What is up with spinning reels?

[Whatever]

Okay, I am a newby here, but have been fishing for 60 years. I need several (3) new spinning reels, and need input on which good quality reels still offer the choice of an anti reverse switch. I am looking in the $75 to $150 range, for freshwater fishing for pike, trout, bass, etc. Being 50 miles below British Columbia, a huge bass here will go 5#, but I catch pike and trout up to 20 pounds. I boat fish with plugs, spoons, spinners and plastics, with 8 to 12# mono, and 6 to 7 foot rods. Lures won't top out above 3/4 ounce.

I love Penn reels, but they are not (Battle ll) including the anti reverse feature on most of them anymore. The same with Shimano.

Can anyone recommend some good spinning reels that still offer this feature?

[JustJames]

Do I hear Daiwa? Any of LT reel in any price point from Revros LT to Tatula LT would be good.

[Hammer 4]

Yep, Diawa has the anti reverse on them, which I happen to like. Shimano use to have the anti reverse, but stopped for some reason..

BTW, welcome to BR. lots of good info here.

[islandbass]

The lesser shimanos do but are under your lower price limit. Are you in WA state?

[Whatever]

I am in MT, where a 5 lb bass is probably pushing 10 years old.

Do the Daiwa's rate with Shimano and Penn for quality and longevity? Are there any decent ones between the $50 Revros and the $200 Tatula?

[jimmyjoe]

   Look up info about the Daiwa BG series. That would be like the BG2500, for instance. They're good, solid reels that are smooth and easy to service.

   They have new reels out that are monocoque. They'll have an "MQ-" in the model number. The BG line has some of them, too, like the BG MQ2500. They are supposedly NOT easy to service.

   Many companies are going to the "enthusiast" market. I understand that; it's a money decision. Which of their products are also durable and robust is an entirely separate matter. 

   Good luck in your search!       jj

[Captain Phil]

I have been using Daiwa BG Series spinning reels for years.  I have use them when fishing everything from bonefish to large offshore species. The BG 13 is a great bass reel. These reels are inexpensive, reliable and light.  The drag is good and the spools are interchangeable with the push of a button. I can't imagine anyone needing anything better from a spinning reel.  

 

I don't use the anti reverse when bass fishing.  I trained myself to back reel many years ago.  Back reeling is not a good idea in salt water fishing.  You may find yourself trying to grab a spinning handle.  This only happened to me once when bass fishing and I still think about that fish.

[JRingo]

I have a diawa bg.    You will not be disappointed.   

[OkobojiEagle]

Pflueger Supreme XT

[galyonj]

I don't keep up much with spinning reels, and I've never turned anti-reverse off on the one reel I have except to play with it, but it looks like Lew's also has the switch on several models.

 

From lurking other discussions here it seems like back reeling fell out of favor when reels that had a smoother drag became more prevalent.

[Whatever]

The primary reason I like anti reverse is casting. If you reel the lure to close to the rod tip, I can easily back off a few revolutions.

Mono is a dynamic filament (which means it stretches), Floro has very little stretch, and spectra, Kevlar, etc. has none. With 30 yds of mono out, a fish can run, and the mono will take up some of the pressure by stretching. When you get it alongside the boat, and have only a yard of line, the fish will go frantic, and with very little line to absorb the increased pressure, the line will break, or the hook will pull. At this point, back reeling is great. I set the drag for a prescribed limit, and never touch it again while playing the fish. If he try's a heavy run, I simply give him more line. And a great many fish are lost at the boat.

Canoes fell out of favor a hundred years ago, and I still use one of those. In all honesty I am surprised they still make them, as well.

 

[PhishLI]

If you're going as high as 12lb mono then consider the Daiwa BG 3000 or 3500. Super solid reel that'll last and has a really good drag.

[MickD]

49 minutes ago, OkobojiEagle said:

Pflueger Supreme XT

Great reel for the money, Patriarch I just bought doesn't have anti reverse- disappointed.

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, OkobojiEagle said:

Pflueger Supreme XT

 

46 minutes ago, MickD said:

Great reel for the money, Patriarch I just bought doesn't have anti reverse- disappointed.

Supreme or Supreme XT would be my purchase in that price range.

[new2BC4bass]

Love my Daiwa BG.  Brother-in-law (lives in FL and fishes a lot) has been using the Revros I got him for over 3 years with no problem.

 

OP, don't believe all you read about Fluorocarbon lines having no or little stretch.  Look in TackleTour review archives and read their tests on Fluorocarbon showdowns.  I know the Fluorocarbon line I tried stretched like a rubber band.  Then when it broke I had to cut off several more feet to get rid of the line that had frayed.  Lots of bull gets passed along on the web that isn't true.  I get a chuckle every time I read this one.

[WRB]

Daiwa Tournament SS spinning reels are old school still in production and bullet proof. I still use the SS1300 since the mid 80's without any issues over that time period. 

Shimano Stratic 2500 is a excellent spinning reel, out of your price point.

Bass anglers don't back reel anymore, the drags are so reliable no need.

Tom

[Chris at Tech]

Yup - Daiwa BG.  Those things have been put through the paces on all sorts of saltwater species as well, so durability is not a question.

[OkobojiEagle]

4 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

 

Supreme or Supreme XT would be my purchase in that price range.

Supreme XT has a much better (smoother) drag...  

[NYWayfarer]

Get yourself a $59.99 Lew’s Speed Spin and use the rest of the money you save on bait.
 

It has become my favorite spinning reel. I have a size 200 and recently bought a 300. 

[FrankN209]

Pflueger Supreme XT all day....

[Tywithay]

7 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

I have been using Daiwa BG Series spinning reels for years.  I have use them when fishing everything from bonefish to large offshore species. The BG 13 is a great bass reel. These reels are inexpensive, reliable and light.  The drag is good and the spools are interchangeable with the push of a button. I can't imagine anyone needing anything better from a spinning reel.  

 

I don't use the anti reverse when bass fishing.  I trained myself to back reel many years ago.  Back reeling is not a good idea in salt water fishing.  You may find yourself trying to grab a spinning handle.  This only happened to me once when bass fishing and I still think about that fish.

Bout lost my knuckles to a large striped bass while crappie fishing once. Haven't back reeled since. Can only imagine what would happen if something even meaner grabbed it.

 

Back on topic, I would also recommend the Daiwa BG. If you like Penn reels, the BG is squarely in your wheelhouse and more than enough reel to tame a pike.

[JustJames]

8 hours ago, Whatever said:

I am in MT, where a 5 lb bass is probably pushing 10 years old.

Do the Daiwa's rate with Shimano and Penn for quality and longevity? Are there any decent ones between the $50 Revros and the $200 Tatula?

Daiwa can go head to head with Shimano, ever since I tried Legalis now I have Exceler LT,  Tatula LT, Kage LT and Ballistic FW LT. Still have old Stradic CI4 that also come with anti reverse switch. Just like @wrb mentioned these reel are smooth drag, especially ATD drag from Daiwa that let line out more when sudden pull. I never need back reel. I would be happier if Daiwa doesn’t come with switch, since that can be a weak spot for water to get in.

[BSOD]

Bought a Daiwa Fuego for right around $100, and it's a fantastic reel.  I can't comment on longevity, as I have only had it 3 months, but the mag seal gave me extra confidence that it could make it a good distance.  To me, it felt better than the Pflueger Supreme XT which was what I showed up to purchase.

 

 

[Hower08]

Pfluger gets my vote for affordable quality spinning reels. I will never own another daiwa reel highly recommend AGAINST the Fuego LT spinning reel. I have never experienced more flex from a reel than with this P.O.S  you can twist the main body on the stem around half an inch with almost 0 effort. Stick with shimano or pfluger. 

[Sphynx]

Daiwa reels are generally considered to be the primary competition for Shimano, and both have devoted fans, are well made, and as far as I'm concerned both brands are equally worth checking out, one may fit a bit better depending on application, or on angler preference, but neither company has a habit of releasing shoddy products, if you are worried about quality I'd put those worries out to pasture and have a look at Daiwa, I fish several of the Legalis LT and Regal LT models for trout and panfish and they are fantastic quality and very affordable