Spinning reel suggestions?

[Jacob Phelps]

I just went on a week-long vacation where it was very humid and affected our spinning reels a bunch. I own two Shimano Siena spinning reels (yes, I know they are cheap), and my dad has three or four slightly more expensive Shimano models (can't remember which model). Both of my reels began to bind after a while of use and one of my dad's reels began to bind as well. I know mine are cheap and it is about time to upgrade them. I haven't had a problem with them until now, and they could have ruined my fishing vacation if it weren't for my uncle who lent us some higher quality reels to use for the rest of the week. I have done some research as follows: 

1. I know Stradics are thought very highly of, but they are a little more than I would like to spend. Are they worth the extra money?
2. I have done some research and a website or two had positive things to say about the Pfleuger Supreme XT reel. It appears to be a good option.
3. Because i loved the Quantum that my uncle lent me, I looked into the Quantum Smoke, and Quantum Energy spinning reels and was wondering if anyone had anything to say about them.
4. I have read on the internet that the Abu Revo S reel is a great reel for the price, just wondering if it is a reliable option.
5. I heard somewhere that Diawa spinning reels were good, but they seem to weigh a bit heavier than their competitors. 

We do mostly finesse fishing with our spinning reels (wacky worming and very light texas rigging, some dropshotting). Was just wondering what your thoughts were on some of my research and/or if you had any other suggestions to look into. I'm looking into the $150 range. Thanks!

[fishnkamp]

I own about 7 Pflueger Presidents that my wife and I own. everal of these are 10 years old some are less than 2 years old and all of them function flawlessly. We have been bass fishing and tagged into large catfish and stripers with them.   I would expect the Supremes would be even better but not sure, I do know the Presidents are work horses. We fish baits from 1/10 ounce jigs to 3/4 ounce baits depending on the rods it is attached to.  I fish mostly Berkley Fireline braid in 14 pound test but also some Suffix Elite in 8 pound test Good Luck choosing your new reels.

[Dave A]

It's a little odd- I also have a series of Shimano reels, and I find that the Symetre and Saharas  tend to bind while my Siennas don't. I have since moved to Daiwa and bought the Procyon and it has served me very well- Casts great and smooth as silk. Check out eBay to save a few $.

Hope this helps,

Dave

[NYBasser]

I have tried Quantum, Abu Garcia, and Daiwa reels, but always seem to gravitate back toward Shimano. Sure they are all good reels, but I feel that none of them have the feel of "refinement" provided by Shimano.

Stradic FJ's go for around $150 on Ebay, if you can find them. The new Stradic FK goes for around $160. Most Shimano spinning reels from $100 and up are all solid reels that get the job done. If you want to spend less, check out the Saros or the new Nasci. Both are similar to the Stradic for around $110. 

[Bluebasser86]

Pfluegar President is where it's at for and affordable, dependable spinning reel. I've gone almost completely to Pfluegar and Okuma for my spinning reels, save 1 Stradic CI4. The binding is a known issue with some of their spinning reels, especially the Sahara and Symetre. 

[timsford]

Everyone on here seems to really like the pfleugers, I personally prefer daiwa. I use the tournament Ss 1300's mostly but also have a few of the new procyons. Both can be found right around 100. The tournament Ss is an old design they have been making for well over 20 years unchanged and it isn't as refined as new reels but lasts forever and will handle any fish you can hook. The procyons have done well and are much smoother and have an aluminum frame. The president is one I have avoided because it is heavy Imo to have a graphite frame and if you look at the line capacitys, the pfleugers hold way less line than the others. I'd have to get a 30 or 35 size pfleugers to hold as much line as my 2500 procyon. Also i have several guys in the local club and a guode that im friends with and all who have owned pfleugers say they get rough within a few years, especially if you fish for stripers like i do. The pfleugers above the president are made of magnesium but if you want to use it in salt it isnt saltwater friendly. Same reason I don't use quantum anymore because every quantum I've ever owned has gotten rougher over just a few seasons and it's about impossible to source parts although the energy does look nice and has a spare spool. I had an okuma Rtx which was a very lightweight nice reel for the 80 bucks I gave, but it just didn't have the power I needed and I was always worried that it would flex and ruin internals so I sold it. The shimano reels under the stradic are all graphite framed reels as well. I've bought and sold and traded a lot of reels and I've just kept coming back to daiwa. Still even with daiwa the procyon or maybe the new bg would be the only new ones i want because i want a reel that will last and for me that means aluminum frame and not graphite, ci4, or whatever each company wants to call what is basically plastic. Most reels are made of this now because everyone is so worried about the reel being lighter weight and also because it's cheaper. 

[roadwarrior]

11 hours ago, Jacob Phelps said:

I know Stradics are thought very highly of, but they are a little more than I would like to spend. Are they worth the extra money?

Yes.

Why not save up your money and buy a new reel next spring?

http://fish.shimano.com/content/sac-fish/en/home/products/fishing-reels/spinning/stradic-ci4plus.html

 

[smalljaw67]

I like good tackle and I try to make sure my casting set ups are decent but I hate spending money on spinning, especially the reels. So, having used a lot of spinning reels here is what I can tell you. Pflueger will give you the best bang for the buck, I never recommend someone get a reel with a graphite frame but the Pflueger President is tried and proven to not only work well out of the box but it also seems to last and is reliable for a reasonable price. If you want to go to the $100 mark, well the Supreme, which is my favorite spinning reel right now, is a winner, you won't find a spinning reel that light made of magnesium for that price anywhere else and the drag is butter smooth plus it is a sealed drag so no worry about it getting dropped in water. Okuma has some nice reels in the lower end of the price spectrum, the new Inspira is one I'd try, I have the older discontinued Inspira which was $40 more and was built like a tank and performs excellent so I don't imagine Okuma using that name on a reel if it was junk. Then you could always save a little more to get a Stradic or a Ci4+ if you like Shimano, I don't like anything under the Stradic as I believe you can get better for less but when you get to the Stradic line they really are great reels.

[MickD]

Never had a Daiwa that I didn't like.  Never had a problem with one.  

[ww2farmer]

If you can't afford a high end reel, and/or you don't want to spend the money on one...............Go straight to the Pflueger President. It's a high end reel in durability, and performance, with a poor man's price tag.

[crypt]

Penn. 420ssg or 430ssg. made for saltwater,but strong enough for Bass fishing. light,tough,bulletproof.

[Jacob Phelps]

1 hour ago, roadwarrior said:

Yes.

Why not save up your money and buy a new reel next spring?

http://fish.shimano.com/content/sac-fish/en/home/products/fishing-reels/spinning/stradic-ci4plus.html

 

The problem is that I had been planning on upgrading/adding to my casting setup before this trip. Now i feel as though I NEED to upgrade my spinning reels because they could have ruined my vacation. Guess I could save up big time and just upgrade everything anyways ... 

1 hour ago, smalljaw67 said:

I like good tackle and I try to make sure my casting set ups are decent but I hate spending money on spinning, especially the reels. So, having used a lot of spinning reels here is what I can tell you. Pflueger will give you the best bang for the buck, I never recommend someone get a reel with a graphite frame but the Pflueger President is tried and proven to not only work well out of the box but it also seems to last and is reliable for a reasonable price. If you want to go to the $100 mark, well the Supreme, which is my favorite spinning reel right now, is a winner, you won't find a spinning reel that light made of magnesium for that price anywhere else and the drag is butter smooth plus it is a sealed drag so no worry about it getting dropped in water. Okuma has some nice reels in the lower end of the price spectrum, the new Inspira is one I'd try, I have the older discontinued Inspira which was $40 more and was built like a tank and performs excellent so I don't imagine Okuma using that name on a reel if it was junk. Then you could always save a little more to get a Stradic or a Ci4+ if you like Shimano, I don't like anything under the Stradic as I believe you can get better for less but when you get to the Stradic line they really are great reels.

 

1 hour ago, ww2farmer said:

If you can't afford a high end reel, and/or you don't want to spend the money on one...............Go straight to the Pflueger President. It's a high end reel in durability, and performance, with a poor man's price tag.

I have heard that many people like the president reel, but I have also read in my research that it feels cheap and some people have had problems. I'm not sold on the website, but http://best-spinningreels.com/pflueger-president-review/ had a bad experience with the pfleuger president which worries me a little.I had been thinking about trying out the president for a while, but since my reel problems almost ruined my vacation I feel like I need to make 100% sure that I'm getting a quality reel that will be durable. 

Thank you for your suggestions! I will definitely look into the president as a possibility. 

[Jacob Phelps]

11 hours ago, Dave A said:

It's a little odd- I also have a series of Shimano reels, and I find that the Symetre and Saharas  tend to bind while my Siennas don't. I have since moved to Daiwa and bought the Procyon and it has served me very well- Casts great and smooth as silk. Check out eBay to save a few $.

Hope this helps,

Dave

Thank you for your thoughts. I am definitely looking into the Procyon as an option. The prices on eBay are very enticing. 

[Jaderose]

Pflueger President.  I just don't see any reason to spend more money on a spinning reel when This does EXACTLY what I want it to do every time I want it to do it.

[Yudo1]

I agree with others that recommend the President.   For about $50 it's pretty hard to beat.  My money goes into casting gear because I don't use spinning gear as much, but I do own a president that is about 8 years old and performs like new.  I know people really like the stradic and I'm sure it's better, but the President does everything just fine for me.

[Oklahoma Mike]

Can't go wrong with a Pflueger. I'd spend a few extra bucks and get the Supreme, or the Supreme XT if that's within your budget. 

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard, Jacob!

I fish mostly spinning now and Shimano Stradics are
my reels of choice. More specifically, the 1000 series.
Yes, for bass fishing. They're more than enough for
big bass, and with 10-15lb braided mainline, I get 
plenty of line on 'em.

That said, I started out looking to buy a Pflueger, but
after I got my hands on, I preferred the *feel* of Shimano
and went that direction.

That's not to say Pflueger is bad, no, they're excellent,
but just not for me. Doesn't mean I won't change later,
either.

I gave my Daiwa Lexa (both my spinning and casting) 
reels to one of my sons. I really can say that I LOVED
the feel of the Daiwa bail wire. It was/is smooth and 
looks good. But even the 2000 was bigger than what
I like.

So it's up to you and what you like.

[fishnkamp]

Jacob take the result in the review http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/179757-spinning-reel-suggestions/# with a huge grain of salt.  My wife and I own and fish a total of 7 Pflueger President. Some are over 10 years old and several are less than 2 years old. In over 40 years of fishing I have never experienced the issue the author of the review had with his reel. I can tell you exactly what his problem is.  First notice he had the same issue  to a smaller degree with both Pflueger reels. I bet the truth is he has problems with most spinning reels.  I guarantee he makes his cast and turns the reel handle immediately thus causing loose coils on the spool and eventually he winds the loose coils under the spool and then yes he has to remove the spool because the line is wrapped around the shaft. If instead you make your cast, flip the bail over by hand as lift the rod just slightly the line on the spool will be tight, no loose line means no loose line to get out of hand. This technique was taught to me when I was about 12 years old and is exactly what the reviewer never learned. I have watched many other anglers eliminate their trouble with spinning gear by teaching them that simple action. There is nothing wrong with the reel it was simply an incompetent operator.

 

[Jacob Phelps]

1 hour ago, Darren. said:

Welcome aboard, Jacob!

I fish mostly spinning now and Shimano Stradics are
my reels of choice. More specifically, the 1000 series.
Yes, for bass fishing. They're more than enough for
big bass, and with 10-15lb braided mainline, I get 
plenty of line on 'em.

That said, I started out looking to buy a Pflueger, but
after I got my hands on, I preferred the *feel* of Shimano
and went that direction.

That's not to say Pflueger is bad, no, they're excellent,
but just not for me. Doesn't mean I won't change later,
either.

I gave my Daiwa Lexa (both my spinning and casting) 
reels to one of my sons. I really can say that I LOVED
the feel of the Daiwa bail wire. It was/is smooth and 
looks good. But even the 2000 was bigger than what
I like.

So it's up to you and what you like.

Thanks Darren. I just got back from Gander Mountain where I tried some reels. I first tried the regular Pflueger President and wasn't really impressed at all, but it was what I expected. I then asked if they had any Diawas and he handed me a few without giving me the price point. I was impressed with the feel of the diawa so I thought that this one was probably one of the more expensive models, but found out it was a $60 reel. I definitely preferred the feel of the diawa (I think its the RG model) over the president. Would have tried more, but the kid wasn't very helpful and seemed not to care at all.

I know stradics have a great reputation, but I'm still uneasy about spending that much on a spinning reel. I will definitely find a better place to try one out and maybe my mind will change once I try one.

[Darren.]

3 minutes ago, Jacob Phelps said:

Thanks Darren. I just got back from Gander Mountain where I tried some reels. I first tried the regular Pflueger President and wasn't really impressed at all, but it was what I expected. I then asked if they had any Diawas and he handed me a few without giving me the price point. I was impressed with the feel of the diawa so I thought that this one was probably one of the more expensive models, but found out it was a $60 reel. I definitely preferred the feel of the diawa (I think its the RG model) over the president. Would have tried more, but the kid wasn't very helpful and seemed not to care at all.

I know stradics have a great reputation, but I'm still uneasy about spending that much on a spinning reel. I will definitely find a better place to try one out and maybe my mind will change once I try one.

Do you remember the model Daiwa? 

If you find something you like in-store, and money is
an issue, you can look for the model on eBay. I've 
bought off there and haven't regretted it.

[Jacob Phelps]

1 minute ago, Darren. said:

Do you remember the model Daiwa? 

If you find something you like in-store, and money is
an issue, you can look for the model on eBay. I've 
bought off there and haven't regretted it.

It was a "Diawa RG" spinning reel. I think it's a brand new model of Diawa's spinning reels.

[CybrSlydr]

I've just started fishing, have gone on 7 fishing trips and caught a total of two fish so take this for what it's worth:

I have a Penn Battle II and it works great.  Smooth, cranks great, drag is very nice - very solid feel and build.

I really like it - but it's also the only reel I've ever owned, so... yeah. 

[DogBone_384]

Pflueger, Pflueger, Pflueger...  I own Presidents, President LTDs, Supreme XTs, and a Patriarch XT (currently $149 on Cabela's site) and dig them all.  I also have one lonely Abu Revo SX....

[Darren.]

2 hours ago, Jacob Phelps said:

It was a "Diawa RG" spinning reel. I think it's a brand new model of Diawa's spinning reels.

Key to all of the responses is that we all have favorites,
but our favorite(s) won't necessarily be yours. So bottom
line it is best to get the feel of the reel yourself, if you can.

If you like the Daiwa, rock and roll! That's important! I'd 
hate to sell you a Shimano Stradic or Pflueger President
and have you regret the purchase later...no matter how 
much I or others swear by their greatness.

[The Young Gun]

I agree that the Pflueger President is a great reel, but I think i found its match this year. The Daiwa Revros 2500 is honestly the best reel for the money imo. It feels like a 150$ reel for 50$... It has been a work horse for me this year. Look them up!