Casting Reels

[Brent Martin]

Need some input on a good casting reel(target fish here are shorter). Unfortunately, I live south of you guys & am going to have to fish smaller rivers in NC where trolling is not an option. I gotta throw!! I’ll find the rod...I think, casting angler replies would be much appreciated.

[John Pensyl]

Cant go wrong with shimano tranx 400, beast 60 or a lexa 400. Every one is a fanboy of some sort and has a brand fav but ill say right now I know plenty of top tier anglers that use these reels and will all vouch for them and plenty of top tier anglers that have broken one of these reels and will preach against them. My beasts have been very good to me. I own 4 and have only broken 1 in 5 years. I also own a Lexa 300 I use for pike that is a bit noisy and rough these days but still going. Assuming you'll be fishing lots of gliders, pull pause and jerkbait style lures and not much in the way of hard pulling blades or deep diving cranks id say ur better suited with the high speed versions of these reels. Beast 60hs, tranx 400hs or lexa 400 7.1. Good luck and don't go cheaper than these reels or you'll just be replacing them when they break.

[Scott McKee]

Like John said, no reel is bulletproof. I am a fan of the Daiwa Lexa line chiefly because I picked up four of them way cheaper than retail on eBay. They are not the smoothest reels, but they have fared well over the years. That is until last year when my Lexa 400hd turned into an Abu 6500 from 1986 after a wicked snag while I was jigging. Now the 400 sounds like my back cracking when I get out of bed.

I've played with Tranx 400's. They are sexy, and smooth, but there was a problem with the drags slipping.

I've never owned a Beast, so I don't have an opinion.

I've heard good things about the Okuma Kamodo (I think that's what it's called).

Basically, no real is perfect, but if you stick to the models listed in this thread you'll be happy... for a few years. If you go cheap, you'll be happy until August.

[Scott McKee]

Here's a link to the new Daiwa Prorex musky reel.  Looks sexy.

[Stephen Glassic]

Looks reel nice!! Retail price is $319.99. No 300 size.

Last year I got a Lexa 400-WN400H but have only used it 2X. I like it so far. I got it for $200 offer on EBay (they wanted $249.99).

On this new model they upped the max drag from 25lb to 28.7lb and lowered the line capacity from 300yd (for the Lexa 400) to260yd for 40 lb test. On the PRX400H-P the crank speed is 37.6in/crank, mine is 33.4in/crank. And the model PRX400XH-P pulls a smoking 42.9 in/crank.

That new line guide looks cool.