Breaking Down The Bates Fishing Co. Casting Reels

You may have seen the name and the reels online or at your local tackle shop, but you're unfamiliar with the brand. Well, stick with us as we give you a breakdown of all the Bates Fishing Co. Reels and why you'll need to add one to your arsenal.

Bates Fishing Co. is a Texas-based company that is the product of Seaborn, a popular manufacturer of fly fishing and inshore fishing rods and reels. With the demand to provide the highest quality reels for bass anglers, Bates Fishing Co. has positioned itself nicely within the wide world of the fishing industry by providing high-quality casting reels. But these aren't just any molded reel off the assembly line; all Bates Fishing Co. Reels are fully CNC'd from 6061-T6 bar stock aluminum along a 9-axis machine. T6 aluminum alloy is the same quality grade aluminum used in automotive, aerospace, marine, industrial, and even firearm manufacturing. 6061-T6 Aluminum is utilized for its high strength-to-weight ratio, making it incredibly durable, corrosion-resistant, and extremely light.

With the precision machining process, no plastics or poured pieces are anywhere in the frame. Creating a baitcasting reel using 6061-T6 Aluminum provides anglers with a reel built to last and machined to the finest detail for a compact, lightweight, and virtually indestructible piece of equipment. All Bates Fishing Co. Reels feature an anodized anti-corrosion finish, providing unique and eye-catching reels from clear glossy coatings along the GOAT 150 to the matte black finish of the O.G. 100 and GOAT SWM 200. With a Bates Fishing Reel in hand, you will notice and feel the fine-tooth machining, intricate cuts, and attention to detail each reel experiences in production. It doesn't take long to feel the craftsmanship of a high-quality product like a Bates Fishing Co. Reel.

Let's check out the Bates Fishing Co. lineup and what you can expect from each reel.

O.G. 100
The O.G. 100 is a throwback to baitcasting reels of old, with a round reel design that utilizes the latest cutting-edge performance. Many companies no longer make this design, which will appeal to those familiar with a rounded reel. This 100-sized reel is equipped with brass gears, ensuring precision and stopping power with 14 lbs of drag, making it a workhorse for your power-fishing techniques, from chatterbaits and spinnerbaits and even swimbaits in the 5" and 6" range. The O.G. is also double anodized, making it safe for fresh and saltwater. Available in left and right-handed retrieves in a 7.1:1 gear ratio.

Hundo 100 Casting Reel
Maybe one of the most compact and versatile reels in the Bates lineup, the Hundo 100, is built for it all. Although listed as a 100-sized reel, in weight and comparison to similar reels, such as the Shimano Curado MGL 70 K, the Hundo is more compact and lighter in profile, weighing only 5oz. Utilizing a dual braking system along a shallow spool, the Hundo 100 excels in various techniques, especially when using a small diameter line. This compact, lightweight profile is extremely sensitive, ensuring you'll have complete transmission of what's at the end of your line to stay in tune with your presentation, whether fishing a finesse jig along a hard bottom or dragging a worm through the grass. Available in left and right-handed retrieves in 7.1:1 and 8.1:1 gear ratios. The Hundo 100 may just be the all-around reel you're looking for.

Do you wanna learn what's really inside the Bates Fishing Co. Hundo 100 Casting Reel? Check out a professional reel technician's Bates Hundo Review and Break Down!

If that's not enough to convince you, Wired2Fish provides a great breakdown of the Hundo 100 - Bates Hundo Baitcaster Review.

Hundo LTS 100
Speaking of finesse, the Hundo LTS 100 (aka Light Tackle System) was crafted specifically for lightweight, finesse tackle and techniques. Fine-tuning the design of this reel ensures optimal casting for delicate presentations. It utilizes the same lightweight and compact frame as the Hundo 100, but the LTS features a shallower, skeletonized spool and fine-tuned internals optimal for finesse tackle. This shallower spool allows you to use light lines with precision and accuracy and at longer distances. The LTS also features an audible drag clicker, meaning you'll hear the drag click while under load fighting fish. Available in left and right-handed retrieves with a 7.1:1 gear ratio, the Hundo LTS 100 may also be one of the sleekest reels Bates offers, with its gunmetal grey and gold anodized finish.

Salty Hundo 100
Saltwater anglers couldn't be left out from using the popular Hundo 100-frame. The Salty Hundo 100 Casting Reel is perfect for inshore anglers as it is sealed and protected from the harsh saltwater environment. Each reel is reinforced with brass gears, stainless steel internals, and ceramic bearings to prevent corrosion from building inside the reel. The 150-sized frame is ideal for a wide range of fresh and saltwater techniques, allowing you to go from throwing a frog for largemouth to a swimbait for redfish with up to 16 lbs of drag. Available in left and right-handed retrieves in 7.1:1 and 8.1:1 gear ratios. If you're moving from inland to inshore, the Salty Hundo 100 is for you.

GOAT 150
Every angler has that one reel they can rely on, no matter the technique or the body of water. The GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) 150 is a workhorse built to handle the abuse and keep going. The 150-sized reel opens up the full arsenal of baits and techniques, as it is equipped with a large spool, 120mm titanium handle, and 20 lbs of drag for complete control. An adjustable dual-braking system lets you fine-tune each presentation to achieve maximum casting distance and precision. If you're looking through the Bates Fishing Co. lineup of reels and you're not quite sure which reel to start with, the GOAT 150 is a great place to start, offering not only high-end construction but also available in left and right-handed retrieves in 6.3:1, 7.1:1 and 8.1:1 gear ratios covering a wide range of baits and techniques. The GOAT 150 is the reel that can do it all.

Salty 150
We just talked about the GOAT 150 being the do-it-all casting reel for freshwater anglers; the Salty 150 is the 150-sized do-it-all reel inshore anglers have been waiting for. Whether you're bouncing back and forth from fresh to salt, the Salty 150 is equipped for all environments. Featuring a water-tight seal, stainless steel components, and an anodized nautical blue finish to prevent corrosion. Also, utilizing a 120mm titanium handle and 20 lbs of drag, nothing can hold you back in the bays or along the flats. The Salty 150 excels in fresh and saltwater, providing a rugged and reliable platform available in left and right-handed retrieves for 6.3:1 and 7.1:1 gear ratios.

GOAT SWM 200
The SWM speaks for itself in the GOAT SWM 200, as this reel is built to excel with your favorite swimbaits and other large baits, such as topwaters. In your hands, you will instantly feel this 200-sized reel means business with its rugged construction and durable internals. The SWM features a large spool to accommodate larger line capacities, which is ideal when fishing larger baits. Internally, this reel boasts a reinforced brass gearing system to minimize drag slippage and ensures that a trophy largemouth doesn't beat you down. Equipped with a 110mm handle with oversized knobs, it provides control when you're cranking in your catch and fine-tuning your retrieve. The SWM weighs only 9.4oz and is available in both left and right-handed retrieve in a 7.1:1 gear ratio. The Bates Fishing Co. GOAT SWM 200 isn't dubbed the Greatest Of All Time for nothing. The SWM 200 will give you the rugged and reliable swimbait reel you've been looking for.

Bates Fishing Co. looks to change the standard in the fishing industry by providing reels for anglers who demand quality construction and performance. Engineered in the USA, each reel demonstrates the hard work and dedication it takes to build a quality product, giving you, the consumer, the most value for your hard-earned dollar.

If you want to check out a Bates Fishing Co. Casting Reel, there is no better time to start than now. Check out our full selection of Bates Casting Reels here!

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