Best bottom bouncer reel with flippin switch?

[Michman]

I know this is a good source of information. What are the opinions out there on the best reels with flippin switches to use on bottom bouncer rods?

[Goldpig]

I like the Shimano Castaic. Only downside is that they are a little spendy, but in my opinion worth it.

[whitetips]

Go with a deastick by Bass Pro and a Line Counter it will allow dual use in open water and structure with bouncers were the amount of line out can be critical. The deadsticks are telescope you can stack them in most rod lockers.

[Gord]

If you will be operating a tiller and holding your rod at the same time, do yourself a favor and buy a left handed reel. The rod handle can stay in your right hand while your left hand quickly bounces back and forth between the tiller and reel handles. A right handed reel is all backwards for this application. You probably already have your spinning reel set up with the handle on the left.. for a good reason "it works better". To get used to a left handed bait casting reel, I took it into a park and did a lot of practice casting at a target ( plastic bleach jug ). After a few trips to the park it became comfortable to use. I should have done that years ago.

[mnjimcarp]

i also like the shimano castaic. excellent reel for bottom bouncers.

[Cangl]

Looks as though theres two to chose from Shimano Casatic or Quantum Accurist they both have speed and a wide thumbar.
BEWARE of setting the hook with any (thumb) tension well in flipping mode this will through your magnets and spool out of line. Which can be fixed by loosening body screws and centering spool, pain on the water. The older Diawa XL low on speed and capacity but a jiggers dream, last I saw of the rebuilds were selling at 90$. At Big Kmart?

[Cangl]

Driftr, I owe you a Michigan apology. The XL reel I use is a Abu Garcia, black body with magnetic drag settings 1-10 and changeable spool. The biggest draw back to flipping switches is that they wear out or break easily. But for running till or leaving a rod in the holder and letting line out, both trolling and jigging. The XL has not slipped out on me yet and the reel is REEL old. 80' fell into it was my Dads.

[Beaver]

The Daiwa PT Series is the best. I`ve got some that are the originals that first came out maybe 20 years ago. I was a Daiwa rep at the time and picked up some of them for pitching and flippin', now I use them for bottom bouncing. They have all brass guts and seem to be indestructable. I saw in a BPS catalog that they re-introduced them this year. PT33 or PT35, you won`t be disappointed. Beav

[steve(IL)]

Diawa PS2-5B in left hand crank. Flipping switch and back reel!
If not those, $60 - $80 Quantums in left hand crank.

[Cangl]

Flipping reel for bottom bumping. The flipping switch should be tight no play in the switch it self and large enough to find and feel with thumb with a large thumbbar, do not wan't to mention names but there are some lousy switches out there and some of which have been discontiued. Big thumb = big switch.

[Backwater Eddy]

The flexibility of a Shimano "Baitrunner" may be a good bet for you?

The Baitrunner has a two stage independent drag system that can function as well, or better then, a baitcaster with a flipping switch.

The 3500 or the 4500 models is a great choices for this and has greater flexibility for live bait presentations as well as straight line trolling.

Spincast reels are often overlooked for bottom bouncer rigging but a Shimano "Baitrunner" allows you to feed line easily with a flick of the finger and not having to open the bail, another flip of the finger and your back to the fighting drag.

D*A*M has a model that is comparable to the Baitrunner but a bit more economical, and by all reports as well made as the Shimano.

A good option to consider if the ability to switch right to left and/or if a spinning reel is more user friendly to you or a fellow angler.

Backwater Eddy...><,,>

[SUPERTROLLER]

I'll second the Diawa's. I use a Procaster X 153IV. Flipping switch is essential for bottom bouncers. I've had no problems or complaints.