Low profile bass reel recommendations

Question for you bassers...
Having never used a low profile reel myself, what reel(s) would you recommend I look at for chasing bass?

Okuma Alumina series are great lil reels, but then so are the smaller Shimano spinners.. guess it depends on which is your preference. i know you can pick up the small Shimanos in the Freddies sporting goods areas..i got my alumina at the local Joe's in Puyallup... and of course, don'tforget to look at the abu garcia combos too.. have a 10 yro abu that was made under contract to browning and it is still running great..

I personally like spinning reels for bass fishing. Never really understood the allure of a low pro reel. The Shimano Sedona has always been my fav.

Z

I have a Sedonna 2500 and a couple of Sonora 4000 reels already. It sounds like I can easily start with these. I'm looking forward to learning a bit about bass fishing this spring when the water warms a bit. It would be nice to actually bring some fish home for a change. The local Willy bass aren't exactly table fare, unless you're into toxic food.

jay,
also pick up the feb. issue of infisherman magazine..it's their bass busting issue.. plenty of good tips and tech there...also, i think there are about 3 dozen bass related sites here on the web that can help.. doesnt take a lot of new gear, just a refinement of your lures and presentations

I personally like spinning reels for bass fishing. Never really understood the allure of a low pro reel. The Shimano Sedona has always been my fav.

Z

It's all about cast control.  You can thumb the spool during a cast to shorten the distance and place your lure exactly where you want it.  In a spinning reel the line generally is not under control, although with a little practice you can use your non-casting (reel) hand.

A secondary reason is better control and power during retrieval.  A good spinning reel however will make up for most of this.

Brian

I agree with Brian and Richard; a good spinning reel is all you really need for casual bass fishing.  I have a Daiwa Megaforce that sn't too bad and is moderately priced with features normally found in higher priced reels.  They take a while to get used to and require patience to learn.  Most of the techniques requiring low-profile baitcasting reels are a PIA to do sitting down in a yak, but even deadlier if you can do it.  Bass Pro has a decent tutorial in their fishing library that may be worth a cursory look.

I have found that most of them over about 60-70 bucks are pretty good reels.  My favorite is Shimano Curado though and they run more, but they are very easy to cast the lightest of baits.  That said I have a Shakespeare Dimension that is a very capable reel and it was only about 40 dollars.  Field and Stream had them in a gear review and every one of the product testers raved on them and it got the best value award.  So I decided to pick one up and try it and there is nothing wrong with it.  Well I would only give the drag a B- but it is plenty good for smallies and largemouth.  It's kinda like asking people what's the best gun, if you ask a hundred people you'll get a hundred different opinions.

It's all about cast control.  You can thumb the spool during a cast to shorten the distance and place your lure exactly where you want it.  In a spinning reel the line generally is not under control, although with a little practice you can use your non-casting (reel) hand.

A secondary reason is better control and power during retrieval.  A good spinning reel however will make up for most of this.

Brian

Interesting. I think I come from an old school background where your placement is all about your cast and not reel control. During retrieve I've always depended on my drag and if it didn't do the job, palmed my reel. Kinda like fly fishermen do.

It sounds like an easier operation w/ a baitcaster and would love to give it a try. Guess I'll have to pick one up someday.

Z

Another thing to consider is line twist.  Spinning reels by their very nature put a little twist in the line whereas casting reels don't.  Casting with a spinning reel can also cause your lure to tumble a bit making casting accuracy and presentation a little off.

For light lures and light line, I like to use a spinning reel.  For anything above 1/2 oz or that uses 10 lb+ test I like to use my casting reels if possible.

I also have better luck using my casting reels standing up and seem to do better casting with spinning reels while sitting in the kayak.

Brian

Interesting. I think I come from an old school background where your placement is all about your cast and not reel control.

Z

 

That struck me as funny, as baitcasters have been around a lot longer than spinning reels. I can remember fishing as a kid with my grandfather (in the '60s), who considered spinning reels to be new-fangled contraptions. I had a bunch of his hand-me-down baitcasters long before I had a spinning reel. Thumb control was everything, as those old reels didn't have the fancy magnets and everything else that's used now to prevent bird's nests.Spinning reels didn't become common until post WWII.

Oh yeah, higher line capacity and better drag (esp when comparing casting reels and spinning reels of the same price).

As for spinning reels coming after casting reels, yep I think my first spinning reel was the classic French Mitchell 300.  I think my Dad and Grandfather had them on all of their bass/panfish/walleye rods.

Brian

On Ifish, someone said they'd sell me a Curado 201 (lefty!!!) for $100. This has been reported as a good price if the reel is in good shape.  Since I'm still fairly new at fishing generally, much of my gear has been purchased used. Are there any places in Portland that sell used fishing gear?

Jay

On Ifish, someone said they'd sell me a Curado 201 (lefty!!!) for $100. This has been reported as a good price if the reel is in good shape.  Since I'm still fairly new at fishing generally, much of my gear has been purchased used. Are there any places in Portland that sell used fishing gear?

Jay

Have you checked the pawn shops?

On Ifish, someone said they'd sell me a Curado 201 (lefty!!!) for $100. This has been reported as a good price if the reel is in good shape.  Since I'm still fairly new at fishing generally, much of my gear has been purchased used. Are there any places in Portland that sell used fishing gear?

Jay

Have you checked the pawn shops?

I was under the impression that Oregon law prohibits pawn shops. There is a 'consignment' store in McMinnville but I've never seen any fishing gear there. I don't know much about what is actually in Portland though as I commute here only for work.