Barra reel for wife

[NormC]

Kathryn has taken the big step up to using a baitcaster reel, and is even showing a serious interest in lure flicking as a serious fishing pursuit.

In Proserpine a few months ago, while visiting and fishing Peter Faust, we purchased a Penn IXORNE T-300R baitcaster reel for her. It was recommended by the local tackle store owner as his 'best buy' for our purpose when we explained that we were on our way to the Gulf for some serious salt water barra fishing.

While it proved to be a god reel for Kathryn to learn the fine art of lure flicking with, it was totally inadaquate for the intended task. This is a matter I'll take up with the proprieter of the business in Proserpine.

We are now in the market for a more suitable reel. The budget is around $250 give or take a little.

I use a Shimano Curado 200 DPV for Barra and it is a great reel. I also have Shimano Citica that I use for Bass and similar fishing, but believe it is quite capable of handling big Barra. Both of these reels are on my short list. The full short list I have developed is (along with the best price I can find on the net):

Shimano Curado ($279)
Shimano Citica ($216)
Pflueger President wide spool (($269)
Team Diawa Advantage 153 HST ($235)
Abu Garcia Revo STX ($249)

So which of these reels will give Kathryn the best bang for my bucks. We fish the impoundments and after our Gulf trip this year we will probably be back up that way again next year. So the reel has to be OK in salt water.

The rod she has is a Penn Pinpoint Tournement 8KG which seems fine for the task.

Her bithdday in a few weeks, so this looks like a nice time to buy.

Norm C

[cammac]

My experience with a Pflueger wasnt the greatest so i wouldnt recommend that brand . iM quiet happy with my Current model Curado nice reel!

Cam

[NormC]

Which Plueger did you have trouble with Cam.
I agree on the Curado though.

[Jeremy87]

279 for the curado? is that the old or the new model, i would say either the curado (old or new) or the daiwa hst. Alternatively an abu 5600c4 with a carbonex drag upgrade is a good cheap option.

[land-lubber]

the abu revo has been doin the job quite well, my personal pic would b curado or diawa reel of some description

[Steve B]

Norm, I have both the Team Daiwa advantage (supertuned) and the Abu Revo STX and fish Barra regularly in timber, edges and trolling. I cant go past the Revo Stx for performance, especially the size, drag and casting smoothness. the Daiwa is a bit prettier and performs very very well too. Have had curados and phluegers too. niether rate as highly IMHO. By the way the good old calcutta 200b are a great alround reel. for casting and trolling.....I just happen to have some for sale in the classifieds if interested..good starting reel, good price ready to go with quality braid.!!;) :D

cheers steve

[turley]

I have to agree with Steve in recommending either the Daiwa or the Revo. I personally own a Daiwa HRF(Japan model TD advantage HST) and it is little gem of a reel. Had mine for almost a year now and dont' have any regrets or issues with buying. Easy to use and very consistent, It just works everytime.

Abu Revo STX's have also been a very popular reel in the states. If I was to choose a reel from you list apart from the TDA, it would be the STX no question. Very strong drag and will arguably cast the furtherest (with a decent weight lure) of all the list you have provide.

[cammac]

Cant remember the Pflueger model i had and dont really want to remember it - too much free play although the reel was quite smooth - was a middle of the range model

Cam

[Annrina]

Hello NormC
I also took the big step up to using a baitcaster reel, problem is about every third throw I forget my thumb and the whole thing turns into a big tangled mess, much to my husbands digust! cause he gets to fix it. We are about to go up to Conway beach and fish in the Proserpine river & the dam, sounds like you have just been up there. We are getting a car topper racks and the boat this week, I have a posted a question below, I notice you already have a similar set up to what we are doing and we are looking for any help or tips on offer. Thanks Ann
http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/showthread.php?t=111193&highlight=Car+Topper+advice+please

[bundymal]

hi normc

mate i got my wife an all purpose reel she can use ,called a handline lol . Mate she cant use baitcasters or spinning reels so more money for my fishing gear .hehehe

cheers
mal

[NormC]

Hello NormC
I also took the big step up to using a baitcaster reel, problem is about every third throw I forget my thumb and the whole thing turns into a big tangled mess, much to my husbands digust! cause he gets to fix it. We are about to go up to Conway beach and fish in the Proserpine river & the dam, sounds like you have just been up there. We are getting a car topper racks and the boat this week, I have a posted a question below, I notice you already have a similar set up to what we are doing and we are looking for any help or tips on offer. Thanks Ann
http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/showthread.php?t=111193&highlight=Car+Topper+advice+please

Annrina, just read your response after a few days off line with 'broadband issues'.

I've posted a response on the thread you posted the link to.

When I got Kathryn her first baitcaster, I put and old lure without trebbles on it and had her cast it on grass (in the Peter Faust camp ground) for an hour or two. I started with the cast resistance pretty tight and slowly loosened it. I initially had her focus on her action and not getting backlash (ie don't worry about accuracy or distance). As I loosened the resistance, I had her focus on distance, then finally accuracy. She still has the resistance much tighter than me, but much looser than when she started. She casts 20 m easily now, which is OK. We'll continue to loosen off as she gets more practice.

One initial rule was that she untangles her own birdsnests. Hasn't had many, but I must admit she had a bad one at Borroloola that I had to get out for her.

I'd just say keep working on it. While Kathryn is still learning she has gone from not interested in flicking lures to an enthusiast. It is a great way to spend 'quality time' together.

I ended up getting her a Shimano Curado (same as mine, but with PINK braid) for her birthday, which is in a couple of weeks.

[saurian]

Norm , bought wifey a 200 calcutta.
She's caught heaps of barra even 10 kg queenfish, it's matched to an angler ultragraph 3000 , 6 kg .
Not sure on price of the little calcuttas but they are smooth and light , plus a little bullet proof.
TA

[Lovey80]

A new Calcutta 200B is around the $210 mark thats the best ive seen. If your patient watch ebay especially the US site they have some cracker deals occaisionally. Just remember to get a quote on shipping before you bid. Then sit back til the last minute and bid your max bid and if you win sweet if not you didnt get into a bidding war and pay more than you wanted to.


Cheers Chris