Bait Casters

What is everyones favorite brand of baitcasters? i have two shimanos, the one crestfire i am extreamly happy with. it is not the smoothest but i can cast the fartherst with it. i have a shimano calyx (something like that) and it is so smooth but i cant cast it for the life of me, i tried to adjust it on the right side but that dont help and there is no break on the left side so i hate this reel. but just got a pflueger cetina. have not tried it yet. but whats everyones choice in reels

Garcia 7000 is what I use for my walleyes and flatheads!

I use the 6500 for sturgeon.

Shimano Curado.
DT

Shimano Calcutta’s, mine have been worth the extra over the abu’s.

Pal

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Shimano Calcutta’s, mine have been worth the extra over the abu’s.

Pal

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Same here I have a calcutta 400 I love and I like me Shimano Tekota 600 for flats and cats and sturgeon

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i have a shimano calyx (something like that) and it is so smooth but i cant cast it for the life of me, i tried to adjust it on the right side but that dont help and there is no break on the left side so i hate this reel.

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Don’t give up on this reel. From what I can tell, it’s got Shimano’s Variable Braking System (VBS).

Here’s a quick tutorial I stole from Shimano’s website:

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VBS is designed to slow the spool down as your lure looses momentum after casting. The VBS systems acts as a centrifugal break using the distribution of weight to create drag on the spool. This feature is designed to help prevent backlashes with your reel.

The VBS system is located on one side of your spool (This varies depending on the retrieve orientation of the reel; example right hand retrieve or left hand retrieve) There are plastic break weights located on VBS side of the spool, these break weights are capable of being turned on or off. If you move the break weight toward the axis of the spool (The center) or into the off position the break weight will have less influence on the slowing of the spool. If you move the break weight outward or into the on position it will cause the break weights to have more influence on the slowing of the spool. You can use any number (up to six, the number of break weights also varies depending on the reel) of break weights, in any configuration to obtain an optimal spool response.

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Here’s a view of what the weights will look like:

Oh, and I love my Shimaos. I’ve got Curados and a Calcutta. Also have a Pflueger Trion round reel that is pretty darn nice!

my vote is for the pflueger summit or president. i can cast them a mile, smooth retrieve, very light weight, and they don’t cost the $200 to $500 a shimano does for the same features. i’ve had mine for about 2.5 years and have never had a hick-up. very good, solid, dependable, reels. for bottom bouncing i have two quantum accurists with the flipping switch in right and left hand retrieve. no compalints there either. also have the pflueger spinning reels in the president and supreme and love them. i always like shimano reels but it just seems they have priced themselves out of my pay grade. just my two cents worth.

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Don’t give up on this reel. From what I can tell, it’s got Shimano’s Variable Braking System (VBS).

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One of the best braking systems out there. The only one I’ve seen that compares is Daiwa’s Magforce Z.

Love Curados and Daiwa Zillions

Not sure if your looking for a bait caster for bass or real fish (muskies, sturgeon or catfish)?

I got a 100.00 gift certificate from Gander Mountain for fathers day. Stopped at GM in Woodbury last night to look for a new bait caster to use for muskie fishing. My other reels are Garcia 6500’s. They have held up very well. I wanted to compare some of their other bait casters to the 6500’s. They had 1 broken Calcutta (none in stock and out of my price range anyways), the 6500 (miss priced for 99.00, instead of 89.00 they have as on online price), and a 6600 (in stock but not on display). They didn’t have any comparably priced Shimanos on display or instock.

For the money, I would recommend the 6500’s, but if you want to check them out along with other models, I wouldn’t recommend doing it at GM. I sure am glad my gift certificate is from their.

I’m a shimano guy. Calcuttas’s and Curado’s. I just wish they hadn’t messed with the old Curado Line. IMO it was one of the best values in the market. VBS, good drag and very smooth. All for $129.

I run Calcutta TE’s. They’re pricey, but worth it. Once you fish with one, you’ll never want to use anything else.

-Al

I am used to Curados. I have a Calcutta I LOVE for cranking & a DAIWA burner 7:1 I am trying to get used too.

OK. Just as I was complaining about GM, I get an email of a sale they are having for 20.00 off if you spend 100.00. I have the GM gift certificate that I want to use on a new muskie reel. Granted, their selection of muskie reels is poor. I ordered a 6500 C3 online for 89.00, got a spool of 80# Power Pro 23.00. Their discount rang up at 25.00 instead of 20.00. My total was 92.00 and I still get a manuf. rebate of 15.00 (thats 78.00 for a C3 spooled with PP). I think its a pretty decent deal but would still like to check out the Shimanos.

oh wow i took the spool out and adjusted those weights, no my favorite reel. i am a bass guy but like my northerns too so i have a few low profile and a couple abu 6500’s now none of which i could part with. thanks guys