Reels....do you stick with one brand?

[fishwizzard]

1 hour ago, new2BC4bass said:

I'd have to have in the neighborhood of 350 reels for them to be 99% Daiwa.  I learned on an original Fuego and like Daiwa braking systems.  A bit over half my baitcast reels are Daiwa.

Ok, it's actually 88.235294117647% Daiwa. ?

[FishDewd]

Absolutely not. I'm not so easily sold on one brand for -everything-. I pick something up... analyze... test it.... feel it... analyze it some more... if I think it could work I then consult reviews (most of the time, unless I'm 100% sure I love it), then decide whether to buy it. I often even find another brand/modle closest to it and mentally pick both a part before making a decision. Maybe this comes with my career in mechanics lol. But no, I'm not gonna pick one brand or another simply because of name. That's the most limiting thing one can do imo.

[Boomstick]

I'm admittedly a Daiwa and Pflueger fan boy, but Shimano, Lews, Abu Garcia etc are all pretty good too.

 

My go to casting reels are the Daiwa Tatula SV for added breaking,  the Tatula CT (budget option) or Pflueger Supreme XT for distance, and for spinning reels there isn't much that a more expensive reel will have to offer over the Daiwa BG but the Daiwa RG or Pflueger President is a solid option on a budget.

I got my oldest son a Shimano Curado K and my youngest a Pflueger Supreme XT which is not only cheaper, but brakes better, casts further and is a smoother reel all around. The only thing the Shimano might have on it is possibly a more even drag -- not that the Curado is a bad reel or anything, I was just surprised how much I liked the Supreme XT.

[Heartland]

Most of mine are Daiwa, long before the T-Wing and everything said Tatula on it.  Also own a couple of special Gen 2 Revo's that I really like.

[the reel ess]

I like Lew's and own 3 of the Tourney MB model. I can't say that I've used them all and neither can most people that will swear by one brand. But the Lew's reels are very good quality for the cost. The only other one I've bought in the last few years was an Academy H2O brand that has been a very good reel as well. I'm not into spending $200 on one reel. I would really think that the upper half of the lineup of all reel mfgs would be just as good or better than what I have. 

[NathanDLTH]

Daiwa or Shimano. That’s all I use, only other reel I could see myself using is megabass. 

[Brett Stair]

I’m brand loyal to Abu Garcia for a simple reason... I know how to adjust the drag systems and don’t want to have to learn another brand.

 

My first reel coming back to bass fishing was a Revo SX left handed I picked up on clearance at Cabelas for $70. Probably spoiled me.... and made me prefer left handed reels. Picked up a Revo X and a Black Max. Definitely prefer the SX. Just found another SX for $90 on Amazon and jumped on it and plan on picking up an X 5.4 and a crankbait rod tomorrow with some gift cards.

 

I don’t care for spinning reels but have a Lew’s combo I picked up at Cabela’s as well.

[scbassin]

 I did not start bass fishing until the late 60's when I was transferred to U.S.S. Thornback SS 418 in Charleston SC. The COB found out I liked to fish so we started fishing together, He was a bass fisherman so that is how I got started. Back then I was using a Mitchell 300.  In the early to mid 70's I was on the U.S.S. Barracuda SST 3 which had several bass fisherman on it. We heard of a military bass club forming & some of joined & it was then I started learning about all the baits & equipment & baits used. Upon joining I had the option to buy a Bass Pro Catalog. That is when I bought 6 Garcia Ambassadeur 5001C baitcasting reels & 6Lews Speed Sticks.  2 or 3 years later A big tackle wholesaler was going out of business & the X.O. Informed us about it & asked who was going(we were in port). At lunch time 4 of us piled into the X.O.'s car & headed downtown. When we left our next stop was the Chief's Club so we could discuss our goodies & have a beer(the real reason for the stop). My bootie was 6 Shimano Bantam 2001 Magnumlite GT Plus reels. From that day on I have been a Shimano guy. I have 80 plus Shimano Reels now with a Japanese version of the Bantam MGL on the way, hopefully it gets here today. I have tried other reels along the way but have sold them all except 1. Reason being is they all set up about the same & there not much of a change when you shift from 1 set up to another. A big plus is the customer service, I have never had a issue but only had to use them 2 or 3 times over the years. Plus on another site Bantam 1 is there if you need help  

[scbassin]

Well Bigjean663 the Japanese version of my Bantam MGL arrived yesterday. I ended up paying $265.33 Shipped. Can't beat that plus it has one more bearing than the U.S. version. Today requires me to go for lunch at my favorite Chinese restaurant, they have a Japanese cook so when the lunch crowd leaves he comes & shows me the in's & out's of the reel. 

[LionHeart]

I used to shy away from Diawa reels due to a bad experience with one of their lower priced reels.  To spite all the hoopla about the mag force breaking I just couldn't bring myself to buy one.   After finding a great deal I bought my first Tatula.  Loved it, and bought another.  

 

I realized that everyone wasn't wrong and that Diawa makes very good reels in the mid price range.  Before that I used only Lews, and Abu reels.

 

Next I think I'll have to try a Shimano Curado.  They get a lot of positive reviews from just about everyone.   

 

Brand loyal, sure.  Brand exclusive?  Naw.

[MPM IV]

On 12/23/2018 at 4:45 PM, Big Rick said:

Daiwa Tatula - because of the SV spool that totally changed my ability to skip and cast lighter baits with much more accuracy. 

 

Lew Tourney Pros - because I seldom fish alone and co-anglers that need an extra can't hurt them. They're built like a tank and cast reasonably well. 

 

Shimano Curado K - because it's the smoothest reel for the money I have ever held in my hand. 

I own these same three reels and a high end unmentionable. I picked them up on various sales and really like all of them. To date, none of them have had mechanical issues. I just like trying different things.

 

[RyneB]

I prefer Abu Garcia because they fit my hand better because I have small hands. But I also own a Daiwa Tatula, and 3 Curados. I have nothing negative to say about any of them. The Tatula isnt the best feeling or lightest reel I own, but it casts like a dream and performs well.

[YoTone]

Im partial to Daiwa because their customer service has treated me better than I imagined.