Have a new rod for the above techniques, just need to get a reel.

What size of reel do you guys prefer?

100? 150?

The majority of use will be a 3/8 oz swim jig with a 4" swimbait on the back.

Other use will be similar sized chatter/spinnerbaits.

As far as casting goes, some will be short with precision, others will be bomb it as far as I can.

Oh, line usage. I think I'm leaning towards 30 lb braid but I can be talked into something else.

Thoughts?

THANKS!

100 size for all those....

40# braid is my preference....

I’m a Shimano guy and the 150(1) mgl fits like a glove. 30# Smackdown braid is all I’ve ever needed and this combo cast great, palms great and has enough power for pike if need be.

It’s my spinnerblade/bladed jig/swimjig set up with 3/8 being far-and-away the range I use most.

For me the 100 size is just to small, but ok’ish on a shorter rod like a 5 ‘6” or 6’ throwing smaller rigs.

Bantam MGL. I like the 6 for chatters but a 7 is probably more versatile.

I go with a size 150 reel spooled 15 lb flouro for those baits.

1 minute ago, Chilidog said:

I go with a size 150 reel spooled 15 lb flouro for those baits.

Me too.

A-Jay

15lb fluoro here as well

I see lots of 150 comments.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one leaning towards something bigger than 100.

Thanks all.

6 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

I see lots of 150 comments.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one leaning towards something bigger than 100.

100 or 150 doesn't really matter. Most choices come with a 34mm diameter spool, and since you'll never really cast any of the baits you mentioned past 150' on a good day, IPT isn't an issue.

1 hour ago, Motoboss said:

I’m a Shimano guy and the 150(1) mgl fits like a glove.

I was eyeing this reel last night however I can't find it on the JDM sites.

USA model only????

4 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

I was eyeing this reel last night however I can't find it on the JDM sites.

USA model only????

Do It !

A-Jay

31 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

I was eyeing this reel last night however I can't find it on the JDM sites.

USA model only????

Probably going to be hard to find on JDM since it’s an older model.

BassPro has them and maybe find some from Japan on eBay

55 minutes ago, Motoboss said:

Probably going to be hard to find on JDM since it’s an older model.

BassPro has them and maybe find some from Japan on eBay

Oh you are talking about the Curado, gotcha.

I was looking at the Metanium 150 MGL, if there's much difference.

Thanks

Not to sure of the difference, the magnesium frame maybe, and the price. The MGL and the Met both are 150 sized reels. Digitaka has the Met for $247 now. You can find the Curado mgl for $225.00 on eBay.

The Met MGL B at TW is the upper end, super premium price reflects it.

39 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

I was looking at the Metanium 150 MGL

I don't want to strip line and check but I own both the usdm 150 and jdm 100 and I'm pretty sure the spools are basically identical. I would have no issues using the 100 for chatters.

I use 70 size for pretty much all techniques. I have never once come close to running out of spool with 12 to 15lb co-poly. Small reels rule.

I actually only have two bass reels now that are bigger than a 70. One is a 150 (Bantam) for use with 17-20lb line, the other is a 200 used for 20-25lb line for swimbaits and glidebaits. I sold all the others for 70's.

3 minutes ago, Rockhopper said:

I use 70 size for pretty much all techniques. I have never once come close to running out of spool with 12 to 15lb co-poly. Small reels rule.

I actually only have two bass reels now that are bigger than a 70. One is a 150 (Bantam) for use with 17-20lb line, the other is a 200 used for 20-25lb line for swimbaits and glidebaits. I sold all the others for 70's.

Do you like the 200? Is the size feel much bigger than the 150 in palmability? (If that’s a word 😀)

I’m using an old “greenie” Curado cu200 for my swimbaits and considering a new 200M but don’t know if I’d gain anything in performance and definitely don’t want a bigger reel.

I like my slx xt 150. It’s a great reel never had any line issues or capacity issues. That said I love my 70 as well. But I can dang near cast the spool empty with a 3/8 bladed jig and trailer

3 hours ago, Rockhopper said:

I use 70 size for pretty much all techniques. I have never once come close to running out of spool with 12 to 15lb co-poly. Small reels rule.

Yeah but after stripping off line here and there you can start getting down to the spool. No?

3 hours ago, Rockhopper said:

I use 70 size for pretty much all techniques. I have never once come close to running out of spool with 12 to 15lb co-poly. Small reels rule.

I actually only have two bass reels now that are bigger than a 70. One is a 150 (Bantam) for use with 17-20lb line, the other is a 200 used for 20-25lb line for swimbaits and glidebaits. I sold all the others for 70's.

I had 12# co-polymer on my Salamandura 70. With 7/8 oz. lipless crank, the arbor was clearly visible so not much line left. I'm going to 30# braid (8# mono equivalent). I use lighter line on my 70 size reels and on Medium or ML rods. My STX-L says .30mm/145m on the box. (.0118/158.5yds.) I spooled it with 40# Sufix Performance braid (.33/.013) and have cast over half the spool with a 3/4 oz. spoon on a MHF rod. I wouldn't want to use a 70 size reel for that.

OP, I just set up a similar lure rod. I'm using an older 100 size reel with 12# mono. Don't think I'll need to worry about line capacity.

I’m running a Curado 150 with 15 Floro for the spinnerbaits and a Zillion for the bladed jig with 17 Floro.

I would say 100, but you dont even need to go that big. I can bomb a 5/8 Duo nitro and still have PLENTY of line. Youre not throwing a 3/4 chatter as far as that little lipless, much less a 3/8. I used to lean more towards 150 shimano and #15 Inviz for a bladed jig outfit. IMO the biggest difference is the beefy grips and (100mm) longer handle and not the spool size. Im constantly speeding up/slowing down, chopping, burn and pause etc and the longer handle can help.

I usually start throwing chatterbaits in Feb. 1/4 fished really slow, like a jig. As the fish get more active I would use heavier baits and heavier line/gear.

This year I stayed with lighter gear that I start with in Feb. I fish chatterbaits in cover(around wood), but I use a shorter rod that im more accurate with, because if I miss theres no getting that bait back. With my standard bladed jig outfit I really just rip grass and I can get away with #10 BG or #12 FC all day. I stayed with the Met 70/#12 FC instead of going to the usual 150/#15. The decreased drag with the #12 makes a big difference. Not just with quicker connections and longer casts, I feel like the bait runs better as well. Normally I dont like a 6 speed with a shorter handle for anything other than fine wire hook swim jigs and treble hooked baits, especially when using heavier (#15) line, but downsizing the line makes enough difference to where its almost even. With #12 you have to be patient and take your time if you get some fluffed line that does end up twisting. If you hurry to pick it out and kink that line, it can lead to future heartbreak.

I have no trouble setting the hook at distance with the lighter line, or catching up with a fish that "pushes" the bait. The narrow spool on the Met stacks line up quick, so the retrieve speed increases faster than it would with a wider spool, like a Tat 100 or the shimano 150s. If a bass is following that bait, I want her to commit before she gets too close and bounces. If that increase in retrieve speed gets a half dozen bass to react all year that would normally continue to follow and ultimately spook, its worth IMO. Or I could be crazy...

As always YMMV.

20 hours ago, Motoboss said:

Do you like the 200? Is the size feel much bigger than the 150 in palmability? (If that’s a word 😀)

I’m using an old “greenie” Curado cu200 for my swimbaits and considering a new 200M but don’t know if I’d gain anything in performance and definitely don’t want a bigger reel.

It's not that much bigger, but noticeable. 201k is what I have and it's been a great reel for me. I would think the 200M with the mgl should far outcast your greenie.

17 hours ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

Yeah but after stripping off line here and there you can start getting down to the spool. No?

It's honestly never been a problem. I do like to keep fresh line spooled every couple months.

I use a Metanium Mgl and couldn't be happier.

I’m using a Daiwa Zillion Crazy Cranker (4.9:1) for my chatterbaits with 14lbs line on Dobyns 736 cbglass mislabeled . I like to keep it down near the bottom as much as possible. With a faster reel, I tend to crank too hard and burn it through the strike zone.