What are your go-to reels for punching? Pairing it with a P5 Jungle Seven so I want something lightweight. Have a Steez A II paired on my BC2 for 1/4-3/4oz t rigs and jigs. Wondering if you guys have any other lightweight reel suggestions for 1oz+

Try that Steez with that weight and rod combo and see where you’re at. 
I have a Bantam (22) for that kind of work on a xtra heavy GLX rod. 
 

Are you looking for a less expensive alternative to your Daiwa? 
 

BTW, I know the Bantam is not lightweight, but it’s a tough reel. 

I also use Daiwa Zillion HD1000 and I’d call them light & tough. Very capable for that work imo.. 

Looking for something in that same bantam-steez range. Open to Daiwa or Shimano. Was thinking about the Bantam that I currently have on my frogging setup (7’3 Expride B XH). Maybe I’ll put the bantam on the jungle seven like youre saying and find an alternate reel for the expride

I use a Zillion HD on the Valkyrie XH

I'll second the Zillion HD. I have the Steez A II and it works fine but the Zillion HD seems to have a little extra power to it. Also, the handle is great for powering in fish. I have it paired with a NRX+ 895 JWR.  It is almost too powerful for most of my fishing but it can horse in the fish. 

Zillion HD

Bantam. Winch, even in the 8 gear.

Bantam xg 

OP

Your choice obviously and you received good suggestions….However

Personally I don’t want or need a $400+ reel to be effective when punching. 
 

Is it nice to have and helps to reduced wrist fatigue sure, but how often will you be punching 1+ oz weights for 6-8 hours straight??

 

I probably punch more than most folks on here and I’d venture to say most Florida guys do. 

 

Personally, I probably punch more with a 

1 1/2oz-2oz than a 3/4oz-1oz. 
I use a 15 yr old Shimano Curado 200E7 reel and certainly not because of its weight. 
 

I want the torque of a well built, solid tank of reel with the rod to match above all. 
I’m not saying that what was suggested isn’t, but they’re certainly not needed. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike

 

A little history ...

Flippin’: A Concept Not Just A Technique – Part Three - Bass Fishing Archives

This is part three of a three-part series on the concept of flipping and the effect it had on the sport. In this final installment, we talked with Hank Parker and Denny Brauer about how the technique changed their careers. 

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Full disclosure - I own TOO much high end gear. I say that because on a whim, I bought the Kastking Deadbolt reel for $120. This reel has no drag. I put it on my frog rod and fell in love with it. Now I have one on my flippin'/punch rig. Going on 2 years now & they have been flawless.

On 9/8/2025 at 8:14 AM, Mike L said:

OP

Your choice obviously and you received good suggestions….However

Personally I don’t want or need a $400+ reel to be effective when punching. 
 

Is it nice to have and helps to reduced wrist fatigue sure, but how often will you be punching 1+ oz weights for 6-8 hours straight??

 

I probably punch more than most folks on here and I’d venture to say most Florida guys do. 

 

Personally, I probably punch more with a 

1 1/2oz-2oz than a 3/4oz-1oz. 
I use a 15 yr old Shimano Curado 200E7 reel and certainly not because of its weight. 
 

I want the torque of a well built, solid tank of reel with the rod to match above all. 
I’m not saying that what was suggested isn’t, but they’re certainly not needed. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike

 

My personal opinion of course but the 200E and 200D are both the best reels Shimano has ever engineered.. 

9 minutes ago, F14A-B said:

My personal opinion of course but the 200E and 200D are both the best reels Shimano has ever engineered.. 

 

Ditto!

You’re opinion is not the only one. 
I’ve been saying that for years. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

On 9/8/2025 at 8:14 AM, Mike L said:

I use a 15 yr old Shimano Curado 200E7 reel and certainly not because of its weight. 

I want the torque of a well built, solid tank of reel with the rod to match above all. 
I’m not saying that what was suggested isn’t, but they’re certainly not needed. 

Mike

 

I use a 7.1 Team Daiwa Zillion from the same era, for the same reasons. 

Zillion HD 

I got my Zillion HD around a year ago for $275. For the money it’s hard to beat.

the mag-z boost on that reel is my absolute favorite braking system ever.

 

I hear the Bantam is pretty good too. But I just don’t like the flapper brakes

I don’t love my Bantam.  It’s my most backlashable reel.  By a mile. 
 

I think using it to punch is strategic genius.  
 

im going to do that!   Thanks for the idea!

On 9/10/2025 at 12:17 PM, Darth-Baiter said:

I don’t love my Bantam.  It’s my most backlashable reel.  By a mile. 
 

I think using it to punch is strategic genius.  
 

im going to do that!   Thanks for the idea!

 

Spool is fast. Good braid reel. I struggled with mine using 16 - 18 lb fluoro. With 60 lb FX2, it's a rocket launcher. It does not hold as much line as you might expect though.