Total Score: 8.71 - BEST VALUE AWARD

Introduction: Bates may still be a relative newcomer to the tackle industry, but with the Hundo 100, the reel company is making a serious push into the premium low-profile reel market. Built on a CNC-machined aluminum frame and priced competitively the Hundo focuses on refined performance. After testing which included an unexpected a real-world issue that also let me gauge their customer service - I came away impressed.

The Bates Hundo 100 is the company's most compact baitcaster

Impressions: Bates entered the scene a few seasons ago with the launch of their Goat baitcasters - a mid-sized low-profile reel machined from bar stock aluminum, a build more commonly seen on classic round reels. The Goat. quickly gained popularity and helped establish a following for the young brand. My first experience with Bates began when I picked up a Goat from Tackle Warehouse, and I found it to be a strong overall performer - solid on the retrieve and high-end in feel.

Prior to the introduction of Hundo I've been fishing the Goat 150. The reel's larger size and line capacity makes for a good big bait reel

Over time, while I continued to appreciate the robust build quality of the Goat, I found the reel slightly large for more traditional bass fishing applications. I began using it primarily for throwing swimbaits and other techniques where the added line capacity was beneficial, like targeting striped bass. I also found the stock cork knobs a bit oversized for my personal preference and started experimenting with different knob options. Since then, Bates has refined the Goat platform, including changing the handle bolt to align better with their other offerings.

The Hundo is surprisingly light and small and only weighs 5oz.
 

While starting to work on the Goat. review in 2023, Bates released the Hundo 100 - a much more compact low-profile reel that, from the outset, felt better suited to my fishing style and ergonomic preferences.

As the name suggests, the Hundo 100 is smaller than the Goat - but it's not until you hold it in hand that you truly appreciate just how compact it is. Not only is it noticeably smaller than the Goat but also more compact than many competing reels in the same class. The Hundo features a sleek silver/gunmetal anodized finish, paired with black handle components and gum colored knobs for a sharp, modern look.

The Hundo 100 side by side with the newest Goat, the SWM model designed for slinging big baits

Aesthetically, the Hundo has a clean, premium appearance that feels reminiscent of reels like the Shimano Bantam MGL, which is very solid but forged versus machined. This reel is all about the metal - its fully CNC-machined aluminum frame serves as both a structural foundation and a visual focal point. Bates embraces the raw craftsmanship here, keeping coatings to a minimum so the machine paths from the CNC process can stand out. The precision and refinement of the build are front and center, reinforcing the Hundo's identity as a performance-driven, metal-forward baitcaster.

Every Hundo comes with a neoprene case

Real World Tests: I was immediately intrigued by Bates when the brand first launched and purchased two Hundo reels back in 2023 from Tackle Warehouse. Since then, I've been fishing them consistently for nearly two full seasons. Around the same time, competing brand Trika introduced their own low-profile baitcaster, the Ti100. We had the opportunity to test both a prototype and the final production version of the Trika, and it quickly became apparent that the Hundo and Ti100 shared quite a few design similarities - from their fully machined frames to some internal components.

This is a really good looking reel, and similar to I feel about the Shimano Bantam, seems to look good on every rod that I put it on

It's likely that both reels originate from the same manufacturing facility. Bates has been transparent about their process, stating that their reels are designed in Texas and manufactured in China. While the two reels may appear closely related at first glance, a deeper dive revealed several key differences that significantly affect how they fish and feel on the water. In this review, I tried to explore those differences and what they mean for anglers.

The Hundo sits really compact on rods

For testing, I primarily used the Hundo while targeting largemouth bass and striped bass in the California Delta, as well as in nearby lakes. I also brought the reel on trips to New York and Texas. Throughout my testing, I paired the Hundo with a variety of rods and fished with both monofilament and fluorocarbon lines from Berkley and Sunline, employing a wide range of presentations including both contact and reaction baits.

The Hundo is CNC precision cut from 6061-T6 bar stock aluminum from a one-piece body. The machining path marks are visible on top, bottom, and inside the reel and add a lot of character to the reel

Next: A unique casting experience