Need a replacement spinning reel <$100, suggestions?

[Neil McCauley]

My old Quantum SX3 finally broke down, no longer locks reeling backwards. It has been such a solid reel for me for almost 20 years I'm considering getting the same one, but it is on ebay for >$70 and I have a feeling bidding will be over $100, which is a little absurd since I think I bought it for $30.... Are there better modern ones anyone could suggest? In the $100 range... Should be light spinning, rear drag, trigger casting. Thing I will miss most about my old reel is the balance of the reeling handle and how solid it just was reeling against heavy resistance. I could use it with very heavy tackle if I wanted. I am afraid they "don't make them like they used to" in this regard. Hopefully I'm wrong.

[JigMaster4]

I recommend the Lews High Speed Spin.

http://www.lews.com/spinning-highspeedspin.php

[basscrusher]

To meet your criteria...Shimano Spirex RG (rear drag).  They go for about $60 retail, but I'm sure some of the discount sites have them for a little less.  I'm not sure about now, but for years this reel had a really dedicated following.

[Fishin' Fool]

Everyone on here seems to recommend the Pflueger President for $60. Shimano makes great spinning reels the Sedona and Sahara. I have a Daiwa Fuego too that is a nice reel for $100. Lots of good options. My suggestion is find something you like and see if you can grab it for less on Ebay or Amazon.

[lakeannaangler]

Lews  team gold carbon spinning reel on sale for $80 on tackle warehouse 

[Onvacation]

20 minutes ago, basscrusher said:

To meet your criteria...Shimano Spirex RG (rear drag).  They go for about $60 retail, but I'm sure some of the discount sites have them for a little less.  I'm not sure about now, but for years this reel had a really dedicated following.

I agree that for the criteria you set forth, in particular the one hand casting, the Spirex is going to be hard to beat.  I have an older model which is now on my loaner rod because it is very easy to use with the Quickfire system. It also gets used for everything from bluegill to catfish to 10 pound grass carp. Needless to say, it is used and abused and has held up very well over the years.   It is the reason I had enough confidence in Shimano to spend the $$ on Stradic Ci4. 

[James Pondscum]

Pflueger Supreme at about one hundred dollars.  I believe their is still a twenty dollar rebate on this reel?  Alloy body very smooth.  I do not think you will find anything better at that price.

[JustinU1X]

Stradic FJ if you can find one. 

[Neil McCauley]

5 hours ago, basscrusher said:

To meet your criteria...Shimano Spirex RG (rear drag).  They go for about $60 retail, but I'm sure some of the discount sites have them for a little less.  I'm not sure about now, but for years this reel had a really dedicated following.

NOT bad...

[Dan_the_fisher]

Shimano symetre 

[Vlad Val Yevdash]

Get the Shimano symetre FL they are amazing reels featuring xship. I own one for my dropshot rod. The reel is very smooth and durable even used it for surf fishing just a beast.

8 hours ago, Fishin' Fool said:

Everyone on here seems to recommend the Pflueger President for $60. Shimano makes great spinning reels the Sedona and Sahara. I have a Daiwa Fuego too that is a nice reel for $100. Lots of good options. My suggestion is find something you like and see if you can grab it for less on Ebay or Amazon.

Why are you guys leaving out the symetre FL it's $90 to $100 new on ebay. And it has xship.....

[fvogel67]

3 hours ago, Dan_the_fisher said:

Shimano symetre 

Agree 100% A great reel.

 

[new2BC4bass]

10 hours ago, Neil McCauley said:

My old Quantum SX3 finally broke down, no longer locks reeling backwards. It has been such a solid reel for me for almost 20 years I'm considering getting the same one, but it is on ebay for >$70 and I have a feeling bidding will be over $100, which is a little absurd since I think I bought it for $30.... Are there better modern ones anyone could suggest? In the $100 range... Should be light spinning, rear drag, trigger casting. Thing I will miss most about my old reel is the balance of the reeling handle and how solid it just was reeling against heavy resistance. I could use it with very heavy tackle if I wanted. I am afraid they "don't make them like they used to" in this regard. Hopefully I'm wrong.

Not many made today far as I know.  The Shimano Spirex mentioned is the only one I know of offhand.  The Shimano Syncopate FG doesn't have the rear drag.  The Zebco Quickcast is also front drag, and at $20 I doubt it is anywhere near the quality reel you are looking for.  Other than the Spirex, I think you are SOL.  You may want to consider going to something like the Pflueger Presidet.  A lot of bang for the buck.  Good luck with your search.

[Nick S]

I wouldn't pay 50 cents for a shimano symetre. The fi and fj had terrible binding problems if they got the slightest bit wet. Shimano STILL hasn't fixed the binding problem with the new fl, although they did cheapen it up by making the frame graphite instead of aluminum and replacing the main gear bearing with a nylon bushing. 

[Bluebasser86]

Shimano and Quantum are about the only spinning reels out there with the casting trigger still. I hate the double handle on the Spirex, but it would probably be my choice if I ever really felt I needed a trigger to cast. 

 

Pfluegar President would be my pick if you choose to ditch the trigger. 

[Bankbeater]

I have two Pflueger Presidents that have given me no problems at all.

[burrows]

I use the new shimano Sedona FE can't beat that at 70$

[CarolinaBoy4Life]

I bought my old man a Pflueger President for his birthday last year. He uses it saltwater and freshwater and loves it. Has caught some stud drum, trout, and flounder with it and it has not given one bit of trouble. I just bought the Trion as a cheap alternative gonna give it a try on a spinning set up I bought. 

[Raul]

There are several reels that fit the description, the problem could be finding them for sale since Quickfire mechanism and rear drag are not that favored:

• Shimano Spirex RD
• Shimano Sienna RD
• Shimano Symetre RJ ( it´s rear drag but doesn´t have the Quickfire trigger )
• Shimano IX

[Nick S]

If you do decide to buy a front drag spinning reel the pflueger supreme and daiwa ss tournament are hands down the best reels under 100 bucks. 

[stfreed]

I am loving the Mitchell 308 pro models.

[blckshirt98]

I'm curious about the benefits of having a rear drag vs a front drag?

[smalljaw67]

56 minutes ago, blckshirt98 said:

I'm curious about the benefits of having a rear drag vs a front drag?

The rear drag was easier to adjust while fighting a fish, anglers used to lock the drags down to set the hook and then adjust the drag as needed. This was before hooks were chemically sharpened and there wasn't any super lines and the mono was really stretchy. Shimano had what they called a "fighting drag" on the Aero, it was a lever like you see being used on saltwater reels but it was in the rear of a spinning reel, there was a lever that all you did was slide over with your thumb when you set the hook, this eliminated the need to turn the knob. The downside was it made the reels heavy and the drag system wasn't not even close to the smoothness of a front drag. A lot of anglers would lock the drag down on those reels and simply use the anti-reverse switch and back reel and it is still being done today even on front drag reels.

[mrpao]

23 hours ago, Nick S said:

I wouldn't pay 50 cents for a shimano symetre. The fi and fj had terrible binding problems if they get the slightest bit wet. Shimano STILL hasn't fixed the binding problem with the new fl, although they did cheapen it up by making the frame graphite instead of aluminum and replacing the main gear bearing with a nylon bushing. 

All my symetres  always had binding  issues and were not as smooth as other  shimano  reels. Even different  generations.

On the other hand, I've  owned  spirex, Saharas, stradics and sustains with little  to  no  problems.

[smalljaw67]

9 hours ago, mrpao said:

All my symetres  always had binding  issues and were not as smooth as other  shimano  reels. Even different  generations.

On the other hand, I've  owned  spirex, Saharas, stradics and sustains with little  to  no  problems.

The only reels I ever had fail on my were 2 Shimano Symetres and they each went in the same season. I know Shimano makes great reels but they are the only brand I stay away from and it is only because I was told by customer service I should have invested in one of the better reels even though the Symetres were $100.