Most Durable Spinning Reel And Baitcaster, Cost Not A Concern

[jitterbug127]

I am a consumer that will pay for long term function. I dont mind paying more up front if it saves long term. I like honda, sebo, ping, craftsman etc for name brands of stuff i own. Things built it last. I got a coyple ugly stiks which are heavy and lack feel but basically said to be indistructable. I am looking for a spinning reel and baitcaster that will serve me well for many years. I just need a lefty baitcaster, and have no brand loyalty with fishing gear so lmk what is the tank of reels

[new2BC4bass]

Zillion on sale at TW.  Not sure about spinning, but SirSnookalot has great luck with the durability of his Pflueger reels and he fishes daily in fresh and saltwater.  A Dawia Tournament SS is said to be built like a tank, but does not have infinite anti-reverse.  Was at Cabela's today and saw that Shimano has some spinning reels for over $1000.  Hopefully they would be reliable for many years.

[jitterbug127]

I heard about the zillion being awesome.

[cyclops2]

 The Shimano includes a guide & boat for a week..........Always someone to run around waving the latest most expensive item.  Yelling.

 

 

 

I paid the most money possible for a fishing reel.  Please step forward & tell me how great I am.

 

At that price a deposit which is returnable should be included.   What if feels ordinary or even worse than less expensive reels.

[HoosierHawgs]

People give lots of props to Ardent for being built like tanks, but they are definitely not the smoothest right out of the box.

[jitterbug127]

1000 bucks for a reel is crazy. I just want to step up from my walmart gear and not have to buy again for a long time

[desmobob]

My most bullet-proof, no-trouble-ever spinning reel is a small Daiwa Whisker 1300 Tournament SS.  It is tough as an anvil with a velvet smooth drag.  It has been used for several years for inshore saltwater fishing using heavy braid without complaint, though it is sized to be a light freshwater reel.

 

It doesn't have the most bearings, smoothest feel, or flashy looks, but I trust it to do its job.  :-)

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[F14A-B]

Calcutta.. A, B, TE, D on bait caster's...

[tatertester]

gotta agree on the Calcutta, smooth and powerfull.

[HoosierHawgs]

1000 bucks for a reel is crazy. I just want to step up from my walmart gear and not have to buy again for a long time

 

If you want to do this, do what I did: Go Lew's and never look back. Workhorse reels that will last forever. They have all the goodies and are @ a great price point.

[jitterbug127]

If you want to do this, do what I did: Go Lew's and never look back. Workhorse reels that will last forever. They have all the goodies and are @ a great price point.

Suggestions for models? I run 3 combos. 1 little spinner for finesse and 2 bc. 1 heavy braid for coverage and one other for everything else

[0119]

Most durable doesn't mean the most expensive, nor what is popular.  Most of all it could never include the name shimano since they do not support their customers with long term parts availability.   Baitcasting reel would be Abu Ambassadeur C models.  Customizable almost to infinity and parts still available for decades old models.  Spinning reel would be the before mentioned Daiwa SS or Penn Spinfisher as they also maintain parts for the customer for decades.

[HoosierHawgs]

I'm not so sure on the spinning, but they have really great models at a great price if you want one. For braid, a Superduty is more expensive (179) but is great for heavy duty and will last you for years to come. For everything else the base model speed spool (99) should handle it fine.

[iabass8]

Assuming freshwater, just about any(not all) 200$ casting reel you buy will last you longer than you probably need it to. As long as you have half a brain(i.e you drop your reel in sand and think dunking it in late/river water is the cleaning solution-it isn't...) and get your reels serviced annually. they will last a while. Since it sounds like you're only getting one, get the one that feels the best in your hand when palming. Constantly adjusting your grip is annoying. 

 

As for the spinning reel, you're just going to start a ticking contest /w this one so I'm not even going to bother /w a brand here. sorry. 

[illinifan4152]

Shimano Chronarch 200e and stradic fj

[Sonik]

Lew's Super Duty baitcaster is about $140 I think. I see people recommend them for throwing Alabama rigs, massive swimbaits, cranking 10xd, and flipping/pitching super heavy cover. They're built to be durable, hence the name. Has top reviews everywhere I've seen it.

[Angry John]

Zillion first choice second choice daiwa advantage htsl. I own both and there great. Most would say tat but I don't and have never owned one. Spinning would be daiwa Sol or advantage, with a certate as a second only due to additional cost. I have beat the hell out of my advantage spinning reel falling down in rivers and hiking down steep banks. It still works great!!!!

[flyfisher]

I would second the calcutta option. 

 

Also how can one recommend Lew's as a durable option when they really haven't even been around in their new version for all that long....

[HoosierHawgs]

I would second the calcutta option. 

 

Also how can one recommend Lew's as a durable option when they really haven't even been around in their new version for all that long....

 

We've owned a few Lew's for 3 years. Service them ourselves, use them every trip, still as smooth as day one.

[F14A-B]

We've owned a few Lew's for 3 years. Service them ourselves, use them every trip, still as smooth as day one.

Three years is nothing, Calcutta's from 90 are still working, Abu's round reels from the ice age are still around.. That's longevity !

[Maxximus Redneckus]

3 yrs aint nothing i got jeans older then that.Calcuttas and abu c series in baitcasters and penn z series in spinning reels and if your lucky enough to find a abu suvuran spinning reel that would last for ever also(the pininion gear rides under the main gear)

[adam32]

Daiwa ss 1300 for spinning. Daiwa Zillion (the discontinued model) for casting.

[SirSnookalot]

Impossible question to answer.

I only do spinning reels, fish them 7 days a week and 12 months of the year both in freshwater and saltwater, my stuff gets fished hard.  Replaced my Supreme 30 with the same reel after about 6 years of a lot of use, pretty good durability in my book.  My other Pfluegers used in freshwater are close to the same age and are like new, they get used a lot too.

Saltwater is different, the environment is much harsher on gear, the fish are bigger, faster and stronger with longer runs, don't care what you buy in time it will need service.  High end I'd be looking at a Penn Torque or Daiwa Saltiga, Van Staal is out as the reel isn't that smooth, very over rated IMO.  I'd buy no less than a Shimano Stradic fj, any more is reaching into the diminishing return area.  It's a good reel but not the most durable, I'd buy another for $125-$150, but wouldn't spend more on it.  Smoothest saltwater reels I own are Abu Sorons, being quite a few years old they are getting a little geary.  Can't answer the long term durability as the reel isn't that old, Quantum Cabo in the $200 market is my favorite reel.  Next light weight SW reel will be a smoke, see how that works out.

[HoosierHawgs]

Three years is nothing, Calcutta's from 90 are still working, Abu's round reels from the ice age are still around.. That's longevity !

 

Working and smooth as day one are two different statements. I've had Shimano reels, and ice had the anti reverse go out, and not be able to get the parts. The only reel I know that has lasted that long is my dad's ProCaster. And I garuntee I'm still using my Lew's 10 years from now.

[roadwarrior]

Spinning

Top choice Stella 2500 FI  http://www.cabelas.com/product/SHIMANO-STELLA-SFI/1837277.uts?productVariantId=3913844&srccode=cii_17588969&cpncode=37-15296513-2&WT.tsrc=CSE&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=03931029&rid=20

Best value  Stratic CI+4 FA  http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shimanoreg-Stradic-Ci4-FA-Spinning-Reel/1676687.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dshimano%2Bspinning%26WT.srch%3D1%26WT.tsrc%3DPPC%26rid%3D20%26WT.mc_id%3Dgoogle%7Cfis_Reels_Spinning_SHI%7CUSA%26WT.z_mc_id1%3D43700001720904722%26gclid%3DCMSq3emT68ICFUpp7Aod5lEAug%26gclsrc%3Daw.ds&Ntt=shimano+spinning&WTz_l=PPC

 

Baitcasting

Top choice  Conquest  http://www.cabelas.com/product/SHIMANO-CALCUTTA-CONQUEST/1910692.uts?productVariantId=4024642&srccode=cii_17588969&cpncode=36-31282049-2&WT.tsrc=CSE&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=04041487&rid=20

 

Best Value(s) Pinnacle Optimus XiHS  http://www.pinnaclefishing.com/shop/p-139-optimus-xihs.aspx#page=page-1

                      Shimano Curado I  http://www.cabelas.com/product/SHIMANO-CURADO-I/1808686.uts?productVariantId=3832747&srccode=cii_17588969&cpncode=39-14873752-2&WT.tsrc=CSE&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=03868001&rid=20