Favorite Spinning Reel Under $100

[B@ssCrzy]

I know this is not a big name brand, but I just buy the Gander Mountain GSX Tournament and GSX Titanium spinning reels.  Every November I go in there on Black Friday and they mark them down to $29 (normally $59) for the tournament and $35 (normally $79) for the titanium. (at least the past couple of years they have)  I buy at least one and I have been really happy with them.  I know they may not be top of the line, but knowing that if I break one I am only out $30-$35 is worth it to me.  That being said if I were to buy either the sahara or president it would be the president. 

[upnorthbassin]

Right now you can get the Sahara from the cabelas website for $49.99. That's probably the best deal going but I am more of a plflueger fan overall so if I had to spend $100, it would be the Supreme. If I wanted the best value I'd get the Sahara...or maybe 2 of them.

[chromedog]

2500 Sahara, I own like 3 of them and love them to death.  going on 4 seasons now!

[mod479]

You should also take a look at the Okuma trio, I wouldnt reccomend it if I didnt have one. Its not the prettiest, or the smoothest spinning reel I have, but it is the oldest and has proven itself to be very reliable compared to some other brands in that price range.

[SudburyBasser]

Count another vote for the President.

[Felix77]

Abu Orra Series.  Have 3.

 

[21farms]

i had the previous-generation shimano sahara FD, and it was absolutely the smoothest reel i ever had, spinning or baitcasting, even more-so than my other reels costing 2-5 times more. however, if i were buying today, i'd go with the symetre 2500FL simply because of the heft and feel of the forged handle (the sahara FD had a forged handle but the current FE model has a cast handle).

[Ima Bass Ninja]

I have 2 pfluegers ( medalist and trion). Both work great. Pflueger makes a good spinning reel. I also have a Daiwa exceler. Good reel! It is really smooth and well built. But my most favorite is the pq spinning. I love the wide spool design. I'm sure it's the same as a pflueger arbor. And they have the extreme spinning on sale for 39.99. Seems like a great value

[SirSnookalot]

The best reel...........only the Shadow knows.  

There is no best reel under a $100, each has it's pros and cons and whatever you get comfortable with will work well.  I use 3 sub $100 reels in freshwater( except for my $30 Shakespere with the handle out of bubble pack and have fallen in love with it, lol), all them are Pflueger supremes, each size matches the rod they are on very well, after several years of use only a drop of oil every now and then has kept them in tip top condition.  Still in the sub $100 market I have a Pflueger arbor and medalist, both used in saltwater and targeting 20#+ fish, still smooth and perfect, perform as well as reels twice the price.

[Bankbeater]

One more vote for the president.

[upnorthbassin]

The best reel...........only the Shadow knows.  

That brings back memories. When I was a kid my dad had a victrola in the garage. There were only a few records with it and one of them was The Shadow. I used to sneak in there and play it every now and then.

 

But back to the topic at hand...which shakespere reel did you get and why do you like it?

[MN_SONNEN_ANGLER]

I don't use spinning gear too often but I have saharas and they are awesome in my opinion.

[TNBassin']

The Okuma Trio 30s is the best value on the market IMO. It's light weight, has an awesome drag, looks and fishes great, and it's buttery smooth. Not sure why Okuma products aren't more popular than what they are. I picked up my Trio for around $50, and it's the best $50 I've spent in a long time. Can't say enough about that reel.

[SirSnookalot]

That brings back memories. When I was a kid my dad had a victrola in the garage. There were only a few records with it and one of them was The Shadow. I used to sneak in there and play it every now and then.

 

But back to the topic at hand...which shakespere reel did you get and why do you like it?

I needed a reel for my grandson bought a Shakespere Agility for him at Walmart.  Sat on the rod unused for quite sometime so I pulled it out to do some jig fishing and it's done a fine job with 5#+ bass.  It's smooth like most of the newer reels today and the drag has been more than adequate at the price I don't care how long it lasts.

[Capt.Bob]

Hands down is the Shimano Symetre smoothest operating of any spinning reel under 100 bucks, any reel will do the job, but with a drag that rivals a baitcaster, and is as smooth as butter, and a track record of durability above all the rest, it is your best choice, if all you want is the job done there are many lesser reels that will work for a while, just not quite as long or as well!

[Blue Streak]

Hands down is the Shimano Symetre smoothest operating of any spinning reel under 100 bucks, any reel will do the job, but with a drag that rivals a baitcaster, and is as smooth as butter, and a track record of durability above all the rest, it is your best choice, if all you want is the job done there are many lesser reels that will work for a while, just not quite as long or as well!

 

I agree with this one hundred percent.  Excellent reel for the price, I have 3 and never had a problem with any.

[Long Mike]

The simple truth is that probably all of the reels mentioned above will get the job done, if adequately maintained.  Whichever reel you decide on, make sure you break it down (or have it broken down) and re-lube it no less often than once a year.

[trueblue1970]

I love my Sahara's and Sadona's.  Today I picked up the GSX Titanium rod and reel combo for $79.00 at Gander...great deal.  

[kickerfish1]

Put me in the symetre crowd. I have an older model that is wicked smooth after lots of use and time. The new symetre now comes with x-ship which is a great feature for a sub $100 reel. I also have the sahara and it would be my second choice.

[Blues19]

Daiwa Exceler.

I agree. Love the Exceler. Have 2 of them.

[fishingman88]

I will agree with both the Sahara and President.  I have picked up older Supreme XTs from Plueger  under $100 when they go clearance and I love those reels as well.

[Jake...]

Another vote for Sahara and  President, I have both and I love em! I've never thought about spending more $$ on a spinning reel, they work and feel great.

[cbass12]

Shimano Sahara. I have three of them now since I added two more when they went on sale for $44.99 at cabelas.

[Hyrule Bass]

I just got a Pflueger Supreme MG8235 but havent fished it yet, seems like an awesome reel, cant wait to try it.

 

also a couple of lower priced reels i have, and have fished and like are my Pflueger Trion and the Abu Garcia Cardinal 104...

[katmandew]

You can get a Shimano Symetre FJ for less than $100 now.  The newer ones are $99 plus tax in retail stores, but technically still under 100 and if you get it on ebay, you may find free shipping/no tax.