Recommendation of First Bait Caster

[John_S]

My son is looking for advice on a first bait caster reel. Initially, it will be used for casting and retrieving crank baits and stick baits. Plans to use 10lb test, maybe 12lb. While I have a few bait casters, they are mainly for trolling or large bait fishing. ie I don't cast them that much. My only advice has been to get one that has large opennings so you can get the birds nest out easier! <br /><br />He is right handed, but since he is just learning, is it better to get a LH reel? It would be more consistant with the spinning equipment he has used. <br /><br />What does a flipping switch do? Is it needed to cast via the flipping method? While it is more important for jigs and plastic, just want to make sure it is not a nessity. <br /><br />Is a magnetic brake important for beginners? Most of the bait casters I do have, are the large round type with centrifical brakes. What he is looking at, are the more lower profile, bass type reels. <br /><br />Reels he has been looking at: Pinnacle Matrix II $80, Quantum Accurist AC500CX $70, and some lower end Plueger models. any recommendations? He has mainly been looking at last year models that went for $80-$120.

 

[CN Spots]

Re: Recommendation of First Bait Caster

I would avoid reels with bells and whistles (flipping switches, anti reverse switches etc) for beginners. Start him out with a basic reel. Most pros don't use reel with flippin switches so no, it's not necessary. A magnetic brake is a good idea for anybody. The left-handed thing is debatable, have him one to try at the store to see if it feels weird to him. Some folks love 'em, some don't. Most baitcasters are right handed, all of mine are, and I'm quite happy with them. As far as brands go, the one's he's picked will do fine (personally I hate Quantums, except when people pay me to work on 'em ) Try searching Ebay for one of the older Shimano Curados, they're going for around $60-$90 and are one of the better low-profile reels out there. Their pinion gear has dual slots to engage the main shaft pins and they are deeper than alot of other reels. What's this mean? When the boy accidently engages the clutch when the bait's still in the air (and he will) it won't tear it's guts out and will put up with considerably more punishment than other reels. <br /><br />imho<br /><br />-everytime I see your avatar I think your boat is sinking. <br /><br />spots

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Recommendation of First Bait Caster

For your son case I would go with the AC500CX because it has the magnetic brake that he can adjust and experiment with easily. The Pinnacle Matrix is a great reel at awesome price. You can't beat a Curado like Spots said, caused way less backlashes then the AC500CX but has centrifugal brake and kind of a hassle to adjust the brake setting. If he will be using it for multiple type of baits then a magnetic is a must since he will have to adjust all the time to match the bait's weight.

 

[John_S]

Re: Recommendation of First Bait Caster

While my son is off to college, he has a part-time job in the fishing dept at a fair sized outdoor sporting goods store. He has my perfect retirement job! He has been asking the guys in the fishing dept, but getting different advice. Some have recommended the quantum, but it seemed to be just from their prefffered brand vs specific model. There is one guy that works parttime and does many tournaments, but their hours haven't crossed in the last two weeks, so they could chat about it. <br /><br />Because of the above, he has been focused on the closeouts, from last year. I will have him check on the shimano curado, but I'd guess that the other employees have scooped them up. <br /><br />Ok, fipping switch, not important.<br /><br />The RH/LH decission might be made just by what reels are available. Just thought it might be better to start with the LH. I was thinking it was one of those things, if never learned the old way, it was better to start with LH. <br /><br />He was leaning toward the Matrix II when we last talked. Maybe the mag brake, will tilt it bac.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Recommendation of First Bait Caster

This totpic is frustrating for me, as I am right handed and I cast with my right hand and then switch hands and reel with my right hand. Now this is not just my choice, but the way baitcasting outfits are actually designed to be used. You are "not" suppose to hold the handle of the pole while reeling with a baitcaster, you are suppose to palm the reel and rod together. Even though I have seen "Pros" do it wrong. He needs to talk to that person that tounament fishes.<br /><br />If he learns wrong, he will be wrong forever. Its like when you see someone holding a spinning reel upside down and reeling backwards. I mean, whats with that??????? Talk about completly out of balance.

 

[Ron G]

Re: Recommendation of First Bait Caster

I love the curados too,i just order one of the citca and am going to try it,i even have 2 cheap shimanos and the've been fine for years imo you cant beat them.and for the casting i throw right with my right and swap hands i wish i would've started out the other way,but im practicing now casting with my left,good luck to him

 

[John_S]

Re: Recommendation of First Bait Caster

Bassin Fever,<br />Not a bassmaster here, just an ole spin fisherman, so please bare with me. When you are palming it, isn't your left hand doing most of the holding/control of the rod? ie reel and pole, especialy when reeling in crank baits. Setting the hook, both hands are involved, understand that. Being right handed, the right arm is usually a little stronger and quicker at the reflex. If I switched to left hand with spinning, my hook setting ability would be pathetic! <br /><br />Unfortunatly, they don't post everyones schedule. If he knew what hours the semi-pro worked, I'm sure he would stop in to talk. Maybe this week will be the charm. <br /><br />

<br />Its like when you see someone holding a spinning reel upside down and reeling backwards. I mean, whats with that??????? <br />

I've seen it many a time, in movies. Not too many "real" fishermen in Hollywood!

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Recommendation of First Bait Caster

Originally posted by John_S:<br /> Bassin Fever,<br /> When you are palming it, isn't your left hand doing most of the holding/control of the rod? ie reel and pole, especialy when reeling in crank baits. Setting the hook, both hands are involved, understand that. Being right handed, the right arm is usually a little stronger and quicker at the reflex. If I switched to left hand with spinning, my hook setting ability would be pathetic! <br /><br />

I understand what you are saying, but it isnt a problem as you generally pull the pole up to your stomach. I set the hook entirely differently with a spinning rod compared to a baitcasting. I also hold a spinning in my right and reel with my left. If you cast with your left on a baitcaster and reel with your right, or visa versa, you will still have to reposition your hands to palm the reel.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Recommendation of First Bait Caster

CNSPOTS I could not agree more with the older curado. Now that the new are out you can pick up brand new older models cheap. A perfect reel for a beginner that he will use for many years to come. I would stay away from the bargain basement stuff. Even experienced fisherman have loads of trouble with the cheap crap.<br /><br />As a side note I was at Cabelas today and handled the new curado. Many changes to it. Seems real nice but I just wasn't ready to part with the 200 bucks.<br /><br />I have switched to all lefty baitcasters.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Recommendation of First Bait Caster

your rod hand (left or right) should be holding the rod in front of the reel or else palming it. That's the balance point of the rod - do it any other way you'll get carpal tunnel syndrome.<br /><br />By the time the lure hits the water, I've usually got my left hand positioned on the rod. For hookset, think of a lever, with your left (rod) hand as the fulcrum and the rod butt as the lever - work it with your right (reel) hand.<br /><br />Just a suggestion. Also - the mag braking system is way better - centrifugal system you have to keep up with those little pins, and take the reel apart to adjust it. Can't imagine the advantage to that.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Recommendation of First Bait Caster

<br />Just a suggestion. Also - the mag braking system is way better - centrifugal system you have to keep up with those little pins, and take the reel apart to adjust it. Can't imagine the advantage to that. <br />

While I'm agreed with you on the convienience of magnetic brake but however, I have to disagree with you on which is better. Centrifugal brake works way better then the magnetic. You would never see magnetic in a Shimano. Even the most expensive Quantum (Tour Edition PT, Energy PT) don't have as much cast control as a Curado, I won't even mention Chronarch. For experience user, the high end Quantum would not make much of a different but would make a world of different for the inexperience ones. Oh yeah, Flipping Switch is a total gagget, don't need it. Have you guys seen the Daiwa Viento reel with the "twitching bar"? Now that's cool and useful!

 

[John_S]

Re: Recommendation of First Bait Caster

OK, I had to wait till I was home to check my inventory. I actualy have four bait casters. The Ambassadeur 5500C3, Diawa Millionare II, and Pinnacle vision, are all RH centrifical clutch only. I only use these reels on trigger rods, 6 1/2' - 7'. When retrieving with these, the butt is on or near my beltline, and hold the pole just above the reel. <br /><br />The reel I forgot about, is an Ambassadeur Maxxar. It is low profile, LH, with magnetic and centrifical brake. If I remember correctly, it was a $30 impulse buy. This reel I was never able to cast it consistantly. Tried numerous adjustments of centrifical and mag brake. My thumb never seemed to fit it correctly. It was relegated to verticle jigging in wood, where I needed a stronger line, and handled line twist better than spinning. <br /><br />Anyway, I just played with the flipping switch. It appears that all it does, is prevent the thumb bar from locking in for a cast. ie you release the thumb bar, and spool engages. I would have to build up the strength in my thumb, if doing that for any time period! <br /><br />One last question on the braking system. Be it centrifical or magnetic or both, are they mainly tools for the beginner? ie once your thumb is trained, it does all the braking? The reason I ask this, is generally on the three bait casters listed above, I have the centrifical brake set very light. Maybe it is because I am usually looking for max distance casts. <br /><br />Thanks for all the info so far. I will be forwarding all info to my son. Ultamately, it is his decission.

 

[Ron G]

Re: Recommendation of First Bait Caster

On the flipping switch,when its on and you push the thumb bar down the line comes off and when you let off the thumbar it engages automatically,you don't have to turn the handle non,this was disigned for short range flipping for as soon as your lure hits the water and a fish hits it all you got to do is let your thumb off and set the hook.if you cast with it on youll eventually rip the gears out of it.i dont use them myself.

 

[koolerb]

Re: Recommendation of First Bait Caster

I just picked up a Daiwa Advantage a few months ago; my first baitcaster, $60. Got some helpful hints on teqniques and just went out and started casting without much difficulty. I recommend the Daiwa. It's also got a quick spool change feature that's pretty slick. Twist a little knob, and the whole side cover rotates off exposing the spool. Now I just need a spare spool.<br /><br />What do you guys mean when your talking about palming the rod and reel together?

 

[skeeterboy]

Re: Recommendation of First Bait Caster

OK first off it will be VERY frustrating if he doesnt get a good quality reel to begin with. I would go with a curado IF you can still get one in the B series 5/2/1 or so or the 6.2.1 either one should be fine. Also I would also consider a Daiwa reel with MAG Z or V brake system since I find it to be a better cast control than what comes in the shimanos. Dnt get me wrong I love shimanos cause i have 11 of them and they are HIGH end along with curados and SFs. Pfluger makes an excellant "cheap" reel in the president which I would also check out. I would stay away from the quantum baitcasters, although they make better spinning than baitcast.

 

[John_S]

Re: Recommendation of First Bait Caster

My son called last night, so we did chat about the reels for a few minutes. He is going to check on his next work day (Wed), and see if they have any clearance curados left. He thought they were clearanced at $140. He is not sure if he wants to spend that much, but will look to see what particular models are left. I may consider the price difference for an early birthday present. Otherwise, the leading candidate is the MatrixII. He did think that the new Diawa's would be arriving soon, so the old would probably be clearanced soon.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Recommendation of First Bait Caster

Tons of brand new and used curado 200's on ebay brand new for around 100$<br /><br />http://sporting-goods.search.ebay.com/curado_Casting_W0QQbsZSearchQQcatrefZC6QQcoactionZcompareQQcoentrypageZsearchQQcopagenumZ1QQfclZ3QQfgtpZQQfposZ18054QQfromZR2QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ2Q QftrtZ1QQftrvZ1QQlopgZQQsacatZ36146QQsadisZ200QQsaprchiZQQsaprcloZQQsargnZQ2d1QQsaslcZ2QQsbrftogZ1QQsofocusZbs

 

[John_S]

Re: Recommendation of First Bait Caster

Flathead,<br /><br />Thanks, but in this case, it is not worth the "risk" and shipping/handling costs of ebay. The prices stated above are clearance prices, available to anyone coming into the store. My son will get 30% off on top of that (special employee day), and another 10% if it was a display model. Item would be new, with warrantee, too.

 

[Ron G]

Re: Recommendation of First Bait Caster

The price of a curado is 119 all day long at wal-mart or bass pro shop.the new curados which just came out are 199.00.

 

[John_S]

Re: Recommendation of First Bait Caster

Ron G,<br /><br />During lunch today, stopped at the local store, which is the same chain as were my son works. They had the following curados:<br /><br />Curado 200B $100<br />Curado Cu200b38 $120<br />Curado 200B5 $120 <br /><br />All standard pricing, not on clearance.<br /><br />They did have a Shimano Castaic 200 for $80, on clearance. <br /><br />Anyway, I assume that after he has a chance to check on Wed, that he will report similiar pricing.