Bait casting reels ?

[gray gables]

What’s everyone using these days? I was watching some videos on the Shimano Calcutta conquest 200hg. Seems like a great reel, plus I like the round reels. 

[buddha162]

You can't really go wrong with Shimano or Daiwa, depends on what you want to do. Shimano centrifugal brakes probably bombs longer distance casts for most people. From the Curado to the Metanium and as you mentioned the Conquest 100/200 and the DC models...all are great casters. 

 

Daiwa SV reels are my personal favorite, specifically the current Zillion SV TW - probably Daiwa's most user friendly and refined all-around reel of the last decade, and if you go JDM models the prices are hard to beat. SV stands for "stress free" and it's a little choked on distance, but superb manageability in wind and for skipping - pretty much point and shoot reels for the beginner to experienced baitcast angler. 

 

There has been a lot of chatter online about Shimano's micromodule gears not holding up in several of their models; I have a friend who is on his 3rd set of Conquest 200 gears. Normally I would say premature gear wear is user error...but in contrast, not a peep on the newest Daiwa "hyperdrive" gear trains and they've been out for a few years now. 

[Lateral Line]

Sure, give me ideas.

Spend more on tackle, thanks.

I'll look for the sv.

Stay well and thanks!

[Bushleague]

My own personal philosophy, if its too light to cast with an Ambassadeur then a spinning rig will likely handle it just fine.

[Mack26]

I love the Lew’s HyperMag. Phenomenal reel, but will run ya about 3 bills. I absolutely love my Shimano Curado 200’s. Tank of a reel. There are alot of cheaper reels, but with baitcasters, it’s definately you get what you pay for.

[Seakarp]

Hands down the computer chippy versions of the smooth shimano

bait casters are the bomb. I have both the slx dc  and the curado dc. Of the 2 the curado dc is smoother.  The chip brake allows tremendous control and elimination of backlashes, if set right, down to an 1/8 of an ounce or even less. Take a hard look. I've been casting baitcasters and conventional reels for many decades. These are a significant advancement and beginner friendly as well.

[Matt7082]

I love Lews. They are real easy for me to dial in, and easy to continue adjusting when I make changes to my rig/baits. I do have a Curado, and it's nice! I like it a lot. I like the feel of the Curado in my hand better than I like the Lews, but the Lews are just so easy to get dialed. And I can pretty much bomb a cast with my Lews reel and not even bother thumbing the spool and not get a rats nest. As Mack26 mentioned, you get a what you pay for when it comes to baitcasters. 

[Mack26]

Another reason i love Lew’s is how great they feel in hand. They’re very compact, and easy to palm. I feel like it makes it easier to feel the balance of a rod. The Shimano’s have a little taller frame, and feel a little larger in hand, but are just butter smooth and built to last. Lew’s has a little larger selection of reels to meet your budget. Can’t go wrong with either, but if i had to pick just one, Lew’s gets the nod.

[R.R. Bridge Fisher]

I have been playing with my daiwa coastal in freshwater only because it never makes it into the salt rotation. Love the feel of it.  Buts it's a fast retrieve and I have to keep reminding myself to slooow down 

[gray gables]

I like the feel of the round reels while I’m fishing. Hence my fondness for the old round abu reels. I’m still waiting for the conquest to come into stock from the that overseas site. When it does I’m getting the 200hg model.