Bass Fishing Forum - Westernbass.com

Just wondering what kind of reel is most popular for swimbaits. I plan to buy two Powel swimbait rods, a H and a MH 7'11. Now I need two reels. thanks, any advice helps.

Try the new Shimano Curado 300 made just for swimbaits ! Its also priced a little less than some of the more popular models such as the Shimano Calcutta 401. I believe that some of the stores even have a $50 rebate on shimano products.

Just got the Curado 300 for a SB reel Friday -- Wife just found it and the Okuma rod/reel/line/bait last night all set up to go .......


She has almost forgiven me fully already and I think I should be able to fish with it by Tuesday. (I told her it was for Luke's DTT Tourneys. )


They do have the $50 mail-in rebate program going on right now and that was the biggest factor on me getting a SB rod..... Other than the rod I broke with a small Osprey.

TRUTHFULLY, GO WITH A GARCIA 5600C4 LESS THAN $ 100 LAST FOREVER........REALLY

Daiwa Luna



Elliott

For your Heavy rod you're going to want a good round reel with a lot of line capacity and stout gears. For your Medium Heavy I would suggest a regular low profile reel. What kind of reels are you using now? I try to stick with whatever brand I'm currently using. I like my gear to match and have the same feel.

Shimano makes the Cardiff. It's a round reel with strong gears and a lot of line capacity. It's only 85 bucks! Sort of a cheap version of the Calcutta. Great reel though. I heard a rumor that Abu Garcia is making a bigger Revo. This might be something worth checking out and maybe waiting a week or two for. I think an oversized Revo would be so much better than a Curado 300!!!

I don't know about the Calcutta 400's any more I have had more problems with these dam things. My Cardiff's have out lasted Both Calcuttas and I had the Cardiff's first. I have one Calcutta that just can't be fixed I guess. Been in and out of the shop since August and only used about 3 or 4 times max each time before going back . I am about to take a hammer to them LOL! My Cardiffs are still working but BOTH Calcutta's are down. I sent a message to Shimano and no reply AT ALL I can't believe it BOOOOOOOOOO
The Cardiff is not as smooth but if I can get two for the price of one calcutta and the cardiff's are lasting longer then SMOOTH means NOTHING but problems I guess.

Don.

Calcutta 400B OR 400TE - Best hands down if you are serious, Not to say anything bad about Powell, but the new Dobyns Mag Heavy is a nice lite Swimbait rod, and better than both the Powell or the Okuma Rods.

Don is right the Cardiffs are sick and will last you forever. 85 bucks! Now, how can you say the Dobyns are better than the Powells? That's absurd! They are both great products and I'm sure Gary would second that. After all, who designed most of the Powells...

Absurd?! Your right a Cardiff is way better than a Calcutta , if it is on a Tiger Stick and your fishing for rock cod. I own all three rods, and my opinion is the new Dobyns rod is a better rod than the Powell or the Okuma's, just my absurd opinion.

bassindon69 wrote:I don't know about the Calcutta 400's any more I have had more problems with these dam things. My Cardiff's have out lasted Both Calcuttas and I had the Cardiff's first. I have one Calcutta that just can't be fixed I guess. Been in and out of the shop since August and only used about 3 or 4 times max each time before going back . I am about to take a hammer to them LOL! My Cardiffs are still working but BOTH Calcutta's are down. I sent a message to Shimano and no reply AT ALL I can't believe it BOOOOOOOOOO
The Cardiff is not as smooth but if I can get two for the price of one calcutta and the cardiff's are lasting longer then SMOOTH means NOTHING but problems I guess.

Don.

and I thougt I was the only one with calcutta issues... my 401TE is less than a year old and I've had to send it back to shimano twice already.......they won't replace it and it's still not as smooth feeling as it should be

WOW! I have two TE's and eight 400B's and have had no problems! It has to be the water in the delta and Clear lake!

Robert do you do swimbaits only? NO. Thats why yours last LOL. Mine are the 400B but still for 200+ dollars I would expect them to last at least a year I was casting just as far as you with the Cardiff. I will by two Cardiffs before I get another Calcrapout LOL! I think I will try a Luna next or the Curado 300. Or am I not serious enough Just stating what I lived. You can't tell me it was just a dream LOL!!! I wish it was just a bad dream. Everytime I look I have over 400.oo of reel not working

Don.

The Cardiff can't be beat for the price

LOL - I guess my cast to fish ratio is just way better than yours!! I guess if I had kicked down the cash and had problems I would be pissed as well. Have a good morning, I am headed up after I drop the boy off at school.

Just got myself a Cardiff 401 and man does it cast a mile......still retrieving my first cast........anyway, great reel.

also have the 300 and it's a nice one too, however, the 401 is much bigger.

Quantum cabo. I got two and the have held up so far! Plus, they are low profile and don't hurt my hands!!

Here's some skinny on the Revo Inshore:

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewabugarciapreview08.html

Cardiff 400 series and a Dobyns 806MLSB is a beautiful thing!

I have the Luna 300 and like it very much, I did get it for my birthday from a good friend, that I have built several Swimbait rods for and was going to get one for him for Christmas, I can say this, that I have caught 2 bass this year using the Luna 1 that went 11 pounds and the other went 10.90 pounds, and I absoultley love the reel on my custom built Swimbait rod. Steve

I use Calcutta 300TE's, but they cost about 80 billion bucks. The 400 was too big for me to use with comfort. Now that there's a regular 300 I'd use that instead. I think you just borrow a few rigs for a couple casts, and see if you like it. Remember it's good to spend lots of $- you're stimulating the Ca. economy. [/i]

So it looks like It's between the Cardiff and the Curado as far as reels go and between the Powell or Dobyns rods. thanks again for all the help guys!

My sweetie(esin) bought me a Curado 300 and I hadn't thought about using one for swimbaits until I used it. Man it is the way to go.
Curtis

get the powell

I'm using a quantum "cabo", so far I like it and the price is right less than 150.00 It holds a good amount of 25lb line and it casts a mile. It is fairly low profile and comes in a lefty too. I have never purchased a quantum anything, so I'll see how the reliability is down the road, but I figured if I didn't like it for swimbaits I'll use it for inshore fishing.

Daiwa Luna is AMAZING!!! Very impressed. Shimano's quality I think has gone down. Go with the Luna, you won't be sorry.

I have a Daiwa Millionaire ( preLuna ) and its just awesome

I just got the Curado 300 and I do like it a ton, no real test on it but it does cast great and it fits my Dobyns SB rod ...beautiful