$40 - $60 baitcaster options

[Bankfisher22]

Looking to buy a new reel and just wanted to know if you have any suggestions and personal experience with any baitcaster in the 40-60 dollar range.

[J Francho]

Click the KastKing link to the right.  There's a few nice options there.  Look for coupons as well.  There's some in the Latest Sale Thread.

[Joshua van Wyk]

The best baitcaster for the money is without a doubt the Daiwa Fuego ct, it usually retails for $100 but you can get it below $60 on Ebay and occasionally on Amazon.  

[TnRiver46]

I personally find used Abu Garcia round reels in that price range because I can take one apart and put it back together blindfolded by now haha. 1980s technology still holds up pretty well

[Deleted account]

13 minutes ago, Joshua van Wyk said:

The best baitcaster for the money is without a doubt the Daiwa Fuego ct, it usually retails for $100 but you can get it below $60 on Ebay and occasionally on Amazon.  

I just picked up a couple for $50 each, an H2O mettle for $40, and 2 Black Maxs for $65 as stocking stuffers. All solid choices.

[the reel ess]

1 hour ago, reason said:

I just picked up a couple for $50 each, an H2O mettle for $40, and 2 Black Maxs for $65 as stocking stuffers. All solid choices.

I second that Academy H2O recommendation and they're on sale now. The Mettle and Mettle HD reels are the cheapest reels I know of that you can buy with a solid aluminum frame. Most other reels you see in that range will have a composite frame. If you want to spend a little more and get a whole lot more reel for the money, I have the TAC-40 reel. I payed the full $100 for mine and still think it was a bargain. Check out the quality features it has. 

https://www.academy.com/shop/browse/outdoors/fishing/fishing--reels/baitcast-reels?facet=mfName_ntk_cs%3A"H2O+XPRESS"

[Catt]

These prices are from Academy ?

 

Abu Garcia Silver Max: $49:99

H2O Mettle: regular $59.99 on sale for $39.99

Lew's American Hero: $59.99

Lew's Lazer: $59.99

 

All are excellent casting with good drags 

 

 

[Crestliner2008]

Ambassadeur 5500-C.

[Sam]

Bank, I fished with a guy who was a high school teacher and assistant football coach and he used low end rods and reels.

 

This guy could out-fish anyone. He would catch either the big bass in our tournaments or most of our tournament fish. And we did pretty good in tournaments.

 

His theory was that the fish don't know what the equipment costs and if it breaks you throw it away and get another low price rod or reel to replace it.

 

So to answer your question: It doesn't matter. $40, $50, $100, $250, $500. You use them until they break and you then decide to get them repaired or throw them away.

 

Just make sure the line test matches your rod's line test parameters and the reel fits you hand comfortably.

 

Now go out there and slay them on your $40 reel.  

[Jcj90]

Abu Garcia silver max is a good reel for the money

[12poundbass]

Personally I'd go with the Abu Garcia Black Max or Pro Max reel. Absolutely great reels for the money! 

[MN Fisher]

10 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

Personally I'd go with the Abu Garcia Black Max or Pro Max reel. Absolutely great reels for the money! 

If they're as good as my old Ambassaduer 500R (low profile), then I'd agree. That thing's been a work horse for me for 15+ years.

 

Another one I'm looking at as a possibility for my spring purchase is the Pflueger President or even the President XT. Good reviews on both of them.

[the reel ess]

16 hours ago, Sam said:

Bank, I fished with a guy who was a high school teacher and assistant football coach and he used low end rods and reels.

 

This guy could out-fish anyone. He would catch either the big bass in our tournaments or most of our tournament fish. And we did pretty good in tournaments.

 

His theory was that the fish don't know what the equipment costs and if it breaks you throw it away and get another low price rod or reel to replace it.

 

So to answer your question: It doesn't matter. $40, $50, $100, $250, $500. You use them until they break and you then decide to get them repaired or throw them away.

 

Just make sure the line test matches your rod's line test parameters and the reel fits you hand comfortably.

 

Now go out there and slay them on your $40 reel.  

I have a friend who, when we started fishing together, only used lower-end spinning gear. And he outfished me all the time. Of course, I was in his back seat on his home turf. After fishing with me a couple years and seeing the advantages, he did buy a baitcast combo for power techniques. But we have a joke between us that I'm addicted to the tackle more than the fish.

 

The reason I don't subscribe to the "If it breaks, throw it away" theory is I know it will probably happen to me with a new PB. Dinks don't break reels.

[deadadrift89]

15 hours ago, Jcj90 said:

Abu Garcia silver max is a good reel for the money

Yep 3 out of 4 I bought several years ago still going strong

 

[greentrout]

Amazon top seller verified purchase highly rated kk royale legend for 39.98 ...

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS ...

 

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/kastking.html

 

 

 

[Happybeerbuzz]

I have a KK Royal Legend. It works. I use it, but I wouldn’t recommend it. While not intolerablely so, it back lashes a bit and seems too sensitive to wind conditions. If you are going to go the KK route, go up a level or two to the Assassin or Spartacus would be my suggestion. 

[Deleted account]

Is there a KK reel with just centrifugal brakes?

[fishwizzard]

Daiwa Fuego CT, right around $60 on ebay.  

[Festivus]

H2O Xpress Mettle or Mettle HD. I have 3 myself and they are a good reel, incredible for the money. You will have to pay twice as much to get even close to comparable quality with an Abu Garcia. Sometimes you will get one that may need to get some oil on the bearings but once tuned up they are great. 

 

My only complaints is the extra stuff that seperates all expensive reels from the mid and entry level reels, like a side plate that is attached to the main body so it doesn't fall or an easier way to adjust the centrifugal brakes as I'm sometimes paranoid I might loose on of the tiny plastic brake things. Other than that you get an aluminum frame, and metal gears and good quality bearings. What else is there to ask for from a sub $100 reel. 

[the reel ess]

12 hours ago, Festivus said:

H2O Xpress Mettle or Mettle HD. I have 3 myself and they are a good reel, incredible for the money. You will have to pay twice as much to get even close to comparable quality with an Abu Garcia. Sometimes you will get one that may need to get some oil on the bearings but once tuned up they are great. 

 

My only complaints is the extra stuff that seperates all expensive reels from the mid and entry level reels, like a side plate that is attached to the main body so it doesn't fall or an easier way to adjust the centrifugal brakes as I'm sometimes paranoid I might loose on of the tiny plastic brake things. Other than that you get an aluminum frame, and metal gears and good quality bearings. What else is there to ask for from a sub $100 reel. 

And the entire line, except for the newest high-end reel, is $20 off right now. A steal. And, should you have an issue with them, there's a place to take them back and exchange.

[NYWayfarer]

15 hours ago, reason said:

Is there a KK reel with just centrifugal brakes?

Spartacus Maximus is the only KK reel with just centrifugal brakes. The original Maximus not the new seafoam green one.

15 hours ago, Joshua van Wyk said:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-2017-Daiwa-Fuego-CT-7-3-1-Casting-Reel-FGCT100HS/272610084090?epid=566108388&hash=item3f78d3c4fa:g:R34AAOSwm7pZyreu

I highly recommend you not go the KK route, my first baitcaster was a KK, and while it works it's not the best for your money.  The daiwa is far superior IMO.

Never buy any reel at full cost is my motto. That includes KK reels.

[Festivus]

If having a place to take back a reel in case anything goes wrong is a big thing to you then I would get a H2O Xpress Mettle or Mettle HD. Only slight issue with their reels is that it may be hard to get parts if you like to work on them yourself, they do have a strong return policy as long as you keep the receipt, either paper or digital, if anything goes wrong. They are on sale for $40 and $60 respectively right now, not bad at all for a reel that is head and shoulders above almost any other reel I've touched at that price point. 

 

BUT, a Daiwa Fuego at $50 to $60 would probably be my first choice right now since they ususally sell them at $100. You can get parts for them which is good but buying from ebay and amazon leaves you at their mercy and no brick and mortar store to back their products. 

 

All the other reels mentioned are decent to good but I'd never pay even close to full price for them. Just my opinion. 

[the reel ess]

34 minutes ago, Festivus said:

If having a place to take back a reel in case anything goes wrong is a big thing to you then I would get a H2O Xpress Mettle or Mettle HD. Only slight issue with their reels is that it may be hard to get parts if you like to work on them yourself, they do have a strong return policy as long as you keep the receipt, either paper or digital, if anything goes wrong. They are on sale for $40 and $60 respectively right now, not bad at all for a reel that is head and shoulders above almost any other reel I've touched at that price point. 

 

BUT, a Daiwa Fuego at $50 to $60 would probably be my first choice right now since they ususally sell them at $100. You can get parts for them which is good but buying from ebay and amazon leaves you at their mercy and no brick and mortar store to back their products. 

 

All the other reels mentioned are decent to good but I'd never pay even close to full price for them. Just my opinion. 

My experience with Daiwa customer service has been the best of any company in just about any business. If you need a part for one of their reels they'll send it completely free. They even pay the postage. They sent me parts for a 1983 Magforce Procaster when it was about 30 years old. It finally fell apart completely.

[J Francho]

12 hours ago, the reel ess said:

My experience with Daiwa customer service has been the best of any company in just about any business.

Toby is the person you want to get on the phone.  Really good guy.

[Tizi]

I would get the Fuego on eBay from American Legacy.  Excellent reel for the money.