Cheap reels

[Florida Cracker2]

I'm looking to purchase a couple large cheap spinners for a couple extra 8' surf rods I have in case friends or family want to play with tarpon off dock. I ran across a China-cheapo by Lie Yu Wang in a 7000 size. Anyone heard of these? 

[J Francho]

Agreed, Kastking has some great deals on solid gear with good customer support.

[TylerT123]

I have a Zebco Bite Alert Spinning Reel (Size 60) it has 2 bearings, 16 lbs of drag and it was only $50 for the rod and reel. The line rating is 17-50 lbs, the lure rating is 1-8 oz, it’s a MH fiberglass rod with EVA foam and it’s a 2 piece. I bought it for catfishing, throwing my iBobber, duck, and bat so I don’t loose them. It’ll work in saltwater, I think for 2 bearings it’s pretty smooth. It’s a great combo.

[BrackishBassin]

I really like the Fierce 2 I have. Don’t know if you consider that to be “cheap”. Works great and I’ve had no issues with it. Fished everything from the Atlantic to a local pond with it. Still performs like it did the day I got it. 

[Florida Cracker2]

Thanks for you're responses. The ones I was looking at were only 12 bucks with free shipping on the slow boat from China.

Almost can't go wrong unless totally trash. Just wanting to hear if anyone else has any experience with this brand to see if they are totally trash. It's not for me, I have Diawa 7000C's that I'm perfectly happy with and have had for 20+ years.

[Florida Cracker2]

Penn fierce are nice. I have a spinfisher V and bought a battle ii for my father. Also have some older Penn relics... a 700 something greenie and a 420ss ultralight. $12 is just a ridiculous price for a (supposedly) all-metal reel and hoping to hear from anyone who has purchased one. If it gets used once or twice a year then it's fulfilled it's purposed. 

[Florida Cracker2]

5 hours ago, TylerT123 said:

I have a Zebco Bite Alert Spinning Reel (Size 60) it has 2 bearings, 16 lbs of drag and it was only $50 for the rod and reel. The line rating is 17-50 lbs, the lure rating is 1-8 oz, it’s a MH fiberglass rod with EVA foam and it’s a 2 piece. I bought it for catfishing, throwing my iBobber, duck, and bat so I don’t loose them. It’ll work in saltwater, I think for 2 bearings it’s pretty smooth. It’s a great combo.

Thanks for reply. I know # of bearings means squat. It depends on build quality. These reels I was looking at had 12 +1. I watched a review...in Chinese that I couldn't understand, but he took the whole reel apart and reassembled it. I was actually surprised at the design. Another review from someone who spoke English, said it was the best reel he had ever owned....smooth as butter. Of course one never knows what someone else considers good.

[TylerT123]

12 hours ago, Florida Cracker2 said:

Thanks for reply. I know # of bearings means squat. It depends on build quality. These reels I was looking at had 12 +1. I watched a review...in Chinese that I couldn't understand, but he took the whole reel apart and reassembled it. I was actually surprised at the design. Another review from someone who spoke English, said it was the best reel he had ever owned....smooth as butter. Of course one never knows what someone else considers good.

Yeah, I’d rather have quality over quantity. I’ve heard good things from KastKing but I’m weary of them. Do you know if the reels you were looking at were anodized? And what metal were they?

[Florida Cracker2]

Not sure what type of metal they were.

[Lures'n'Liberty]

https://www.amazon.com/SeaKnight-Rapid-Saltwater-Spinning-Reel/dp/B0732VXZM8?ref=ast_p_ep&th=1&psc=1  These are pretty nice. Sealed against saltwater so they'll work more than once, better handle than most saltwater reels, comes with a free 5 piece set of crankbaits or spool of mono this month if you enter the code at the bottom. Anodized, stainless bearings, aluminum spool, 33 lb drag on the 6000 series. I put one on a cheap 10' telescopic rod for my Deeper transducer/spare flathead rod/ sometimes frog rod/ take on the plane to dad's house on the gulf and saltwater fish for 2 hours once every 2 years. I prefer it to the Kastking Sharky 5000 reels on my flathead rods. Seaknight's braid is also good stuff cheap. less likely to fall apart in your buddy's hands. Worthy backup for the Daiwas. $39.99 and you'll use the free lures (or your friends will use them instead of yours).