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Posts: 25
| I have narrowed my choices down to these two reels. For those of you that have seen or used both of these, which do you recommend and what are the main differences between the two? Looking at throwing mag dawgs and double 10s with this reel. Thoughts?? |
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Posts: 1504
Location: Oregon | I just bought a toro, man it's sweet.
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Posts: 177
Location: ON | 10's you will want a slower ratio to make it easier. Like the Lexa 400 5.1:1. I just bought one to find out for myself.
NACL 60HS is a nice reel will throw pretty much everything. I do not like it for bucktails really at all, everything else its great. Very comfortable, great handles.
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | The Toro reels are the best low profile reels for Musky, the Lexa 400 is almost twice the size and 5oz more in weight. Make sure your hand fits on a Lexa 400.
I used a Lexa 400 and it is a Big Reel and it was hard to plam this reel with med size hands for all day. |
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Posts: 177
Location: ON | #*^@, hopefully my medium sized paws work on the LEXA 400. Would you say its more comparable to palming a round reel? Basically the only review I found mentioned it being closest to a Revo in size. How close...? I guess I'll have to see when it shows up in the mail.
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | Cal - 12/31/2013 8:17 AM
#*^@, hopefully my medium sized paws work on the LEXA 400. Would you say its more comparable to palming a round reel? Basically the only review I found mentioned it being closest to a Revo in size. How close...? I guess I'll have to see when it shows up in the mail.
Tackle Direct has a video showing the size of the reel, ICAST 2013. It holds the same amount of line as a TRANX. |
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| Here's a good video comparing the size of the 400 Lexa to the 300 Lexa. I don't believe palming will be an issue for most.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwvv2qSNy1M |
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Posts: 205
| i have been researching a ton and have have narrowed it down to both of these as well, will do mostly bucktails and reg and mag dawgs i have a topwater rod already. I looked at the NACL at cabelas and really liked it they didnt have the 400 on display my one question hopefully pikemaster can answer it since he has used both which one casts easier or smoother, also which would be better for a newbie or someone who isnt as familar with baitcasting reels. I will have a few people fishing with me that are green to muskie fishing and i want them to enjoy it and not be fixing birds nests nonstop.....like my Salitst i just sold. |
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Posts: 283
| I just saw that bass pro "sells" the lexa 400, whether they carry them in the store I am not sure (I think they typically stock the 300). I am sold on the lexa, just not sure which size would fit me better. I think I will try to get my hands on one there to see, and then order the one I want on eBay.
I used my buddies nacl and there was an issue with the thumb bar not disengaging the spool. He said it was because he had it modified in some way but I thought I read that as a problem with the thumb bar being so wide.... Is that the case? |
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Posts: 311
Location: Lake St.Clair | I've yet to have a problem with my abu. I've used both the 300 a ton own the nacl also played with the 400.
Would without a thought get a nacl over either reel in my opinion. |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | bigdogg2278 - 12/31/2013 9:22 PM
i have been researching a ton and have have narrowed it down to both of these as well, will do mostly bucktails and reg and mag dawgs i have a topwater rod already. I looked at the NACL at cabelas and really liked it they didnt have the 400 on display my one question hopefully pikemaster can answer it since he has used both which one casts easier or smoother, also which would be better for a newbie or someone who isnt as familar with baitcasting reels. I will have a few people fishing with me that are green to muskie fishing and i want them to enjoy it and not be fixing birds nests nonstop.....like my Salitst i just sold.
The Lexa 300 / 400 reels have a external adjustment for the spool brakes which is very nice when U want to adjust the brakes when U are out in the boat casting, as the Toro U have to open the reel up to adjust the spool brakes. The Lexa has a magnite brakes and the Toro has 6 plastic spool brakes.
I have seen alot of the Toro reels over the years and the 300 Lexa in the last 2 years and I like the Toro reels. As far as which one casts easier maybe the Lexa, but which one casts smoother the TORO. The 400 is a very different reel over the 300 Lexa or TORO, I think of it as a poor man's Tanx. The Toro is a 10oz reel that anyone, small or large hands can cast and fish all day long, the Lexa 400 is a 16oz reel and is the size of the Tranx so it may not be comfortable to cast all day like the Toro. I see the Toro reels as a reel that can do it all as the Lexa 400 a reel for one style of casting, a Lexa 400 with 7.1 gears that has 37 inches of line pickup for big rubber / Jerk baits or with the 6.3 gears that bring in 33 inches of line for Burning of DCG. The Lexa 400 with 5.1 gears has 27 inches of line pickup so U will not be able to burn DCG but will bring them in like a small mepps. Thats my take on both reels, yours may be different. |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | Tigerhunter - 1/1/2014 6:28 AM
I just saw that bass pro "sells" the lexa 400, whether they carry them in the store I am not sure (I think they typically stock the 300). I am sold on the lexa, just not sure which size would fit me better. I think I will try to get my hands on one there to see, and then order the one I want on eBay.
I used my buddies nacl and there was an issue with the thumb bar not disengaging the spool. He said it was because he had it modified in some way but I thought I read that as a problem with the thumb bar being so wide.... Is that the case?
The Toro does have a wide thumb bar so if U press down in the middle of the thumb bar U will be fine, if U press down on the far end of the bar, over time the bar can wear and may have to be replaced in 2-3 years, $5.00 not a big deal. |
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Posts: 476
Location: St. John, Indiana | Does the 400 have the plastic bushing for the pinion gear like the 300 ? |
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Posts: 177
Location: ON | When I receive my Lexa 400 next week I will post up comparison photos beside an NACL for size purposes, and everyone can make their own judgements |
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Posts: 205
| Thanks pikemaster so would you recommend the 6:3 over the 5:1 for DCG and some rubber or do you think you would fatigue faster with the 6:3? |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | bigdogg2278 - 1/1/2014 11:25 AM
Thanks pikemaster so would you recommend the 6:3 over the 5:1 for DCG and some rubber or do you think you would fatigue faster with the 6:3?
If U use the power handle that comes with the Nacl and U are young the 6.3 gears will work but at the end of the day your hand and wrist / arm / shoulder will know U where bringing in DCG, where as the 5.1 will use alot less effort.
Also with the 6.3 gears the pinion gear is alot smaller and it is made of brass so after a few months of trying to burn DCG baits all day long that reel will sound like a coffee grinder because the brass gears will take set over time. Don't forget also that U will have less cranking power to bring in a big fish once it is hooked, now U will have to pump the rod to bring a big fish in and slack line will happen and that is how alot of fish get off. |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | weedsnager - 1/1/2014 8:33 AM
Does the 400 have the plastic bushing for the pinion gear like the 300 ?
I have not had a 400 open yet but I'm sure it is the same as the 300. The lexa reels are a price point reel so they won't be built like the TRANX. When that plastic bushing wears out it can be replaced for a few $$$. When I get a little time LOL LOL I will see if a bearing can pressed in the plastic bushing to keep the pinion inline with the main gear, if so that will make that reel alot smoother. |
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Posts: 177
Location: ON | Got a Lexa 400 last night 400PWR-P 5.1:1 ratio. Plan to crank in my spinnerbaits with this. Single 10's mostly, should be a piece of cake. I will use my NACL for nearly everything else. I'm a 50/50% blade to other baits fisherman. Mostly throwing small to medium jerkbaits, medium to large cranks, and larger tubes.
First impressions. Yes it is larger than a Revo. I have medium sized hands and the reel is pretty comfortable to hold/palm. Will take a bit of getting used to but it's not as bad as I would have thought. You can position your hand a bit different due to the longer taper design on the side plate in my opinion. The revo is shorter and more compact but has a wider spool/width.
Lexa is a bit taller 1/4"or so. Gearbox on the Lexa is huge, hopefully that's a good thing for durability/power. Doesn't interfere at all being on the handle side and sitting low.
Power handle is great. Large and comfy, reel seems very smooth, drag easily clicks, easy to reach nice curve inwards.
Weight at 16oz is not as bad as one would think. Now once 6hrs goes by casting we will see. But in the hand doesn't feel overly large or heavy. I usually only fish 3-4 hrs at a single time anyways being on a lake doesn't worry me one bit.
It's obviously frozen up here so I haven't had line or a lure on the end of it.
All in all looks like a little powerhouse and for $200 on ebay, I think I'm going to be very pleased.
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Posts: 177
Location: ON | 2 more. Hard to get the measurements exact but you get the idea.
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Posts: 340
Location: Lake County Illinois | The Daiwa lexa 400 looks like a nice real at that price.Also my revos are going on 3 seasons and getting used a lot and have not had a thumbar issue or any other issues. |
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Posts: 283
| Very nice review/pics Cal.... I am still going to try a side by side comparison at bass pro with the 300 and 400. From what you've said though and the pics with the nacl, the 400 definitely looks doable for my situation. |
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Posts: 205
| great review i still think im leaning toward the Lexa 400 size wise its a step down from the saltist i was using so that will be a major upgrade |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 |
My Toro reels are 2-3 years old and still work like new. I have one of the newer Toro reels the NaCI in a 50 and use that reel alot last year with no issues. |
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Posts: 1224
Location: Okoboji | im going to roll with my nacl's and one of the diawas. i need to send my nacls in. the one i use for blades wont reel anything in with weight on it or it slips and one of my hg chatters. only one season.....big custom baits must be hard on reels. |
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Location: Northern Wisconsin | PIKEMASTER - 1/6/2014 1:14 PM
Lunker Larry - 1/4/2014 2:51 PM
PIKEMASTER - 1/1/2014 7:26 AM
The Toro does have a wide thumb bar so if U press down in the middle of the thumb bar U will be fine, if U press down on the far end of the bar, over time the bar can wear and may have to be replaced in 2-3 years, $5.00 not a big deal.
I'm seeing a number of problems with the thumb bar not working on the Toro's. The thumb bar tolerance is pretty sloppy and what I'm seeing is it is wearing a deep groove into the reel frame and then jamming. This is in reels that have only been used one season. The guys have been returning them to ABU and they don't bother to fix them, they just send a new reel.
I think I have serviced over 500 Toro reels over the last 4-5 years and I have not seen a problem like U are talking about.
My Toro reels are 2-3 years old and still work like new, and have no thumb bar issues.
Weird because mine does this. Got mine when they first came out so maybe they fixed the issue. |
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Posts: 340
Location: Lake County Illinois | Lunker Larry ,there is no visible grooving on the frame and no thumbar issues.maybe its because I have really large thumbs and just happen to be pushing in the middle instead of possibly favoring one side or corner of the thumbar. |
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Posts: 29
| Thanks for the reply Ray.
Regarding the other comments. A guy in the club had a revo toro that lasted one season. He contacted ABU and they replaced it with the NACL. That lasted just one season and they replaced that.
Now, he is a die hard caster and fishes like a mad man, but, what could he be doing any different than anyone else? Shouldn't happen.
Others have also had issues like this. I've got one on the work bench. I'll see if I can post a picture.
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Location: Mt. Zion, IL | Lunker Larry - 1/6/2014 3:40 PM
Thanks for the reply Ray.
Regarding the other comments. A guy in the club had a revo toro that lasted one season. He contacted ABU and they replaced it with the NACL. That lasted just one season and they replaced that.
Now, he is a die hard caster and fishes like a mad man, but, what could he be doing any different than anyone else? Shouldn't happen.
Others have also had issues like this. I've got one on the work bench. I'll see if I can post a picture.
How often is the thumb bar/frame contact area lubricated? My reels are cleaned and re-lubricated after every 40-80 hours of use and mine don't have any wear on the frame. The paint is worn off the back side of the thumb bar, but the frame is only polished smooth. I lube the teflon pads as well as the frame to reduce the friction needed to place the reel in free spool mode. I believe this, as well as internal lubrication is why my reels do not experience this problem.
I lubricate like Sig Sauer taught me. If it shines, it wears. Lube the shiny areas with extra care. |
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Posts: 483
Location: NE PA | Lunker Larry - 1/6/2014 4:40 PM
Thanks for the reply Ray.
Regarding the other comments. A guy in the club had a revo toro that lasted one season. He contacted ABU and they replaced it with the NACL. That lasted just one season and they replaced that.
Now, he is a die hard caster and fishes like a mad man, but, what could he be doing any different than anyone else? Shouldn't happen.
Others have also had issues like this. I've got one on the work bench. I'll see if I can post a picture.
It is possible too that his habits are causing excessive wear. For example, people like to start their cranking before the bait has hit the water which can be very tough on the equipment, esp with heavy baits. Same can be said with maintenance. I notice that my reels pick up quite a bit of mud/muck from fishing in the susquehanna, which is a notoriously dirty waterway. I probably spend more time cleaning my equipment than most because of this. I think that some of the failures can be chalked up to wear, and/or equipment malfunctions, but i would venture to guess that more often than not it is attributed to the person's habits. |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | Getting back to the orignal post ?? I can't wait to open a Lexa 400 up and see how it is made, over the last 4-5 years I know know well the Toro reels have been built and with the new NaCl the Toro reels are some of the best low profile Musky reels U can buy. |
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