Lexa 300 or 400 for Calstar 8' jigstick?
 

So I just found a sweet deal on a Calstar deckhand rod (WCDH-270-8H-C.)

I figured I'd toss jigs with it and pair it with my fave, Diawa Lexa. What size do you guys suggest? The 400 has always looked and felt awkward to me but the extra capacity sound appealing considering the rig I want to build.

Oh, and I've tried multiple conventional reels and just can't get used to them, thus my leaning towards the casting style of the Lexa. Please don't judge, it's the bass angler in me. LOL

Thanks in advance....

- KT

After I lost my Lexa 300 HD to Neptune I switched to a Tranx 400 and absolutely love it. Been about a year now.


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I guess my point is that they feel the same in terms of size and weight in-hand but I feel like the Tranx is smoother. All subjective, not a side by side comparison.


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400 size for the 270. ;)

Yah I'd go with the 400. The 300 is awesome but the lack of line capacity really limits the size of fish you can land. I have the 400 on a 8' Teramar and bomb casts with it. I think if I had the 300 on there I would be casting more than half the spool out.

Might I ask which Teramar?

I’m a freshwater guy switching over to the salt. Been a Shimano guy my whole life and I got a 400 Lexa Winn last week that I’m very impressed with. I spooled it up with 300 yards of 50 pound braid. It’s definitely big in hand but I got used to it rather fast. Also check eBay if your looking I got it for 156 bucks to my door. Sweet deal

Thanks everyone, I'll probably go with the 400 and see how I adjust to it.

The next hurdle is finding a reel clamp. The Tiburon ones are $50 now which feels crazy and you cant find the older Diawa ones anymore. I'm really surprised there arent more options considering how many rod makers are going with the west coast deckhand style now.

I was looking at the beefier low profiles last year and I think I passed on the Lexa, or maybe it was the tranx, due to lack of clicker. I wanted it to do double duty in case I wanted to use it for trolling

The new Lexa CC has a clicker.

TMC-711MHBRA TMC-711MHBRA or something along this line.

7' 11" heavy/fast I think its a 30-60lb

Funny you posted this....

So I bought a 300CC for the clicker specifically to toss bait in MDR, and just found out they make the 400 in a CC as well. They are significantly cheaper than their HD counterparts as well.

Looking through the specs online, it seems the only difference is the main gear shaft in the HD is Stainless, and presumably something less hardy in the CC. Worth saving $50? Meh, maybe in the 300 series. But looking at bigger fish in the 400, its probably worth going to the HD if no clicker is needed (it wouldn't be for my use in this rig...)

The Okuma Komodo SS caught my eye as a big-low-profile with a clicker. I'm gassing for one in the 400/450 size on a heavy inshore type rod...

Shouldn't take too long. Just play with the magnetic brake on that thing to your liking and it basically casts itself.

Lexa 300 or 400 for Calstar 8' jigstick?
 

Realizing the OP was looking for a decision between the Lexa 300 or 400... here’s another reason I like the Tranx400 [emoji12]

The larger oval orifice [emoji849] of the level wind is much easier to thread on the Tranx.

Here’s a pic for scale and showing the Teramar Inshore rod I have it paired with.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ee095ac78.heic


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The SS material upgrade in the HD was done for better saltwater life/corrosion resistance. For the non HD Lexa as long as you keep the guts greased and keep a religious maintenance schedule it will last a long time. The drag performance and torque is the same. I service a few non HD Lexas that are used for throwing wahoo bombs and the guts look fine... no chipped teeth, no sleeve rounding. The CC is a good option if you need a clicker.

The Tranx, it's a step up in price but it is the better reel. Could use a clicker version imho. :p