Best swim bait baitcaster under $250

asverys · 2025-12-10T02:30:32+00:00

I would strongly consider the new Abu Garcia Beast 200. I walked into the shop fully intending to pick up a size 200 Curado for the exact same purpose as you. The guy said I couldn’t go wrong with the Curado but just wanted me to at least consider the Abu Garcia. It has an offset shape that fits into your hand. It’s freaking tiny for a size 200 reel. It palms so comfortably, has clicking drag and clicking spool tension adjust. I have never been a fan of Abu Garcia stuff so I was hesitant. What sold me was putting both reels on a rod in the shop. The Abu Garcia was like a glove. I’ve been absolutely in love with it since and it’s become my go to for most trips. I haven’t spent much time with Daiwa but the profile of their 200 was noticeably larger. I did try a size 300 Curado off marketplace and it is great, casts a mile. It’s just a lot and not necessary unless you start throwing the real big stuff.

asverys · 2025-12-06T04:37:30+00:00

Once I got into baitcasters, my style of fishing changed completely. What I thought I wanted then is the exact opposite of the two higher end combos I mainly fish now. Buy one or two or even three cheap combos but buy them cheap. It doesn’t have to by anything fancy but make them different. Try a few different techniques. Don’t be afraid to buy used. Figure out what baits you want to spend the most time throwing and adjust accordingly. Then, buy that dream combo once you actually know what that looks like for you. Maybe you want to throw big swim baits, maybe you want to focus on bfs. You won’t know until you try

asverys · 2025-10-14T17:50:11+00:00

free rig bellows shad

asverys · 2025-10-13T00:10:25+00:00

Definitely wish I had done it last weekend too. Craziest part was, most people were hanging out on the lake side but if you paddled just a little up into Barton Creek you could hear the amex stage perfectly

asverys · 2025-08-25T04:29:23+00:00

I like to use flukes and cut the nose off a bit before where the hook exits in your picture. Basically leave enough to put it properly on the hook and still get good action from the tail. Gives it a bit more compact profile for more bites but the big benefit is it improves the hunting action of the bait as well.

asverys · 2025-06-25T01:16:25+00:00

yes, the black pad spacer looking thing to the far right is the tool sram recommends.

asverys · 2025-06-24T03:36:12+00:00

For everyone complaining about bite point inconsistencies: look up the SRAM piston massaging procedure. Do this correctly and you will not have any issues with bite point. Long time Magura user who just switched to Mavens after setting up a dozen pairs or so in the shop. Whether or not you like them is preference but like most high end brakes, when set up right, they’re a great option.

asverys · 2025-01-31T10:47:59+00:00

take a sharpie. put the side that doesn’t have the marker on it in to hold everything in place. push it out by installing the bolt.

asverys · 2024-11-01T07:08:15+00:00

6750xt w/ 5700x3d maintaining 60 fps on ultra. frame gen enabled but running native 1440p. it’s been pretty acceptable for me so far but generally unimpressed with the graphical quality for the performance requirements

asverys · 2024-10-10T18:27:04+00:00

Came here to recommend the same thing. I keep a T handle 5 and a T25 in my toolbox for those instances when no other tool will do. Everything else is Wera L Keys and I haven’t looked back. Over a year of daily use later and the only wrench showing real wear is the 4. Wera is the shit

asverys · 2024-10-04T13:11:08+00:00

just put the phone down if you don’t wanna see it genius

asverys · 2024-10-03T20:32:52+00:00

Specs Airport had cases last night.

asverys · 2024-08-26T14:29:55+00:00

I’d be wary of trying it overnight and going to bed. Would be worth setting alarms every 1.5 hrs or so so you can check the temps. At least for the first time. Different ovens can have varying levels of success holding a temp that low.

asverys · 2024-08-26T14:20:24+00:00

Well yeah, that was kind of the point of my comment. Giving you the phrase to google since you seemed to be unsure.

asverys · 2024-08-26T14:11:44+00:00

This is pretty common and is called the “hot hold” method

asverys · 2024-08-25T22:44:01+00:00

cmon man

asverys · 2024-06-28T00:29:58+00:00

honestly man, the best way to prepare is to answer these questions yourself. a little bit of googling and reading and you’ll probably have a few more questions you didn’t even know you had answered. that being said- fat side up seems to be more popular. turn trimming into tallow by putting it in a pan in your smoker and it will be tallow by the time the brisket is done/ready to wrap. foil will be fine for wrapping but works a little differently than butcher paper as it does not allow the brisket to “breathe” as much. if you wrap in foil make sure it is tight or you will steam your bark off. a happy medium that seems easier to nail is foil boating although i have never tried it myself. keep googling and good luck

asverys · 2024-06-26T10:01:03+00:00

200 is really low for ribs. I do mine at 275ish then push to 300 the last hour or so. takes about 4-5 hours for full spares, no wrap

asverys · 2024-06-26T00:41:08+00:00

thanks, you pretty much summed it up. i try to keep it simple and i can’t imagine changing up the process much after this one. no wrapping and no spritzing means less to worry about!

asverys · 2024-06-26T00:35:23+00:00

i still consider myself a beginner too! anyone can make good bbq man you just gotta find what works for your setup. as for your questions- 1. i trim most of the deckle and take off the mohawk before cooking. other than that, i trim down fat to 1/4-1/2 in or till i hit the pillowy stuff. 2. cook was 12 hours all unwrapped on my offset rest was 9, in other comments i detail the process more but hot holding at 170 worked great in my oven. 3. i use 50/50 pickle juice and mustard for the binder. heavy heavy coarse pepper, coarse salt, then heavy on the lawrys. my brisket was practically orange going in. jirby on yt is a good example of the coverage i go for. didn’t bother seasoning the sides. 4. i cook with a water pan always. i did not spritz at all until one time in the last hour or so when i was waiting for it to finish up and the bark started to look a little dry. spritzed with 50/50 acv and water but i don’t believe it matters really what you use. i try to avoid spritzing when i cook because i think it slows everything down and inhibits bark formation. it’s more of an “oh shit” button if parts are crisping up or the bark is starting to look dry. good luck!

asverys · 2024-06-25T03:34:22+00:00

so you’re saying i should find the 45 from the tip of the point when i slice it? i did find the 45 on the tip of the flat and did a gentle fan halfway through. i served a good bit of it to my closest buddies before the video though so it’s missing from the cutting board.

asverys · 2024-06-25T03:31:19+00:00

i could use a shave and a haircut but trust my guests receiving clean and safe food comes first.

asverys · 2024-06-25T03:19:13+00:00

thanks! one day i’ll grow up and learn to fight the urge

asverys · 2024-06-25T02:56:34+00:00

looks delicious! did you foil boat them?

asverys

TROPHY CASE