Whats a good baitcaster for a beginner?

[T R ☆ Y]

I've been fishing all my life and the past couple of years I've been meaning to pick up a baitcaster. I did some research and I've got my sights on the Shimano Citica 200E. Or should I just go with the Curado, because it is much better with lighter lures?

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewshimanocitica200e.html

It's not too advanced like the Curado, so it won't be as hard to learn on, but it's good quality, so i won't get discourage by a crappy reel.

Also looking for a decent rod for it.

Any suggestions or ideas?

[Andrew Martin]

i been using a baitcaster for a while now and i found that the more advanced once are just more of a pain to use. any bait caster that is over 150.00 is just going to guve you problems, because they have hightech breaking systems that u have to adjust for your needs. I own 2 Pflueger criterion and 1 Pflueger Presidential and I find them to work the best for me. They are far more easy to use them most others.

[Jesse]

well if you hadnt mentioned lighter lures, i would have said the Abu Garcia 5600 C4(89.95) theyre a little heavy and dont do great with light lures but the damn things are indestructable. as for something to handle your lighter work, id go with one of the mid to high end pflueger(150.00-200.00) they handle little shad raps and stuff really well. If youre fishing alot of crankbaits and spinnerbaits go with a 7M. if worm fishing or fishing in vegetation go 7MH

[T R ☆ Y]

I'll have to check out some Pfluegers, I've heard alot about the Abu Garcia's with anti-backlash, being good for beginners.

[Andrew Martin]

backlash will get u every time no matter what baitcaster u have.

[Justin]

yeah i do have to agree, pfluefers are def the way to go, ive had them since i started using a baitcaster, about 5 years ago, and they are by far the best. ive tried abu garcias but they are too big for me, and well whatever kind u get, just make sure the braking system is adjustable from the OUTSIDE!!!

[Corey]

My curado super free is one off my faverit bait casters. Butt for a beginner you might want something with a magnetic braking system. Mine has the pin breaking system and was the most diffacult part to get used to. If the new curados have magnetic I deffently recamend it. But No matter what ya get make sure you take the time and get the basics by practicing at home with it. My first bait caster I got I bought it took it out and didnt fish cause I was to bizzy picking out bird nest. And also don't pick a windy day to learn.

[T R ☆ Y]

Well I went and got the new 2009 Curado 201E7. Cost me $179.00 and is definitely worth the money. It only wieghs about 7 oz. and man can this real cast far. This was my first time using a baitcaster and I'll say this reel was very easy to get used to. It uses the VBA (Variable Break System), and had 6 breaks all together. I put them all on and started taking one off at a time as i got used to the casts. I was able to get down to just one break before I gave into the freezing ass weather. I couldn't feel my hands and I was casting into the wind the whole time. I love the reel though, it's Very smooth, light weight, casts a mile, even good with light lures, I was using only 1/8 oz spinnerbait and casting into the wind with no problem, and it's a very good looking real.

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewcuradociticapreview09.html

[Joshua Reid]

If your wanting to save sum bucks,go to Walmart.They sell Pinnacles for about 50 bucks and there not bad.Actually there pretty dependable since my 8 year old has about 6 of them and loves to lay them in sand,dirt,mud etc.Until a couple of years ago, I always threw curados and a couple of citicas.I liked the citicas for crankin due to the gear ratio.Cant beat a curado.I beefed up to Chronarchs and really love them.The Chronarch MG is the bomb on a G-loomis IMX 6;6 MEDIUM.You can feel a fish fart basiclly with that set-up.By far my favorite rig.Small,light but so much strength in the ass end of that setup

[BEASTIN ONBASS]

Quantum PT Tour Editions...the more expensive the reel the further it will cast and the smoother it will be...i rip my reels down every year and clean and relube them completely...my quantums were sealed so tight no water ever entered the inner cavity of the reel...this was the first time I had ever seen anything like this...i have used every brand name reel you know and probably some you have never heard of...and I came back to Quantum every time...i promise you wont be disapoited!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mark Burks]

You can also do yourself a favor by looking at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's. The extreme series is very good (they resemble Pfluegers, so I'd wager that's who makes them for BPS).

Some of the Cabela's baitcasters are made by Daiwa (for example, the Prodigy series), and are rated very high.

[ron]

i personally like pflueger for baitcasters but what i noticed with fishing is its a personal prefrence. what works good for o ne may not be good for another. i have over ten baitcasters and rods depend really on what type of fishing you are doing. for my big swim baits i got a 7ft heavy . i like st croix products alot but i must say i have alot of custom rods that i use each in different situations. hope this helps.

[Dennis Waters]

I go with the Curado I start with the green ones once you use them it so easy to cast different weighs and sizes of baits. Maintenance is little if any used mine for 6 years and never have taken any of them apart works like the day I got him. Just my two cents Denny