Best reel regardless of cost

[onenutinthewater]

I have been liquidating some farm tools and fishing gear and have saved enough to buy any reel my heart desires. I will use it for salmon and steel head weighing up to 20# but most use will be catching 6-10# fish.

After some investigation I have narrowed it down to- Antares, More Than, Zillion, Steez. I have no interest in a round reel.

I do have a Bantam MGL which is fantastic and I may not even realize much difference moving into this higher price range. Also have tatulas, chronarch mgl, calcutta conquest,  curados.

 

Any input appreciated. And yes i know I could buy several lesser models for the price of one of these but I already have many lessor models and am looking to spoil myself. You only live once!

[sharkbite23]

You realize this is a bass fishing forum, right? Try looking up “salmon steelhead forum” on Google. The guys over there should be able to help you more.

[jbsoonerfan]

For that application, Shimano Calcutta Conquest A.

[OkobojiEagle]

What's the best reel money can buy?... I've got to believe it hasn't be made yet.  This is why your desire is going to be very, very expensive!  I prefer finding (and being happy with) equipment that is "adequate" for my needs.

 

oe

[redmeansdistortion]

Fellow salmon and steelhead fisherman here.  If you are a float fisherman, look into a Kingpin Zeppelin center pin reel and pair it with an 11' or longer float rod.  The Zeppelin runs about $750 or so.  A center pin looks a lot like a fly reel but has a free spinning spool to present your bait as naturally as possible in the river current.  I've watched guys float their presentation over 100yd down some stretches of the Au Sable River here in Michigan.  There is also no drag mechanism, you'll use your palm for drag and fighting fish.  Pins are great and quite a few salmon/steelhead guys "graduate" to them.  I haven't yet due to the cost of the reels but I know quite a few that fish them exclusively in the rivers.

[gilkeybr]

The Antares A is an amazing piece of equipment.  Like a Bantam MGL on steroids.  Smoothness is second to none, in my opinion.  Only downside for the application you describe is its a bit small.  Maybe you would want a 150 size Antares (or Monster Drive) instead.  

 

And if you're willing to order from Digitaka, you can get one for quite a bit cheaper than ordering from TW.  

 

I like my Conquest.  But I still prefer my Bantam and Antares A to it

[Ratherbfishing]

11 hours ago, sharkbite23 said:

You realize this is a bass fishing forum, right? Try looking up “salmon steelhead forum” on Google. The guys over there should be able to help you more.

This IS the "other fish species" thread so he's right where he needs to be.

[ike8120]

 Did you consider a Van Staal http://www.vanstaal.com/index.htm

 

 

[Choporoz]

If I were to find myself asking the OP question, I believe that I would buy a Seigler today, sight unseen.  I've followed their story and admire that it is one of the very few reels truly made in the US.  

I don't know if they have a reel that is designed best for my type of fishing...but that doesn't mean that I don't want one anyway.  

[NHBull]

Calcutta conquest 100 or 300 all day long for those applications.....if your looking to do it with just one

[onenutinthewater]

I guess I should have specified- Looking for a low profile casting reel.

[NHBull]

The conquest 100 actually feels better in had that my Mets and is far smaller than the 300.

[sharkbite23]

On 7/18/2019 at 9:07 AM, Ratherbfishing said:

This IS the "other fish species" thread so he's right where he needs to be.

Oh I didn’t even see. I guess I’m the one that’s lost. XD