Best baitcaster for $100-$150 ?

[Guest]

I've been looking at the Lews reels & there are many options. 

I have a couple 10 year old Revos, a Lews MB & pflueger president. I like them all but the Lews tends to backlash when throwing crankbaits. 

Many suggestions on the brake system? I love the MB for pitching jigs but it kinda sucks for long casting. 

I need to replace my older revos with new reels. 

The pflueger president is an older model that's new. I bought it off eBay last year. Excellent reel 

I just like the way that Lews sits in my hand better.

Any advice is welcome thanks 

[Al Agnew]

I suspect they may have changed it in the last year or two, but I have a Shimano Citica that I really like.  The newer Curado 200 also might be worth trying, at the upper end of your price range.  I also like the Garcia Revo SX.  And don't overlook the Ardent Apex Elite.

But I like the Lews reels a lot, too.  Get them dialed in on all the adjustments and they'll cast anything you want to cast, within reason.

[Mitch f]

24 minutes ago, TrophyFishR said:

I've been looking at the Lews reels & there are many options. 

I have a couple 10 year old Revos, a Lews MB & pflueger president. I like them all but the Lews tends to backlash when throwing crankbaits. 

Many suggestions on the brake system? I love the MB for pitching jigs but it kinda sucks for long casting. 

I need to replace my older revos with new reels. 

The pflueger president is an older model that's new. I bought it off eBay last year. Excellent reel 

I just like the way that Lews sits in my hand better.

Any advice is welcome thanks 

Haven't noticed the backlash on Lew's....but I don't throw cranks as much as I used to.

[moguy1973]

I have two sub $100 Lew's reels and they are my favorite reels.  They both cast a mile compared to my other baitcasters (a BPS PQ, a BPS Bionic+, and a Revo S).  Haven't had any issues with backlashes on either except when I have a leader attached to my Mach II with braid and my knot doesn't go through the guides well.

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

Diawa Tatula gets my vote. I have a lot of Lews also and they are great as well

 

[Guest]

I see where TW has the Daiwa Tatula marked down to $149. its kinda tempting but I wanted a 6:1 ratio reel.

I might call Lews tomorrow & ask what I'm doing wrong on the MG brakes.

[mixermarkb]

It's really hard to beat a lews BB-1 for throwing cranks, available in 5:1, 6.4:1, and 7:1 gear ratios. The centrifugal brakes work very well for hard casting, and haven't required a lot of adjustment for me once I get them set. If you need a lot of on the water adjustment the BB-1 pro series has an external brake adjustment instead of having to take the side plate off, but I couldn't be happier with the half dozen BB-1's I have on the cranking and topwater rods. 

[Quillback]

Tatula CT is $129.99 at TW.  I have the prior Tatula, came out before they CT and is now apparently discontinued.  But the regular Tatula casts well, seems to be reasonable as far as backlashing.  Good value for the money IMO.

[dtrs5kprs]

Anything from Lew's, down to the clam packed Walmart specials.

That MB is made to bomb cranks. If it's fighting you, it isn't dialed in right, to include rod choice. It's wasted on a pitching rod.

[timinmo]

There are so many good reels in the price range you have.  If you like Lews they have several in that price range.  Shimano has many starting with the Curado, which is on sale in some places.  Revos are on sale many places and offer several in your price range.  Daiwa's Tatula fits as does the Tatula CT.  Really for most it just comes down to brand loyalty and possibly a preference for one braking system over another.  Both Daiwa and Abu have premiums with purchase right now.  Pfluegers are fine reels that don't get the press of some others.