Greetings from Southern New Jersey....

New to the forum, but have checked this site out for years.

I'm looking for my first baitcaster. Been doing a lot of research on the web, kind of leaning toward Daiwa, but will not rule anything out at this point. What I'm specifically looking for is a smaller "finesse" casting reel. Please keep in mind the type of water I fish, which is rarely more than 10' deep. I'm not looking to run huge crankbaits in 65' resevoirs, but occasionally will fish a deep sand pit.

I fish spinning gear, throwing a lot of soft plastic and shallow running cranks.

Just as an example, Bass Pro Shops has a Prolite Finesse model that would be perfect for me, but is not available in left hand retrieve (must be left hand ! )

The Daiwa Tierra got good reviews, as did the Shimano Citica.

The Daiwa Sol looks nice, but is over my budget (would like to keep it at around $125)

The main thing is that it must be able to throw the lighter baits.

Thanks in advance for any help.

The Pflueger President is an excellent baitcasting reel and the price point is about the same (sometimes lower) than what you listed. I have

fished the Presidents a ton with no reel faults to speak of.

You might even check BPS or Cabelas. Sometimes they have the President combined with one of their rods for somewhere near your

price point.

Here is a link to a review I wrote about the President 2 or 3 years ago.

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/pflueger.html

JT Bagwell

The rod will be as important or more so when you want to throw light baits.

I'd give the Shimano Curado 101d a look if you want small, light reel at a great price.  The MSRP is $200 but Shimano has a $50 mail in rebate for the Curado going on right now.  If you buy it online at baitnhook.net, it's only $160 before the rebate ($120 after rebate and shipping).  That's right in your price range for a reel thats quality is well out of your price range.  I think you would be hard pressed to find better reel for the price.  The best advice I can give is to go to your local Bass Pro or Cabelas and handle all of the reels that will be suggested to see which one YOU like the best.  I would never buy a reel without playing around with it first and mounting it on a rod to get a feel for it.  Good luck and have fun!  

Here's the link to the tackle tour review on the Curado 100.

http://tackletour.com/reviewshimanocurado100d.html

WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You will get great advice here.

Without thinking I 'd put up 25 bones and round to 150 and jump on a Curado ( 150 after the rebate ).

What Raul said.

I might just have to go with that Curado through Baitnhook.

I doubt that kind of deal will pop up again anytime soon.

Curado or Citica  ;D

curado or daiwa alpha i.t.o.