Casting: The Bates Hundo features the company's Matrix Braking System, a hybrid design that combines an externally adjustable magnetic system with an internal centrifugal setup located on the spool itself. The centrifugal portion is adjusted by clicking the plastic tabs outward, allowing the inductor ring to extend further into the braking raceway. This increases both centrifugal and magnetic pressure, improving cast control at the cost of some casting distance.

The Hundo features a dual matrix braking system which includes an externally adjustable magnetic system and a centrifugal system adjusted internally on the spool

I found the factory default (centered) centrifugal setting to work well in most conditions, and external magnetic adjustments provided enough control for nearly all applications, except when casting ultralight or weightless plastics.

The Hundo 100 spool (right) makes use of stainless steel bearings but the new Salty Hundo (left) adopts ceramic spool bearings 

If you're the type of angler who frequently tweaks casting controls on the fly, you may find the Hundo slightly more involved to dial in than offerings from Shimano, Daiwa, or Abu Garcia. That said, once you get the settings tuned to your preferences, the Hundo does an excellent job of managing overruns.

The Hundo is a little more difficult to dial in than some competing baitcasters but once set for how you fish is a strong caster. The distance between the spool and levelwind guide is enough that there are not aggressive angles impacting line peel during casts

Overall, the Hundo is a solid caster. The generous distance between the spool and the line guide, along with the funnel-shaped levelwind design, helps reduce friction and allows line to peel off smoothly. Casting distance and control are both strong, and notably different compared to the Trika Ti100.

The magnetic casting system can be adjusted with one hand on the fly

One of the biggest distinctions between the Hundo and the Ti100 lies in their braking and bearing systems. The Ti100 employs ceramic spool bearings, while the Hundo uses stainless steel and high-precision Nippon Miniature Bearings (NMB). These differences translate to noticeably different casting characteristics: I was able to achieve greater distance with the Ti100, but the Hundo felt quieter and more fluid on the cast. Interestingly, the newer Salty Hundo, equipped with ceramic spool bearings, feels and sounds more similar to the Ti100.

The Hundo is a lot quieter than the Trika Ti100 when casting but the Ti100 casts further. Both reels do well with pinpoint pitches.

Over time, I encountered a peculiar issue with both of my original Hundo reels: during angled (non direct overhand) casts, particularly underhand or skipping casts, the clutch would sometimes re-engage mid-cast. This caused the lure to snap back on the line and greatly increased the chance of a backlash. I was able to replicate the issue constantly, especially when throwing heavier reaction baits on rods with moderate actions. It seemed that vibration back to the reel during the cast was enough to trigger the clutch.

Comparing my original Hundo with the latest version. Though hard to tell the latest rev (right) is a shade deeper grey and looks more like gunmetal

Comparing the Hundos to the Ti100, I noticed that the Trika required slightly more force to re-engage the clutch, hinting that the issue could be pressure related. Since I had purchased the reels at retail, I reached out to Bates through their website. To their credit, a representative responded within the hour, confirming that a small batch of Hundos had shipped with lighter springs. They immediately offered to replace both reels.

The Hundo feels the most different from the Trika Ti100 when cast

Just two days later, I received the replacements, which featured a slightly deeper anodized finish - more gunmetal than the silver tone of the originals. After testing, we confirmed that the clutch spring tension was noticeably stronger. Once spooled up and back on the water, the issue was essentially resolved. While a very forceful cast can still trigger the clutch on rare occasions, as it can with many reels, the problem that once occurred regularly was now almost nonexistent.

The anodized finish looks high end but also serves a functional purpose and adds a layer of anti-corrosion protection

With the clutch issue resolved, I'm back to praising the Hundo's casting performance, and even more impressed with the customer support I received from Bates.

I'm not saying you should, but the reel's porting can stow baits in a pinch

Retrieve: Much like a machined round reel, the Bates Hundo delivers an impressively solid retrieve. Thanks to its rigid, flex-free construction, the internal gear alignment remains tight, resulting in a powerful, connected feel with every turn of the handle.

The Hundo's black drag star and handle are also anodized and feature a gloss black finish

The Hundo 100 is offered in both 7.1:1 and 8.1:1 gear ratios, available in both right- and left-hand retrieves. Interestingly, I found both gear ratios to feel equally powerful when fishing larger baits and battling fish. In most low-profile baitcasters, higher gear ratio models often feel noticeably weaker under load, but the Hundo's solid design minimizes that difference to the point where it's virtually unnoticeable - at least in standard bass fishing scenarios.

The Hundo's drag star is aggressively ported for weight reduction, as is the 88mm crank arm

So how does the Bates Hundo compare to the Trika Ti100 in terms of retrieve feel? They're actually quite similar, far more so than in casting performance, where the two reels diverge more significantly. Trika's use of exotic materials, including a machined aluminum line guide, titanium main shaft, and Teflon-coated their gearing, adds to its smooth, powerful feel and may contribute to enhanced long-term durability.

Time to look under the frame, this looks familiar

The Hundo, on the other hand, utilizes precision aluminum gearing and a more traditional levelwind design. It feels lighter in hand and slightly more torque-forward, reminiscent of high-end Daiwa reels. Anglers can really feel the direct connection between the handle and the internal gearing, which can be confidence-inspiring when fishing techniques that rely on feedback and control. This includes presentations like spinnerbaits, bladed jigs, small swimbaits, and swim jigs.

If you prioritize a compact workhorse baitcaster that's light yet powerful, with a connected and confident retrieve, the Bates Hundo 100 delivers.

The Hundo features an aluminum main gear with relatively large precision cut teeth

Next: Powerful carbon and titanium sealed drag