What's the Black Max of spinning reels?

[Jon Morris]

I'm frugal on the border of being cheap. I love my 2 Black Max casting reels for general purpose fishing especially for the price. I've caught literally hundreds of bass on both of them and with minimal upkeep they work just as well as the day I bought them. I'm looking for a spinning reel that is comparable to that in the $40-$80 price range. Any suggestions?

[Happybeerbuzz]

The Plueger President falls in this category. 

[Hulkster]

shimano sahara the black and gold ones. I have heard many good things

[brophog]

2 hours ago, Happybeerbuzz said:

The Plueger President falls in this category. 

 

For that 50-60 dollar range, really hard to beat. 

[BoatSquirrel]

Mitchell 300!  

[LionHeart]

8 hours ago, Jon Morris said:

I'm frugal on the border of being cheap. 

I like your style.  The Pflueger President has a pretty good reputation, although I've never owned one. I have been using one of their Trion reels for years and it has been flawless.  

[Crow Horse]

I'm partial to the Mitchell 300 Pro. I have 4 and only had one warranty issue and "Mitchell" returned a new reel to me in about a weeks time. I've found that parts are available as well if needed....

[nascar2428]

Although it's at the higher end of your price range, the Okuma RTX 30s is a great reel. All of my biggest fish have been with that reel( Bass, Catfish and Pike) going on my fifth season without any issues.

[redmeansdistortion]

The President is a nice reel, but for $70 to $80, you can find a Penn Battle II in the 2500 or 3000 size and it's a much better reel.  It's a sealed design, has HT-100 drag washers, and is very easy to user service unlike many other spinning reels on the market.  Replacement parts are also very easy to find should the need arise.  Penn is very good about keeping replacement parts available long after a model is discontinued in much the same way Abu Garcia is with many of their Swedish made reels.  

 

[Crankin4Bass]

Shimano Sienna

[swandog]

I mean, there literally is a black max spinning reel: https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/abu-garcia-black-max-spinning-reel#repChildCatid=6407338?campID=642952267&groupID=31323544038&device=m&productID=118980850&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIk62WsoW-4AIVkYZpCh2zngHTEAQYASABEgJi_fD_BwE

[813basstard]

Penn II or Ohero 3000. Both have been bulletproof 

[fishwizzard]

Daiwa BG all day every day.  Their weight is the only bad thing I could say about them and even that is a plus on some rods.  

[MN Fisher]

6 minutes ago, BaitFinesse said:

Abu Cardinal.  

Are the Cardinals even made anymore?

 

I think the Abu Orra S or Elite Max which are both around $70.

[EGbassing]

Black max spinning reel. Seriously though, pflueger trion and pflueger president are both great for the price.

[MN Fisher]

Just now, EGbassing said:

Black max spinning reel. Seriously though, pflueger trion and pflueger president are both great for the price. 

I have a Trion 30 which I use for smaller crank/jerkbaits, weighted T-Rigs (1/4-1/2oz) and jigs under 1/2oz. Solid performer and smooth action.

[redmeansdistortion]

29 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Are the Cardinals even made anymore?

 

I think the Abu Orra S or Elite Max which are both around $70.

You can still get them on Fisherman's Factory Outlet.  I've accumulated a few over the years and never had any trouble with them.  My usual ultralight brook trout setup is a Cardinal STX and a 6' Okuma Celilo and it has been flawless.  I bought the reel maybe 10 years back for a whole $25.

[MN Fisher]

7 minutes ago, redmeansdistortion said:

You can still get them on Fisherman's Factory Outlet.

I just did a search on Abu's site - only Cardinal they make anymore is the Bruiser. It's rated as a saltwater reel, size 50 (5000) and only comes in a combo. Any other Cardinal models would have to be gotten used or from someplace that stocked up before the line was discontinued.

[redmeansdistortion]

6 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I just did a search on Abu's site - only Cardinal they make anymore is the Bruiser. It's rated as a saltwater reel, size 50 (5000) and only comes in a combo. Any other Cardinal models would have to be gotten used or from someplace that stocked up before the line was discontinued.

FFO is Pure Fishing's (parent of Abu, Pflueger, Penn, etc) store, and they often have great deals on refurbs and discontinued models.  Sometimes they have downright amazing deals.  I was sad I missed out on the $80 Abu Records and $100 Inshore Classics.  It's a good site to check regularly as you never know what they'll have.

[EGbassing]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

I have a Trion 30 which I use for smaller crank/jerkbaits, weighted T-Rigs (1/4-1/2oz) and jigs under 1/2oz. Solid performer and smooth action.

I'm about to order my replacement. I tried one in the store the other day and it really was smooth.

[WRB]

Shimano Sahara FE is on sale @ TW $69

Tom

[Glaucus]

20 hours ago, Happybeerbuzz said:

The Plueger President falls in this category. 

The President is more like a Silver Max. 

 

Pflueger Trion is probably the Black Max. 

[AC870]

Get a Trion. Can’t be beat for the money. 

I was not impressed with the Sahara. I did abuse it a bit. Got in the Spanish and blues pretty good on a pier at the beach. I rinsed it well but it was loose as a goose, lot of play in the handle, after that episode. 

I’m about to put a Sienna through the paces. It’s a cheapo but a saltwater bay guide I fished with had em on his rods.  

At some point, I’m gonna go with all the same reels on my spinning rods. 

It’s a mongrel lot now — President, Trion, Sienna, Spirex and just bought a Lew’s XS30 I think is going to be a good one. 

[learnin]

Shimano Sienna FD