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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | Hopefully this is my last reel question for the season...
Disregarding price, would anything make you buy a Lexa 400 in the 5.1 ratio rather than a Toro Nacl 5.4:1 or a Shimano 400D?
All reels have between 26-27 inches of line pickup per turn of the handle, so they are essentially the same speed. The Shimano and Abu are smaller in the hand and about 4-5 ounces lighter.
I'd guess the Lexa with it's huge power handle might make fishing 10's or 13's slightly easier, but both the NACL in 5.4 and the Calcutta 400D get pretty good reviews in that regard too.
I'm looking for a reel to do most anything I ask it, but a fair amount of its use would be for double 10's. The Lexa 400 in 6.3 gears was tempting, but it sounds like durability of the taller gears in that reel MAY be an issue, so that brings me down to the 5.1 @ 27 inches per crank.
It seems like for being a bigger, heavy reel, it isn't doing much more than other smaller, lighter reels are already doing.
I feel like I WANT to try that 400 Lexa but I'm not sure if it makes sense.
Thoughts?
Tucker |
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Posts: 968
Location: N.FIB | I have the revo toro 60 in the 5:4:1 and no way will I throw tens with it,I feel 8`s is the most it can handle without abusing it,just picked up a 400d so can`t comment on the reel but the lexa price on ebay is tempting.I only have the double handle on my revo so not sure if the power handle would help that much to throw tens and not tear it up. |
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Posts: 980
| I use an nacl with the new power handle in the 5.4 gears and to me it handles big blades very well, smaller in size compared to the lexa 400 but not as cheap. |
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Posts: 1084
Location: Aurora | Only held um while on rods and the Lexa 4 hundy felt like a tank compared to the 400D.
Albeit a low profile tank but still, purty wide & purty heavy in comparison.
Not sure if you looked back but I remember Pikemaster saying that the 400D was a well built, smooth castin machine.
Can't say the same for the Lexa 4 hundy. |
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Posts: 865
| I Love the 400 Lexas They are Not that big, and they are not that heavy, However I bought the 6/1 versions that will have more line pick up, and I'm hoping they will work on the double 10's... 5/1 may be a little slower.... JMO |
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Posts: 791
Location: WI | Was this close to buying a lexa today. Ended up with a toro nicl. I put one of each on a legend tourney rod and just couldn't do it. Had to buy the NiCl. Lexa was just too big. Even with out the power handle it's just huge. Really was set on buying a lexa abut just couldn't do it. Too bulky and too many unknowns. Despite what any one says they are new and with the low price point just can't do it.
I have a toro60 winch which is like 4.6 to 1 or something and pulls big blades like nothing. Got the NiCl 60 for big rubber to pick up line quicker. I know what I'm getting with a NiCl unlike the lexa. Did they cut cost with lesser quality gears. My local shop has the NICL for 259.99. Like said above. I don't see what the bigger lexa could do that the more comfortable and balanced NICL can't. |
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Posts: 173
Location: Green Bay, Titletown, WI | I fished a NACL 60 5.4 almost exclusively last summer. I burned 10's most of that time too. Power handle set on the "short" setting, and i was extremely pleased. I had zero issues with it. Still as smooth as the day I bought it. I question people that don't "trust" it for anything larger than 8's. Was there an issue with the using one to crank in 10's? I've yet to have one.
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Posts: 295
| For the same reason you don't want the higher gear ratio in the lexa... Durability. Bigger reel, lower gear ratio/hopefully more durability to achieve the same result. I won't fish tens with a 5.4:1 revo for very long, but the winch will go all year long. I am thinking of getting a 5.1:1lexa for just this reason even though I love my toros. Don't want a tranx, way to heavy... Thinking I could work with the lexas added weight. Also, the lexas should cast farther having the larger spool size... Another reason why I'm thinking about one. Good luck either way, the Lexas can be had on ebay for under $200. |
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Posts: 2894
Location: Yahara River Chain | Maybe you should pass on the 400 and compare the Revos and Calcuta D to the Lexa 300? I don't know, just throwing it out there for you to think about. |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | I got a Lexa 400 in the 5 gears with the Power Handle and it will bring in DCG 10 all day long with very little effort. The 6 gears will have alot of resistance for all day use and the 7 gears forget it.
I replaced the plastic bushing in the frame with a bearing and that made this reel Very Smooth bringing in DCG 10. |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | muskie! nut - 3/12/2014 9:54 PM
Maybe you should pass on the 400 and compare the Revos and Calcuta D to the Lexa 300? I don't know, just throwing it out there for you to think about.
Thanks for the suggestion. In the 300 Lexa I'd have to go up to the 6.3:1 ratio to get the line pickup I'm looking for. With the narrow spool and 23 or 24 inches per crank on the 5.1 I think it would be very slow after a long cast.
The Lexa 400 and Shimano 400D both have 27" line pickup with 5.1 ratios and the Shimano is much smaller. It does have a narrower spool so pickup at the end of a cast might be somewhat reduced, but if I have a lead on a deal on a 400D, I'm not sure if I see what the Lexa 400 does that the Shimano doesn't. |
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Posts: 624
Location: S.W. WI | Calcutta.
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Posts: 177
Location: ON | If the Lexa fits into your mitts comfortably, than I would ask you why not? Its cheaper and has a big handle OEM. If it doesn't fit in your hands than you have you answer...
I would assume from the price that Shimano is the best built reel, no experience with them however.. The Revo is a tried and true design with lots of success/usage and a comfort to palm. The Lexa is the new kid on the block. I think for the weekend warrior it will be just fine. Maybe it will prove itself beyond worthy. For $200, why not take a shot on one.....
I own a Lexa 400 5.1 and a NACL60HS. If I were getting a reel tomorrow it would be a 300/400D. Just so I could really see what is what. |
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Posts: 270
Location: SE WISCONSIN | I just bought a lexa 5.1 just for double 10's we will see how it works I was thinking of getting the 6.3 for smaller bucktails and jerk's. |
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Posts: 270
Location: SE WISCONSIN | PIKEMASTER - 3/12/2014 10:05 PM
I replaced the plastic bushing in the frame with a bearing and that made this reel Very Smooth bringing in DCG 10.
What kind of bearing did you use and was it easy to install? |
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Posts: 32884
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | PIKEMASTER offers a reel repair/detailing/pimping service. What's easy for him...may be not so much for others. |
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Posts: 791
Location: WI | I don't mean any offense by this but the lexa is brand new this year. So I am wondering how people know how well it works or feels after a full day of fishing. I'm sure that a hands full of pros were testing them last year but I haven't seen them posting here. There has been an awful lot of hype surrounding this thing but I'm a bit skeptical. That's why I bought a NICL. Already guys are replacing bearings to make it smoother? I like the look of the lexa. I like the concept. Its alot bigger when u put it on a rod I just don't know. Has anyone really used one for a while that might chime in? |
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| Trophyseeker50 - 3/13/2014 9:23 PM
I don't mean any offense by this but the lexa is brand new this year. So I am wondering how people know how well it works or feels after a full day of fishing. I'm sure that a hands full of pros were testing them last year but I haven't seen them posting here. There has been an awful lot of hype surrounding this thing but I'm a bit skeptical. That's why I bought a NICL. Already guys are replacing bearings to make it smoother? I like the look of the lexa. I like the concept. Its alot bigger when u put it on a rod I just don't know. Has anyone really used one for a while that might chime in?
The lexa doesn't need a new bearing, that is just what reel junkies do. Take a perfectly good new reel and customize it:-))) |
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Posts: 270
Location: SE WISCONSIN | I was just wondering I just bought one. I use cheap reel's this lexa is the most i've spent on a muskie reel if it fails I will spend more next time. |
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Posts: 791
Location: WI | Never heard of doing that but I suppose people do that to all kinds of reels. Like performance parts! |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | PM me for details on any reel that U may want to upgrade it's parts. Just got done doing over 50 reels for some Bass guys that was in the classic. I can do drags, bearings and many heavy duty parts and Power Handles for any bait caster reel.
I have done reels for Saric, Pearson, Hulbert, Cain, just to name a few in the Musky world.
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Why a Lexa 400 5.1:1 V.S...?