Hey y'all

My local shop had a crazy deal on the gloomis imx pro rods so I picked up a med action, hoping to use it for the new Karashi 80. It's 1/2oz in weight, any recommendations for a reel for this one?

Thanks

Greg

Slx 70

Aldebaran mgl if you're feeling spendy

a baitcaster for casting 1/2 oz lures? Pick one of your preference in a 30-150 size. If a baitcaster can't do a 1/2 oz hardbait there is something wrong.

Daiwa Tatula SV TW 70. Not to be confused with the BF70.

This a pretty small-framed reel. It casts light baits very well. But as was already said, a 1/2 oz bait should cast well on just about anything.

Fished the Karashi 80 over the weekend. I didn't catch anything on it but it reminded me of fishing a jerkbait. I wouldn't call it light at all.

Any 7.x:1 reel will work. I'd go a JDM Zillion or Metanium.

9 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

Daiwa Tatula SV TW 70. Not to be confused with the BF70.

This a pretty small-framed reel. It casts light baits very well. But as was already said, a 1/2 oz bait should cast well on just about anything.

I figured as much, I was just looking for recommendations on a reel that casts far fairly easily. I agree just about anything can cast this but in the same breath some reels will ast smoother and further then others.

Where I bought the rod they also had a couple curado MGL on sale. Only had 8:2:1 ration reels tho

Pixy all day.

3 minutes ago, Micro Module Police said:

Pixy all day.

What's a pixy?

I'm not sure when 1/2 oz got to be a small bait, but that's the perfect weight for max distance and reliability from Daiwa SV Boost spool.

Easy? Cast 1/4 oz on a high arc to find your mag base setting by dialing out mid-cast backlash.

Nothing else to do..

35 minutes ago, The Reel Greg said:

What's a pixy?

Daiwa Pixy. I use mine for walleye for the longest time. It's perfect as a spinning reel replacement.

1 hour ago, The Reel Greg said:

My local shop had a crazy deal on the gloomis imx pro rods so I picked up a med action, hoping to use it for the new Karashi 80. It's 1/2oz in weight, any recommendations for a reel for this one?

Small dimensions for small hands? Yes, to at least a certain extent. Overall ergonomics also play into this. Beyond this little nugget of insight, and since I have hands that require an XL or XXL glove size (prefer XXL if I can find 'em), I don't think my experience offers much in that regard.

On my scale, the new Karashi 80 weighs 11g (claimed weight is 7/16 oz) on my scale. That's closer to 3/8 oz. I got to throw it a couple days ago on a Shimano SLX M/XF jerkbait rod with a Metanium 70 with 8 lbs fluoro and it easily sent it quite a ways.

What line are you hoping to use for this bait?

The M/XF was a little more powerful than what I think would be ideal for this bait. I do think 8 lbs line is about right for working it the way I prefer, and I don't know how the various line sizes are going to play with the imparted action of the Karashi 80 and it remains to be seen how the hooks on this bait are going to hold up.

6 lbs Ande mono on straight up BFS gear is powerful enough to bend and/or break the hooks on the standard Karashi, which has light wire #10 trebles. The biggest fish I've landed with was a six pound striper and even though I babied it for around ten minutes to land it, both trebles were slightly bent out. The limits of the Karashi 80 hooks in the wild remains to be seen by me. I suspect that the hooks on the Karashi 80 will be fine with 8 lbs, and won't be compromised much if at all with less than 10 lbs line. How the bait will work in the water with 10 lbs line also remains to be seen.

If it catches anything like the original Karashi, it will make sense to have a rig that's dialed to fish it.

I have a ML and L-ML rods I'll be trying with the Karashi 80 to see which of the three I prefer, but I think any of them would be serviceable.

If a non-BFS reel can't do a good job casting 1/2 oz. weights, sell it. I personally have never handled such a reel.

Ok so clearly I was incorrect thinking the Karashi 80 is a small/light bait. I get this now so maybe we can move on from mentioning this fact and potentially recommend a reel best for this setup. Sorry for my confusion.

If you’re just looking for a smaller framed reel I’ll add either the Daiwa Tatula 80 or Alphas 800 SV both share the same frame btw. I personally don’t have large hands and find both comfortable along with the SLX MGL.

@Eric 26 I just helped a buddy put together a jerkbait combo, Dobyns Kaden 610-4CB and a Tatula 80 with 10lb invizx. I played with it yesterday and it casts and works the Karashi 80 beautifully.

3 hours ago, The Reel Greg said:

What's a pixy?

You will spool yourself with 1/2oz on a pixy...every reel should handle that weight with ease...

48 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

If you’re just looking for a smaller framed reel I’ll add either the Daiwa Tatula 80 or Alphas 800 SV both share the same frame btw. I personally don’t have large hands and find both comfortable along with the SLX MGL.

What gear ratio?

My Tatula 80 is a 6 speed and my Alphas is a 7 speed also my SLX is a 7 speed.

32 minutes ago, MRQturbo said:

You will spool yourself with 1/2oz on a pixy...every reel should handle that weight with ease...

Why would he spool himself with 1/2oz? I used mine from 1/16oz to 3/4oz lures with the custom PX68 Finesse Special spool, which has the same capacity than the original. You never spool it, it has a perfect capacity for a spinning reel replacement. Now, if you load it with 20lb fluoro, of course you will spool it, but this is not what you'd use a spinning reel either. I use mine with 8-15lb braid, and its flawless.

2 hours ago, The Reel Greg said:

Ok so clearly I was incorrect thinking the Karashi 80 is a small/light bait. I get this now so maybe we can move on from mentioning this fact and potentially recommend a reel best for this setup. Sorry for my confusion.

The 80 is the new, larger version. Perhaps you're thinking of the original Karashi, which is only 3/16 oz?

21 minutes ago, Micro Module Police said:

Why would he spool himself with 1/2oz? I used mine from 1/16oz to 3/4oz lures with the custom PX68 Finesse Special spool, which has the same capacity than the original. You never spool it, it has a perfect capacity for a spinning reel replacement. Now, if you load it with 20lb fluoro, of course you will spool it, but this is not what you'd use a spinning reel either. I use mine with 8-15lb braid, and its flawless.

I've read of some using the Pixy with heavier line to pitch. AFAIK, the reel was designed for lighter lures. I use mine on ML power or less. Ordered a Roro spool that will go in a Pixy Red and on a custom built Light. Originally used a Presso spool in a Sol. (Made my own spacers.) Had no Pixy at that time. Now it will go in another Red Pixy and be used on an original Falcon Expert 6'9" Light. My PXL Type-R is on an Aetos 6'6" MLM. Kind of wish the rod was a bit longer but have to admit I love it because the combo feels feather light. It's a pleasure to use. Brings a smile to my face every time. Think I will put my PX68L on an older Black Envy 6'10" ML-EF.

Obviously the Pixy can be used for heavier lures, but I've plenty of other reels for those weights. Another factor is the 3 pounds of drag pressure. Same as my Scorpion 1001 4x4 SVS. I wouldn't use any of these reels except on a ML or less power rod. Yes, I have thumbs on both hands but I prefer not to use them to increase drag pressure.

35 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

I've read of some using the Pixy with heavier line to pitch. AFAIK, the reel was designed for lighter lures. I use mine on ML power or less. Ordered a Roro spool that will go in a Pixy Red and on a custom built Light. Originally used a Presso spool in a Sol. (Made my own spacers.) Had no Pixy at that time. Now it will go in another Red Pixy and be used on an original Falcon Expert 6'9" Light. My PXL Type-R is on an Aetos 6'6" MLM. Kind of wish the rod was a bit longer but have to admit I love it because the combo feels feather light. It's a pleasure to use. Brings a smile to my face every time. Think I will put my PX68L on an older Black Envy 6'10" ML-EF.

Obviously the Pixy can be used for heavier lures, but I've plenty of other reels for those weights. Another factor is the 3 pounds of drag pressure. Same as my Scorpion 1001 4x4 SVS. I wouldn't use any of these reels except on a ML or less power rod. Yes, I have thumbs on both hands but I prefer not to use them to increase drag pressure.

I knew people that flipped with it using 50-65lb braid, and there was no issues with it whatsoever. You obviously had to replace its drag stack, and 7.2 ratio did a better job, but this is a mini tank just like the OG alphas, they last forever. I use mine on multiple rods, going from UL bfs to Medium power, and like it for everything.

3 minutes ago, Micro Module Police said:

I knew people that flipped with it using 50-65lb braid, and there was no issues with it whatsoever. You obviously had to replace its drag stack, and 7.2 ratio did a better job, but this is a mini tank just like the OG alphas, they last forever. I use mine on multiple rods, going from UL bfs to Medium power, and like it for everything.

The Airy Red going on the custom built rod has 7.2 gears in it and has upgraded bearings and been supertuned. One of my TD-Z 105Hs has also had a lot of work done to it. Love those reels. It was one of the reels I learned to cast #5 Shad Raps with.

Shimano 2023 SLX DC 70

Shimano Calcutta Conquest 30 SE

Abu Garcia Zenon MG LTX

Daiwa JDM Alphas SV

Kastking MG12

These are good options that hit different price points.

You didn’t mention a price range. Right or left handed? Anyway, with that aside, I can’t say enough about the Shimano Metanium and Chronarch. The Daiwa Zillion SV TW is close.