Help Picking

[holtspur]

Okay guys this is my first post here so this may not be in the right place or format. I need help picking between these reels. I have the option of a quantum kvd (not sure of model but comes in the $120 combo at walmart) for $50, shimano caenan for $40, Abu pro max for $35. All are new just need to pick one for now or maybe give me the order that you would pick them. Thanks guys! Need to know by tomorrow. Oh and I know I'll be told to by all 3 but I can't swing it this week and dont figure they will be around another week.

 

[Khong]

I'll be honest with you.  If it was me, I would never buy a baitcasting reel under $90.   The performance on baitcasting reel that cost that low just doesn't out perform a spinning reel at that price.   If you are ever going to buy a modest baitcasting reel, go with a Shimano Citica or other reels that are equivalent up.

[Craiger12]

I'll be honest with you. If it was me, I would never buy a baitcasting reel under $90. The performance on baitcasting reel that cost that low just doesn't out perform a spinning reel at that price. If you are ever going to buy a modest baitcasting reel, go with a Shimano Citica or other reels that are equivalent up.

I would have to agree here. I highly recommend looking for a used reel in the Flea Market forum if money is tight. You will save money in the long run by not having to upgrade soon after your purchase.

[WiregrassRiverRat]

lews speed spool.. bps pro qualifier... or maybe check local dicks for any citicas left on sale for just over 50.. or else.. JUST SAVE YOUR MONEY!

[Bankbeater]

Welcome to the forums!  As mentioned above, if it were me I wouldn't be in a big rush to buy something.  I would hold onto my money and save it up.

[ww2farmer]

I'll be honest with you.  If it was me, I would never buy a baitcasting reel under $90.   The performance on baitcasting reel that cost that low just doesn't out perform a spinning reel at that price.   If you are ever going to buy a modest baitcasting reel, go with a Shimano Citica or other reels that are equivalent up.

That's horse crap. Most of my reels are Citica's and Curados. I have a couple Abu Max series reels too that I picked up to get me by when I had more rods than I had reels for, they perform just fine, surpassing my expectations. I don't think they will last as long as the better reels, but out of the box they work fine.

[MichiganFishing1997]

By the sounds of it all those reels are on sale, not regularly that price. For $35 a pro max is a great deal. I don't know about the other two.

[TiNuts]

I personally would jump on the promax for $35. I don't have any experience with the other reels though.

[MCS]

That's horse crap. Most of my reels are Citica's and Curados. I have a couple Abu Max series reels too that I picked up to get me by when I had more rods than I had reels for, they perform just fine, surpassing my expectations. I don't think they will last as long as the better reels, but out of the box they work fine.

 

Well said.....Funny thing is farmer, these guys that preach buy high $$ reels, last forever, are the same folks that buy a reel every other week, have 32 combos and will never ever work a reel dang near as much as these "cheap budget" reels that these guys buy as their only setup.

 

To the rest of the guys that say "save" the man wants to fish now, not 3 months from now when it is freezing out. he asked for opinions on the 3 reels listed not what you would buy with your deep pockets or if you won the lottery. I am sure he knows a 200 dollar reel is better.

 

To the OP buy the abu max, I don't own one but have other abus, they might not be the best but they are pretty good, and I know of a ton of people that buy the max reels they work fine and last a while.   

[Fishwhittler]

That's horse crap. Most of my reels are Citica's and Curados. I have a couple Abu Max series reels too that I picked up to get me by when I had more rods than I had reels for, they perform just fine, surpassing my expectations. I don't think they will last as long as the better reels, but out of the box they work fine.

 

That's a harsh way of stating your opinion.  The point made was, low-dollar baitcasters typically don't last as long as more expensive ones, and so a spinning reel in that price range is a safer bet.  

 

If you have to replace a $50 reel six months after buying it, you're not saving any money by not buying a $100 reel in the first place.  To me, any reel that doesn't last at least one year is a disposable reel and not worth the money, and I'd be disappointed with any reel that didn't last at least two years.  I've had one graphite baitcaster, a Daiwa Megaforce, and that was enough.  The clutch wore out in less than a single fishing season due to flexing problems with the graphite frame.

 

Now, I'm not disputing that some guys $50 graphite baitcasters last for a really long time.  Graphite baitcasters today are probably considerably better than the ones from four or five years ago, so there's that going for them.  However, the likelihood of the reel wearing out quickly is still much, much higher than that of a decent metal-frame reel.

 

At the $50 price point, I would recommend the H2O Xpress Mettle, which is unfortunately being discontinued by Academy.  It's on clearance for $40, and it's a fine reel for the price and the only one in its class with a metal frame.  It's not the smoothest reel out there, but it's a sturdy little machine that can cast like a rocket.  Or, look around and find a good used reel with a metal frame.  You can find incredible deals if you look hard enough. 

 

No experience with any of the reels named by the OP, but of those options I'd go with either the Caenan or the Pro Max.  Both are the best graphite reels from their respective manufacturers, and Quantum has an iffy reputation in their lower-end baitcasters.  Combo reels are particularly suspect.

[lmbfisherman]

Out of all those I'd go for the Pro Max.  Caenan I would never recommend as it's not an aluminum/metal case.  I have no experience with all those reels however, but a lot of people use the Pro Max.

[Gaerith]

I agree with the folks that said buy a more expensive reel used.  Imo going cheap on a baitcaster is a gamble, and it's not worth the extra frustration of wrestling with a bad (or even low quality) reel. 

[tgm]

IMHO,graphite frame reels are often disappointing after some heavy workouts.I remember not to long ago you couldn't touch an aluminum frame

baitcaster for under 100.00 Tackle Whse. has the Quantum code for 65.00 sturdy reel but not high tech.I have a couple that i got a few years ago,

they still work fine.

[ww2farmer]

That's a harsh way of stating your opinion.

That's my style.

[Fishwhittler]

That's my style.

 

Whatever, but you're more likely to win your point by exercising a little more tact. 

 

Back on topic, another thing I'll add is that a reel gets cheaper the more you use it.  If you use a $50 reel for a year and it breaks down, you've payed $50 per year.  If you get two years out of it, you're down to $25 per year.  Same with more expensive reels.  On the other hand, if that $50 reel breaks down after half a fishing season of use, the reel's price per year of use is effectively doubled.  A properly maintained metal-frame baitcaster can last for five years or longer with only minor repairs, but very few graphite baitcasters will go that long.  Over the long haul, a $120 reel will be cheaper than a $50 graphite baitcaster.

[basshole8190]

I love my pro max reels almost as good as a few of my higher end reels and for over half off retail id jump and buy 2-3 of them