$59-$79 Reel Life Span?

[MAN]

What is an acceptable life span for you..for a baitcast reel in the $59-$79 retail?  

[ike8120]

I would guess 5 plus years. It would depend on how hard it is fished, maintenance and how you take care of it. 

[jmz313]

I'm new to bass fishing.  My oldest BC reel is an UltraMax Abu (its basically a BlackMax for Dicks available as combo)... I use it every outing and its lasted at least 50 outings and is in fine shape still.  I expect it to last another 50. 

 

I think a dollar per fishing outing is a good expectation to start with.   Assuming you take reasonable care... and I probably don't honestly so i could be under estimating to help justify buying a Curado DC soon.  

 

 

[Big Rick]

Ultimately, it's gonna depend on the brand. Some brands cheaper reels have a lot of the core equipment of the nicer ones, just lacking the bells and whistles. Then again, some cheaper reels have plastic items where metal should be and they will  quickly wear out if you're throwing heavier baits or using it for reaction style fishing. I blew apart a BPS brand $79 reel the first year I owned it. I quickly learned that if I was gonna save money that I needed to buy the cheaper versions of a brand known for its durability, longevity, and quality. Like Shimano, Daiwa, Abu, and the like....

 

Another option that usually works well is to shop for used or refurbished higher end reels at tackle shops and online. You can save a bundle if you can overlook surface scratches and such.

[FishTank]

Many moons ago, some of the reels I tried in that price range didn't last too long.  Maybe a year or two (some not even a season).  It all depends on how you fish, how often, under what conditions, how you maintain your reel, and even what kind of line you use.  You can also debate the life span difference between a spinning reel and a casting reel too.   I think ultimately the real durability begins with the $100 price range.  This seems to be the price point where all of the manufactures are competing. 

[Smalls]

I don’t expect two years out of most reels under $100. 

 

I do have a Pro Max from Garcia that has defied that rule, though. Not only has it lasted me 4 years, it’s one of my smoothest reels. I was so impressed I bought my wife one, and it was complete junk. Exchanged it for another, another junk reel. We exchanged it once more before I figured I had just gotten really lucky with the first one. 

[Bluebasser86]

On the lower end, a couple years. On the higher end, around 5 years, depending on the amount of use and care taken of the reel.

[Catt]

My son has a Garcia Black Max that's 10 yrs old & still going strong.

 

My grandson has a Lew's® Laser TXS that's 2 yrs off with no issues.

 

Routine maintenance required ?

 

[new2BC4bass]

53 minutes ago, Catt said:

My son has a Garcia Black Max that's 10 yrs old & still going strong.

 

My grandson has a Lew's® Laser TXS that's 2 yrs off with no issues.

 

Routine maintenance required ?

 

Couple of nice looking guys.  The fish aren't bad either. 

[MAN]

Thanks guys. Was just trying to get a rough consensus on the an acceptable life span of a reel. Obviously this mindset has changed drastically from our grandfathers days when you expected to be able to hand your Garcia down to your grandson. I would wager a 5 year life span on most reels these days is acceptable to majority of fisherman. 

[swhit140]

I tried a Quantam reel some years ago, it didn't last one season. I now mainly have Daiwa & Shimano reels, my reels are about 10 years old still working great.

 

[NYWayfarer]

A reel in that price range can last quite a while if properly handled and maintained.

 

Handling is important as some people are rough on their reels. I take care to place my rod and reel down carefully if at all possible when I am unhooking a fish, changing a lure, etc.

If you throw your rod down on the ground, rocks, gravel, etc. you can expect the reel isn't going to last as long.

 

Maintain your reels by cleaning, oiling and greasing them. Replace worn out parts if those parts are available. We live in a disposable society.

I have seen a friend throw out a reel because the thumb bar cracked. Didn't even think of replacing it. The reel was damaged not broken beyond repair.

 

[redmeansdistortion]

12 hours ago, Smalls said:

I do have a Pro Max from Garcia that has defied that rule, though. Not only has it lasted me 4 years, it’s one of my smoothest reels.

I wish Abu still made the Pro Max, Black Max, and Silver Max with the one piece aluminum frame like they did in the 90s.  I have some of those that are coming up on 30 years old with mostly original parts aside from a Carbontex drag upgrade.  I use mine casting plugs and hardware for steelhead and salmon and they just keep on going.  A hot 20lb steelhead would probably make quick work of the reels that bear those names today.

[OnthePotomac]

No matter what price you pay for a reel I recommend you immediately learn how to take it down, clean and properly lubricate it and you will be surprised how they will last.  There some good U Tube vids on how to do this and some poor ones also.  Look at all of them you can and you will soon determine who knows what they are doing and who does not. I have always had a Shimano reel and started with their entry level models and they have excellent videos on their web site.  I was fortunate when I got into bass fishing 19 years ago when I retired in that I had a good friend who knew how to do this and schooled me.  The alternative is pay a reliable service like DVT on this forum to do a minimum of once a year maintenance for you.

[Choporoz]

On 9/27/2019 at 10:36 AM, swhit140 said:

I tried a Quantam reel some years ago, it didn't last one season. I now mainly have Daiwa & Shimano reels, my reels are about 10 years old still working great.

 

I made a comment like this many years ago.    Not too long after, I had an opportunity to get a nice Quantum Smoke reel at something of a discount.  They are now my favorite reels...over similarly priced Daiwa and Shimanos.

 

What I had failed to take into account was that I made my tarnished opinion of entire brand off of one low-end reel. 

What was worse, was that I publicly announced that opinion without qualifying it adequately.  Now, I try to be more careful about specifying models, not just brands, when posting about quality.

 

As to the OP, much depends upon not only the model/brand, but on amount and type of use, and whether basic maintenance has been done.  I have only owned three baitcast reels with MSRP under $100 and all were good for about three years of regular use.  Two of them made it another year and a half with professional cleaning/lubrication. 

[hawgchaser]

I have a 

1. Pflueger Echelon 

2. Pflueger President 

3. 8 BPS Extremes 

4. 5 Zebco 33 Golds 

 

all have lasted over 10yrs of being fished regularly. I have several reels over $100 and even $200 that didn’t make it that long. In fact if you look at my 20-30 reels, longevity and reliability has had zero correlation to price! 

[Shimano_1]

Daiwa Fuego ct, revo x, lews speed spool and maybe shimano slx can be had for close to the 80 dollar range. Any of these reels will probably last as long as higher end reels. May not be as silky smooth etc. Durability should be there tho

[CrankFate]

Any quality name brand, easily 5-10 years in saltwater if properly cared for, even if it’s not rated for salt.

[Randy Price]

On the other end of this discussion I bought a Shimano Stradic 2000 FG in 2000 I believe.  I have fished with it every year and not a single hickup.  So I look at like this.  Yes it was a little pricey in the beginning but it's last almost 20 years and it's still going strong.

[J Francho]

I have an $80 Assassin that is three years old and works fine.

[TnRiver46]

On 10/3/2019 at 2:38 AM, hawgchaser said:

I have a 

1. Pflueger Echelon 

2. Pflueger President 

3. 8 BPS Extremes 

4. 5 Zebco 33 Golds 

 

all have lasted over 10yrs of being fished regularly. I have several reels over $100 and even $200 that didn’t make it that long. In fact if you look at my 20-30 reels, longevity and reliability has had zero correlation to price! 

Thats the secret that reel manufacturers dont want to get out! Ive had different experience than most of the other responses, ive never spent over $80 on a reel and all but one of my baitcasters are pre 1990. I dont treat them well either, they all live outdoors. 

[The Maestro]

My experience with cheaper reels has been that it's not so much about how long they'll last until they don't work at all but rather how long they last until they start to feel rough and clunky. Sure you could still use them like that but when you fish them side by side with higher end reels you probably won't want to use them that much.

[Keegan Foose]

Still have my Quantam Antix that run like a charm almost 6 years later.