Which Reel Is The Best?!

[Bluebasser86]

This is an impossible question to answer. You can't really get a bad reel in that price range, but what I like isn't going to be what everyone else likes. I have pretty big hands so the little 50's that lots of guys love are uncomfortable to me because they don't fit in my hand well. Some guys love the paddle handles on the Lew's, I can't stand them. Some guys are obsessed with matching the color of their combos, with the weight of the reel, the list goes on and on. Then you have reels that aren't even on your list that are great reels like the Pinnacle Optimus LTE. It's a reel you don't hear a lot about but has thoroughly impressed me. It's super smooth, cast great, smooth drag, comfortable in my hand, will compete with any reel in it's normal price range (160), and I've found them as low as $90 brand new online with a little searching. Plus it's just a slick looking reel, which never hurts. I've been putting it through it's paces this fall too

[roadwarrior]

There will be no shortage of people to tell you which one  is the "best".   See how many of them tell you why.

 

I like Shimano.  Strong, smooth, silent and reliant.

 

 

 

[*Hootie]

I like Shimano.  Strong, smooth, silent and reliant.

 

 

 

 

 

Amen,... Ahmen,... "OH MAN".

 

Hootie

[*Hootie]

The best color is the one with a 15# bass hanging on to it.

 

 

The only 15# bass in Ohio, are the ones in my dreams...lol.

 

Hootie

[Goose52]

This is an impossible question to answer. You can't really get a bad reel in that price range, but what I like isn't going to be what everyone else likes. I have pretty big hands so the little 50's that lots of guys love are uncomfortable to me because they don't fit in my hand well. Some guys love the paddle handles on the Lew's, I can't stand them. Some guys are obsessed with matching the color of their combos, with the weight of the reel, the list goes on and on. Then you have reels that aren't even on your list that are great reels like the Pinnacle Optimus LTE. It's a reel you don't hear a lot about but has thoroughly impressed me. It's super smooth, cast great, smooth drag, comfortable in my hand, will compete with any reel in it's normal price range (160), and I've found them as low as $90 brand new online with a little searching. Plus it's just a slick looking reel, which never hurts. I've been putting it through it's paces this fall too

 

I LOVE seeing the results photos in these kinds of threads.  MUCH better than the posts that say this reel is the best and show a photo of it sitting on a box or mounted on a reel......................with no line on the spool.....................................  

[aavery2]

I like Shimano.  Strong, smooth, silent and reliant.

 

 

 

Are you sure you didn't mean Pinnacle?

[roadwarrior]

I have become a big fan of several Pinnacle reels, particularly this combination:

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/dhc7-primmus-review.html

[aavery2]

But you still recommend Shimano as the better product, correct?

[roadwarrior]

I have been fishing Shimano reels since 1997, Pinnacle for 18 months or so.

The new "Tournament Series" gear is big change for Pinnacle. My initial impressions 

put Pinnacle on par with comparably priced Shimano reels, but time will tell.  

[BassinLou]

I'm getting a baitcaster and which one is all around the best the shimano curado , shimano chronarch , daiwa tatula,lews tournament pro , lews bb1,lews bb1 pro ,abu garcia sx really any reel in the $100-$200 range

 

There are several excellent reels on the list you provided. I can attest to 4 of them. My question to you is:  What qualities would you consider the "best reel" should have? The answer to that question believe it or not will help you narrow down your choices. 

[fisherrw]

i have the bb1 pro and chronarch and have used the tatula and bb1 all are good reels but if i could only have one it would probalby be the tatula or chronarch.

[no39]

I would say this is a notoriously difficult one to answer.  No particular brand is safe from the pitfalls of poor design and short-sightedness.  I have yet to find a reel under 80 dollars that wasn't a complete headache.  I'd advised you to try actually with others setups for a few casts and figure out what shapes/sizes/features/weights matter to you.

[Matthew2000]

Just buy em all

[tnbassfisher]

I'm partial to Shimano. Everyone loves the Curado, but ever since they released the Citica in three different gear ratio options, I have found them to be a good option even in comparison to the older model Citicas that were already great.

 

Edit: The Citica can be found for ~$120 new, while the Curado are around ~$170 new. I'm sure you could find better deals than this, but just thought I would throw it out there for price comparison purposes.

[masterbass]

Go to tw and buy a 10% discount gift card then buy a zillion for $180.  That's just my two cents.

[daiwatws]

I think truly the best reel overall is. Well I will give you a hint it starts with a z. Its not a zillion however

[carlm01]

I prefer Lews bait casters they have a good range both in price and quality ... I own several other brands but always seem to use the Lews ,... Good luck...........

[DogBone_384]

The question with no "reel" answer.

You will soon see...lol.

Hootie

I'm with Hootie.  

 

I own ***, Abu Garcia, BPS, Diawa, Lews, and Shimano casting reels.  They all have plusses & minuses to them.  They're all well build and cast great.  My favorite varies on what type of fishing I'm doing and / or mood I'm in - a very subjective thing.  If you can try out different brands before clunking down your cash, do it.  

 

If I HAD to make an objective recommendation, I'd say *** and Shimano are the two best (in my SUBJECTIVE opinion....).  Overall, when you get closer to $200, you really can't go wrong anyway.

[SenkoGuru]

Through out the years I've fished so many different reels. I just do not think you can go wrong with Daiwa, Shimano or Lew's reels though. You should just see which one fits your hands and the one that you like the looks of and just go with that one. My favorite reels right now are made by Daiwa but I have many made by Shimano and a ton made by Lew's and I really like them also. None of them are bad reel's. The only baitcaster I can think of that I do not like is Quantum. I'm not going to tell you that Quantum's are bad, I'm just going to say I will not fish with them. Stick with Daiwa, Shimano or Lew's and you can't go wrong.

[Dingah]

Just got an Rexo Sx and i have to say they are quality reels and ill be picking up some more!!!

[crankbank]

From your list, I have only used the Tatula ($100), Tatula Type R ($140) and the Curado 200e7 (I think I got it for around $200)....

 

All great reels and you can't go wrong with either of them (I'm sure the Curado I is just as good).

 

I purchased the Type R strictly for the higher gear ratio, if that is not a concern... the standard Tatula is the best value IMO.  

[fisherrw]

I love my shimano chronarch...

[desmobob]

$200 budget?  Hmmmm - one answer could be TWO Daiwa Tatulas - one in 5.3:1 ratio for cranking, the other in either 6.3:1 or 7.3:1 for all other presentations...

 

I really love my Lew's Tournament Pros and think they are probably the most feature-rich reels for the money, but I also think I'd rather have two Tatulas than one Lew's TP!  The Tatulas are wonderful reels and also offer a whole lot of bang for the buck.

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[Brent Bartman]

Here are my reels and my opinions, (I am an ABU FAN)

 

(2)Abu Garcia  Revo MGX - The best reels I own. also the most expenive. extremly light weight. very responsive this reel is perfect for me. I use these reels on a ST Croix legend Tournement MH for pitching/skipping/light wight flipping because of how far i can be from my target and still maintain control of my baits. I also use this on my newest crankbait rod 7'6" MH veracity winch series  for the same reason is I can LAUNCH any crank bait or rattle trap a mile. Although I imagine any $350 reel is on the same page tho. My problems with this reel is the higher gear ratio isnt ideal for crankbaits but I have learned to fish painfuly slow with this reel. 

 

(3) Abu Garcia Revo STX - Great reel, best real I own for $200. IMO its a heavier version of my MGX. I LOVE These reels for the same reason's as my MGX except maybe more because for 350 bucks i can buy a new reel and rod. have these reels is 6.4:1 and 7.1:1. I use these on my heavy flipping/ frogging rod (ST croix mojo bass Heavy flipping rod). my soft plastics/spinner baits(St croix Legend Tournament  MHXF 7'1) and my Topwater/jerkbait/ Finesse jig rod ( GLoomis GL2 6'9" 812C)

 

(2) Abu Garcia Revo SX- Decent reel for $140. IMO I like these reels for what i use them for. I use these reels on 4 different rods. One reel has 12lb Flouro the other has 35lb Power Pro. I swap these reels around on a Quantum KVD Cranking rod M and 3 Veritas rods and 1 Berkley Lightning rod the KVD is MH and the veritas are ML,M,MH. the BLR is a 6'6 MH I swap these around depending on what My plan is for the day and how the fish are biting. I usually change rods out a few times throughout the day. As i aquire more reels i will dedicate these rods.            

 

(2) Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 6500 C3 reels. I have these on Shimano Crucial H 7'3" Fast action rods. I use these for saltwater and freshwater swimbaits. they are a bit bulky but they hold almost 400 yds of 30 lb braid and are Indestructable. I grew up fishing round abu garcia's and if i had to pick one reel it would be a ambassadeur. they cast well. have a great drag and for there size manage well.

 

(1) Shimano Curado. I Like this reel. I dont love it. I have it on a ST Croix. Avid in 7' Medium I use this for buzzbaits. my issue with this reel is the brakes and the feel. I dont like how it holds in my hands compared to my Revo's and the brakes have alot to be learned from companies like DIAWA and ABU IMO. IM NOT SAYING SHIMANO IS NO GOOD. I JUST DONT LIKE FISHING THEM

 

(1) Diawa T3 Ballistic. I just got this reel used it came on a Diawa 7'6" Heavy Tatula Rod. I LOVE THIS REEL. this reel may have turned me into a DIAWA fan. I wish the brake adjustment were more easily accessed. but I LOVE THIS REEL AND LOVE THIS ROD. I use it for punching heavy mats and have it spooled with 80LB braid. and the rising T Level wind system on the heavy braid lets it roll of the spool. I dont know how smooth the drag is on this reel because i keep it hammered down and have never have a fish pull drag on this reel. so i guess the drag works perfectly for me. 

 

Those are my opinions.

[HoosierHawgs]

Personal preference. But we all know mine.... LEW"S LEW"S LEW"S!!!!!