Top 10 Basitcasting Reels For The Money?

[KentuckyDave]

If you had to make a top 10 list of best baitcasters for the money.....

 

What would they be?

[jbsoonerfan]

For what money?

 

$100 to some people is a lot. $300 to some people isn't a lot.

 

I think the Core is worth every penny. I also think the Citica is a good real for the price.

[Teal]

This is hard thing to do. Its hard to make a fair assessment if i dont know the range of reel or theres alot that i can refer you to but i havent actually used.

[retiredbosn]

I agree we need a price point to look at. The BPS Pro Qualifier is a great 100 dollar reel, even better at 80. The most I've ever paid for a reel is 160 for a nib Curado E. So I can not give any suggestions past that price.

[0119]

For the Money. Like best buy. Like worth the money. Like not over done or over priced. I'd say at this date and time, none of them are worth their price. Unless your into brand worship and just must adore something just for its name....or....just have to have that color coordinated reel/rod combo to look like your bass 'pro' idol.

[flyfisher]

For the Money. Like best buy. Like worth the money. Like not over done or over priced. I'd say at this date and time, none of them are worth their price. Unless your into brand worship and just must adore something just for its name....or....just have to have that color coordinated reel/rod combo to look like your bass 'pro' idol.

Really? Reels are worth whatever someone is willing to pay, simple supply and demand. Reels have a lot of machining and workmanship involved not to mention higher priced materials.

Personally I think as far as baitcasters go the citica is a great value.

[jhoffman]

None of them are worth squat if they dont have brass gears. Then you get the reels that have bearings in places bearings arent needed. Reels with a high price point with junk bearings, reels packed full of grease to hide their flaws.

 

You need someone who services a lot of reels from every manufacturer to really give you the best reels at their price range and their intended purpose.

[Maico1]

For my money....Anything Calais ,Calais DC, Antares,Antares HG, Conquest, Calcutta GT,Conquest DC and Calcutta DC....

[-badhabit-]

You can't beat the Diawa Zillion Reels for about any price. I use the two 100sha and two 50th aniversery zillions 90% of the time and they are the cheapest reels I own. They take a beating and have never given me a single problem (17lb-20lb line and in heavy cover). My reel sponsor has worked on every reel I own but the Zillions.

[shootermcbob]

I too really think the citica is a great reel ...in the 200E7...which is what I own.

 

If you really want to soop? it up, send it to Mike at DVT, have him replace the drive shaft bushing with the bearing and do a thorough cleaning on it. I am AMAZED at how good these reels perform.

 

That said, I also had really good luck with the pro qualifier and really liked the way they performed. Again, I sent a couple to Mike at DVT and the improvement in performance after his servicing them is astounding.

[Teal]

You gotta throw the Lews Tournament Pro in the ring as one of the best for the money.

At least i think so.

[EdRitchie]

How bout for the newer guys on here say a good combo, baitcaster/ rod ?

I think at BPS had a $80 Bill Dance combo

Ed

[Mud River Matt]

I personally think the Lew's Speed Spool is a super good reel for $100 bucks. Also, the Lew's Tournament Pro is an awesome reel, personally, I think Lew's makes some of the best reels out there, and they are VERY resonably priced. I have a couple Shimano Coratta's and the older ones are some of the toughest reels ever built in my opinion. The new ones dont seem to be a tough as the old ones but are still very good reels. Thats my 2 cents, Matt

[KentuckyDave]

As a beginner the most I would be willing to pay and I would like to stay under would be about $115...sorry for not including pertinent information before...I have previously used spinning reels and would really like to get into flipping and pitching and would like to throw a baitcaster for more accuracy..I hope this helps

[Catt]

Y'all will be hard pressed to beat a Citica

[thehooligan]

For two of the baitcasters ive owned, i really thought the lews tourney pro and curado 201e7 performed really well for the money.  Im somewhat in the market for a baitcaster right now, not definitely sure but ive had my eye on the core 51 and pixy, just wish i could get a reel of that quality for a bit less....

 

Thats why i like my spinning reels. Besides the stella, you can get really nice reels like the sustain and stradic ci4 at awesome prices....

[Goose52]

Y'all will be hard pressed to beat a Citica

 

Holy Cow - a Catt sighting!   Good to see you around...

[flippin and pitchin]

My local tackle shop has Citica 200G and 201G models marked down to 71.99. That is a heck of deal no matter how you look at it.

[retiredbosn]

You can get a Lews Speed Spool on Ebay NIB for 79 (msrp 99) bucks. I think that is a great deal. You can also get Quantum Energy PT's NIB 99 (msrp 179), Catalysts 79 (salt water version msrp 149), it takes some searching but they are there. NIB Curado G's 139(msrp 159), NIB Citica 99 (msrp 129), Gen 2 Revo 89 NIB (msrp 129). All of these are great deals, and no I won't provide the link for the Speed Spool until I've purchased mine, lol. Hint the listing says 99 obo, read the description it reads 79. Another reel that is intriguing on paper is the 2013 Bionic by BPS 79.99, aluminum frame, 7 bearing, dual brake (both cent), has equal or better features than the PQ, will probably pick one up during the Spring sale. BTW I recommended these based on your budget, and also what brands I've actually handled/fished with, with the exception of the Speed Spool (handled never fished) and Bionic (never seen or handled one but have 3 PQ'S). FWIW the only place I would buy a used reel is this site's flea market.

 

Messed up with the Lews model, edited to correct model.

[retiredbosn]

My local tackle shop has Citica 200G and 201G models marked down to 71.99. That is a heck of deal no matter how you look at it.

Absolutely, how about shipping one to me? lol

[aavery2]

Daiwa Sol

Shimano Citica E

Abu Garcia Revo Premier Gen 2

BPS Carbonlite  - Gold Model

Shimano Chronarch B

Abu Garcia Revo Winch

Shimano Curado E

Pflueger Patriarch

Lews Tournament Pro

Daiwa Zillion

 

Maybe not the best, but certainly worthy of consideration.

[ww2farmer]

For me, they are all Shimano's

 

#1 Citica D: Good used ones can be had for $60-$80, and are as rugged and bullet proof as any low profile reel ever made.

 

#2 Citica E: I have picked them up in good used shape for $75

 

#3 Cruxis: This reel has always flown under the radar, every bit as solid as the Citica D's, performs the same, I have never paid more than $50 for one, they are great reels for the money.

 

#4 Curado B's: they were not the reel for the masses for so long for no reason, good used ones are abundant and often can be had for less than $100

 

#5 Curado D's: For some reason deals on used ones of these seem to be few and far between......which is good. They are a solid reel that holds it's value

 

#6 Curado E's : especialy the 50/51E. While most used ones still bring good money, it is money well spent

 

#7Calcutta B's: I don't own one, nor have I ever. BUT I do know of guys who do, and in perticular one guy who is brutally hard on his stuff and performs ZERO maint. on them, all the while fishing almost more than anyone I know  and they just keep going and going and going. If and when I ever buy a round reel, it will be a Calcutta B

 

#8 Bantam Citica's: same platform as the classic Curado B's, can be had dirt cheap, and Shimano still supports them with parts.

 

#9 Chronarch E's: When I look at what you get for the price, the options in RH/LH retreive,built on the proven platform of the Curado/Citica E, my next NEW Shimano will be a Chronarch E.

 

#10 Chronarch B's: Same reason as the Citica/Curado D's. Rugged, reliable, still around, still supported by Shimano. With some looking and waiting can be had for a lot less then they were new. You can spend a wad of money of newer, lighter, flashier reels and still not have anything as rock solid WITH high end performance as the Chronarch B. Every one I have ever used has been a pleasure, and am waiting for one to come along at the right price.............for me..........to pounce on.

 

I left off the newer G series Citicas and Curados, not because I don't like them, or want one, but because being fairly new ( yes the Chronarch E's are new, but they are built on a solid proven platform) they have a little way's to go to crack my top ten.

 

Things like the Core, and Calais, always have been,and might always will be out of my price range. Chronarch MG's and D's I have little to no expeirance with, so I don't feel qualified to comment.

[skeletor6]

For the Money. Like best buy. Like worth the money. Like not over done or over priced. I'd say at this date and time, none of them are worth their price. Unless your into brand worship and just must adore something just for its name....or....just have to have that color coordinated reel/rod combo to look like your bass 'pro' idol.

 

I'm with this guy. Every reel is overpriced, stop worshipping your favorite basspro and get off of your brandwagon. 

[katmandew]

Considering most are made in China or Malaysia, or other countries that have cheap labor, I agree they are all over priced, but I've got 2 Patriarch XT's and they are flat out awesome. I found mine for $200 on ebay.  Also have a Lew's tourney pro and it is very good as well $150 on eBay.  Got one of the newer Revo STX's last week.  Haven't used it enough to form an opinion on it yet though.  Shimano makes great reels tho I don't own a current model.  I know several guys use the Citica and love them.

[BasskingKeith]

Team Daiwa TD pro is on sale at BPS now. I've had mine for 3 years, fish nearly everyday down here in Florida.