Bates Fishing Co's OG 100: Classic Round Reel, Original Gangster Spirit

Total Score: 8.70 - EDITOR'S CHOICE AWARD

Introduction: I've been eyeing the product from Bates Fishing Co since the debut of their casting reel in 2022. I believe, the company as a whole was established in 2020. I almost pulled the "buy now" trigger on their Hundo reel until I learned Zander had beat me to the check out counter, and then, sometime in late 2024, I saw the teaser posts on social media of their pending round reel. Of course, initial release would only include right hand retrieve reels (insert scowl). Then, recently, when I least expected it, I discovered the left handed Bates OGs were available and I jumped at the opportunity to purchase one like a five pounder busting through the cheese to engulf that frog bait.

Introducing Bates Fishing Co's OG 100 casting reel

Impressions: I'm not entirely certain what it is, perhaps it's similar to how many of us are drawn to classic cars or even old school bicycles, but if I'm enthusiastic about any type of tackle product, I'm very enthusiastic about round reels - especially if those round reels are ergonomic. Bates Fishing Co's OG 100 has a very similar spool capacity to Shimano's Conquest 100 (10.2 vs 10.8 cm³ (DC model)) and the same or similar palming profile too. It is very ergonomic. This means it palms better than Daiwa's Millionaire series and Abu Garcia's Morrum 1601.

The OG 100 palming profile vs Shimano's Conquest 101

The OG 100 palming profile vs Shimano's Conquest 51

However, the real kicker is, the OG 100 weighs just over five ounces (5.6oz) right out of the box! This, compared to almost eight ounces (7.9oz) for the Conquest 100, over eight and a half (8.6oz) for the Conquest 100DC, seven and a half ounces (7.5oz) for Daiwa's last Millionaire update, the CT SV70, and seven point two ounces (7.2oz) for Abu Garcia's Morrum SX1601 AE7V. So the OG 100 is a round reel that palms well and competes with low profile reels in weight?

The OG 100 palming profile vs Daiwa's Millionaire CT SV70

The OG 100 palming profile vs Megabass's ITO Monoblock

Another eye opening stat about this reel? Its spool only weighs ten grams (10g). That's the average weight of the BFS spools I tested back at the beginning of 2024 enroute that Shallow Spool Challenge article. You know what that meant. I had to spool the OG 100 up with some gau #0.8 Spro Finesse Braid and conduct the same peel test. The result? The OG 100's spool began rotating with just 0.2 grams of weight.

The OG 100 palming profile vs Abu Garcia & ZPI's AE74

The OG 100 palming profile vs Abu Garcia's Morrum 3601