Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge  

Go Back   Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge > Kayak Fishing Forum - Message Board > General Kayak Fishing Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-04-2018, 09:16 AM   #1
goldenglory18
Senior Member
 
goldenglory18's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle Area
Posts: 861
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
goldenglory18 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2018, 10:12 AM   #2
Bruntoj
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: San Diego County
Posts: 168
After I lost my Lexa 300 HD to Neptune I switched to a Tranx 400 and absolutely love it. Been about a year now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Bruntoj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2018, 10:14 AM   #3
Bruntoj
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: San Diego County
Posts: 168
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.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Bruntoj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2018, 01:21 PM   #4
skrilla
Senior Member
 
skrilla's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: San Diego
Posts: 664
400 size for the 270.
__________________
Urban Camo Trident 13
skrilla is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2018, 03:10 PM   #5
Denis_Ruso
Senior Member
 
Denis_Ruso's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 571
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.
__________________
2018 Hobie Outback 13

I do not fear the storm as it will teach me how to sail my ship.
Denis_Ruso is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2018, 03:23 PM   #6
King Saba
Senior Member
 
King Saba's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: SGV
Posts: 848
Quote:
Originally Posted by Denis_Ruso View Post
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?
__________________
Baitfish catcher extraordinaire
King Saba is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2018, 04:00 PM   #7
MaskedFisherDude
Member
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 39
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
MaskedFisherDude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2018, 05:17 AM   #8
goldenglory18
Senior Member
 
goldenglory18's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle Area
Posts: 861
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.
goldenglory18 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2018, 06:05 AM   #9
Hunters Pa
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Fullerton
Posts: 1,357
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
Hunters Pa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2018, 06:26 AM   #10
skrilla
Senior Member
 
skrilla's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: San Diego
Posts: 664
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hunters Pa View Post
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.
__________________
Urban Camo Trident 13
skrilla is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2018, 07:37 AM   #11
Denis_Ruso
Senior Member
 
Denis_Ruso's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 571
Quote:
Originally Posted by King Saba View Post
Might I ask which Teramar?
TMC-711MHBRA TMC-711MHBRA or something along this line.

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

__________________
2018 Hobie Outback 13

I do not fear the storm as it will teach me how to sail my ship.
Denis_Ruso is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2018, 08:41 AM   #12
goldenglory18
Senior Member
 
goldenglory18's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle Area
Posts: 861
Quote:
Originally Posted by skrilla View Post
The new Lexa CC has a clicker.
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...)
goldenglory18 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2018, 09:44 AM   #13
mattamatta
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 34
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...
mattamatta is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2018, 02:15 PM   #14
Denis_Ruso
Senior Member
 
Denis_Ruso's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 571
Quote:
Originally Posted by goldenglory18 View Post
Thanks everyone, I'll probably go with the 400 and see how I adjust to it.
Shouldn't take too long. Just play with the magnetic brake on that thing to your liking and it basically casts itself.
__________________
2018 Hobie Outback 13

I do not fear the storm as it will teach me how to sail my ship.
Denis_Ruso is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2018, 02:16 PM   #15
Bruntoj
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: San Diego County
Posts: 168
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

The larger oval orifice 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.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Bruntoj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2018, 06:39 AM   #16
skrilla
Senior Member
 
skrilla's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: San Diego
Posts: 664
Quote:
Originally Posted by goldenglory18 View Post
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 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.
__________________
Urban Camo Trident 13
skrilla is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 07:52 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
© 2002 Big Water's Edge. All rights reserved.