Go to spinning reel brand. best value

[king fisher]

9 hours ago, FishTank said:

The Penn Battle use to be a good reel for salt but I have not used one in a few years and can not speak for the new versions. 

I am a big fan of Penn and have a over a dozen of their big game conventional reels and consider them top of the line.  I also have a brand new Penn Battle spinning reel.  The Diawa BG is by far a better reel than the Penn Battle.  No other salt water spinning reel comes close to the BG in the price range.  I own Shimano spinning reels I like better than my BG, but they cost $300 more than the BG.  I have no affiliation with Diawa, I  simply appreciate the quality and price of the BG. 

[Mobasser]

Over the years I've had the best luck and longevity with Shimano.

[ACGOG]

I used different types of Shimano's throughout the years but a Stradic CI4+ is the highest model I ever used. I loved that thing and used it all the time for bass fishing. I took it down to the gulf for some small surf fishing,  made sure to thoroughly clean and service it as soon as I was finished (within an hour or two). A week or two later when I took it out to do some bass fishing it performed awfully. I got it professionally serviced but it just hasn't been the same since.

 

While it was getting serviced I went ahead and decided to spring for a Daiwa Certate and found a great deal on JLS. I know it's in a different category altogether but this is by far the best reel I have ever, ever laid hands on. It is buttery smooth and has never given me any issues at all with very limited maintenance.

 

I'm in the market for another reel and have been looking at both the Shimano Exsence and the Stella FJ to try and compare them to my Certate, but I'm slightly hesitant to pull the trigger because of my experience with the Stradic. Again, people swear by Shimano's and the Stradic and Stella are in two wholly completely different categories but it's hard not to think about.

 

This is a very long winded way of saying, I think if you went with either a higher end Daiwa or a Shimano you'll love whichever one you get, though I think comparatively the price point on the Certate is a little more palatable.

[roadwarrior]

I recently sold several Shimano reels that are more than ten years old. They are better than "brand new".

If you take care of your reels, Shimano will last a lifetime. I sold them simply because I am interested in

the newest models and these could be the last reels I ever buy.

 

[FishTank]

7 hours ago, king fisher said:

I am a big fan of Penn and have a over a dozen of their big game conventional reels and consider them top of the line.  I also have a brand new Penn Battle spinning reel.  The Diawa BG is by far a better reel than the Penn Battle.  No other salt water spinning reel comes close to the BG in the price range.  I own Shimano spinning reels I like better than my BG, but they cost $300 more than the BG.  I have no affiliation with Diawa, I  simply appreciate the quality and price of the BG. 

I recently bought a Shimano Vanquish and I was considering many different reels at that time.  The BG was on the list.  It was the only one I could find that I could put in hand that I was looking at.  Oddly, a local shop had some.  It is a fine reel though.  It is one of the few that when you put in hand, you just know it's good. 

[fvogel67]

I'm a huge fan of the made in Japan Shimano FG and FH Symetres .

Solid and they don't have the binding issues later models have had.

I've upgraded mine with carbon drags and they have performed well.

I know it's 90's tech but they are available on Ebay and have never let me down.

 

[JustJames]

Best value, shimano and daiwa

 

beat resale price, shimano and Daiwa.

 

[soflabasser]

On 9/8/2020 at 10:42 AM, Mobasser said:

Over the years I've had the best luck and longevity with Shimano.

Shimano makes great reels but it is easier to get reel parts for a Penn so when it comes to longevity I would choose a Penn over a Shimano. I got Penn reels that are over 25 years old and still work great. 

[Randy Price]

I have been fishing Shimano Stradic's for over 20 years (all models) and have been very happy.  I recently bought three Daiwa spinning reels (BG, Revros, and Fuego) for some of my lower end (loan) rods.  I have been very surprised at how nice they are.  For the money I really like the Revros and it's less than $50.00.  So you don't have to spend $200.00 plus to get a decent reel.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Daiwa gives you more dollar for dollar then Shimano.  Daiwa gives you a 1 piece thread in handle on the $80 Exceler and above.  The Nasci is $100 and has a hex handle.  The difference between the budget reels is significant.  I have a $70 Sedona FI that is close to 9oz, the $60 Regal has a comparable drag just as smooth and nearly 2 ounces lighter.  Once you get into the $200 and up with Shimano reels become much more competitive with Daiwa IMO.  When it comes to Bait Casting reels Shimano has the better value over Daiwa IMO. 

[Tizi]

I vote Daiwa, best bag for the buck.  I have a few Fuego LTs and a Tatula on the way.

[Mobasser]

On 9/8/2020 at 9:01 PM, fvogel67 said:

I'm a huge fan of the made in Japan Shimano FG and FH Symetres .

Solid and they don't have the binding issues later models have had.

I've upgraded mine with carbon drags and they have performed well.

I know it's 90's tech but they are available on Ebay and have never let me down.

 

Agree on this. The older Japanese made Shimano reels are hard to beat. I still have two Custom X Speedmaster spinning reels from the mid 1990s. Both still work prrfectly