CEOBBS Posted April 4, 2017 Report Share Posted April 4, 2017 Upon opening the box, found the action to be slightly bogged down due to over grease. After a couple trips this was not an issue. It's smooth as silk. The spool is narrow but deep. Breaking system is very easy to access with the flip of a switch and unhinging the door. Few things I don't like. The thumb button is very small and sharp on the spool side. After a healthy day of bass thumb and wet conditions it wasn't necessarily painful but annoying as all hell to press down and a little far away from the spool to engage it and have your thumb on your line. Also, the line guide stays stationary when casting. Some say this increases casting distance but there is also a downfall to this. Say you have to cut off a good section of line for whatever reason be it a birds nest or whatever. The line guide will not be lined up with where the line is laying on spool. I would prefer this line guide action to be similar to my nacl in which no matter what way the spool is spinning, the line guide would move horizontally. Once all the moving parts are synchronized though, she's a pretty mean machine. 8 out of 10 is what I would say it is. Basically took away one point for the thumb button and one point for the line guide. evans_usmc69, bassfiend72, gznuts and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountainryan Posted April 8, 2017 Report Share Posted April 8, 2017 I just got mine, was way slower then I though, I figured it was grease but good to hear it. Does the stiffness of the clutch (thumb button) get any looser? Seems pretty tight as well. Thanks for the review. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountainryan Posted April 11, 2017 Report Share Posted April 11, 2017 Took this reel out on Sunday, spoiled with 20lb sunline sniper on okuma sbx xh. This combo threw 8" hudds like 6" hudd. Super smooth took some brakes on to get good control. I am used to dial style cast controls and the fact that you can actually loose these little pieces is strange. Overall I'm pleased with this reel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CEOBBS Posted April 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2017 I'm used to the manual brake adjustment, my nacl has the same. Right out of the box I suggest keeping half the brakes on other half off and tighten the spool drag all the way. Then adjust accordingly from there. The button is still rather stiff on mine Shootprado 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nufo Posted April 17, 2017 Report Share Posted April 17, 2017 I have several trips in on mine and several fish on it (green bass). The real is very refined and very smooth out of the box. I was concerned that it wouldn't cast as well since it has a sealed system, however I found that it cast as good or better than any other reel. You do need to run 3 break blocks turned on. I am very happy with the retrieve ratio on this reel. it is slow enough to effectively fish wakes and soft baits but just fast enough to be able to fish glides without having to work to hard. As for the durability, time will tell. Ive got the 401 size coming to use for stripers and really big baits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BASS_SWINGER Posted April 17, 2017 Report Share Posted April 17, 2017 Shimano never disappoints Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanPerrey Posted April 25, 2017 Report Share Posted April 25, 2017 How is the torque and casting distance vs. shimanos calcutas ect?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MA Frog Man Posted April 25, 2017 Report Share Posted April 25, 2017 One thing to keep in mind for anyone who does self maintenance on their reels is that shimano is saying you can't touch the seals with any skin/metal/ grease or oil. Doing so will remove the coating on the seals. Just something to keep in mind especially if it's going to see salt water. Rogervang 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigpoppabass Posted April 25, 2017 Report Share Posted April 25, 2017 (edited) One thing to consider would be ease of takedown. The curados r easy. I got a Calcutta d and would not dare to touch it. I wonder where tranx stands....Btw, I once had a non Japanese made curado bud picked up at bps sale and I thought it was a dud. But it had same issue it was over greased from factory. Edited April 25, 2017 by bigpoppabass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountainryan Posted April 29, 2017 Report Share Posted April 29, 2017 I've been throwing a few weeks now, 8" hudds, deps 175s. This reel does smooth out and casts well on a okuma sbx xh with 20# sunline sniper. One gripe I have about mine is the level wind "clicks" on a slow retrieve. It's just something that's irritating doesn't affect functionality. CEOBBS 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MA Frog Man Posted April 29, 2017 Report Share Posted April 29, 2017 I've been throwing a few weeks now, 8" hudds, deps 175s. This reel does smooth out and casts well on a okuma sbx xh with 20# sunline sniper. One gripe I have about mine is the level wind "clicks" on a slow retrieve. It's just something that's irritating doesn't affect functionality. Not the level wind clicking. That's the anti reverse pawl making that noise. Perfectly normal for a shimano. You can take it out it it bothers you as you don't really need it. Our grease it until it doesn't move daminator and Mountainryan 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBaitThirty Posted April 30, 2017 Report Share Posted April 30, 2017 So would most you guys put it at a 8/10? Should I hold off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanPerrey Posted May 3, 2017 Report Share Posted May 3, 2017 Can anyone speak to how much torque it has fighting fish vs. shimano round reels? My 6.1 curado 300's don't have the torque I like but I'm very on the fence about getting a Tranx. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountainryan Posted May 3, 2017 Report Share Posted May 3, 2017 I love the reel honestly. It's buttery smooth and I have ripped back an xl nez rat foul hooked sideways and didn't have to work that hard. For a low pro reel (and it is very low sitting) I feel it has the torque. Could always get the power handle too. I haven't caught s fish with it yet so can't speak to that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max07sti Posted May 20, 2017 Report Share Posted May 20, 2017 Got mine Tranx 301 for swimbaits after researching it. Selling point was 79 dollars off due to being left handed. Love it so far need to replace the braided line the shop spoiled on it thinking I was salt water fishing. Other then that it's great Shimano did it again. Recommend one ortwo breaks if your good with thumb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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