Same issue happened to me with an old ambassadeur 6600 bcx, I sometimes have to push the thumb bar back up to make the reel work correctly. Without pushing it back up it wouldn't take in any line and would make a cranking noise.
I hang my baits on shelf with steel wire that I bend into a hook shape. Then when they are in use I have a eye surrender bait wrap, but the quality is low and and bends the tails on the soft baits.
Agree with all, I used to run a curado 200 but the gears and parts inside the reel were not meant for heavy lures. I use a tranx 400 so I can take it deep sea, and lakes, and the 400 looks a tad bit goofy, but I would rather have that extra line.
Deps 250 and hudd setup, I also use this rod for saltwater but I change the reel to a penn fathom 25nld2. Works good and handles the big baits nicely.
Shimano Tranx 400
Daiwa proteus 76 hf