for X-mas my wife took me to tacklewerehouse and I purchased a new Okuma xh Big bait special ... but now i'm looking for a good reel to match it with,I can afford up to 125 ish'.Ihave a corsair 400(blah) for the set up for swimbaits i currently own,and because the corsair just isnt ever running quite right i'm wondering if the corvalus would be the same ? Also on a similar note anyone know how to fix my corsair ,replace the washers,etc..for a decent price?
thanks all input appreciated,
brian

If you like the 400 size, look at the Okuma Induron 400. $100

Also, within your price range is the Shimano Cardiff. $110 Shimano just released a "new" Cardiff this year. I don't know what's new other then the exterior finish though?

Cardiffs are going for $90 at Tackle Warehouse (www.tacklewarehouse.com) right now. It would be hard to beat that, although I hear only good things about the Okumas.

The Tica Caiman CA150/200 is a awesome reel for around a $100 (digitaldagger.com). Check out review at tackletour.com

deffinitly dont go with the corvalus. shimano sent me one when my catala broke and i hate it.

how do you like your catala? I looked at them,but wasnt sure if they were another trumped up corsair.
thanks,
Brian

>deffinitly dont go with the corvalus. shimano sent me one
>when my catala broke and i hate it.

Basskid, why did you hate the Corvalus?

If you like the 400 size get the 2005 Cardiff. it has dartanium drag system from what i hear and 4 arb's instead of the old one with 3 stainless steel bearings. and if you don't mind going done to the 300 size 2005 Cardiff is awesome but for the buck get the 300 model of the old cardiff, it is plenty big enough for swimbaits and is an awesome reel, i personally have the the old 300 and couldn't be happier (unless i had a TE):P

I'd recommend the new Cardiff. I have two Cardiff 300's and they have fished great for years. The only bad thing on them was the drags which I swapped for dartainium drags, but it sounds like that is updated in the 2005 model to dartanium drags - so now it should be sweet.

I also have the Cardiff 301 and it does have a weak drag system, I wonder if you can use the 05 Cardiff's drag and bearings?

Swimbait, is the drag same as the one you put in yours?

hm not sure. the washers may not be the same. the washer I used was from a Calais. Someone else may know this one.

I checked the Shimano website, the new part# for the 300 Cardiff is BNT 2567.

>I checked the Shimano website, the new part# for the 300
>Cardiff is BNT 2567.

i don't believe the website has been updated yet w/ the new schematics ... the part # you provided is for the older drag washer.

but to answer a previous question - yes, any older model cardiff can be retro-fitted w/ ARBs and dartaniums, though there are other le$$ expensive, more durable, & arguably better performing drag alternatives besides the darts, esp true if you'll be fishing in the salt ... }(

>but to answer a previous question - yes, any older model
>cardiff can be retro-fitted w/ ARBs and dartaniums, though
>there are other le$$ expensive, more durable, & arguably
>better performing drag alternatives besides the darts, esp
>true if you'll be fishing in the salt ... }(

Do you have a Cardiff too? Which other drag washer(s) can fit?

>Do you have a Cardiff too? Which other drag washer(s) can
>fit?

i have an axis 100 V2, the japanese saltwater version of the (older) cardiff 100. when the stock drag wore out, i opted for the extreme smoothies. they sell a direct replacement. or you could go w/ the penn ht-100 drag, not sure what size though. if you wanna try out the dartaniums, then order BNT 2137. any of these are a nice upgrade over stock drags, prob overkill for most freshwater applications.

which reminds me - using aftermarket drags may void the warranty, check w/ shimano first ...

How do you like the smoothie drag and what is the part#? and price?