What Are Qualities Of A Nice Reel?

[noob150]

So I upgraded to a new reel.  I was used to $50 reels but my new one is $100.  It is much lighter and looks nice.  The problem is that it isn't noticeably much smoother.  I cleaned and lubed it and it still isn't much smoother.

 

Are there any other qualities that you all use to judge a reel besides smoothness?  If so can you please elaborate on these qualities and how to assess them.  Thanks.

 

 

EDIT:  Sorry i forgot to mention spinning reel.

[deep]

Spinning or casting?

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

baitcasting

Brass gears vs aluminum gears. Many prefer brass which will give a smoother feel. Also the size of the gears teeth can/will make a difference smaller teeth give smoother operation. 

 

Fit- are the parts on without any play in them. The side plate dont move wiggle, the knobs dont have excessive play in or out wiggle on the shaft. 

 

Dials that click seem to be a feature people desire, drag star, spool tension knob, external brake.

 

Brake system, can the brake control spool without having to constantly adjust them and still give satisfactory results. People take a liking to certain brakes based on their casting style so this can be personal preference area. I really like the new SVS shimano style brake system.

 

"Made in Japan" is almost a certainty that its a quality reel.

[Tywithay]

Durability is usually better. They typically use better materials the more you spend. Biggest upgrades I like to see are drag performance, line twist (quality roller bearing helps immensely), and smoothness under load (most reels are smooth, but few are smooth when you have a good fish on the line).

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

In a spinning reel look for a rigid frame, likely aluminum or carbon fiber. Not all graphite frames are created equal. Some are flimsy some are pretty solid. I've also seen cast aluminum snap so material alone doesn't tell the whole story.  A bearing supported pinion and main gears, worm gear driven level wind, balanced rotor, bearing supported line roller, a good smooth drag, roller clutch anti reverse, and a heavy duty bail wire. There are model specific features that may appeal to you as well but these are the quality indicators that come to mind right off the top of my head. 

[noob150]

In a spinning reel look for a rigid frame, likely aluminum or carbon fiber. Not all graphite frames are created equal. Some are flimsy some are pretty solid. I've also seen cast aluminum snap so material alone doesn't tell the whole story.  A bearing supported pinion and main gears, worm gear driven level wind, balanced rotor, bearing supported line roller, a good smooth drag, roller clutch anti reverse, and a heavy duty bail wire. There are model specific features that may appeal to you as well but these are the quality indicators that come to mind right off the top of my head. 

So is carbon fiber the same as carbon?

My reel says "Carbon frame, sideplate and rotor".  To me it looks like plastic.  It is really light.  

The bail looks thicker and heavier duty than my other reels.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

This is what I was referring to, graphite is a carbon material, so a company may use the terms interchangeably. What model reel do you have?