Bates Goat 150 Casting Reel Review

Delivering excellent accuracy and casting distances with an assortment of lures and rigs, the Goat 150 comfortably fits in your hand, making it easy to feather the spool with your thumb at the end of every cast. Some of our reviewers experienced a learning curve in getting the magnetic braking system dialed in due to the hard-to-see engraved numbers on the adjustable brake dial. Once dialed in, though, the performance was exactly what was expected from a Bates reel.

The Goat 150 contains 10+1 sealed stainless steel bearings and a titanium crank arm, delivering a buttery-smooth retrieval that enhances feel. Boasting a stainless steel and titanium drag assembly that dishes out 20 lb of max drag, the Goat 150 is well equipped for throwing bigger baits, and the smooth-starting drag also provides plenty of stopping power, which is exactly what’s needed when you're going to battle with hard-fighting fish of any variety.

The Goat 150 sports an aesthetically pleasing chrome finish and cork accents that get noticed. After considerable time spent out on the water, the anodized finish did end up scuffing a bit. However, the functionality and durability of these reels continued to be rock solid, making these qualms purely cosmetic. The sealed stainless steel bearings and titanium crank arm boosted our confidence that this will be a reliable reel for many years to come. The solid body allows for no movement or twisting to occur in the frame, and there are no cheap parts or cut-rate plastic pieces in these reels. Everything about the Goat 150 is reliable.

Priced at $299.99, the build quality and durability make this reel very competitive with other well-respected models in its category. The Goat 150 is currently the lowest-priced CNC-machined solid aluminum body Bates reel, it carries more line capacity than the Bates Hundo ($375) and is $100 lower in price than the newer Bates Hundo’50 ($399.99).

Precision engineered with a robust machined-aluminum frame and sideplates, the Goat 150 compares favorably to the acclaimed Shimano Bantam MGL A 150 ($394.99), which also leverages full-aluminum construction in its CoreSolid body. And one could also compare the Goat 150 with the Daiwa Mangetsu ($299.99) in terms of size, weight, and appearance, yet only one of the Mangetsu’s sideplates is made from aluminum. Giving anglers another alternative to choose from besides the reels put forth by the industry giants, the Goat 150 definitely holds its own against these high-performing reels that boast a renowned level of strength and stability for power fishing tactics.

The 7.7-oz weight is a touch heavier than the standard low-profile baitcaster, which means finesse tactics will likely require a lighter reel with a smaller spool than what the Goat 150 has to offer. However, it is appropriately sized for the bulk of your bass fishing tactics. From A-rigs to jigs to bladed jigs, the Goat 150’s long 120-mm cranking handle delivers plenty of muscle for power fishing tactics. Armed with a drag system designed to deal out 20 lb of stopping power, the Goat 150 is fortified for all your heavy-duty braid applications, perfect for those times when you need to completely lock down your drag and eliminate any slippage on a hard hookset.

Great-looking, high-functioning, and built with tons of strength, the Goat 150 feels like it could handle anything at any time. This finely tuned machine supplies the rugged muscle needed for hauling in giant bass season after season. We believe the Goat 150 could outlast reels well above its cost, citing its combination of rigidity and perfect alignment as two key factors in our decision. In conclusion, we can absolutely recommend the Goat 150 as a must-grab for bass anglers who want a long-lasting, solid-frame reel with CNC-machined precision, especially considering its lower price tag compared to other durable power fishing reels of the same quality.