I pretty much narrowed down my reel choice for my California Calico Special. I am in LA county can drive to OC or mail order.

Try E-Angler or the TackleDirect websites or just do a search in Google. I think they're running between $170 and $210.

Bearcat:
I have both the CVX and CVZs. Both are great for light tackle. Sailfish have been caught on the CVZ and I've caught yellows and albies on the CVX. I assume you would use the 300 series for the higher line capacity. I would go with the CVX. You save a little money and it's still a great strong reel. It has the ball bearings where you need them and not where they can just cause problems when they finally do get a little slow and corroded. Ebay would be a good shot at a great deal. Or, I thought I recently saw them on sale at Turners(?). Either way they are both top of the line reels.
Bill

LIVE TO FISH!
www.fishsandiego.com

Hi Bill,

What are the sizes of your CVZ and CVX? I am trying to decide on either of these reels and between 300 and 253. I know both of them make left hand cranks which is what I like even though I can right hand crank but just don't like to change hands after casting.

Bearcat:
I use the an assortment of all the CVZ and CVZ reels from the CVX103 to the CVZ and CVX300. The 300 holds the most line if you need it. The others all have the low line capacity spools. It's to help you not waste line, but sometimes you need it! All but the 300 series do come in left hand. Be sure of what you think you need, they're too expensive to buy the wrong one. Go somewhere where you can handle them. Even put them on your rod and see how they feel. The 253 holds about 200 of 15 pound, which would be fine for swimbaits for calicos, but if fishing bait, I might want more line in case I hang something big...the 300 holds 300 yards of 15 pound. Hope I haven't mixed you up.
Bill

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpageRLCDAIWA-DMCVX.html

I need a leftie

cool, sorry I didn't catch that part. reading too fast :)

I went to Sav-On Tackle yesterday and checked out the baitcasters and I really like the CVX which matches the color of my rod very good but he told me they don't make a leftie on that reel, they do make it in the CVZ but need to order one. I needed a reel to fish on Monday. So my next choice went to the Calcutta but the biggest leftie for the Calcutta is a 251 which is too small. Since I needed to have a reel, so I picked the Cardiff 301 which is a perfect size for me. Anyone ever used this reel?

Ps.Too bad they don't have a CVX 253 LA(leftie):-(

I have a couple cardiff 300's (right hand but same reel as 301). They are good reels. They don't cast super easy. What I mean is, they backlash like a mo-fo if you aren't used to them. But once you dial that in they are pretty decent. My only complaint about them is that the frame is very narrow and kind of small in your hand. Hard to explain exactly. But for like 100 bucks, it's a good deal.

I went to a park and tried some casting with .5, 3/4, 1.5 & 2 oz weights. I did not get a single backlash but I felt that the internal vaiable brake is set too tight for the .5 oz(simulate free line anchovy). They're are 6 little brakes in there and I wonder if all of them are being used. I need to open and see. The heavier weights cast very well though.

I like the low profile design that it sits very low on the reel seat provides very easy palming.(I have small hands) I also like the handle which is the exact same handle as the Calcutta TE 201 with same rubber grip without plastic center crew cap found in the rest of the baitcastors including Calcutta. Picure: http://fish.shimano.com/publish/content/us/en/fishing/products/reels/reels_round_baitcasting/calcutta_te/cte200.html:

My main complaint is the somewhat weak drag system though. (I rigged 17 lb line)

I opened the reel and found 2 out of the 6 brake weights were on. So I took off the 4 weights that were on the spool at "off" position to lighten the spool. Went to the park and test. Wala! Almost perfect setting. Now even the .5 oz can be casted far without ever a backlash. Shimano's variable brake system is a fairly good design.;-)

Aside from the larger line capacity, the 300 is actually different internally than the rest of the millionaire. The 300 has 5 jigmaster size drag washers! The smaller reels all have 3. You should replace the factory washer with penn HT-100 or precision drag washer and it will make the reel truely FANSTASTIC! My Calcutta does not compare to my CVZ-300, WAY WAY better than the calcutta.

>Aside from the larger line capacity, the 300 is actually
>different internally than the rest of the millionaire. The
>300 has 5 jigmaster size drag washers! The smaller reels all
>have 3. You should replace the factory washer with penn
>HT-100 or precision drag washer and it will make the reel
>truely FANSTASTIC! My Calcutta does not compare to my
>CVZ-300, WAY WAY better than the calcutta.

I can replace my Cardiff with Penn drag washers? I think my reel only came with 2 washers where the other Shimano baitcastors come with alot more. I regret that I didn't wait to get the CVZ, at least Daiwa makes a left hand CVZ 253