Got the bantam about a month ago. I’ve been using it in the salt for redfish and trout. The reel is an absolute tank. Reminds me of a Calcutta b but low-profile, I assume that’s due to the core solid feature.
I was going to buy a Daiwa zillion but after your review on this I ordered one from tackle warehouse (thanks for the videos) ..btw the gears are brass not aluminum , if you google the reel at tackletour there’s a complete breakdown of it .
Ok after receiving the reel I noticed one thing you are wrong about , you focused on the front of the reel and called it to be asimetrical but it isn’t.. it’s the gear side by the offset thumb bar that is longer than the palming side but at the same time I love that the thumb bar doesn’t portrude past the frame like the curodos , chronarcs , mataniums and the like , everything else I agree with , it has an industrial smoothness and it is built like little tank , solid and precise.
Love the smaller smaller look of this new Bantam Mgl over the longer chronarch and met Mgl reels" but will it cast as well with the line guide so close to spool" Top video again thank you
I wouldn’t say smaller but maybe more compact and refined. Nice looking reel, but it does look small. I would say it’s a sharp looking reel but not one that jumps out and says buy me, but I am more interested in the engineering that what went into the reel and what it will do for me and if it will it do consistently. Thanks for the review!
I was really leaning towards the concept Z because I love all my other 13 fishing reels but after seeing all these new sexy Shimano’s I’m going to have to go with this one because damn 😍
I have the A,C and the inception and they’re all awesome reels. The a is starting to slow down a bit after 3 years, my dad has some of the old curado 101’s and those things are sooo nice still, goes to show that Shimano products last so I’m definitely going with Shimano on my next reel.
Question. Going by the price points in Japan, the Bantam MGL is US$257 while the Metanium MGL is only US$282. In your opinion, would it make more sense to go for the Metanium MGL instead of the Bantam MGL given its much lighter weight and better casting performance? I already pulled the pin on the Chronarch MGL and I like it quite a bit. Probably the best palming reel I've tried. Casting wise is pretty effortless too. But, I still don't like the SVS, it takes a long time to get it dialed in as compared to the Mag-Z.
Id take the Metanium because going back to back with the Bantam the weight difference shows up immediately. Keep in mind the JDM Met has a shallow spool. Running heavy lures and thicker line you might cast all the line off.
THE REEL TEST Yea. Quite frankly may be having the Chronarch MGL is more than good enough. For one, I think it is the best looking out of all the MGL reels. It has just about enough line capacity and it comes stock with a 90mm handle. One of the biggest issues with the Metanium MGL is the 84mm handle, that reel's silver is a special light silver right? You can't find an aftermarket handle to match that silver. I was looking at the Avail handles and they only come in black, gold and charcoal. Normally, I would pick black, but I don't think it will go with the Metanium. I guess may be I was just getting itchy since Digitaka gave me a coupon to spend during next week when they close down for stock-taking. LOL.
THE REEL TEST Does the JDM Met really has a shallower spool? I compared the specs/line capacity from the Shimano Japan website and the USA site, it is basically the same. The Japanese site says 12 lbs mono 100m and the USA site says 12 lbs mono 110 yards.
THE REEL TEST I don't understand, then how come the line capacity stated are the same between the Shimano Japan and Shimano USA websites? fishing.shimano.co.jp/product/reel/4353 fish.shimano.com/content/fish/northamerica/us/en/homepage/Shimano_Product_Page.P-METANIUM_MGL.html
Just a couple of other things based on your comments: 1) Distance between the spool and the line guide - I guess based on your comment you believe in having a much less acute angle from the spool to the line guide in enabling longer casting distance. I went to take a look at the Curado K as well and true enough the distance is very short. I tell you what, go and compare that to say a Tatula CT Type R, once you depress the thumb bar to engage the reel, the T-Wing darts forward to open and the distance to the spool is much longer than that of the Curado K and I am sure the Bantam MGL too. That is before taking into account of the width of the T-Wing aperture neither, no wonder the Tatula casts so much farther. Will be interesting to see the results of your field test when you get a chance to do it. 2) Graphite star drag & 84mm handle - I know you would rather have a metal star drag, but if the reel already weighs in excess of 7.8oz with a graphite star drag and a 84mm handle (which is agonizingly short), can you imagine how heavy it would be with a metal star drag and a longer handle? Easily over 8oz which is a lot for a normal capacity low profile baitcaster. But, that is the trade-off if you prefer that solid metal feel. I suppose you could argue is still lighter than a round reel like the Conquest.
My experience is that the Tatula R doesnt cast farther. It barely won in the senko test all 3 times and got destroyed in the lipless test. I was literally struggling for 45 min trying to get the Type R to reach 150 ft. The K actually hit an over 180 ft cast in practice that day as well. And when i took them both out fishing the distance between them wasnt as bad but the K still was outdistancing the Type R. While i think the distance from spool to line guide contribute to casting, I think the brakes and spool are the biggest factors. I do think the Type R should win the 1/4 oz squarebill test and 1/8 oz minnow test though.
I wish that was true otherwise I wouldn't have to order another CT Type-R to replace the Curado K. I have only used the Curado K twice and is already coming off my rod. May be I will give it another go next time out. May be it was the Edge Rod being too stiff with less tip. We will see.
White Raven - That's exactly what I am saying plus I am a 100% braid user as well. I never started out as a Daiwa fan, I only really started trying out Daiwa in terms of baitcasters like may be 3 years ago max and basically it has converted me. To me, it is the combined performance advantage and ease of use of both the Mag-Z as well as the T-Wing which won be over. Put it this way, you just know something is at work when somehow your hand is always drawn back to the rod with the Daiwa, you just know you prefer it. I bought the Curado K like a lot of people did because of the hype. While the Micro Module Gearing is no hype, the on-water performance of the reel is. The first time I took it out, I had the Curado K mounted on a First Strike Edge Rod by Gary Loomis 7' Heavy while I had another setup with just a base Tatula CT paired up with a 7' Daiwa Zillion Heavy with exactly the same specs as the base benchmark. I was even casting heavy lures like 1 1/2oz and the Tatula was absolutely smoking the Curado K hands down. I was quite surprised because I knew the old Shimano VBS centrifugal system was actually quite effective when it came to heavy lures, but what I didn't know was the new SVS system is actually quite counter-intuitive. It was so difficult to dial in and basically a pain to use. In contrast, the single dial of the Mag-Z was just so easy and most importantly precise. I am finally convinced Daiwa with its Mag-Z together with the T-Wing is just superior to Shimano. Overall, I would say Shimano makes more refined reels especially with their higher end models, but when it comes to casting, Daiwa owns Shimano. With the Mag-Z and T-Wing, you can cast heavy lures, you can cast light lures and you can even skip with ease, it makes you look like a stud.
White Raven - Yes, you can cast a hollow body frog on a heavy rod into head wind. First of all, make sure you have the right rod, have you tried any of the Daiwa frog rods? If you haven't, you must!! They are 7'4"Heavy rated for 55-80 lbs braid. But, don't let the specs scare you, it has a soft enough tip which makes the rod extremely forgiving when casting light lures. I used to buy 7' Heavy worm & jig rods as a general purpose rod since I fish inshore, but what I have found is it is just a bit too stiff. So, the Daiwa frog rods are my favourite rods now without a doubt and there are many ranges and price point to choose from, from Tatula XT to Tatula to Tatula Elite to Zilllion, etc, etc. Give one a try and you won't regret it. Secondly, the reel. Try a Daiwa reel with a SV spool. I tested my Tatula SV TW with light lures against head wind and I was so pleasantly surprised. It handled it like a charm. The secret is in the additional braking of the SV spool. I was able to make casts without thumbing for very decent distances. The best part of it all is the reel just gives you 100% confidence and that is how great gear/equipment supposed to make you feel, you simply focus on enjoying the fishing rather than worrying about settings, bird's nest and what not.
Any chance you can confirm the JDM version has brass gears instead of aluminum? If the JDM version has brass gears, it's the one I want. I'm looking for the JDM only 5.5:1 gear ratio but not with aluminum gears. Apparently, they do not offer the slower 5.5:1 ratio in the US market.
Not sure if you remember it, but one of the first low pro reels i used for big cats was the Shimano Cruzar. It was shaped more like the early low pro's and wasn't crazy high, think in the early 2000s they were around $100 but we're all metal and had great torque.
It was heavy, but it was really tough for the price. It was just early 2000s and there were already tons of plastic low pros around, that one just looked more like the first Lew's low pro where you could tell it was a round reel with a little more aerodynamics thrown in lol. Think the drag knob was plastic, but not really an issue since it wasn't gonna see enough force to hurt with its angles.
So how does it fish compared to the Met & Chron? Are you going to do a video on it? Curious how much of a difference the distance from spool to line guide makes..
Hi, Love your channel. This is not a comment on this video but cannot see where I could get in touch with you directly. I have just seen a new contender for the GH 100 reel !!! maybe not it's called the KR Phantom BFS reel on Ali Express supplied by LT Fishing store take a look as the braking system appears to be like the GH 100 ?and it only $50.99
It’s so beautiful 😍... Is it saltwater proof? Can it launch farther or same as metanuim? Do you think they’ll make a different star drag to replace the plastic one?
shimano japan says its saltwater safe. Ill be having a big 5 way MGL shootout soon including the Metanium, and Hedghog Studios has a metal dragstar that fits already. A curado K star may fit it or a Met MGL one.
Not sure if you are in to spinning reels, but looking to spend 175$ or less on a nice spinning reel for striped bass... looking at the stradic FK I found one listed for 168. What do you think I should buy? Fish I catch are usually 20-30 inches.
fast flow fishing yeah I ended up going with the stradic FK. I went to bass pro to test it out and then I was going to buy it on amazon but then I realized that bass pro could price match so I bought it there for the cheaper price listed on amazon. Satisfied with it so far! I feel a twinge if regret I didn’t go with the Stradic Ci4+ though....
I'm sure it's a great reel , but it's not cheap . As far as I'm concerned the Curado K for your money is the best casting reel on the market . I own an Anterez and Chonarch MGL , and the K is as good maybe better ..... but whatever floats your boat , as long as it's a Shimano you can't go wrong
Is that Japan Model or Made in Japan???... Cause I searched on Japan tackle and it is written Japan model such as Scorpion but once you click to see the description, There is non saying Made in Japan like other Shimano such as Aldebaran or Antares. Anyway always glad to see your review and Thanks for sharing with us here !!!
Got my Aldebaran MGL this morning. it cast 1/8oz pretty nice. (had strong headwinds too) But i was using 10lb power pro super 8 slick. spool was about 12grams (was hoping it would be at least 10...) Also got the Megabass vision jr oneten. signal phantom ayu color.
I didnt get the HG because im not very patience. My metanium MGL is XG and i noticed i keep burning baits and casting 3x more often than my cousins and friends. Im sad it doesnt have a built in drag clicker.
Lol when I first saw the Bantam MGL I also thought it was kinda goofy looking but it grew on me lol! Now im buying one this week or next week lol by by $360!😁😂🤪👌🏻🥓🎣😭🤮☠️
Nice work! This thing is growing on me, although I have to say I am not sure I will like its hefty weight. What is surprising is the reel itself is smaller than I had anticipated which is a plus. I knew about the Bantam rod, but just too bad they made it with cork grips which is a strictly no no for me. What I would like to know is the hole of the line guide, is it bigger than the Curado K's? Remember I complained about the Curado K's almost microscopic line guide hole which I felt was choking the cast, thus reducing the overall casting distance and got destroyed by the Tatula. Just curious, would appreciate if you could check for me. And likewise, is it bigger than the Chronarch MGL's too?
yeah the show the line guide in detail somewhere in the vid lol. Its big like the Antares DC and Aldebaran. So its shaped like an upside down egg tapering down to a somewhat normal sized exit. its bigger than the cone shaped Met MGL line guide and the normal small line guide of the K.
Of course I saw it in the vid, but how am I suppose to do an accurate comparison with the vid?? You can only do that with both reels in front of you. Well, OK, at least is bigger than the Curado K. What about the Chronarch MGL?
Thanks for the video and I need some help and or advise please. What does it cost for the customs fees to get your reel into the US after you buy one from Japan ? Anyone please ? Thanks
Probly not the best video to ask but since its recent I was hoping for a response lol. Between the curado 70 and curado K hands down which of the two would you choose? I've watched plenty of your videos testing both and have handled the 70 and love it's size. Originally wanted the tatula sv but that small size has me swayed. Haven't handled a K but have prowled some threads and wonder if it's worth the extra money compared to the 70 (based off amazon prices). Thanks in advance and great video! The new bantam is sexy imo
THE REEL TEST awesome. I'll TRY to hold off on a decision until then lol key word try. Will it be a series of comparison videos or one longer packed video?
Have you tried to remove all three spool bearing on bantam? Wow Shimano made it harder to maintenance their reel. I able to remove shaft spool with pin remover and gentle remove o-ring but now stuck at side plate bearing. The spool rest very deep inside pocket and very hard to pry out. Any help?
If you were a high school angler and had a budget for a chronarch or less what reel would you buy? I was looking at the 13 metanium and some other reels. Just seeing what you had to say about it
Maybe Its Just Me Dawg, But Everytime I See a Shimano Reel (Like this) it resembles (to me) the futuristic sleek look of, *The Decepticons Leader,* aka *M E G A T R O N!!!* *"Decepticons,.. A T T A C K!!!!!"* ╔══╗ ♫ ║██║ ♪♪ ║██║♫♪ ║ ◎♫♪♫ ╚══╝ *.....Robots in disguise.....*
How does this cast compared to the Curado 200k? Anything notable? Should I get this reel over the 200k if possible or are the benefits of it super minute?
Awesome, the quicker the better! I'm just trying to decide which one I want for a texas rig and jig set up. I know I want to pair it with a St. Croix Legend X 7' MH F Casting Rod. Sadly, I've watched too many videos and now I'm debating between the Metanium MGL, Aldebaran MGL 30, and Bantam MGL. They all seem amazing, so I can't wait to see what the results of your test are! Any input you may have before hand incase I get antsy?
Megabass is NOT Daiwa. They use Isuzu for the basis of some of their round reels. Shimano does not allow platform sharing of their reels as Daiwa does with Megabass and Cabelas.
THE REEL TEST I understand I appreciate your response back I bought one this year the most expensive reel I ever bought. I appreciate your reviews I like them a lot . I want to have some more time with my new Shimano 17Exsence DC we can figure out how to send it to you and have a showdown Shimano ANTARES DC.
I don't doubt it. The bantams nice I almost got it I just like the black oh my real more than I like the Chrome on 2016 NEW Shimano ANTARES DC . Keep doing a good job really like your videos thanks again
Got the bantam about a month ago. I’ve been using it in the salt for redfish and trout. The reel is an absolute tank. Reminds me of a Calcutta b but low-profile, I assume that’s due to the core solid feature.
Damn my dude I'm jelly of your reel collection! Thanks for doing these videos it's cool to see overseas reels like this.
I like shimano produc..👍👍👍 smute and strong..
First thing came up in mind was robocop.
i love the side plate
You gotta see the Bantam in person! It really grows on you after actually using one I love it!
I really have to stop watching these reel videos because I'm loving this reel already .It's making my Lew's SLP look really cheap
this reel costs 450 dollar in sweden
This thing looks rigid and will build a muscle wrist for sure
I was going to buy a Daiwa zillion but after your review on this I ordered one from tackle warehouse (thanks for the videos) ..btw the gears are brass not aluminum , if you google the reel at tackletour there’s a complete breakdown of it .
Ok after receiving the reel I noticed one thing you are wrong about , you focused on the front of the reel and called it to be asimetrical but it isn’t.. it’s the gear side by the offset thumb bar that is longer than the palming side but at the same time I love that the thumb bar doesn’t portrude past the frame like the curodos , chronarcs , mataniums and the like , everything else I agree with , it has an industrial smoothness and it is built like little tank , solid and precise.
Yep, brass gear instead of aluminum. I think that’s why the Bantam is so smoooooth.
Oh Please Santa I will be especially good this year for one of those in my stocking
Love the smaller smaller look of this new Bantam Mgl over the longer chronarch and met Mgl reels" but will it cast as well with the line guide so close to spool" Top video again thank you
one way to find out. Line guides close to the spool dont necessarily mean short casts ive found out.
I'm guessing I'll save enough to get the 5.5 from Japan. I love crankin
nice bro..that solid reel look like tank
Awesome reek, can you please check if there is play on the handle? Crank up the drags thumb them spool and try to wiggle the handle. Thanks
I wouldn’t say smaller but maybe more compact and refined. Nice looking reel, but it does look small. I would say it’s a sharp looking reel but not one that jumps out and says buy me, but I am more interested in the engineering that what went into the reel and what it will do for me and if it will it do consistently. Thanks for the review!
I had a Shimano Bantam years ago it was graphite and about the same size it was a great reel I like the way that one looks nice reel
I just got the 2019 Bantam MGL 150 a few weeks ago and would love to find a Bantam Rod ....I always learn from your videos, even if I find them late .
2019 or 2018? Id be interested in finding that rod as well.
I have looked and so far haven’t found one, but,if I do I would be glad to pass on the info.
Look on eBay. I just searched and found bantam rods.
I was really leaning towards the concept Z because I love all my other 13 fishing reels but after seeing all these new sexy Shimano’s I’m going to have to go with this one because damn 😍
I have the A,C and the inception and they’re all awesome reels. The a is starting to slow down a bit after 3 years, my dad has some of the old curado 101’s and those things are sooo nice still, goes to show that Shimano products last so I’m definitely going with Shimano on my next reel.
If you get a Curado K and dont like it, it will be easy to sell.
THE REEL TEST I tried it out at the store and wasn’t too impressed with the build so hopefully the performance is good.
Question. Going by the price points in Japan, the Bantam MGL is US$257 while the Metanium MGL is only US$282. In your opinion, would it make more sense to go for the Metanium MGL instead of the Bantam MGL given its much lighter weight and better casting performance? I already pulled the pin on the Chronarch MGL and I like it quite a bit. Probably the best palming reel I've tried. Casting wise is pretty effortless too. But, I still don't like the SVS, it takes a long time to get it dialed in as compared to the Mag-Z.
Id take the Metanium because going back to back with the Bantam the weight difference shows up immediately. Keep in mind the JDM Met has a shallow spool. Running heavy lures and thicker line you might cast all the line off.
THE REEL TEST Yea. Quite frankly may be having the Chronarch MGL is more than good enough. For one, I think it is the best looking out of all the MGL reels. It has just about enough line capacity and it comes stock with a 90mm handle. One of the biggest issues with the Metanium MGL is the 84mm handle, that reel's silver is a special light silver right? You can't find an aftermarket handle to match that silver. I was looking at the Avail handles and they only come in black, gold and charcoal. Normally, I would pick black, but I don't think it will go with the Metanium. I guess may be I was just getting itchy since Digitaka gave me a coupon to spend during next week when they close down for stock-taking. LOL.
THE REEL TEST Does the JDM Met really has a shallower spool? I compared the specs/line capacity from the Shimano Japan website and the USA site, it is basically the same. The Japanese site says 12 lbs mono 100m and the USA site says 12 lbs mono 110 yards.
yeah its pretty shallow, its a 70 capacity spool according to Shimano Japan.
THE REEL TEST I don't understand, then how come the line capacity stated are the same between the Shimano Japan and Shimano USA websites?
fishing.shimano.co.jp/product/reel/4353
fish.shimano.com/content/fish/northamerica/us/en/homepage/Shimano_Product_Page.P-METANIUM_MGL.html
Just a couple of other things based on your comments:
1) Distance between the spool and the line guide - I guess based on your comment you believe in having a much less acute angle from the spool to the line guide in enabling longer casting distance. I went to take a look at the Curado K as well and true enough the distance is very short. I tell you what, go and compare that to say a Tatula CT Type R, once you depress the thumb bar to engage the reel, the T-Wing darts forward to open and the distance to the spool is much longer than that of the Curado K and I am sure the Bantam MGL too. That is before taking into account of the width of the T-Wing aperture neither, no wonder the Tatula casts so much farther. Will be interesting to see the results of your field test when you get a chance to do it.
2) Graphite star drag & 84mm handle - I know you would rather have a metal star drag, but if the reel already weighs in excess of 7.8oz with a graphite star drag and a 84mm handle (which is agonizingly short), can you imagine how heavy it would be with a metal star drag and a longer handle? Easily over 8oz which is a lot for a normal capacity low profile baitcaster. But, that is the trade-off if you prefer that solid metal feel. I suppose you could argue is still lighter than a round reel like the Conquest.
My experience is that the Tatula R doesnt cast farther. It barely won in the senko test all 3 times and got destroyed in the lipless test. I was literally struggling for 45 min trying to get the Type R to reach 150 ft. The K actually hit an over 180 ft cast in practice that day as well. And when i took them both out fishing the distance between them wasnt as bad but the K still was outdistancing the Type R. While i think the distance from spool to line guide contribute to casting, I think the brakes and spool are the biggest factors. I do think the Type R should win the 1/4 oz squarebill test and 1/8 oz minnow test though.
I wish that was true otherwise I wouldn't have to order another CT Type-R to replace the Curado K. I have only used the Curado K twice and is already coming off my rod. May be I will give it another go next time out. May be it was the Edge Rod being too stiff with less tip. We will see.
White Raven - That's exactly what I am saying plus I am a 100% braid user as well. I never started out as a Daiwa fan, I only really started trying out Daiwa in terms of baitcasters like may be 3 years ago max and basically it has converted me. To me, it is the combined performance advantage and ease of use of both the Mag-Z as well as the T-Wing which won be over. Put it this way, you just know something is at work when somehow your hand is always drawn back to the rod with the Daiwa, you just know you prefer it. I bought the Curado K like a lot of people did because of the hype. While the Micro Module Gearing is no hype, the on-water performance of the reel is. The first time I took it out, I had the Curado K mounted on a First Strike Edge Rod by Gary Loomis 7' Heavy while I had another setup with just a base Tatula CT paired up with a 7' Daiwa Zillion Heavy with exactly the same specs as the base benchmark. I was even casting heavy lures like 1 1/2oz and the Tatula was absolutely smoking the Curado K hands down. I was quite surprised because I knew the old Shimano VBS centrifugal system was actually quite effective when it came to heavy lures, but what I didn't know was the new SVS system is actually quite counter-intuitive. It was so difficult to dial in and basically a pain to use. In contrast, the single dial of the Mag-Z was just so easy and most importantly precise. I am finally convinced Daiwa with its Mag-Z together with the T-Wing is just superior to Shimano. Overall, I would say Shimano makes more refined reels especially with their higher end models, but when it comes to casting, Daiwa owns Shimano. With the Mag-Z and T-Wing, you can cast heavy lures, you can cast light lures and you can even skip with ease, it makes you look like a stud.
White Raven - Yes, you can cast a hollow body frog on a heavy rod into head wind. First of all, make sure you have the right rod, have you tried any of the Daiwa frog rods? If you haven't, you must!! They are 7'4"Heavy rated for 55-80 lbs braid. But, don't let the specs scare you, it has a soft enough tip which makes the rod extremely forgiving when casting light lures. I used to buy 7' Heavy worm & jig rods as a general purpose rod since I fish inshore, but what I have found is it is just a bit too stiff. So, the Daiwa frog rods are my favourite rods now without a doubt and there are many ranges and price point to choose from, from Tatula XT to Tatula to Tatula Elite to Zilllion, etc, etc. Give one a try and you won't regret it.
Secondly, the reel. Try a Daiwa reel with a SV spool. I tested my Tatula SV TW with light lures against head wind and I was so pleasantly surprised. It handled it like a charm. The secret is in the additional braking of the SV spool. I was able to make casts without thumbing for very decent distances. The best part of it all is the reel just gives you 100% confidence and that is how great gear/equipment supposed to make you feel, you simply focus on enjoying the fishing rather than worrying about settings, bird's nest and what not.
Sweet reel
Any chance you can confirm the JDM version has brass gears instead of aluminum? If the JDM version has brass gears, it's the one I want.
I'm looking for the JDM only 5.5:1 gear ratio but not with aluminum gears. Apparently, they do not offer the slower 5.5:1 ratio in the US market.
Man I love your content bro
Not sure if you remember it, but one of the first low pro reels i used for big cats was the Shimano Cruzar. It was shaped more like the early low pro's and wasn't crazy high, think in the early 2000s they were around $100 but we're all metal and had great torque.
i wouldnt be surprised if most reels awhile back were all metal until we got into the light reel craze
It was heavy, but it was really tough for the price. It was just early 2000s and there were already tons of plastic low pros around, that one just looked more like the first Lew's low pro where you could tell it was a round reel with a little more aerodynamics thrown in lol. Think the drag knob was plastic, but not really an issue since it wasn't gonna see enough force to hurt with its angles.
WICKED COMBO!!!! Thanks for the great review bro!
Hello The Reel Test, i wanna share some screenshot pic from this video with my facebook friends. Is it okay with you?
sure
TQVM
I have the Bantam MGL HG paired with a 6'10 medium/heavy fast action Shimano Bass One XT
So how does it fish compared to the Met & Chron? Are you going to do a video on it? Curious how much of a difference the distance from spool to line guide makes..
was going to do that this past weekend but it rained on the only day I had. But soon.
Hi, Love your channel. This is not a comment on this video but cannot see where I could get in touch with you directly.
I have just seen a new contender for the GH 100 reel !!! maybe not it's called the KR Phantom BFS reel on Ali Express supplied by LT Fishing store take a look as the braking system appears to be like the GH 100 ?and it only $50.99
It’s so beautiful 😍... Is it saltwater proof? Can it launch farther or same as metanuim? Do you think they’ll make a different star drag to replace the plastic one?
shimano japan says its saltwater safe. Ill be having a big 5 way MGL shootout soon including the Metanium, and Hedghog Studios has a metal dragstar that fits already. A curado K star may fit it or a Met MGL one.
I received all 5 of my Bantam MGLs today
Not sure if you are in to spinning reels, but looking to spend 175$ or less on a nice spinning reel for striped bass... looking at the stradic FK I found one listed for 168. What do you think I should buy? Fish I catch are usually 20-30 inches.
My spinning reel experience is lacking! lol.. go check out this channel called Ish with Fish. He has the best spinning reel reviews by far bar none
THE REEL TEST thanks for being honest haha. I’ll check him out
Id go with the stradic, ive got a couple of them with crucial rods
fast flow fishing yeah I ended up going with the stradic FK. I went to bass pro to test it out and then I was going to buy it on amazon but then I realized that bass pro could price match so I bought it there for the cheaper price listed on amazon. Satisfied with it so far! I feel a twinge if regret I didn’t go with the Stradic Ci4+ though....
Go Navy i havs the Ci4+....amazing reel its very smooth after a couple years
Nice!!
Can you link website where you purchased it please
I'm sure it's a great reel , but it's not cheap . As far as I'm concerned the Curado K for your money is the best casting reel on the market . I own an Anterez and Chonarch MGL , and the K is as good maybe better ..... but whatever floats your boat , as long as it's a Shimano you can't go wrong
Greg C I cant argue with anything you just said lol. They all have a slightly different feel
My favourite reel.
Can you make a video on how to use that oil on Shimano baitcaster like the curado DC
Is that Japan Model or Made in Japan???... Cause I searched on Japan tackle and it is written Japan model such as Scorpion but once you click to see the description, There is non saying Made in Japan like other Shimano such as Aldebaran or Antares. Anyway always glad to see your review and Thanks for sharing with us here !!!
Bantam is made in Japan
THE REEL TEST, Thanks Dude!!!
i'm QC shimano Bantam,,,,,part good product,,,tanks like product shimano
Is the paint finish like the Metanium where it scratches easily? Or like Curados where it’s tougher to scratch them?
you should make a review on the Shimano Grappler its like the mgl casitas but cheaper. plus i really want to get it but dont know how it is
If you ever get a chance can you do a review of a Daiwa t3 ballistic plz
I am waiting shimano curado or K vs shimano tranx
The reel is awesome looks like a beast
Looks sexy to me! Me minds me of the old Alderbaran mg7
Do you have a video on the Shimano Core 57mg if that bantam is anything like it than it’s amazing
Got my Aldebaran MGL this morning. it cast 1/8oz pretty nice. (had strong headwinds too) But i was using 10lb power pro super 8 slick. spool was about 12grams (was hoping it would be at least 10...) Also got the Megabass vision jr oneten. signal phantom ayu color.
Nice! im assuming you didnt get the XG model?
I didnt get the HG because im not very patience. My metanium MGL is XG and i noticed i keep burning baits and casting 3x more often than my cousins and friends. Im sad it doesnt have a built in drag clicker.
Im waiting for the HGs to come in.
is it coming out next month or sooner?
supposed to be sooner
Should have a total of 9 bearings. (including 2 in handle knobs).
what jdm reels are ur favorite 100-150$ range / and what websites do u use for them too
How long does it usually take for a reel to get to you from Japan Lure Shop?
Nice reel, u think this reel would be more for light lures or could be use light work horse reel????Thanks,
going to find out tommorrow
THE REEL TEST Thanks. let us know. As a kayak fisherman I can only bring so many rod. So I need to make sure.
Thanks.
Lol when I first saw the Bantam MGL I also thought it was kinda goofy looking but it grew on me lol! Now im buying one this week or next week lol by by $360!😁😂🤪👌🏻🥓🎣😭🤮☠️
Do you know if theirs an difference between the USA version and the jdm?
Nice work! This thing is growing on me, although I have to say I am not sure I will like its hefty weight. What is surprising is the reel itself is smaller than I had anticipated which is a plus. I knew about the Bantam rod, but just too bad they made it with cork grips which is a strictly no no for me. What I would like to know is the hole of the line guide, is it bigger than the Curado K's? Remember I complained about the Curado K's almost microscopic line guide hole which I felt was choking the cast, thus reducing the overall casting distance and got destroyed by the Tatula. Just curious, would appreciate if you could check for me. And likewise, is it bigger than the Chronarch MGL's too?
yeah the show the line guide in detail somewhere in the vid lol. Its big like the Antares DC and Aldebaran. So its shaped like an upside down egg tapering down to a somewhat normal sized exit. its bigger than the cone shaped Met MGL line guide and the normal small line guide of the K.
Of course I saw it in the vid, but how am I suppose to do an accurate comparison with the vid?? You can only do that with both reels in front of you. Well, OK, at least is bigger than the Curado K. What about the Chronarch MGL?
chronarch mgl has a regular small line guide like the K
Thanks, man! Oh I see, if that's the case, there is no danger of me going after a Chronarch then.
i love it, nice bro
Thanks for the video and I need some help and or advise please. What does it cost for the customs fees to get your reel into the US after you buy one from Japan ? Anyone please ? Thanks
Probly not the best video to ask but since its recent I was hoping for a response lol. Between the curado 70 and curado K hands down which of the two would you choose? I've watched plenty of your videos testing both and have handled the 70 and love it's size. Originally wanted the tatula sv but that small size has me swayed. Haven't handled a K but have prowled some threads and wonder if it's worth the extra money compared to the 70 (based off amazon prices). Thanks in advance and great video! The new bantam is sexy imo
im doing a video on that soon
THE REEL TEST awesome. I'll TRY to hold off on a decision until then lol key word try. Will it be a series of comparison videos or one longer packed video?
basically seeing if theres a performance difference between the 2 for lighter lures, because thats what the 70 is for
Have you tried to remove all three spool bearing on bantam? Wow Shimano made it harder to maintenance their reel. I able to remove shaft spool with pin remover and gentle remove o-ring but now stuck at side plate bearing. The spool rest very deep inside pocket and very hard to pry out. Any help?
No i havent touched anything on the Bantam. I havent needed to mess with the bearings
THE REEL TEST thanks anyway, I got it out eventually. The only two bearing need to clean are palm side plate and shaft bearing.
The size is surprising, I thought it was gonna be shimanos biggest low profile reel.
yeah i thought it was going to be metanium big but its super small! palms so nice too
I’ll never buy another reel until you’ve tested it(ConceptZ) 😑
You bought a concept z and was disappointed? Ive never heard that before lol
Bought one to and went fishing and couldn’t concentrate on fishing because I wanted to take it back ASAP!
smoovefishing I mean it’s ok. It doesn’t cast any further than my concept C. Idk why I thought I could do and better than Shimano or Diawa.
Balzy73 maybe it was all the hype that got you interested
Gue Thao yeah for sure all those channels claiming it would cast a mile 🙄. It won’t outcast my Curado K’s or Diawa Coastal’s.
Is the level wind worm gear composite like the Curado K/70? Or is it metal of some kind like that of the Chronarch or Metanium???
its metal
If you were a high school angler and had a budget for a chronarch or less what reel would you buy? I was looking at the 13 metanium and some other reels. Just seeing what you had to say about it
too many good options out there to list. But the 13 Metanium is still a top reel.
I would recommend 1 chronard MGL, or 16 scorpion, or 14/17 curado...
Hi, great video ! Could you please provide a link to the tackle store in Japan you are ordering from ? Thank you.
japanlureshop
how many days for delivery of goods
usually 3-4 business days
Thank you ! I will go and have a look !
So what would be the best mgl reel ??
Would love to see a castking review
I have the 5.5 for cranking
looks awesome!
Want to know the shop name and details that u buy the reel
Nice..
How long does it usually take for you to get a reel from japanlures. I just ordered a scorpion bfs
once they ship 3-4 business days. they give a tracking number that you can use usps.com to track
How does the size compare to a care 50mg7?
Which Japanese website did you purchase this from?
where you buy the Shimano reel
Is this the best reel in Shimano’s U.S. lineup right now?
depends on what you consider "best" I prefer the Metanium.
can i know the website that you buy it from?
Maybe Its Just Me Dawg, But Everytime I See a Shimano Reel (Like this) it resembles (to me) the futuristic sleek look of, *The Decepticons Leader,* aka *M E G A T R O N!!!* *"Decepticons,.. A T T A C K!!!!!"*
╔══╗ ♫
║██║ ♪♪
║██║♫♪
║ ◎♫♪♫
╚══╝ *.....Robots in disguise.....*
How does this cast compared to the Curado 200k? Anything notable? Should I get this reel over the 200k if possible or are the benefits of it super minute?
I think it handles lighter lures better. We wont know distancewise until I get on the field and do the MGL battles
When do you plan to make that video? I can't wait to see it!
hopefully within the next couple of weeks due to my limited schedule
Awesome, the quicker the better! I'm just trying to decide which one I want for a texas rig and jig set up. I know I want to pair it with a St. Croix Legend X 7' MH F Casting Rod. Sadly, I've watched too many videos and now I'm debating between the Metanium MGL, Aldebaran MGL 30, and Bantam MGL. They all seem amazing, so I can't wait to see what the results of your test are! Any input you may have before hand incase I get antsy?
thats tough and you cant go wrong with either, but if I were to pick just one it would be the Met. It just does EVERYTHING well.
Better than curado k? Might get 5 and I speed if so. Spool size?
spool is the standard 34x22mm, i forgot to insert the text about that :/ not sure how good it is yet until I get it on the water
Mine is on the way
Shimano is number one
Do you take the plastic off your cork handles or leave them on?
leave them on as long as i can
How much line did it say it hold?
How do you do your customary inspection? Like you take it apart?
Nope, I study all its components and design characteristics
THE REEL TEST good stuff man
I Think its a small 150 size reel
So I just bought a japanlureshop reel... It landed in customs on Saturday and is still there Tuesday morning.. has this happened to you?
ive never had anything held up in customs so far
THE REEL TEST nvm the reel was in customs this morning but showed up on my door this afternoon w/ a vision 110 😄
Owen Jansen did you have to pay custom fees?
Cuong Nguyen nope
Ive only had to pay customs fees on things shipped either UPS or Fedex.
Does anyone know what would happen if you accidentally drop a DC reel underwater?
tackletour did it years ago, the unit stopped working until it dried, then started working again. these new units are sealed alot better apparently
Can we get the web site we’re u buy from Japan
Is waw reel fising
I really want this
you don't control infinity brakes from the outside
what's the average price for the bantam at this point in time?
from japan its about $300
What is the difference between pg, hg, xg?thanks
those letters define the gear ratios.
Is this better than the Shimano Metanium MGL?🤔
i dont know yet, but probably not
Damn that rod... I dont see it on tacklewarehous?
lol and you probably wont, its a japan only model
Deeno Andino it’s definitely there now. Haha
Can switch spool with Metanium MGL ?
no, the Metanium has a longer spool shaft
This is a Calcutta 50 in a Curado 50e body!!!
Just imagine if megabass tuned these reels
Megabass is Daiwa.
Megabass is NOT Daiwa. They use Isuzu for the basis of some of their round reels. Shimano does not allow platform sharing of their reels as Daiwa does with Megabass and Cabelas.
Is then you can do a review on the SHIMANO 17 EXSENCE DC XG
I meant to say you think you can do it review
might be a couple of years before I get one of those since I just dropped a couple grand on just reels recently
THE REEL TEST I understand I appreciate your response back I bought one this year the most expensive reel I ever bought. I appreciate your reviews I like them a lot . I want to have some more time with my new Shimano 17Exsence DC we can figure out how to send it to you and have a showdown Shimano ANTARES DC.
Ill get one eventually lol
I don't doubt it. The bantams nice I almost got it I just like the black oh my real more than I like the Chrome on 2016 NEW Shimano ANTARES DC . Keep doing a good job really like your videos thanks again
Hi which shop in Japan did you order from? Can share the link?
japanlureshop.com
THE REEL TEST thank you
Is there a JDM and a US version? Or the same?
they are the same
欲しい！