experienced barra fishos
Submitted by walkdady on Sat, 2011-11-19 21:09
Hey guys,
Just broadening my knowledge for the greater good. In terms of baitcasting reels used for chasing freshwater species, mainly barra. What is the best?
Im from a saltwater background and know that the saltigas and stellas set the precedents for lower models and other brands. What is the case with baitcasters? I have done some research and seem to be getting the idea that Shimano have the curado and chonarch as well as the core. Diawa have the Z2020H and the Zillion. Then there is the abu revo MGX which won the icast 2011 award.
What reels do you guys look to as the top of the line, what sets the precedent?
Marky
Posts: 420
Date Joined: 01/05/09
You've named some pretty good
You've named some pretty good reels there. All good but I think it comes down to personal choice in the end for barra fishing. I use curado 200 for trolling and flicking and Calcutta 400 (got the ratchet) which is good for nights live baiting.
Landed some decent fish on both. Value for money its hard to go past Curado's in my opinion.
walkdady
Posts: 77
Date Joined: 26/10/07
shimano man?
i love shimano reels myself, very reliable and exceptional attention to detail.
The new Diawa Z2020H looks the most expensive of everything due to the T bar design, looks amazing, but im thinking that reel refinement is key, and its a new feature....
Daisy
Posts: 789
Date Joined: 24/01/08
The Z2020H's big selling
The Z2020H's big selling point was it's 3D mag casting system, the new T3 models have this plus the T system levelwind, these are cheaper with frame and drive sideplate constructed from Zaion (similar advantages over ally as Shimanos CI4). If I was going to buy a casting reel purely for freshwater I would go magnesium such as Shimanos Chronarch Mg or Core, Daiwas Steez or Pixy 68R or Abus Revo MGX. Upgrade Shimanos drag to Carbontex (both the Daiwas and Abus have gone to a carbon weave mat system) and load them with a fine diameter 20lb braid such as Daiwa Hyper 8 or Berkely Whiplash and they'd be just the thing for casting and catching all day. It's a bit like Holdens and Fords but I prefer Daiwas for their external cast control, superior drag out of the box (finally with their Ultimate Tournament Drag) and overall feel and finish of their high end gear.
The view expressed in this post is that of a self opinionated bullshitter and does not reflect that of this website, it's owners, mediators, other members or anyone else for that matter :-P
LC8TY
Posts: 22
Date Joined: 04/09/11
The Shimano Calcutta series
The Shimano Calcutta series would be the bench mark baitcaster reel, straight out of the box they will handle any barra and will do so for years. Just about every person I've fished with in the Kimberley and NT has one, sometimes two or more. I had three but recently sold an old 250 and 400 after many years of service and plenty of barra.
Most of the barra fishing I do is casting lures around snags, rockbars etc and I prefer the low profile reels when your doing it all day, they fit into the palm of the hand better. My favorite is a Chronarch (the older gold colour), 20 lb fireline and a 4 kg GLoomis rod, very light but still have the power to turn a meter barra's head when it's rampaging towards the wood work.
I also have a couple of Diawa baitcasters ( I forget the models) and they are good too but they haven't seen the amount of use and abuse that the Shimano's have.
cudbfishn
Posts: 1311
Date Joined: 06/04/09
If price isnt an issue the
If price isnt an issue the shimano calais digital cast would be nice, i think this reel is the pinnacle shimano baitcaster it was $800 last time I looked. Im a shimano man myself and I have 2 chronarchs.
Kyle Evill
Posts: 72
Date Joined: 21/09/10
sarwatdee khrab
bkkguy's setups look really good.
http://fishwrecked.com/forum/out-smart-fish-another-mama-toman-bkkguy
he is stopping similar fish in narrow water.
i like rounded overheads because they feel a little more "alleviating" when you have the side plate in your left hand under load.
its personal preference.
both daiwa and shimano have amazing low profile and rounded jobbies
but.... daiwa gets my tick
Daisy
Posts: 789
Date Joined: 24/01/08
The Ryoga/Pluton or Calcutta
The Ryoga/Pluton or Calcutta Te's are terrific for pulling big fish out of heavy cover such as Snakehead out of weeds/reeds or Barra out of the wooded areas of the east coast dams and while they cast very well (I can cast spearheads on my Pluton 200) they are very heavy for casting all day. Even Ryogas 1016 (like BKKs) or Calcuttas 100/200 TE (smallest of both these models)are too heavy IMO.
The view expressed in this post is that of a self opinionated bullshitter and does not reflect that of this website, it's owners, mediators, other members or anyone else for that matter :-P
alfred
Posts: 3097
Date Joined: 12/01/07
Bkk's Ryoga is on top of the
Bkk's Ryoga is on top of the top of the line stuff, so make sure you have a few coins in your pocket.
nico
Posts: 226
Date Joined: 17/08/10
I like the Calcutta reels
I like the Calcutta reels 200,400 and Abu Garcia C4 reels bigger spools than low profil; hold a lot line so very universal i use this gear out on the reef as well awesome fun .
In Mocean
Broome Time
Posts: 8
Date Joined: 09/11/11
I find curado 200 perfect for
I find curado 200 perfect for what I do flicking lures and trolling but prefer calcutta 400b for live baiting same as Marky has the rackets and holds a bit more line
Billcollector
Posts: 2086
Date Joined: 16/05/09
I like my Calcutta 300te for
I like my Calcutta 300te for live baiting, trolling and shallow water jigging, it has heaps of grunt but for casting all day can't beat a low profile like the Curado
walkdady
Posts: 77
Date Joined: 26/10/07
quality
thanks for the replies. all good stuff. Heres a few more questions. Baitcasters seem to be the lest refined reel of any type, they seem to have alot of problems with being re-used time and time again, season after season. Maybe due to the fact they have soo many moving parts and fragile peices. In terms of the low profile baitcasters, which reel would you consider to have the most refined designed for the purpose of freshwater fishing. Calcuttas and ryogas seem to hit this mark. but as far as low profile reels go??
Daisy
Posts: 789
Date Joined: 24/01/08
Well for the ultimate in
Well for the ultimate in supertuned and refined freshwater reels there is only one name, Megabass, either the Jaggler or Cover Hacking models. The Pixy 68R out of the Daiwa stable and the Core or Antares DC from Shimano.
Regular servicing should take care of any issues.
The view expressed in this post is that of a self opinionated bullshitter and does not reflect that of this website, it's owners, mediators, other members or anyone else for that matter :-P
Billcollector
Posts: 2086
Date Joined: 16/05/09
Don't have problems with them
Don't have problems with them if you look after them and get them serviced by someone that knows what they are doing. Mine go back to shimano yearly.
crasny1
Posts: 7003
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Have can you beat British Racing Green (BRG)
For value and power (remember you dont have to overpower a Barra) cant beat the Curado for price and power. Acoounted for a number of Mackie floating sporty down the back.
Neels
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
walkdady
Posts: 77
Date Joined: 26/10/07
im sure!
most reels will last a while if you get them serviced yearly, but when i say that baitcasters arent as refined i am refferring to the like of the stellas and saltigas of the SW concepts, which cop a hell of a lot more of a battering, and still work faultlessly time and time again, without a service. To my understanding this is what makes a reel the best, to have been refined so much that it has the design to be faultless, every time, all the time. Closest baitcaster to this looks like the diawa zillion or the shimano calais DC? am i getting closer to the best???
Daisy
Posts: 789
Date Joined: 24/01/08
Erm still plenty of failures
Erm still plenty of failures among those reels mentioned, to believe there's no servicing required is a misnomer, I've serviced and repaired plenty of Stellas/Saltigas. Their higher tolerances and better materials do make them more durable but certainly not completely faultless. When you're talking about Robust and durability of design in baitcasters the round profiles are king with the Pluton/Ryoga(Ryoga being the JDM model coming in 200 and 100 sizes) and Calcutta TE/Conquests(Conquests are a JDM model with a higher bearing count), in the Low pros your probably hitting the nail on the head with the Calais (In Japan they are the Antares which are a bit better again) but the Daiwa Z2020H would probably beat the Zillion with it's gearing coming from the Pluton/Ryoga.
The view expressed in this post is that of a self opinionated bullshitter and does not reflect that of this website, it's owners, mediators, other members or anyone else for that matter :-P
walkdady
Posts: 77
Date Joined: 26/10/07
cheers daisy!
yer i realize stellas and saltigas still need to be serviced, but i am referring to the amount of wear and tear they can take between services, which seems alot greater than low profile baitcasters. The Plutons look like they are also the goods in regard to a basic design which use the best materials to make it an outstanding workhorse. With the low pros, i only say zillion above the Z2020h as the new design on them could be a great idea but it just doesnt seem to be the most durable looking real, just those few extra moving parts look like they could become an issue.?
Vinesh87
Posts: 2751
Date Joined: 02/04/11
Zillion for the lighter bc
Zillion for the lighter bc and a Pluton for the extra grunt and live baiting.
The zillion and calais are both very good reals, and great for casting over and over and over with accuracy!
Just my 2c
predetec
Posts: 17
Date Joined: 29/10/10
my next bc will be a calcutta
my next bc will be a calcutta 250te dc - mates got one and I get jealous every tim e I see it.
i mostly use a curado 200 and a calcutta 400te - the curado is about 5 years old and is still going strong so not sure what issues you have been hearing about? Any te calcutta would be a good investment but if your just getting into it go for a cheapish Abu 5600 or 6500 round style reel and youll be fine.
damo6230
Posts: 2029
Date Joined: 07/06/08
Barra Reels
Got a chronach and curado for flicking, trolling. Only real reason for my choice was $$ as I picked them both up cheap but new. Cant complain but if I buy baitcasters new again then I'd go left hand wind and start my search from there. I'm a diawa spin reel person but as above shimano baitcaster presently due to cost of reels.
For live bait, which is very rare for me, then I have a ABU 6500c3 which I bought in 2002 and she has pulled plenty of fish. The reels are simple and bullet proof for the price.
But I just had a mate build me a custom rod which is a St Croix and I run a sol 4000 on her. She's a stump puller of a blank (12-25lb) but I use if offshore also and that is what I wanted up here. It has totally reinvigerated my preference in using spin reels and I may just replace baitcasters over time with spin equivalents. I have a Loomis 3-6kg rod and sol 2500 for lighter Barra