|
Making a Power Play, the Shimano Tranx Baitcaster
(continued)
 Price
& Applications: At the time of this review the Curado 300E is still a
popular reel among both swimbait and inshore anglers that appreciate the reel’s
capacity and confident jigging and winching capabilities. The Tranx Series
literally cranks it up a notch in almost every way, and yet will still not cost
you an arm and a leg to purchase. Retailing for $279 dollars the Tranx is a
surprisingly good value, and the larger 400 sized reels are also very reasonable
at only 20 dollars more. Shimano also does anglers right by offering the new
Tranx reels in both low and high speed retrieves, as well as right and left hand
retrieves.
The reel sat
just a tad high on some reel seats
In terms of competition the Lexa 300 reels are much more affordable at $199
dollars but not as refined. On the opposite end of the spectrum the Abu Garcia
REVO Toro reel are more refined, smoother, and come with both a power handle and
casting power handle but retail for a hundred dollars more at $399.99. Among all
these reels I felt the Tranx 300 Series offered the most balanced offering for
the money.
The gearbox on
this reel is nothing short of massive and yet the reel manages to balance just
fine
I enjoyed fishing the Tranx 300A but there were areas like in retrieve
smoothness or drag control where I also found myself desiring more refinement.
Anglers will have to select what balance of features, performance, and price is
right for them, others will simply stick with Shimano out of brand loyalty, and
at least in the case of the Tranx that doesn’t result in a bad choice at all.
A look at the
reel height on a Dobyns Swimbait Rod
The Tranx Series does a lot of things well, and does some things, like deliver
torque, very well. The series is a good choice for anglers that are often
fishing big baits and inshore applications, and brackish water or even salt will
do little to alter the reel’s performance, even over time. For topwater
applications the higher speed reels are the way to go, and on my next trip to
the Amazon to target Peacocks the 300AHG with the 7.6:1 ratio is unquestionably
the first reel I’d pack.
I was often
surprised how big the fish were and how easily the Tranx manhandled them
When it comes to the salt the Tranx has all the necessary provisions to stand up
to the elements with the company's CoreProtect design which employs a coating on
the exterior and fittings on the inside to shield key components. The Tranx has already been deployed by many charter
boats and is proving itself to be a worthy option for targeting everything from
mid-sized Tuna to Wahoo. The reel should hold up well even for short to
mid-range applications, and it may even have enough capacity for long range
applications when paired with 50lb braided line.
Ratings:
(We've
re-calibrated our
ratings standard for
2008 and have
included a key at
the bottom of the
following matrix as
a guide):
|
Shimano
Tranx
300A Reel
Ratings
(?/10)
|
|
Construction/Quality |
Built
like a
tank the
Tranx
utilizes
a metal
construction
that
will
hold up
to the
elements |
8.5 |
|
Performance |
The
Tranx
really
delivers
when it
comes to
torque
and
stopping
power.
This
reel
cranks
in big
baits
and big
fish
with
ease but
there
are some
areas
where it
could be
more
refined
including
smoothness
of
retrieve
and
range of
drag
adjustment |
8.8 |
|
Price |
A great
price
for a
reel
with
this
level of
performance.
Probably
the most
balanced
big
baitcaster
when it
comes to
performance,
features,
and
price |
8.5 |
|
Features |
While
the reel
doesn't
have a
lot of
bearings
it does
have a
metal
construction,
additional
corrosion
resistance,
quality
gearing
and a
powerful
drag |
8 |
|
Design
(Ergonomics) |
Very
good
ergonomics
overall.
It sits
a tad
high on
some
seats
but the
form
factor
of the
reel is
modern
and even
comfortable
to palm |
8 |
|
Application |
When it
comes to
applications
the
Tranx
really
shows
plenty
of
range.
It can
be used
for
freshwater
and
saltwater
applications
and can
handle
big fish
and big
baits
with
ease.
Just
make
sure to
pick the
right
retrieve
ratio
for the
application
you will
target
the most |
9.5 |
|
Total
Score
|
8.55 |
Ratings
Key:
1 =
terrible
: 2 =
poor : 3
=
lacking
: 4 =
sub par
: 5 =
mediocre
: 6 =
fair : 7
= good :
8 =
great :
9 =
excellent
: 10 =
unbelievable!
For More
Details
of the
updated
rating
system
visit
our
explanation
here |
Pluses and Minuses:
|
Plus
Minus
|
|
+
Built
like a
tank but
fishes
much
smaller |
-
Could be
more
refined
in some
areas
like the
knobs,
smoothness,
and
range of
drag
adjustment |
|
+
Ton's of
power,
excellent
torque |
|
|
+
A drag
capable
of
stopping
even big
species |
|
|
+
Wide
range of
applications
spanning
freshwater
and
saltwater |
|
|
+
Reasonable
price |
|
Simple,
reliable, and powerful. The Tranx is a step up for Shimano's big baitcasters
Conclusion:
The Shimano Tranx is a very good big baitcaster, it delivers in all the areas
that matter in this class of reel. The reel’s personality is bold and
commanding, and while it is not the most sophisticated reel it is a very
effective one at this price point.
The Tranx is like a muscle car, it is built with purpose, to deliver power, and
lots of it, but make no mistake this reel also navigates the range of mid to
heavy applications across both fresh and saltwater very well, and is among the
most balanced of the high capacity big baitcasters currently available.
The Tranx has
plenty of character and emanates both confidence and fun
One of the things that makes the Tranx Series so special is that it manages to
deliver on power and durability and yet still handle like it is a much smaller
reel. It never feels like too much, or unwieldy, and with the lower speed 300A
reels it will surprise you with just how much power it squeezes into a
relatively compact frame. I personally like a reel with some sort of character,
and to that extent the Tranx emanates both “confidence” and “fun” all wrapped in
a slick silver frame. Power Play…. Advantage Shimano Tranx.
Looking for the
Shimano Tranx?
Try
Tackle Warehouse
|
