Budget spinning reel...

[DitchPanda]

Well this has been done before but I'm gonna ask it again. Need some suggestions in the $60 and under range on a good spinning reel? Girlfriend wants some ideas for Xmas but we are doing a tight budget this year...plus at that price I may be able to squeeze 2 out of her!

[Michigander]

I list my two preferred and tested inexpensive spinning reels here.

 

[plawren53202]

Earlier this year I put together a budget ML spinning combo because I anticipated not using it for much other than Ned rigs. I paired a Daiwa Aird-X rod with the Daiwa Regal LT reel. Regular price comes in right under your price point at $59.99, and you might be able to find one on sale especially right now. 

 

The Regal has performed perfectly for me so far. I even horsed in an 8 or 9 pound drum on it with no problems at all, drag did well. I like the feel of it, very smooth so far, and I have put it through quite a bit of work this year. 

 

If you want to jump to an even lower price point, I wanted to grab a couple of reels in the $30 range to be able to swap between braid and copolymer by just swapping reels. I picked up a Shimano Sienna and a Lew's Laser Lite. In all honesty I still can't believe that those reels can be had at that price. They both really pack a lot of bang for such little buck.

[CFDoc]

13 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

Well this has been done before but I'm gonna ask it again. Need some suggestions in the $60 and under range on a good spinning reel? Girlfriend wants some ideas for Xmas but we are doing a tight budget this year...plus at that price I may be able to squeeze 2 out of her!

 
Bass Pro had the pflueger president XT for $50 this year.

 

If there’s any left, that’s probably the best bang for the buck I can imagine.

[GTN-NY]

I love the Shimano Sedona. I have 3. 1 of  them is over 25 years old. They are a little more than you want to spend. 
but... if I need another I might have to check out Michigander’s Sienna

[BrianMDTX]

Daiwa Revros. 

[Bluebasser86]

25 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

Daiwa Revros. 

X2. Use to be the President but they're not good anymore to put it lightly. Last one I bought after they sold out lasted just over a month and now it grinds like I snagged it from the bottom of the lake. All the finish started flaking off almost immediately also. I have one old one left, all the rest have been replaced with Revros and I couldn't be happier with my decision to switch to them.

[Happybeerbuzz]

I am currently using old Pflueger Presidents and a Sadona but when I replace them , it will be with Revros reels.  I was planning on switching over to them before the Presidents but I got such a deal that I could not pass them up.   

[12poundbass]

I’ve had good luck with the Abu Garcia Black Max spinning reels. 

[DitchPanda]

10 hours ago, CFDoc said:

 
Bass Pro had the pflueger president XT for $50 this year.

 

If there’s any left, that’s probably the best bang for the buck I can imagine.

I haven't been impressed with the newest presidents...which is depressing to me because for 10+ years they were my go to. I've got several older ones going strong..they are still nicer than my new one.

 

8 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

Daiwa Revros. 

 

8 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

X2. Use to be the President but they're not good anymore to put it lightly. Last one I bought after they sold out lasted just over a month and now it grinds like I snagged it from the bottom of the lake. All the finish started flaking off almost immediately also. I have one old one left, all the rest have been replaced with Revros and I couldn't be happier with my decision to switch to them.

 

1 hour ago, 12poundbass said:

I’ve had good luck with the Abu Garcia Black Max spinning reels. 

Actually just talked to a buddy who picked up a revros this summer. Said he is extremely impressed for the price. Think this is the direction I'm gonna go.

Although I may try a black max as well...I've been happy with the casting version for a cheap option.

[BrianMDTX]

9 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

Actually just talked to a buddy who picked up a revros this summer. Said he is extremely impressed for the price. Think this is the direction I'm gonna go.

I will freely admit I have a lack of experience with a lot of modern reels-both spinning and baitcasting. I bought my first new reels in 30 years this year. Decades ago, I don’t recall such a $$$ spread between low, middle and high-end spinners for bass. Looking for my first new spinner this spring (and just getting back into fishing this year), I was not going to spring $$$ for a Stradic or similarly-priced reel. So I opted for a Revros LT2500 without any expectations-good or bad. Paired with a Fenwick HMX66MH-FS-2, it has blown me away. Very smooth, casts well, line tracks great on the spool and a decent drag. It’s my finesse go-to. I also bought a Shimano Sienna  2500 on a Daiwa Procyon PCYN661MXS and it’s a nice rig as well, but IMO, not as good as the Revros. 

 

I think you’ll be pleased. 

[the reel ess]

Pflueger Trion for $40. You can afford $20 more rod. I have three Trions of various ages and they're all great reels.  One of them came from a pawn shop, still in the package for $20. SCORE!

[TcRoc]

11 hours ago, CFDoc said:

 
Bass Pro had the pflueger president XT for $50 this year.

 

If there’s any left, that’s probably the best bang for the buck I can imagine.

Stopped at Cabelas the other day.. they had a table stacked with probably 100 of them. Snagged one myself.

[Randy Price]

I will concur that the Revros and Sienna are great spinning reels for the $$$

[tander]

9 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

X2. Use to be the President but they're not good anymore to put it lightly. Last one I bought after they sold out lasted just over a month and now it grinds like I snagged it from the bottom of the lake. All the finish started flaking off almost immediately also. I have one old one left, all the rest have been replaced with Revros and I couldn't be happier with my decision to switch to them.

Hate to hear this, I have 4 Pfluegers, 3 are the XT Supreme and one is the limited edition President, all great reels. I wonder if the XT Supreme is still  quality reel? I am looking at getting one more but might have to look at the Diawa,s

[DitchPanda]

11 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

X2. Use to be the President but they're not good anymore to put it lightly. Last one I bought after they sold out lasted just over a month and now it grinds like I snagged it from the bottom of the lake. All the finish started flaking off almost immediately also. I have one old one left, all the rest have been replaced with Revros and I couldn't be happier with my decision to switch to them.

Are the Revros spools setup for handling braid? I've never thrown braid on a spinning rod but gonna try this year

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, DitchPanda said:

Are the Revros spools setup for handling braid? I've never thrown braid on a spinning rod but gonna try this year

You can always put some backing on it in either case. I'm doing that with my President-25 (before the changes) even though it's rated as 'Braid Ready Spool'.

 

2 hours ago, the reel ess said:

Pflueger Trion for $40.

I'll double down on this. I've got two Trions and they've actually been very good reels for the money.

[BrianMDTX]

23 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

Are the Revros spools setup for handling braid? I've never thrown braid on a spinning rod but gonna try this year

I used 20# Sufix Siege on my Revros with no issues. 

[CFDoc]

12 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

 Use to be the President but they're not good anymore to put it lightly. 

 

Well this is sad.

 

Between the house, lake camp, parents house on a lake, and the deer camp with some ponds on it, I probably have 10-12 presidents and I've always been impressed with the way they handle bass, huge catfish, crappie, bream, etc. with no issues over the past 15 years or so.

 

Is Pure Fishing responsible for allowing Pflueger quality to diminish? 

[Spankey]

Another Shimano you might want to look at is the Nexave. We got one of these for my younger grandson and it has been working out great. Some reels were tough to find this summer. Sahara’s and Nascis. You’ll find that on sale. Reg. $49.99 but they sell for less. Reviews are good. Tackle shop lady told me if there were issues bring it back. He had a summer of fishing without issues. 

[Michigander]

7 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

I’ve had good luck with the Abu Garcia Black Max spinning reels. 

I have one and it works fine, just a little loose on tolerances throughout but it hasn't failed me on the kayak. I bought it in store because I needed an inexpensive reel right then and that was what they had.

For the weight, I would rather have a Penn Pursuit III though.

[TnRiver46]

Cardinal! 

[Randy Price]

I replied to this post earlier but I will elaborate further.  I have been very pleased with the Revros and Sahara's.  For the money they are reliable and smooth reels.  I'm a Stradic guy (have been for over 20 years) but a few years ago I bought a Revos and was very impressed.  Now it's not a Stradic but it doesn't cost anywhere near one either. 

[BrianMDTX]

One thing I will also add between the Revros and the Sienna is that if you like an AR, they both have one. But the AR switch on the Revros is way easier to use (easier to find!) than the AR on the Sienna. 

[Shimano_1]

Just picked up one of the presidents from cabelas for 50 bucks. Looks great and feels good so far. Ive got one ive had for over 5 years thats been wonderful so I'm hoping this one will be decent for a couple years anyway. Ive got a daiwa legalis I think it is. Think I paid like 60 for it and it's decent. My favorite so far is lews mach 2 speed spin or something like that lol. 79 dollar reel that sportsman's outfitters sells for like 54. Aluminum fram and smooth as silk after a season of some decent use.