How Long Should It Last?

[Ima Bass Ninja]

We see it all the time in post on reels... probably won't last to long or you can find better reels for the price that will last longer.

So my question is how long do you expect a reel to last?

Let's category it by saying how long do you expect a $100 and under reel to last? A 100-200 reel ? 200- 300? 300 and up

[Marty]

That's a very open-ended question. A Chevy can last longer than a Cadillac. I've got some $50 Daiwa spinning reels that have lasted for years, except for bail springs. There are too many variables, such as overall product quality, how it's used, how often it's used, how well it's maintained, etc.

[Ima Bass Ninja]

That's a very open-ended question. A Chevy can last longer than a Cadillac. I've got some $50 Daiwa spinning reels that have lasted for years, except for bail springs. There are too many variables, such as overall product quality, how it's used, how often it's used, how well it's maintained, etc.

I'm just asking for individual opinions. If you spent $100 on a reel at what point do you feel you got your monies worth? And the same for the other price points.

[plumworm]

I have 8 Shimano Curado reels that I purchased between 1998 and 2002. I paid $120 for each of them. They have never failed me.. I clean and oil each spring. $120 was a lot for a reel at that time.You get what you pay for. I feel that I got what I paid for.

[LgMouthGambler]

I had a Curado CU200B that I just recently sold to a member here. Was $120 new about 17 years ago, and still performed great till the day I sold it.

[jj'sbassinforfun]

My Quantum snapshot is well over 20 years old and I just retired it! I have some late 90's Abu's that I still use once in a while. A shimano Coriolis is also a late 90's. I also have my first Revo S since 2007 and its still original. I'm sure the other(Shimano Citica-Daiwa Aggrest and a new Ardent Edge) reels I have just purchased will be around for a good while.

More in how they are cared for and when you decide to move on.

[KevO]

I have 5 curados (D and E) 1 Chronarch 50mg and E, Core 100mg and 2 stradics. I expect them to last until they don't make parts for them anymore. I have them professionally cleaned and lubed each year and clean them myself throughout the year too. They are used heavily but they are in perfect condition. If you take care of them they will last forever. I also believe you get what you pay for...

[Goose52]

Marty already gave the best answer...that there is no answer to this question. Too many variables. You might have people reply that they expect a reel to last a "season", or many seasons, or so many years, or so many lifetimes. None of those answers mean anything unless the actual usage of the reel is quantified over that time. How many times was it used, or how many hours or use, or how many casts and retrieves, or how many fish caught, or how much stress on the reel from weight of the bait or stress from retrieves. Did the reel have stretchy mono to take some of the shock during hooksets or was the reel used only for flipping and pitching with 50lb braid and with the drag locked down.

Having said the above, I occasionally still use my Dad's Ambassadeur 5000 - it is about 50 years old. I still have my first spinning reel from about 1960 or so - it's over 50 years old. I also still occasionally use my mid-60s vintage Mitchell 408 that I bought new - it is now about 46 years old. I expect all three to be working after I'm gone. But unless I quantified the usage of the reels up until now, their age means nothing.

Another answer - I expect a reel to last long enough to deliver the value that I expect for the price I paid...

[roadwarrior]

If it's a Shimano, forever.

[K_Mac]

Forever is a long time RW. I have 4 Bass Pro Pro Qualifier baitcast reels that I expect to outlast me though, and I expect another 20+ years. I paid $80 each for them. As has been said, how much a reel is used, and how it is treated and maintained will generally decide how long it lasts before it needs repair, assuming reasonable quality. For me reasonable quality starts at $80.

[Stasher1]

Regardless whether I paid $50 or $350 for a reel, I expect it to last until I get bored with it and put it up for sale. For me, they're just tools, not collectibles or heirlooms.

[*Hootie]

Regardless whether I paid $50 or $350 for a reel, I expect it to last until I get bored with it and put it up for sale. For me, they're just tools, not collectibles or heirlooms.

AMEN to that!!! Excellent response!

Hootie

[BobP]

If you get a great reel it can last indefinitely - with proper maintenance. Without it, they will still last forever but will need repairs IF you can get the parts. Curado 200's are 14 yrs old and many of them work better than new. I see some reels today (even own a few) that I like to fish better than my old green Curado 200's but doubt will last 10 yrs because of design limitations or doubts about whether there will be parts available in a few years. To me, the sweet spot for reel quality versus price is $140-200 right now - but that's JMHO based on MY experience.

[Busy]

Zebco 33 still going strong! lol

I expect AT LEAST 5 years from a reel that cost ~$100. I'm pretty sure certain I'll get more than that though out of my Quantums and Shimanos that cost around that.