Recommend baitcaster?

I’m usually a sipn cast kinda guy. What do you guys recommend as a all-around baitcaster for walleyes – casting/jigging – – around $100 range?

abu 6000

Cattin_Addict

A good suggestion on a quailty reel…

One of the Abu casters for casting… unless you want a flipping switch for bottom bouncers or 3-ways. I don’t believe Abu offers one. A 6000 may be a bit big for walleye though… check out the entire line and see which size suits your preference.

That would do it. A little over-kill though. I would look for a baitcaster that has anit-reverse and probably one that fits nicely in your hand. I have Abu Garcia 5000 and 5500 but probably wouldn’t recommend them for the application you are looking for. There are lots of low profile casters out there. I would go to the local Gander and see what you like. The Pflueger Trions are supposed to be nice. Those run in the $100 range. Quantum makes some nice reels that run in the $100 range too. Personally if I’m going to buy a reel for pitching plastics and so on, I’d stick with a low profile reel.

Yeah… for casting plastics for walleye, anything other than a high-quality spinning reel just won’t cut it. I was thinking more for casting cranks. Larger ones. Like bombers, Shad Rap RS’s Rattlin’ Fat Raps, Traps and such. I use an Abu in that application when the situation calls for it.

This summer I have been playing around with the Trion models from Pflueger. Very nice low profile reel that fits comfortably in your hand. I have mainly been using these reels flippin for smallies or pitching cranks to the wingdams for walleyes. The only gripe I have with the reel is that once a load is put on the reel, the thumbar is very hard to depress. I like to free spool when a big fish is by the boat on most all occassions. Sometimes I do not have the time to hit the thumbar if a walleye grabs a cranks as its just about to come out of the water.

I’ve yet to have a reel where the thumb bar is easy to depress when a big fish is on. Even those expensive Morrum reels I have are like that. I wish there was an alternative free spool button or switch on baitcasters.

I purchased a Quantum Accurist this past summer and have nothing but good things to say about it. It’s a very comfortable reel with a good gear ratio 5:3:1 (I think) Handles fishing in the slop, pitching jigs, just about any type of cast that I’ve looked for it to make. I picked one up at Fleet Farm for $95.00. Of course I saw it the next week at Minnesota Hunt and Fish Again in West St Paul for $82.00. I looked at both the Abu and Quantum reels. The Quantum reel just felt a little more solid.
My .02 worth.
Thanks,
Steve

Here is a product review I did on the Quantum Accurist PT baitcast reel, http://www.in-depthangling.com/reviewpost/showproduct.php?product=13&sort=1&thecat=31 . Let me know if you have any questions.

You guys are all fantastic. Thanks!

STEVE,
MY RECOMMENDATION IS THE ENERGY E600CX BY QUANTUM. CABELA’S STILL HAVE SOME AT $79.99. I HAVE 4 OF THESE AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS. THEY ORIGINALLY SOLD FOR $119 BUT ARE DISCOUNTED BECAUSE QUANTUM CAME OUT WITH THE PT SERIES.
I HAVE SEEN THE ACCURIST REELS BREAK UNDER PRESSURE FROM MYSELF, AND FRIENDS. I CAN’T REMEMBER THE PART NAME BUT IT WAS THE WEAK LINK IN THE INNER WORKINGS.
THE E600CX HAS 6 BALL BEARINGS AND A 6.3 TO 1 GEAR RATIO WHICH MIGHT BE TO HIGH FOR CRANK BAITS THOUGH.

I have a cheapy low-profile baitcaster that I picked up for something like $30 a few years ago and to be honest, it’s smoother and seems to cast better than a Garcia levelwind that I had. Could be the ‘true levelwind’ of the abu added enough friction to make a noticable difference. I have used it fairly intensely as a recreational fisherman for three years now and never had a problem that wasn’t my own fault.

I also have a Quantum US300 that is an excellent reel, looks and feels totally bulletproof in all respects.

My favorite baitcaster, bar none, is my Abu T 3600 C. They’ve been discontinued but that reel fits my “smallish paws” and never lets me down in any circumstance! I wish I had more than one! Anyway, for what’s out there right now, I haven’t played enough to really know who’s got the upper hand. However, just like Shimano’s got a pretty solid, overall dependable reputation, Abu’s are the same way. Don’t buy the cheapest one though……………some models are better than others and the “guy behind the counter” will give you all the feedback you need to know which is the best choice.

I also have a Pinnacle PK10 that has been truly wonderful but a lot of guys have had bad luck with this brand. I’ve never had a failure but I don’t put the use and abuse to them that many others do……………and that may be the difference. You can get those readily on ebay for $40-$50. These also cater to “smallish paws”.

Good luck on your quest…………….there are lots of great suggestions and selection!