What are your best rods and reels for the money?

[Hook2Jaw]

On 12/18/2018 at 10:48 PM, Glaucus said:

We've settled on our choices. Just got to the finale of the decision here. Two starter rods. In the past I have been a pond hopper, but now I'm a river rat so that is where he will be joining me, on the Smallie hunt. We went up in some ways and maxed out in others. What we've come to is personally aesthetically pleasing, good performance, and equipment for what we will be doing. And the finalists are:

 

6'10" ML/XF St Croix Spinning Mojo Bass Rod with a size 20 Abu Garcia Revo X reel. 

 

6'8" M/F St Croix Casting Mojo Bass Rod with a left hand retrieve Shimano SLX 6.3:1 reel. Showed this reel and the Daiwa Fuego but aesthetics were important as well and the sharp look of the blue on the Shimano won. 

 

Usual lures will be Ned Rig, Grubs, KVD 1.5, Whopper Plopper 90, bisty bug jigs, Senkos, small chatterbaits. He'll do what I do. 

 

We'll expand from here over time if he likes it. I think we've got a good start. He'll get use out of one of my kayaks as well. 

I can understand how one could not like the appearance of the Fuego.  Personally, it has grown on me and even looks...um...not terrible on my Daiwa Aird-X now.  My other Daiwas are on a different line of rods altogether and look fantastic. 

 

As for narrowing it down, I think you made some excellent choices for a finesse reel and believe that casting setup will perform well, too!  I've never used a rod so highly touted as St. Croix, but I catch just fine on what I do use.

 

Please let us know how he likes them and post some pictures of his fish when you get a chance, @Glaucus!

[Glaucus]

Got my dad all hooked up and now the bait monkey is hitting me hard. I'm looking at the Okuma EVX casting rods. Specifically the 6'8" M/MF-F topwater/jerkbait model. I'm looking at it for squarebills and smaller whopper ploppers. Will this rod do me well? 

[Log Catcher]

Might as well start this thread up again. What are your recommendations for the best spinning reel under $100 bucks? Looking to replace a couple of my older ones and wanted to find out what is good and what to avoid. I am looking at reels in the 2000 to 2500 size range.

[Hammer 4]

The Diawa Fuego 2500 would be a good start..It has an anti reverse, unlike the shimano reels.

[new2BC4bass]

You can find a BG2000 or BG2500 right at or slightly under $100.  Three or four years ago I gave my brother-in-law a previous model Revros that he is still using.  I admit to liking Daiwa spinning reels.  There are several choices for $100 or less.  I've not used an Okuma spinning reel, but have 4 of their casting reels and really like them.  Let's not forget Shimano reels. 

[dodgeguy]

Falcon bucoo . Awesome rod for the price. Falcon customer service is awesome. Lews lfs baitcast 

[NYWayfarer]

14 hours ago, Log Catcher said:

Might as well start this thread up again. What are your recommendations for the best spinning reel under $100 bucks? Looking to replace a couple of my older ones and wanted to find out what is good and what to avoid. I am looking at reels in the 2000 to 2500 size range.

My recommendation is the new generation of Lew’s Carbon Fire spinning reels. Dick’s exclusive reels. They are basically a Mach 2 speed spin with 2 less bearings.

 

8 bearing drive,Aluminum framed spinning reel with Winn grip knobs. Aesthetically pleasing as well, all blacked out look with some red accents. MSRP is $69.99 on sale now for $59.98 

[Log Catcher]

9 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

My recommendation is the new generation of Lew’s Carbon Fire spinning reels. Dick’s exclusive reels. They are basically a Mach 2 speed spin with 2 less bearings.

 

8 bearing drive,Aluminum framed spinning reel with Winn grip knobs. Aesthetically pleasing as well, all blacked out look with some red accents. MSRP is $69.99 on sale now for $59.98 

I will check them out. Right now I am considering the Daiwa Exceler LT spinning reels. 

[NYWayfarer]

28 minutes ago, Log Catcher said:

I will check them out. Right now I am considering the Daiwa Exceler LT spinning reels. 

Can’t go wrong with that Daiwa reel. 
 

I have been partial to aluminum framed spinning reels lately. I dropped a graphite body 13 Fishing reel a couple of years ago and the reel broke at the stem. Since then I have bought aluminum framed spinning reels like the Lew’s Mach 2 and Custom Pro. The Winn grip knobs are also pretty nice.

[dodgeguy]

1 hour ago, NYWayfarer said:

Can’t go wrong with that Daiwa reel. 
 

I have been partial to aluminum framed spinning reels lately. I dropped a graphite body 13 Fishing reel a couple of years ago and the reel broke at the stem. Since then I have bought aluminum framed spinning reels like the Lew’s Mach 2 and Custom Pro. The Winn grip knobs are also pretty nice.

Graphite frames are junk. Under heavy load they twist. I had one snap at the neck years ago using braid on a tight drag.

[ThatZX14Fella]

The Abu Max series is great for the price, and so are Daiwa Aird X rods. I'd sincerely try talking him into buying used, though. You can get lightly used reels with aluminum frames for under a $100 that will outperform any of the new reels under $100. If it's a big issue, you can clean them up before using and they'll be like new again.

[FishTank]

My vote the Shimano Sahara or for something almost indestructible.... The Daiwa BG.

[Log Catcher]

8 hours ago, NYWayfarer said:

My recommendation is the new generation of Lew’s Carbon Fire spinning reels. Dick’s exclusive reels. They are basically a Mach 2 speed spin with 2 less bearings.

 

8 bearing drive,Aluminum framed spinning reel with Winn grip knobs. Aesthetically pleasing as well, all blacked out look with some red accents. MSRP is $69.99 on sale now for $59.98 

Thank you for telling me about these reels. I have 2 of them on order. I had wanted aluminum reels instead of carbon graphite reels. Everything else I had seen in aluminum was more than I wanted to spend.

[NYWayfarer]

1 hour ago, Log Catcher said:

Thank you for telling me about these reels. I have 2 of them on order. I had wanted aluminum reels instead of carbon graphite reels. Everything else I had seen in aluminum was more than I wanted to spend.

You won’t regret it. I love mine. Got a 200 size on a medium light rod with some 8# mono. This week I got my first Largemouth on it. 
 

I expect it’s the same quality as my Mach 2 speed spin which has 3 seasons under its belt and still going strong.

[Boomstick]

Well the Lews Mach 2 combo isn't half bad for $160. I also hear the Daiwa Aird rods are pretty good (I only have Tatulas myself so I can't comment). The Fuego shouldn't be a bad choice either but you can get a Tatula CT for under $100  on ebay so that's kind of hard to beat for the money.

 

If you really have to keep the cost down, get a Berkley Lightning Shock rod and an Abu Garcia Black Max. Definitely not the best, but I learned how to use a baitcaster on a Black Max and a rod not even that good, and it definitely does it's job!

[Ogandrews]

For $100 bucks it’s really hard to beat the shimano nasci, it’s my go to spinning reel. If you want to save some money, I have had a couple diawa regal lt which comes in at $60. That is an awesome reel for the money. You get a super smooth drag and smooth reel for the money. If you don’t want to spend the money on the nasci, I would just go straight to the regal as I don’t know if it would be worth the extra 20 to get one in the $80 range as the regal is such a good product for the money. Not as good as the nasci but it’s close.

 

I know we’re not talking about casting reels but if it was casting reels under $100, there’s no competition with the slx. So much reel for the money. I know guys will argue for the revo x and the speed spool but after owning a lot of reels at that $100 price point there’s no point to get something besides an slx in my opinion. It’s not a curado k, but it’s really close for $80 less.

[Log Catcher]

23 hours ago, NYWayfarer said:

You won’t regret it. I love mine. Got a 200 size on a medium light rod with some 8# mono. This week I got my first Largemouth on it. 
 

I expect it’s the same quality as my Mach 2 speed spin which has 3 seasons under its belt and still going strong.

I also got the 200 size. One will be on a medium rod and the other will be on a medium heavy. Both will probably get 8# Sufix Siege put on them.

21 hours ago, Boomstick said:

Well the Lews Mach 2 combo isn't half bad for $160. I also hear the Daiwa Aird rods are pretty good (I only have Tatulas myself so I can't comment). The Fuego shouldn't be a bad choice either but you can get a Tatula CT for under $100  on ebay so that's kind of hard to beat for the money.

 

If you really have to keep the cost down, get a Berkley Lightning Shock rod and an Abu Garcia Black Max. Definitely not the best, but I learned how to use a baitcaster on a Black Max and a rod not even that good, and it definitely does it's job!

I didn't need a combo. I just needed new reels. With them being on sale and an extra $20 discount I got two reels for $106. I don't mean to insult anybodys equipment but the green on the Lews rod and reels is so ugly I wouldn't buy them.

[fvogel67]

Falcon Jason Christie 6’8” MH Casting rod.$100 retail bought mine for $25.

Throws cranks,jerkbaits and spinnerbaits.

Made in USA

[Armtx77]

On 4/9/2020 at 7:15 PM, Log Catcher said:

Might as well start this thread up again. What are your recommendations for the best spinning reel under $100 bucks? Looking to replace a couple of my older ones and wanted to find out what is good and what to avoid. I am looking at reels in the 2000 to 2500 size range.

Diawa BG's

[Boomstick]

8 minutes ago, Armtx77 said:

Diawa BG's

Oh, how did I ever forget the Daiwa BG? Probably the best reel under $100 retail.

[Armtx77]

Just now, Boomstick said:

Oh, how did I ever forget the Daiwa BG? Probably the best reel under $100 retail.

Hard to beat, at the price point...A LOT of good spinners in that 80-120 range.

 

I have a couple of BG 1500's on Fenwick HMG rods that I use river fishing and they are my favorite set ups.

[Boomstick]

2 minutes ago, Armtx77 said:

Hard to beat, at the price point...A LOT of good spinners in that 80-120 range.

 

I have a couple of BG 1500's on Fenwick HMG rods that I use river fishing and they are my favorite set ups.

I have a BG 2000 with an Avid X ML/XF rod for drop shots and ned rigs.

[PourMyOwn]

On 4/10/2020 at 10:44 AM, Log Catcher said:

I will check them out. Right now I am considering the Daiwa Exceler LT spinning reels. 

Those are very nice reels, I got mine for $60 on the auction site. It's my tightlining reel. 

[kayaking_kev]

I like the whole series of Daiwa LT spinning reels. If I had to pick one under $100 it would probably be the Legalise.

[Ogandrews]

I agree with whoever said earlier that there really aren’t many sub $100 rods I’ve been impressed with. I had a couple 13 fishing rods, I think they were omen black, that were $100 regularly that I got for $50 each. They were pretty good for a $50 rod but every single one of the broke on either a hook set or while casting a regular sized lure. If I had to get something under $100 the dobyns colt isn’t a bad rod. Honestly if I was getting a cheap rod like that I would most likely go with a store brand rod like cabellas, bass pro, or scheels because they usually have a pretty good return policy, and rods like that are usually pretty dispensable