Best under $200.00 reels?

Reels are the hottest topic for TackleTour. Everyone wants to know what the latest and greatest is and how they compare to the old guard. What's the best for light stuff, or what's your suggestion for heavy cover. Do we really need different retrieve ratios? It's all in here.
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Kurt L
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Best under $200.00 reels?

Post by Kurt L » Tue Jul 25, 2017 2:31 pm

Just a quick question, I have a Lews Tourney Pro (previous model), Tat. Type R CT and Curado 201I in that price range. The Curado is a year newer than the Tourney Pro but needed gears replaced already!
I like them all but of those 3 the Lews is probably the best all around, which I was kind of shocked about being a life long Shimano guy. If the Tat. was smoother it might have gone that way but it got me thinking what about some of the other brands?
Quantum, 13 Fishing, ABU Etc. how do their reels stack up in that price range?

Kurt

Kurt L
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Re: Best under $200.00 reels?

Post by Kurt L » Tue Jul 25, 2017 7:01 pm

I should have named this post "workhorse reels under $200" I'm a Salmon fisherman here in Alaska and about the only decent LP casting reels I can find are a few Curados at Cabela's and Jonny Morris reels at Bass Pro in Anchorage, I don't get to put my hands on anything else before I buy so input from you guys here at TT helps keep me educated!

Thanks, Kurt

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johnD
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Re: Best under $200.00 reels?

Post by johnD » Tue Jul 25, 2017 8:54 pm

I'd look for a Tatula HD or Tatula Type R , not the CT version , they have aluminum frames with aluminum side plates on the gear side.
Last edited by johnD on Wed Jul 26, 2017 6:23 am, edited 1 time in total.

DirtyD64
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Re: Best under $200.00 reels?

Post by DirtyD64 » Wed Jul 26, 2017 5:33 am

johnD wrote:I'd look for a Tatula HD or Tatula Type R , not the CT version , they have aluminum frames with with aluminum side plates on the gear side.
This, both my Tatula HD and original Type R are very solid workhorse reels. The Tatula Tacticals that Tackle Warehouse was selling are the same too. I think mine will spin (handle and all) longer than about anything I own, even though that isn't an appropriate test, it does seem they've stayed aligned very well.

JWY
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Re: Best under $200.00 reels?

Post by JWY » Wed Jul 26, 2017 5:52 am

Tatula HD is hard to beat in this price range. New HD 153-TW (slightly shallower spool cf. HD 150) in H and SH gears are out now. The quality of the paint looks much better than the original.

https://www.digitaka.com/item.php?item=756803

mark poulson
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Re: Best under $200.00 reels?

Post by mark poulson » Wed Jul 26, 2017 10:28 am

I have four Lews baitcasters, and they are still as smooth as when I bought them five years ago.
I use one BB1 for frogs and whopper ploppers, on 65lb braid, and have one on a swimbait rod with 20lb fluoro.
The two Team Lews reels I use for cranks and top waters.

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illini
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Re: Best under $200.00 reels?

Post by illini » Mon Jul 31, 2017 5:51 am

Iv only had mine for a few days but i think the curado 200k is hard to beat.

Cristo
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Re: Best under $200.00 reels?

Post by Cristo » Mon Jul 31, 2017 8:08 am

If you can procure one, I say it is still hard to beat the 50e style Shimanos, minus the conquest(more $$). Generally I have seen they can still be had for under or right around 200 clams.

grkbass
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Re: Best under $200.00 reels?

Post by grkbass » Tue Aug 01, 2017 7:26 pm

The Curado is the first reel that comes to mind. I also have no complaints about the Tatula CT.

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