might want to bump up the rod to the 795.  I know it says 1-5oz but it really tops out about 3.5 (the 795).

 

This is just my experience/recommendation.

[UmairF]

3 hours ago, webertime said:

65lb braid to a leader on my small bait rod (what you have currently).  Won't dig in as much compared to smaller braid, casts just as far and fewer cast offs.  16lb sniper leader works fine for that class of baits.  Straight fluorocarbon 18lb Sniper or Samurai is fine too.  20lb+ is reserved for S-waver 200 to Deps 250 class baits

 

Tatula 200 line capacity = 16/185

Curado/Tranx 300 =17/150

Curado 200. 14/110

All are more than enough for what you're tossing. 

 

Might want to bump up the rod to the 795.  I know it says 1-5oz but it really tops out about 3.5 (the 795).

 

This is just my experience/recommendation.

This is great! Yeah the rod I have is a lot more spongey than I thought it would be. I started shifting away completely from Dobyn’s because I’ve tried a lot of different models and it’s just not for me. Very good quality rods and I see why people like them. I just prefer my NRX+, P5s, and Steez rods. Not that I want to spend an exorbitant amount of money on a rod I use maybe 10% of the season at the moment lol.

 

I have a 7’3 XH Expride B. Wondering if I could just sell the 794.5 AR and use the Expride instead for the same baits. It’s my frogging rod and has a Curado MGL 150 with 65lb braid on there, but I can always bump down to 50lb braid and just add the FC leader whenever I’m throwing the bigger baits on it. What do you guys think?

 

If I sell the Champ XP and the Lexa the bait monkey is telling me to grab a 6.3:1 Steez A2 for chatterbaits 😳…

[Leeboy]

Shimano Curado 300 K

[Bandersnatch]

You can get away with as light as a regular old zillion g from Japan (6.2oz) as long as you’re using 18lb or less flouro or braid leader. The chad shad is easy to throw. 
 

could use anything , slx xt, curado 150, met, tatula 100, 150, 

 

Nothing special needed. 

13 hours ago, UmairF said:

This is great! Yeah the rod I have is a lot more spongey than I thought it would be. I started shifting away completely from Dobyn’s because I’ve tried a lot of different models and it’s just not for me. Very good quality rods and I see why people like them. I just prefer my NRX+, P5s, and Steez rods. Not that I want to spend an exorbitant amount of money on a rod I use maybe 10% of the season at the moment lol.

 

I have a 7’3 XH Expride B. Wondering if I could just sell the 794.5 AR and use the Expride instead for the same baits. It’s my frogging rod and has a Curado MGL 150 with 65lb braid on there, but I can always bump down to 50lb braid and just add the FC leader whenever I’m throwing the bigger baits on it. What do you guys think?

 

If I sell the Champ XP and the Lexa the bait monkey is telling me to grab a 6.3:1 Steez A2 for chatterbaits 😳…

I love the 73xh Exprides and have several of them. With that said, I do think the rod is slightly over powered for any treble hook. You’ll likely bend out the hooks pretty easily. I added a few 7’7 heavy  exprides to my line up because they can do anything. They are awesome for frogging but are soft enough to throw anything . I really like throwing the chad shad on the 7’7 h with a zillion g with either 16-18 lb shooter or 50lb braid to 20-25 (16-20 normal diameter) gold label leader. With braid to leader on moving baits I like to throw something smooth such as 131 or silent braid