A Question if this happened

[Zimobass]

Shimano and nothing else. Been using them for 30 years, and will be for another 30 , if I live that long. Reels will outlast me I fear !!

 

Have some Daiwa and Abu still, but, they are not what I consider "eternal" like Shimano.

[dmainor]

Daiwa, Because I prefer the breaking systems, I have a lot of spare parts on hand and because of the Pixy. 

 

Dug

[NorcalBassin]

Shimano. Pops said so when I asked which brand I should go with when I bought my first set up right after college, and I can't say I've ever been disappointed. I also have Daiwa, Abu, and Lew's but if I had to choose one it'd definitely be Shimano.

[dwh4784]

Taco Bell

[XpressJeff]

Nobody else likes Quantum eh.

 

How come?

[runt4561]

this is a tricky question because I have two different opinions..

 

my favorite reels are lews... hands down but if I could only choose one for the rest of my life it would be shimano and here is why:

 

Shimano makes great reels and I believe they will continue to do so for a very long time.

 

Lews makes great reels and made very good reels years ago and then vanished. I really hope lews is around for the rest of my life but I see some stuff with that company that I am concerned about. I think they are getting too watered down. they offer so many different models now that I think their quality will begin to fade. I really don't think there is a need for them to produce 20 different models of baitcasters. if they produce 10 really good models, they have more value to me than a company that produces 8 good ones a 12 crappy ones. just my two cents.

[TX-Deluxe]

22 hours ago, Yeajray231 said:

Lew's. 

I've been hearing good things about lews

[jr231]

20 minutes ago, TX-Deluxe said:

I've been hearing good things about lews

I have a couple. They were affordable compared to many other reels.. they are lightweight & tough. To be honest with you I'd fish with a Shakespeare. I don't care.. I enjoy nice things in life but also make the most of what I have. Any "cheap " real made today is light years ahead of what my grandfather used. 

[bradco]

I've had all brands, and it's Daiwa for me! Their lines from Tatula all the way up are incredible! Not saying I don't like the others, but if only one it's Daiwa!

[d-camarena]

Shishamano

 

[Scott F]

7 hours ago, XpressJeff said:

Nobody else likes Quantum eh.

 

How come?

I can't stand questions like this one. Why can't you just ask what your favorite brand is without pretending no other brand would ever be available? 

I use nothing but Quantum spinning reels. I used to like them because they had no bail springs to break and kept on buying them even after they changed. I have no preference on baitcasters.

[Poolshark]

If I really had to I'd choose shimano. That is because the only problem I've ever ran into with them is new ones come out with better technology and the ones I'm using are still in perfect mechanical condition. 

Also, I feel like they retain value better than most others over the years. 

 

 

[new2BC4bass]

20 hours ago, kickerfish1 said:

Spongebob casting and Barbie spinning.

 

You forgot the why, but I am thinking it is because they look so good.  

 

My favorite reels span several brands.  Thank the Lord we don't have to choose just one.  If forced to pick only one brand it would be Daiwa.  I learned how to cast on the older Fuego.  I seem to do well with Daiwa's braking systems.  The 3D brake system can be set so it is almost impossible to backlash.  This can be done without having to tighten down the spool tension to an undesirable point.  Lots of available parts for upgrades.  My least expensive baitcast reel (a Daiwa) cost $30.  My most expensive baitcast reel (a Daiwa) cost $300.  I feel I got a bargain with both reels.  Lower cost reels may not be as light as some competitors, but they aren't heavy enough to bother me....and yes I like light reels as much as the next guy.

[nameiztaken]

It would have to be Shimano. They've been the best for me. They may not be the smoothest, they may not be the coolest, but you know what, there is one thing they do REALLY well, Work.

4 hours ago, Poolshark said:

If I really had to I'd choose shimano. That is because the only problem I've ever ran into with them is new ones come out with better technology and the ones I'm using are still in perfect mechanical condition. 

Also, I feel like they retain value better than most others over the years. 

 

 

This is actually something that makes me a little mad lol, I couldnt find any excuse other than life expenses to get rid of my Chronarch 100A.

[tracker01]

Shimano. Why, because I like.

[RoLo]

Spinning:  Shimano

Casting:    Shimano

 

So you're sayin'....There are 'other' reel manufacturer?   

[jbw252]

21 hours ago, Scott F said:

I can't stand questions like this one. Why can't you just ask what your favorite brand is without pretending no other brand would ever be available? 

 

⬆️  THANK YOU!  You got this right, Scott.

[DBL000006]

I never fished with a Lew's Bait Caster. I've heard great things about (Lew's reels) great things. Maybe i'll get one down the road. I've fished with Shimano. I'm not a fan of Shimano's braking system. I like Abu Garcia, their braking system is perfect for me. Plus, i had a Reel that i needed service for. Abu was great and i think i got a new Reel back. Cause i didn't get mine back. I just like the Revo line. I guess it's a head thing with fishing gear for all of us. Everyone will have their opinion about certain brands.

[Kris2016]

At this point I am buying only Daiwa reels.

 

[Choporoz]

On 3/14/2017 at 10:39 AM, XpressJeff said:

Nobody else likes Quantum eh.

 

How come?

I like Quantum...lots of people do.

[Choporoz]

I own reels from the following companies:

Mitchell - now retired

Shimano

Quantum

Wright and McGill

Daiwa

Pinnacle

Abu Garcia

Pflueger

Shakespeare - retired

Lews

Ardent

 

I've owned the absolute cheapest models you can buy -- and some of the mid-higher end (nothing MSRP over $300, however.)

 

So, I have a little bit of cross-brand experience. 

BUT, I would not even consider answering the OP question.  When it comes a time that I am asked to make the world-wide decision to have only one reel company on earth for eternity, come back and we'll talk.  

   

[XpressJeff]

I was introduced to, and favor Quantum bait casters. It seemed so few others do.

 

Lately I have grown to favor Lews also.

 

I have a pension for Shimano for spinning reels.

 

Since I am just getting back into fishing seriously I am leaning on the experience of those in this forum to get me to try other brands also.

 

Although an old dog, I will learn new tricks.

[IndianaFinesse]

Choose whichever brand feels best for you, the only bad experiences I've had with baitcasters is with Quantum.  The Quantum I have is junk, forever breaking, horrible braking system, and can't throw anything under 1/2 ounce.  The only thing it's good for is whopper plopper 130's, I won't risk using it for heavy swim baits cause it often backlashes, which sends the lure flying off.  At least with the whopper plopper I can just go after it, which I have had to do several times.

[Choporoz]

9 minutes ago, IndianaFinesse said:

Choose whichever brand feels best for you, the only bad experiences I've had with baitcasters is with Quantum.  The Quantum I have is junk, forever breaking, horrible braking system, and can't throw anything under 1/2 ounce.  The only thing it's good for is whopper plopper 130's, I won't risk using it for heavy swim baits cause it often backlashes, which sends the lure flying off.  At least with the whopper plopper I can just go after it, which I have had to do several times.

This reminds me of why I struggle with these 'brand' discussions so much.  My first Daiwa anything was a spinning rod that I bought while on a business trip without my own gear -- bought it for $18 and proceded to snap it the second time out.  My mind was affected for years and I didn't buy anything Daiwa for a long, long time.  Now, some of my very favorite rods and reels are Daiwa.  I had similar experience with entry level Quantum gear.  (Right at this moment, my very favorite baitcasting reel is a Quantum Smoke.  But that doesn't mean that Quantum is better than Lews because it is better than my Speed Spool.) 

      What it has taken me 50+ years to learn is that making broad statements about an entire brand are useless.   Unless, perhaps, you have extensive experiences with all levels of their product - both of the brand in question and all of its major competitors....and even then, the discussion of one brand over all others is rather pointless.

[IndianaFinesse]

2 hours ago, Choporoz said:

This reminds me of why I struggle with these 'brand' discussions so much.  My first Daiwa anything was a spinning rod that I bought while on a business trip without my own gear -- bought it for $18 and proceded to snap it the second time out.  My mind was affected for years and I didn't buy anything Daiwa for a long, long time.  Now, some of my very favorite rods and reels are Daiwa.  I had similar experience with entry level Quantum gear.  (Right at this moment, my very favorite baitcasting reel is a Quantum Smoke.  But that doesn't mean that Quantum is better than Lews because it is better than my Speed Spool.) 

      What it has taken me 50+ years to learn is that making broad statements about an entire brand are useless.   Unless, perhaps, you have extensive experiences with all levels of their product - both of the brand in question and all of its major competitors....and even then, the discussion of one brand over all others is rather pointless.

Good point, I have only tried one quantum and it was and entry level model.  So maybe they have better models, but the one I've used didn't even compare to my black max.