Super Sized Baitcast Reels in Today's Fishing

Today's tackle is continuously evolving, with a major trend in the saltwater reel market toward design improvements to enable anglers to maximize the use of the braided lines that have become so popular. Every year you hear about smaller reels being designed with more drag, stronger gears, and increased torque, that fit magically into your hands for maximum comfort during hours of use.

While conventional-style reels have filled into this new niche by becoming smaller, baitcasters have filled in from the other side by becoming larger and stronger.

Originally, baitcasters were predominantly used in the freshwater market by bass fishermen and in the Gulf States by redfish anglers. But now, theuse of baitcasters has expanded to include offshore fishing for smallto medium-sized pelagic gamefish.

On the West Coast, the last five years has seen some of the best fishing in decades, with an abundance of yellowfin and bluefin tuna, dorado, yellowtail, and even a few exotics like wahoo. This great fishing has attracted a lot of new anglers into the sport, who have had to deal with a learning curve to handle the appropriate tackle.

One of the most difficult things to do in saltwater fishing is to effectively cast the conventionalstyle reels traditionally used to target these strong gamefish. With the increased free spool on many of the newer models, backlashes and wind knots can be a constant source of frustration. Some anglers move towards spinning gear, but more anglers are also now finding that the new super-sized baitcasters are a good alternative to the smaller conventional reels because they offer easier casting with fewer backlashes. The larger baitcasting reels offer an adjustable spool mechanism to control spool speed. When adjusted correctly, this greatly reduces the problems with backlashes and wind knots. The thumb-bar free spool mechanism and the direct drive click into gear offer anglers easy casting with the ability to directly put the reel in gear with a turn of the handle. These two features can give new anglers the confidence to react to situations that arise on the water. The new super-sized baitcasters have also been designed with improved gears to handle increased torque, plus drags that exceed 20 pounds of force in most of the models.

The key is to understand the limitations of the reel.

The super-sized baitcasters have become very popular for the run-and-gun style of fishing for foaming andpuddling game fish. It’s extremely easy to cast a popper or metal jig at these fish with a baitcaster and come up bit.

Smaller grade fish up to 70-pounds are the ideal target for the super-size baitcasters. If you encounter a larger grade of fish to 100-pounds, it will be a little more of a challenge. That’s not to say you cannot land one, but it will depend on the fish. These reels are still limited when it comes to the drag and line capacity required for bigger tuna, for example. You’ll also need to make sure that the rod you are using is up to the task. The point is that there is a time and place for everything and understanding that is the key to success.

The super-sized baitcasters are excellent reels to have in your quiver and can be used pretty much all the time under normal fishing conditions. Some of the best techniques for these reels are fishing artificial lures, basic cast-and-retrieve techniques, fishing with jigs on the fall, or casting smaller live baits to cover. One major benefit is the ability to turn the handle into gear for an instant hook set.

Some factors to consider when selecting a reel are max drag, line capacity, gear ratio, line retrieval rates, power handle options, and reel weight.

Max drag is what a lot of anglers believe to be the key feature of a reel. One very important thing to do is to fill the reel with line and put it on a rod with the line through the guides. Attach a scale to the line off the tip of the rod and pull on it. It’s super important to understand what the actual drag setting on the reel you are using feels like. These super baitcasters can produce way more drag than you would normally use. Testing it will give you a clear idea of what 12, 15, and 20 pounds of drag feels like on the rod. Drag settings are normally set at a quarter to a third of the line’s breaking strength. Drag will increase as line goes off the spool, too, so take this into consideration when setting your drag or fighting the fish. For example, 12# line has a drag setting of 3 to 4 pounds of drag, but as a fish takes more line off the reel, anglers may need to ease off the drag to prevent losing the fish until line can be regained.

As with any reel, line capacity can also be very important and is a function of spool size and line diameter. Fishing deeper water for game fish that like to take a smoking first run tends to warrant higher line capacity, meaning you’ll need either a smaller diameter line or a reel with a slightly larger spool. If you are targeting fish in shallower water that pull hard towards structure, you can sacrifice a little capacity for a larger diameter line with higher breaking strength. Lighter line means more capacity, so know what you are targeting and choose a line rating that is right for you.

Gear ratio is an important consideration based on your target and style of fishing. Lower gear ratios offer more power for fish that are pulling straight down, trying to get into structure. Higher gear ratios are for taking up line quickly while using artificial lures and keeping your rod bent on fish that are changing direction or swimming right at you. A key aspect of landing fish is keeping the rod bent, so gear ratio is extremely important. Which gear ratio you need depends on what you are fishing for and how you are doing it.

Speaking of taking up line quickly, line retrieve is also important depending on technique and the targeted species. A lower gear ratio means less line retrieved per crank, versus a higher gear ratio that equates to more line per crank. The result is a tradeoff between power and speed, so you’ll want to pick the retrieval that matches your technique. Fast-winding artificial lures would dictate a faster gear ratio like 7.1:1. When jigging bottom fish, though, having the power to turn their head away from the structure is paramount, which calls for a slower gear ratio such as 6.3:1 or slower.

The power handle is extremely important for comfort while winding and for increased torque. Paddle handles tend to have a smaller radius, or distance between them, which means you are winding twice as fast and with less torque for your cranking effort. With a larger knob and longer radius, today’s new power handles make turning the handle more comfortable and effective, giving you more torque for the same effort.

Reel weight is important when trying to put an outfit together and have it balance correctly. If the reel is heavier than the rod or vice versa, the outfit sometimes feels awkward and uncomfortable. Remember that matching the reel to the rod for balance will make your fishing time on the water way more enjoyable. The lighter the combo overall, the better.

All super baitcasters have a level wind feature that makes it easy for anglers to have an even line lay for casting and line management on the reel. This feature makes fishing extremely easy to retrieve line without worrying about winding line unevenly onto the spool.

The pros and cons of super-sized baitcasters

Pros

Adjustable spool speed for ease of casting: less backlash!

Thumb bar for instant free spool

Handle turn engagement for instant in gear

Level wind for even line lay

Ergonomic shape fits comfortably in the hand

Power handle for comfortable, more powerful fishing

Cons

Limited line capacity

Star drag mechanism is harder to monitor drag adjustments

If you presently do not have a super-sized baitcaster, you should add one to your tackle collection. They are comfortable and easy to use no matter what your level of expertise might be. Here are some of the best-selling models today, all of which are available in either left- or right-handed models:

Small spool diameter limits line retrieval and power at various gear ratios

Daiwa - Lexa 400HSP

MSRP $295.95

Key Features

Aluminum body Levelwind Power handle Gear ratio: 7.1:1 Capacity: 300 yds of 55# braid Drag: 25 lbs max Line Rerieval: 37.7” per crank Weight: 17.2 oz.

Shimano - Tranx 400HG

MSRP $299.99

Key Features

Aluminum body Levelwind Power handle Gear ratio: 7.1:1 Capacity: 275 yds of 50# braid Drag: 25 lbs max Line Rerieval: 37.7” per crank Weight: 16.5 oz.

Okuma - Komodo KDS-471 P

MSRP $259.99

Key Features

Aluminum body Levelwind Power handle Gear ratio: 7.6:1 Capacity: 275 yds of 50# braid Drag: 22 lbs max Line Rerieval: 40” per crank Weight: 12.0 oz.