baitcaster reel reccomendations.

Guys iv got a couple lighter setups but I want some feedback on what reels I should look at for the bigger fish when I need the stopping power for big barra snakehead cod etc. What you lads using and whats the pros and cons of your reel. Looking for good drag with a good cast. Any feedback is appreciated.


Markie's picture

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Date Joined: 06/08/10

 ps price not an issue

Thu, 2014-01-09 16:18

 ps price not an issue

Vinesh87's picture

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Date Joined: 02/04/11

I'm running a Chronarch for

Thu, 2014-01-09 16:42

I'm running a Chronarch for barra. Small but still have plenty of stopping power with the right rod and a good thumb haha. Ive landed solid Barra on mine running 20lb castaway.

 

They cast brilliantly(all lures and plastics)

 

For casting big baits i use Calcutta 400TE!

Markie's picture

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Date Joined: 06/08/10

 iv got the scorpion1500 i

Thu, 2014-01-09 16:45

 iv got the scorpion1500 i want soemthig with 6/7 kg of drag plus thumbs now haha and to load it with 40/50lb

Vinesh87's picture

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50lb pretty heavy haha ive

Thu, 2014-01-09 16:54

50lb pretty heavy haha ive seen many barra over 1m caught on chrono's!

 

What are you casting ?

Markie's picture

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Date Joined: 06/08/10

 50lb purely for structure, i

Thu, 2014-01-09 16:57

 50lb purely for structure, i dont know havent gone out to buy any lures yet but will be doing snakehead trips in malaysia n thailand tis season so will be for the heavier lures

Vinesh87's picture

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Daiwa Ryoga ? PM Kelvintjy,

Thu, 2014-01-09 17:03

Daiwa Ryoga ?

 

PM Kelvintjy, pretty sure his mates are snakehead guides!

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Date Joined: 16/03/09

Shimano Tranx

Fri, 2014-01-10 08:07

Bought one just before Christmas and have used it a couple of times now. Powerful reel, a bit on the large side for Barra (it holds 450m of Pe4 with the drag to match) and would probably knock over most pelagics. I've used mine to fish plastics outwide and it hasn't missed a beat.

I tend to agree with Vinesh, hooked and caught a few Barra between 80cm-105cm with an old school calcutta 100 (as well as an Abu 6500c) and neither reel had any trouble (although on one occassion I did tear the top layer of skin off my thumb and it stung like a b!tch).

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Evolution 552X Platinum

JohnF's picture

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Date Joined: 07/07/10

Marko I have a Shimano

Fri, 2014-01-10 08:50

Marko

 

I have a Shimano Calcutta 400 with upgraded carbonmtex drag. The drag upgrade transformed the reel. I originally used it for jiogging but too slow a retrieve for that, it is a heavy duty barra reel.

 

I dont use it anymore, consider selling it if your interested. I have a Tierra carbon baitcaster rod never used as well if your interested.

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Boston Whaler 235 Conquest......getting the flogging it was built for.

Uluabuster's picture

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Date Joined: 12/12/10

Snakeheads in M'sia - most

Fri, 2014-01-10 09:18

Snakeheads in M'sia - most people use topwater propeller lure ( wooden frogs with propeller) but you can also sight cast for them using diving minnows when they are protecting their fries.

However, most lures used are sub 20g.

You need strong drag to prevent them from bricking you at tree stumps & timber but 50lb is an overkill in my opinion for snakeheads and that will impede your distance in casting those sub 20g lures.

Markie's picture

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Cheers johnny il look into

Fri, 2014-01-10 15:09

Cheers johnny il look into it. Uluabusta im just going by what the guides in thai abd malay and Internet say but iv always thought it was overkill.

damo6230's picture

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Date Joined: 07/06/08

Bait casters

Fri, 2014-01-10 16:39

 Got a Curado and Chronarch

Both good reels and both run 30lb braid

Pick of the two is the Chronarch but for the price the Curado is hard to beat

Mate just bought a J Dream and that is one killer reel and would be my next reel

Nothing wrong with thread lines and I use a sol 2500 and 4000

Grant Jones's picture

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Date Joined: 17/08/13

Shimano Calcutta 250 TE DC,

Fri, 2014-01-10 18:27

Shimano Calcutta 250 TE DC, best casting reel I have ever used. I own two. I have put them through a summer jet ski fishing, they obviously get very wet, rinse with fresh water after every session and they are both still working perfectly.

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Date Joined: 03/04/10

 The biggest barra caught in

Fri, 2014-01-10 19:57

 The biggest barra caught in Australian waters was caught on a curado, so no doubting the strength and drag on that reel.

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 Subway cookie is the best burley

Markie's picture

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 curado e ???

Fri, 2014-01-10 23:07

 curado e ???