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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | I had a chance to use the Power version of the Lexa 400 for about 30 minutes last week. Used for a double 10, I could turn the handle about as fast as I wanted with no real perceived feeling of torque on the handle.
I also have a Revo toro 60 in the 5.4 ratio that pulls 10's in pretty well, but if cranking fast with the double paddle handle, feel some resistance. Haven't tried the power handle yet, but will plan to this weekend.
For those that might have both, my question is what would make you choose the bigger, heavier Lexa over the Revo Toro? Toro does 26" per crank, Lexa does 27", so pretty close. Do you find the Lexa lets you pull 10's faster for extended time due to being able to crank fast with very little felt resistance? Does everyone feel that the 400 Lexa would hold up to blades better long term than the Toro? So far my Toro feels pretty bullet proof but I've only had it this season.
Tempted to pick up another Toro as I like the reel, and feel it's more multi purpose than the bigger Lexa, but wondering if anybody has some reasons to sell me on the Lexa for primarily, but not limited to, bigger blades. (Also realize neither of these reels will totally burn a bucktail like the super fast reels do).
I know, I know, buy a Tranx. Just not ready to drop the coin on one yet, and to me, they still feel like a big reel to palm, even compared to the 400 Lexa, which fits my hand pretty well.
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Posts: 668
Location: mercer wi | Used both for 10's. The lexa 400 power os best reel ive used uet for 10's. Toro is a great all round reel but I feel its not a big bait reel. Of yoi throw 10's get the lexa. I have big hands n the bigger reel fits better. Just my opinion |
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Posts: 1283
| I have not used the LEXA 400 but the power handle on the NACL 60 5.4 makes all the difference in the world cranking 10s. I do have a Lexa 300 HSP, 2 NACL 50 6.4s and ond 60 5.4. All have power handles on. |
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| I prefer the lexa 400 pwr over the tranx pg for big blades, works great and feels solid. BR |
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Posts: 1828
| Can't speak to the Lexa but had the Revo Toro 5.4 as my ONLY reel for about 5 years before showing signs of age. So that was used for everything - double 10's much of the time, and relatively big baits most of the time. Not that I fish a whole lot.
And the power handle shouldn't make a difference. Same torque arm length as the double-paddle handle, just a more comfy grip. |
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Posts: 1283
| Power handle absolutely makes a difference for cranking big blades. You are using you arm instead of just your hands. |
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Posts: 368
Location: On the River | I have used both I prefer the Lexa used it 12 hours a day for to weeks in Canada throwing double 10's |
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Posts: 1283
| Ordered a 400pwr p yesterday, Ill let you know how it stacks up against the NACL 60 5.4 when I get it. I did a little self comparison yesterday of the 300HS P and a NACL 50 6.4 and I would say the Abu is the nicer reel all around. |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | Thanks for the info. I put the power handle on my 5.4 Toro 60 this weekend and it was so easy it was silly! I put it on the longest setting. It almost felt like the blades weren't turning! I want to try the shorter setting next, as the throw was so long, I felt like it slowed me down some. Resistance was absolutely no problem. I think the shorter setting might be the right balance of torque vs speed. Depending on how that seems should help decide if I want another Toro or if I should think about a Lexa. Achotrod, I'll be curious to see how you think the Lexa compares to your Toros.
Also, FYI, the NACL power handle in the long setting is significantly longer than the double paddle handle. I think the power and paddle handle lengths might be about the same on the pre-NACL gray models. |
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Posts: 1000
| Used both. I prefer the Lexa because it holds better in the hand. I feel that the Toro 60's are really wide. The shape bothers me.
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Posts: 143
Location: Palatine, IL | tolle141 - 8/25/2014 10:25 PM
Used both. I prefer the Lexa because it holds better in the hand. I feel that the Toro 60's are really wide. The shape bothers me.
Seems like most guys use the 60 Toros. I use the 50s because they are more comfortable to me. |
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Posts: 538
Location: northern indiana | Do the 50's still fit in rodholders for trolling and sucker fishing? |
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Posts: 1283
| My 50s and 60s both fit in my rod holders no prob. They are cabelas brand holders. |
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Posts: 1283
| Got the LEXA put it on the same 9ft TI XXH I have been using with the NACL 60 5.4. First impressions after a few casts. Its big and heavy,yet palms ok do to its shape and how low it sits on the rod, it casts good but screams like the 300. Reeling it is very smooth but even though it has one inch per turn more than the NACL 60 5.4 it feels slower, could be do to how huge the power handle is. I also like the foam ball style handle knob on the NACL over the LEXA Need to get on the water longer but so far I like the ABU better. |
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Posts: 20
| I have had them both and truthfully I thought the Lexa was going to be THE REEL... But I was wrong, the lexa does fit in the hand nicely but it is loud and the reels themselves are not built as well as the Nacl reels are. Really not a big difference in price so I would choose the Abu over the Diawa every time. jmo Mike |
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Posts: 1283
| After a few trips using both I doubt Ill be picking up the 400 over my NACL 60 anytime soon. Like Mike M said I thought the 400 was going to be "THE REEL" but its not and I echo his thoughts. It does not feel as good or work better than the NACL. The main issue is the weight and size plus it doesnt pull 10s as fast. So glad I didnt buy a huge ass Tranx as I know after using the 400 it would be way too huge and heavy for my liking. Still waiting on the new ABU before wasting anymore cash on reels. |
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Location: Ontario | achotrod - 9/7/2014 5:57 PM
After a few trips using both I doubt Ill be picking up the 400 over my NACL 60 anytime soon. Like Mike M said I thought the 400 was going to be "THE REEL" but its not and I echo his thoughts. It does not feel as good or work better than the NACL. The main issue is the weight and size plus it doesnt pull 10s as fast. So glad I didnt buy a huge ass Tranx as I know after using the 400 it would be way too huge and heavy for my liking. Still waiting on the new ABU before wasting anymore cash on reels.
Strange that the Daiwa 6.3 doesn't pull as fast as the Revo since it retrieves 33.1" and Revo Nacl 6.3. 30.9" |
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Posts: 1283
| I have the 400 5.1 and the Abu 5.4. The LEXA is supposed to be 1 inch per turn faster but it sure doesnt feel or look like it. The LEXA just seems like straight up more work to use as well. It is a good reel IMO but not as good as the NaCls. |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | Thanks for your reviews achotrod. I've used the 5.4 Toro 60 a couple weekends now with the power handle on the shorter setting and really like that. The long setting is incredibly easy, but a little slow with the super long throw. The shorter setting is a great balance of power and speed potential. I have to work a little, but I can pull 10's in till they blow out of the water with the Toro at the shorter power handle setting.
For real speed, I'll probably keep my tank of a Saltist. Heavier, harder to cast, and harder to palm, but can smoke even heavy bucktails in when needed.
For all purpose, almost anything use, I think I'll look towards another Toro 60 rather than a 400 Lexa. |
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Posts: 1283
| No prob! I fish a lot unfortunately just washing lures most the time. lol
Heres my set ups at the moment
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 reeels.jpg (59KB - 429 downloads)
reels.jpg (53KB - 386 downloads)
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Posts: 16
| I own a gray curado 300, and i've used the comparable abu NACL, and I own the lexa 400. The 400 size is nice for big lures, without being too huge, in my opinion.... For light lures etc i like the smaller 300 size reels on bass flipping sticks especially. So far with the lexa 400 I've stuck a couple skies and also some nice barracuda and small grouper in the salt... I love all the low pro reels that are being offered now, but if it was me id go with the lexa! |
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Posts: 424
| Joshua,
for lexa 400, do you mean lexa 400 with 5.1 gear ratio ?
esoxone |
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Posts: 334
Location: Madison, WI | Ive got a lexa 300 and 400 and love both. Never had an issue with either. I got rid of a tranx and replaced it with a 400 and I couldn't be happier. I use it for 9s and rubber and the 300 is my glider jerk reel. Both perform flawlessly. Btw I ha e the hsp in both sizes |
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Posts: 16
| i should have specified... i have the "hyper speed" 7:1 (or something close to that) ratio for my lexa size 400.
I'm not the person to critique these reels too much, cause i haven't used them all extensively.... For a bigger size muskie reel i really like the lexa 400 size with its taller spool- retrieves a lot of line, but isn't quite as insanely huge as a tranx. Sometimes for me it's not as enjoyable to fish, and play fish, etc etc when you are using something so ridiculously huge as a tranx. However for more speed and power something a bit bigger/talller spool than a 300 size curado or even the toros is potentially helpful.
And with the 7:1 ratio on the lexa 400 it will pull in almost 38" per turn- awesome for ripping regular and mag dawgs (and probably pounders too) super fast and burnin blades etc etc. I also use it for burning jerkbaits (the large size rapala sub walks mostly) on the flats for saltwater species.... the 7:1 lexa 400 would probably be geared a little too high for long use with very hard pulling baits... i'm guessing the 6:1 would give just enough power and still have awesome speed
With the current reels on the market, I think it'd be very difficult to beat the value of the lexa 400. All around I think it'd be very hard to beat both the versatility and value of the Lexa 400 with the gear ratio that is about 6:1 and pulls in roughly 33" per turn of the handle.
oh and for the average size lure i can bomb it as far as I'd ever want... I know people have brought up that it has a disengaging level wind and they were worried that casting distance might be robbed- if its robbing distance i sure can't tell.
Also People complain about the squealing the lexa makes... mine either doesn't make it loud enough for me to notice it much or something... but I'm guessing thats primarily from the magnetic brake over time, and a lot of people are used to shimanos with centrifugal braking.... i'm not sure... just a guess. but the squealing people report from the lexa doesn't seem to affect performance.
i used to be pretty die hard shimano, but I feel like value in their reels has gone down in the last few years when looking at the whole line up (reels and rods, a lot of which aren't really in muskie category). and where i used to love most all their products its been a little hit and miss for me.... I've been trying some various brands of reels for all sorts of fish species, including diawa reels, and i'm glad i did. I'm not giving up on shimano by any means, I just think the lexa is definitely an awesome option and I feel gives more bang for the buck.
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Posts: 424
| Thank you Joshua .
Using the lexa 400 7:1.1 Bob,one of my friends, has fished awesome dorados (from 30 to 50 lbs ) in Argentina .
esoxone |
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Posts: 32784
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | achotrod - 9/7/2014 5:28 PM
I have the 400 5.1 and the Abu 5.4. The LEXA is supposed to be 1 inch per turn faster but it sure doesnt feel or look like it. The LEXA just seems like straight up more work to use as well. It is a good reel IMO but not as good as the NaCls.
I've been using the 400 6.3:1for a couple weeks now and own both brands in about the same gear ratio. I use them on the same rod in three brands, St. Croix, Abu, and Migizi, with the same line and leader for comparison, and so far agree with the above assessment.
I found myself going with the Abu this weekend tossing 8/10 spinnerbaits, Suicks, and topwater, especially today in the big winds. It casts better in to the wind for me tossing the same spinnerbait on the same rod with the same line and leader.
I also am testing an Okuma Komodo. Smaller profile, seems really smooth, and fits my hand nicely. I haven't had enough hours on it yet to be absolutely certain, but so far that reel will remain in the arsenal strapped to a Migizi XH 8' rod. Nice setup, and I've boated a couple on it.
I use several different reels specifically spooled and mounted so I fish what feels the best for me for each technique. I REALLY like the 5500 C3 paired with either a St. Croix Top and Tail or an Abu Volatile in MH for throwing topwaters like the Suick Nitewalker or Bucher Top Raider and 9" floating Suicks with 65# line. If I am going to toss a Weagle or Wabull, I switch over to a Fenwick 6'6" paired with a C3 and 65# line. A creature gets pitched with a Revo SX paired with a Vendetta 7'3" heavy rod and 15# Iron Silk. A Violent Strike 8/10 big spinnerbait or 10/10 end up on the NaCl matched up with a Tuscarora Tackle custom St. Croix blank and 80# line that could toss a small car and has no issues with big weighted baits like the 10" weighted Suick. I also use that rod and reel for the heavy cover Violent Strike Slither application, where if I stick a fish in the bad slop, I can haul 'em out of there applying brute power. My favorite 5" to 8" crank bait stick is a Tackle Industries 7'6" paired with another C3 and 65# line. My all purpose stick for big 'stuff' of various types is a Volatile XXH paired with a NaCl and 80# line or the same reel on a XH 8'6" St Croix Mojo. I just spooled up the 400 with 80# strapped to a St. Croix Mojo split grip.-
I'm a little fussy, I guess. |
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