The Piscifun Alijoz 400 Saltwater/Freshwater Baitcasting Reel - Crushing it or Crap?

Twenty some years ago, people looked at me like I had two heads fishing inshore with Shimano Curado baitcasters in the North East. These were go to down south whether pulling big bass from pads or reds inshore. Shimano then introduced the Curado DC with it's microchipped cast control system, because what goes better with chips than salt? Great if you're pro-staff and not shelling out, but.... The Shimano Tranx upped the game with capacity and drag in a low-profile baitcaster, along with the price. Today I received a Piscifun Alijoz 400 Saltwater/Freshwater Baitcasting Reel at a holiday season price of $109. Is the Alijoz 400 remotely comparable to the Tranx, or any good at all for that matter? For a bit over a Benjamin, we'll find out in the New Year! 

Model               Gearing       Drag     Weight     Mono Capacity    Line per crank 

Alijoz 400         8.1:1           35lb.      411g        17-270/24-208     42" 

Tranx 401HG    7.6:1            8lbs.     340g        16-300/25-200     39"

Article Preview... Source to Sea - Fishing Rt. 33 from the blue lines of the West Virginia border to the Chesapeake Bay and beyond.

I’ve written a couple of times on why I would consider Virginia a bucket list fishing destination. This past week I fished a single highway, Route 33, (with the exception of a 15 mile detour on 208 to Lake Anna), for 300 miles from Skidmore Lake on the West Virginia border to Deltaville where the Rappahannock River empties into the Chesapeake Bay.

I covered every type of water from blue line streams containing wild brook trout; mountain rivers filled with large and smallmouth, musky, panfish and more; Lake Anna, a large man-made lake containing bass, stripers, wipers, and crappie; the lower Rappahannock with largemouth, blue cats, flatheads, snakeheads, gar and carp; to finally the delta and salt full of summer flounder, cobia, red fish, spot, croaker, blues, stripers and more. Venture a bit further offshore, and you’re into blue water pelagics. I'll be mapping the route, talking about what to fish for and where, discussing tackle and shops to stop in along the way, as well as some great guides to consider booking with to get the most out of your time spent on a week long adventure. I'll also throw in some great places to stop for good eats and other interests.