$150 Spinning Rig

[AmmoGuy]

I need another spinning rig to keep a Ned or Shaky on. It seems I never take the wacky rig off my main spinning rig lately. 
 

I admittedly don’t do enough finesse fishing, and use spinning reels very very little (for bass), but I don’t want to keep eating up leader every time I want to change to a Ned. 
 

So I know it’s probably been beaten to death somewhere, but I’m trying to put a decent rig together for about $150. 
it will probably get an Aird-X 7’ M/F rod, because for $50, they have flat out impressed me.  So that leaves about $100 for a reel. 
 

The BGs reputation is solid, but the sizes seem odd.  I feel like the BG 2000 is a little “light”, and the 2500 is more like a 3000 Shimano (little too “heavy”). 

Spring for a Tatula Lt 2500? Fuego LT? 
Shimano? 

[li_bass_hunter]

I like the shimano Sahara and shimano nasci in that price range 

[garroyo130]

11 minutes ago, AmmoGuy said:

 I feel like the BG 2000 is a little “light”

 

The 2000 weighs what a Nasci 3000 weighs

[MN Fisher]

Pflueger Supreme 30 - about the same size as a 2500 from the others...weighs about what a Nasci 1000 does.

[AmmoGuy]

2 minutes ago, garroyo130 said:

 

The 2000 weighs what a Nasci 3000 weighs

I don’t mean physical weight, hence the quotes. Yes the aluminum framed BGs are heavy for their size. 

I mean the BG 2000 holds less line and has 1/5 the drag as a Nasci 2500. 

 

2 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Pflueger Supreme 30 - about the same size as a 2500 from the others...weighs about what a Nasci 1000 does.

Noted. 
 

I don’t own any Pfluegers, so it may be hard to make the brand jump, but it looks like it fits the bill. 

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, AmmoGuy said:

I don’t own any Pfluegers, so it may be hard to make the brand jump, but it looks like it fits the bill.

Of the eight spinners currently in service and one retired only because it's a left-hand retrieve only, five of mine are Pfluegers. I'm very happy with them...been a Pflueger fan-boy since the 70s.

[new2BC4bass]

I am a fan of Daiwa spinning reels.  There are several models below $100.

[Russ E]

The diawa exceler is a nice reel for around $75.00.

Very smooth and light. I have 4 in the 2500 size.

I used to own a few old  pfluegers, but the new ones feel Geary in my opinion.

[AmmoGuy]

16 minutes ago, Russ E said:

The diawa exceler is a nice reel for around $75.00.

Very smooth and light. I have 4 in the 2500 size.

I used to own a few old  pfluegers, but the new ones feel Geary in my opinion.

Looking at the lineup, why not the 2021 Legalis LT over the Exceler? 

[bulldog1935]

how much line do you need?  What test?  

My experience, reels with excess capacity just give you poor line lay and poorer casting than reels with lower spool capacity.  

 

Have you ever measured and set a drag to 3 lbs on a spring scale?  

That's all the drag you need for 12-lb test, and it's whopping.  

[AmmoGuy]

43 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

I am a fan of Daiwa spinning reels.  There are several models below $100.

I think I’ll go daiwa, but I’m noticing there are several models like you said. 
 

Exceler LT

Legalis LT 

Fuego LT

BG. 
 

Or, pay a little more and get a Zion body in The Procyon LT? The top three listed have the cheaper “Carbon Light” body, and I’ve heard it’s a little more flexy than some people like? 

 

[AmmoGuy]

I'm thinking I've got to try one of the BGs. They just get too much praise. 

 

But I'm torn on 2000 vs 2500 in the BG line.  The 2000 holds 130yds of 15lb braid, so that is plenty, but why the steep drop off in drag? I know that in practice 4lbs of drag is plenty for bass fishing, but that's ALL it's rated for. On wacky and weedless ned hook sets, I'm sure to be stripping off line. 

[bulldog1935]

Comparing the spools, for me, it would be 2000 hands-down.  

If you're not paying drag, you're breaking line, from the combination of rod leverage and impact load (exactly the purpose of /4 drag set).  

 

Difference in drag?  There's probably a single carbontex washer in the 2000, and a stack in the 2500.  (You can't get more than about 2-1/2 lbs drag from a felt washer)

 

But I've landed king mackerel on old Penn 4400SS with no more than 4 lbs drag - if that much.  

 

@AmmoGuy

https://www.ebay.com/itm/124106608647?hash=item1ce5549007:g:jncAAOSwyXNaFiHK

Edited April 28, 2021 by bulldog1935
below

[AmmoGuy]

15 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

 

Difference in drag?  There's probably a single carbontex washer in the 2000, and a stack in the 2500.  

 

 

Looking around, it actually sounds like the 2000 has felt drag instead of carbontex.  I wonder if there is carbontex washers available that would provide a little more if needed. 

 

I just realized the BG 2000 is a 5 speed, with less than 30" LPT. That's not ideal. Everything else I have is 32"+.  Hmm. 

[jimmyjoe]

    How long do you plan on keeping this reel? If you DO NOT plan on keeping it for years, get a cheap reel with a decent reputation, like the Shimano Sahara. But if you DO plan on keeping it for years, look on the 'tube for a video of the takedown and cleaning of the BG series from Daiwa. That reel can be easily stripped, re-lubed as new or better and re-assembled quickly, reliably and consistently.  No other reel in that price category can compare in that way.

 

As for advice that you have been given here, remember that a finesse reel is not the same as a run-and-gun reel. Great lengths of line are not payed out, and fast IPT is not really needed.

   As far as drag, please test actual pull as @bulldog1935 has suggested. I used to have a M/F rod that I could double over with 4 lb. nylon line. It's rather common to overestimate drag.

 

   No matter what you decide, good luck!        jj

[MN Fisher]

51 minutes ago, AmmoGuy said:

 

Looking around, it actually sounds like the 2000 has felt drag instead of carbontex.  I wonder if there is carbontex washers available that would provide a little more if needed.

If nothing else, get some carbontex sheets and cut your own...that's what I did for my felt-oil equipped spinners

 

53 minutes ago, AmmoGuy said:

just realized the BG 2000 is a 5 speed, with less than 30" LPT. That's not ideal. Everything else I have is 32"+.  Hmm. 

Whoo - fastest spinner I have is 31-IPT and only two others of my eight are above 26IPT...my finesse reels are 22.0", 22.4" and the 'speed demon' at 25"...never saw the need for fast spinners for finesse work.

[AmmoGuy]

Well, if I can find a good deal on a BG 2000, I think I'll give it a shot. 

 

Looks like finding one is tough though, much less a good deal. 

[Cigarguy]

I would also consider the Fuego LT, Shimano Nasci, and the new Shimano Ultegra.  80% of my reels are Daiwa but I love my new Shimano Ultegra.  So much so that I went and got a second one within a few days.  It helped that I got it for $175 Cdn which is about $140 US with Basspro/Cabela's spring sale trade-in program.

[Deephaven]

I just grabbed 3 Fuego's in that price range after comparing everything online and in person.

[Cigarguy]

Just now, Deephaven said:

I just grabbed 3 Fuego's in that price range after comparing everything online and in person.

 

When I first got my Fuego I did not like it as the tension on it was pretty stiff while turning the reel.  A small drop of reel old on the shaft that goes up and down and a tiny drop on the reel handle really made it a lot smoother and easier to turn. I really like it now.  In this regards the Nasci and Ultegra X-protect have the Daiwa's Magseal beat.  The Shimanos are smooth with low drag resistance right out of the box and only improved with a tiny drop of oil on the spindle shaft.

[AmmoGuy]

Does anyone know if there were any meaningful updates to the "2021" Legalis Lt? 

 

I actually like the previous colors better, and they can be had for about $49 bucks right now. 

 

[Bass Rutten]

Personally I’d spend the bulk of the budget on the rod. There’s a daiwa revros 2500 on Amazon right now for $49.98, could pick up a st croix triumph for a hundo or a little more for a mojo bass.

[Miabucman]

I just bought a Nasci 2500 and love it.  I spent a little more on the rod (custom Rainshadow) but the reel is awesome.

[JustJames]

So what do you have now?

If you are going to use the reel for Ned rig or light shakey head with braid line 1000/2000 is enough. Don’t be fool by carbon VS felt drag, believe me you won’t even use 50% of your maximum stock drag when fishing for bass. I never have to set drag more than 30% all I need is just a light touch from my index finger if I want to slow down the run. You want that cushion to protect your finesse rod anyway. The only bad part on felt is, if you let it sit for awhile, the drag trend to stick. You can either loosen your drag when store or do a couple pull before start fishing for the drag to loosen up. You might also need some service a little more often on felt (just clean and apply a little bit of grease).

Now to the reel, for those technique I like the lightest possible reel. Imagine shaking 8oz reel for a few hours, it will get tired fast. If you can spend for Zaion material I’d say go for it, otherwise Legalis, exceler or Fuego (if you want mag seal) should do just fine. The flex can happen since it plastic not aluminum but that mostly because of tight drag and super big or hard running fish.

[AmmoGuy]

2 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

Legalis, exceler or Fuego (if you want mag seal) should do just fine. 

 

Any Idea if there were any meaningful updates to the 2021 Legalis?