Cheap reels for catfish!

[Pikeman12]

Hey guys,

 

I am going on my annual sturgeon fishing trip and I need a cheap catfish reel as a backup. I do not want to spend anymore than 40$. I am looking to see which is the best out of the stuff walmart/dicks has to offer- shakespear? Quantum? Any help is appreciated, I do not mind buying cheap at all, just want to make sure these reels aren't gonna fall apart on the first big fish haha. Thanks guys!

[Pikeman12]

The reel I was looking at was the Quantum Optix only for 25$. I have always had good luck with shakespear products too so if anyone knows any others that I should look at, possibly even with baitclickers, please let me know.

[Bluebasser86]

You want a cheap reel that can handle a big sturgeon or catfish?? That's asking a lot, but if you could spend a couple more bucks, I think you could get everything you're looking for right here;

https://www.amazon.com/KastKing-Sharky-Baitfeeder-III-5000/dp/B0746HHPR2/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1504160472&sr=8-7-spons&keywords=kastking+sharky+ii+spinning+reel&psc=1

[dwh4784]

A sturgeon on a $25 reel? Wow. You did say backup so assuming this is you lost your good one in the river and need something to use.......Dick's usually has their Okuma's on a good sale. I would use one of those before an entry level Shakespeare or Quantum. Although looking at Cabela's they have Pflugear President's for way less than I've ever seen them, a 35 size for $40 you can't beat that.

[Pikeman12]

Haha thanks for the response guys. I knew I was gonna get some surprised reactions when I said 25$, truth is my dad and I have been using the same 2 south bend reels for the last 18 years hooking into Wisconsin sturgeon and they haven't given us any problems. Was gonna use them again this time but I'm detecting a small issue with one so I wanted a backup in case it did break. Saw the quantum optix at Walmart on I was just gonna say screw jt and get that. Maybe I should just spend the extra and get the pflueger. They also had a pflueger monarch, but I don't think they had a big enough size to handle 30 lb fluro 

[dwh4784]

Sadly I don't think that $25 is going to buy you the same quality as it did 18 years ago. I used to love cheap reels myself, but I think its worth stepping up into at least the next tier with today's offerings.

[Pikeman12]

I also have a Pflueger Trion 40 but i thought that might be a little small for catfish, especially sturgeon. It only displays 12 lb as the highest on the reel, so I don't really know how thick of line I could get away with on this reel.

[Pikeman12]

Thanks for the help guys. Not sure why but I went the opposite way and got a Penn Warfare 20lw  baitcaster and a Bass pro Catmaxx spinning reel.