Advancing from ugly stik....

[Moto]

Until now I've been using a Shakespeare ugly stik spinning combo for my finesse bass fishing, since I mainly use a baitcaster (pro max) for most bass fishing. However I realized that there are some techniques that I would be using alot with a spinning reel, so I've been looking for a good spinning reel or even combo to get instead of my ugly stik - between $100 - $200 - not sure whether to get a combo or not - as of now I've been looking at the shimano stradic reels and also the abu Garcia revo reels

Help would be greatly appreciated....

[hwright38]

The Stradics by themselves start at $180, so they're probably out of your price range. The Revo spinning reels have a major design flaw where if it's cold (I've had it happen at around 60 degrees), the anti-reverse clutch stops working. This means the reel will be able to spin backwards, and this really sucks when you get a fish and your reel handle starts spinning around. I lost a lot of fish that day. This problem exists in all Revos, from the X ($99) to the Premier ($299). Unless you will ONLY be fishing in weather where the low for the day is more than about 70, I can't recommend a Revo spinning reel ever. 

 

For $150 total, I would get a Shimano Sahara(either 2500 or 3000, $80 on tacklewarehouse) and a Fenwick Eagle rod ($50-$60 depending on the model). That still leaves you with some extra change for line as well. I would recommend getting away from the Ugly Stik rod and into a better one, especially for finesse techniques. The "glass tip gives it more sensitivity!" is marketing bull, you'd be much better off with a graphite rod of almost any manufacture once you get up into the $60 and up range. You could even go with a Daiwa Regal or Revros and get a better rod in the $100 price range.

[MN Fisher]

Low end of that range - Pflueger President ($60 from TW) on a Diawa Aird-X ($55 from TW) - $115

    I have a President and it's a good reel, my Aird-X rods are Baitcasters, but I'll be replacing the Ugly Stick my Trion is on with an Aird-X

 

Upper end of the range - Pflueger President XT on a Diawa Procyon - again TW for a total of $160

 

As you can probably tell, I'm a Pflueger/Diawa fan

[Moto]

49 minutes ago, hwright38 said:

The Stradics by themselves start at $180, so they're probably out of your price range. The Revo spinning reels have a major design flaw where if it's cold (I've had it happen at around 60 degrees), the anti-reverse clutch stops working. This means the reel will be able to spin backwards, and this really sucks when you get a fish and your reel handle starts spinning around. I lost a lot of fish that day. This problem exists in all Revos, from the X ($99) to the Premier ($299). Unless you will ONLY be fishing in weather where the low for the day is more than about 70, I can't recommend a Revo spinning reel ever. 

 

For $150 total, I would get a Shimano Sahara(either 2500 or 3000, $80 on tacklewarehouse) and a Fenwick Eagle rod ($50-$60 depending on the model). That still leaves you with some extra change for line as well. I would recommend getting away from the Ugly Stik rod and into a better one, especially for finesse techniques. The "glass tip gives it more sensitivity!" is marketing bull, you'd be much better off with a graphite rod of almost any manufacture once you get up into the $60 and up range. You could even go with a Daiwa Regal or Revros and get a better rod in the $100 price range.

Which stradic would you recommend?

[Smelter96]

34 minutes ago, Mottel said:

Which stradic would you recommend?

Stradic c14+ 1000hg with 8lb-10lb braid

[hwright38]

1 hour ago, Mottel said:

Which stradic would you recommend?

I have the C14 2500 and it's been awesome. That's the one I'd recommend for a general purpose spinning reel for bass. I have it on a Medium power GLX, and it's my go-to for everything too small for my baitcasters to cast.

 

Also, @MN Fisher has a good recommend in the pflueger president. I'd actually recommend that reel over Shimano or Daiwa's offerings until you get to over $100. 

[Fishes in trees]

Leading off, rod wise - anything is a step up from an Ugly Stick IMO.  I own numerous spinning reels, from low end to mid range and for me, the primary thing that a spinning reel does is hold line.  As long as the spool isn't stuffed or scratched, casting distance is very similar in the reels I own (from $40 Diawas & Pfluegers ) to $120 or so Shimano & Diawas.   As you go  up money wise, the overall quality of the reel ( gears & drag ) improves, but they are still mainly line holders.

If it were me, I'd keep the reel for now and seriously upgrade the rod -  Fenwick HMG or something similar.  I have a St Croix Mojo spinning rod that I like, also an old Kistler & Diawa LT.   Upgrade the reel later.  If you can swing it cash wise upgrade both at the same time - being mindful that the point of this whole exercise it to accumulate as many rods & reels as you can during your lifetime.  You should have lots more time to get lots more gear.

[rtwvumtneer6]

I have a Shimano Sedona 2500 on a Daiwa Aird X.  Retail on TW is about $125 total.  I think I paid about $100 during a holiday sale.  

 

For the price, it does everything I ask it to do without any issue.  

[rtwvumtneer6]

On 9/25/2019 at 6:39 PM, hwright38 said:

The Revo spinning reels have a major design flaw where if it's cold (I've had it happen at around 60 degrees), the anti-reverse clutch stops working. This means the reel will be able to spin backwards, and this really sucks when you get a fish and your reel handle starts spinning around. I lost a lot of fish that day. This problem exists in all Revos, from the X ($99) to the Premier ($299). Unless you will ONLY be fishing in weather where the low for the day is more than about 70, I can't recommend a Revo spinning reel ever. 

^^^ similar problem on my Revo X casting reel.  Threw square bills and 3.8's on it with no problem in the warmer months.  Then it got cold and I tried to throw a jerkbait on it.  About every 3-5 twitches my spool let loose and unless I thumbed it constantly, I'd end up with an overrun.