BooshBass Posted March 7, 2022 Posted March 7, 2022 I am thinking about buying a St. Croix Avid 6'8" Medium Extra-Fast for soft plastics and was looking for a light spinning reel to go with it. Looking for a light setup as the only spinning reel I currently have is a Lew's Speed Spin that came on a spinning combo (despite the hate it gets I think its actually pretty nice, just pretty heavy) and some old janky Shimanos. I came across these new reels: https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-prodigy-spinning-reel 3000 size weighs 7.9oz and has 30" per turn retrieval. Seems pretty legit. In the small amount of time they've been out has anyone tried one? Any feedback? Quote
EWREX Posted March 7, 2022 Posted March 7, 2022 the reel structure and parts looks pretty similar to a daiwa fuego LT from a quick glance. specs also very similar. if it were me, i'd spend the extra $20 for the proven diawa Quote
BooshBass Posted March 7, 2022 Author Posted March 7, 2022 5 minutes ago, EWREX said: the reel structure and parts looks pretty similar to a daiwa fuego LT from a quick glance. specs also very similar. if it were me, i'd spend the extra $20 for the proven diawa Yup, that's my instinct as well, I use Daiwa casting reels but have never used a Daiwa spinning reel, I assume they're good. But, the fact that this Prodigy reel is aluminum where the Fuego LT is plastic caught my eye. It also says "all metal gears" which is a good thing? I'm no expert on the inner workings of reels, especially spinning ones. Quote
Randy Price Posted March 7, 2022 Posted March 7, 2022 I believe that many of the BPS spinning reels are made by Daiwa. A couple of years ago I purchased a Johnny Morris Platinum spinning reel that was being clearanced out for Black Friday. I've been happy with it although it's not as smooth as my Shimano's. Quote
BooshBass Posted March 7, 2022 Author Posted March 7, 2022 10 minutes ago, Randy Price said: I believe that many of the BPS spinning reels are made by Daiwa. A couple of years ago I purchased a Johnny Morris Platinum spinning reel that was being clearanced out for Black Friday. I've been happy with it although it's not as smooth as my Shimano's. It's entirely possible I end up with a Shimano reel, they've always been my safe space for spinning reels. But the lighter options from Shimano are more expensive than the BPS and Fuego, so I might give one of those a shot for a change. BTW, I'm on the NW side of Chicago, getting ready for smallie season on the Fox River, possibly the harbors as well depending how frustrated I feel like getting that day. Quote
Fishingmickey Posted March 7, 2022 Posted March 7, 2022 I've picked up two or three Diawa spinning reels and have been very impressed by them. Honestly I think they are as good or better then Shimano in the spinning reel department. I have been a Shimano fan boy for quite a few years, But Diawa has made some serious inroads into my arsenal. I'm kind of frustrated now with BPS/Cabalas when I go in store shopping. The variety in the stores just isn't there like it used to be. It seems like they are muscling out established brands and just pushing the BPS. I was gob smacked the first time I went into a Cabalas store in Sydney NE. My head was on a swivel! The amount of fishing inventory was amazing. Now when I go in looking for small stuff like terminal tackle (hooks, snaps, swivels and miscellaneous stuff). They just don't have it. Loads of aisle space with BPS branded stuff from top to bottom. I'm not sure who is building the reels for BPS now or if it is several brands that supply BPS mega-conglomerate. I just miss Cabalas when it was Cabalas 20 years ago. Rant over. My two cents says get either a mid price ranged Shimano or Diawa that will last you many years of fishing. Fishingmickey Quote
Eric 26 Posted March 7, 2022 Posted March 7, 2022 I have no input on the model in question but I will say I purchased a bps carbonlite 2.0 1500 size spinning reel a few years back and I’m very happy I did. I believe it to be a Daiwa Exceler LT a $79.99 reel painted in a white finish with silver trim which I like better than the Daiwa colors. The one bonus is I paid $49.99 with trade in reel. I believe the reel in question is also a rebadged/repainted Daiwa although judging by the pictures I’d say it’s a rebadged Legalis LT which is a reel I’m trying to talk myself out of buying. If you’re going to buy from Cabelas/BPS I’m sure it’s going to be on sale soon (Spring Classic) and as @Fishingmickey said they seem to be out of inventory on all other brands. Me personally I like the the colors on the Daiwa better but as I stated on another post I’m a sucker for color matching? Lastly I will add bps has a generous return policy and I’m assuming you’re shopping the Gurnee or Bolingbrook stores which would be easier than shipping back to Daiwa should the need arise which I highly doubt will. Quote
Delaware Valley Tackle Posted March 8, 2022 Posted March 8, 2022 The rebranded Daiwa’s I’ve worked over the years have been barely distinguishable from their counterparts. If the savings in price is meaningful to you buy with confidence. 3 Quote
Super User MN Fisher Posted March 8, 2022 Super User Posted March 8, 2022 25 minutes ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said: The rebranded Daiwa’s I’ve worked over the years have been barely distinguishable from their counterparts. Just an off-the-wall question, Mike...for my curious mind. The Scheels Outfitters Guide spinning reel (made by Daiwa) and the Daiwa Fuego LT seem to be 'almost' identical. The Scheels has more bearings (9+1 vs 6+1 for the Fuego), but that seems to be the only difference. Do you know if they're the same base reel or not? 1 Quote
Delaware Valley Tackle Posted March 8, 2022 Posted March 8, 2022 18 hours ago, MN Fisher said: Just an off-the-wall question, Mike...for my curious mind. The Scheels Outfitters Guide spinning reel (made by Daiwa) and the Daiwa Fuego LT seem to be 'almost' identical. The Scheels has more bearings (9+1 vs 6+1 for the Fuego), but that seems to be the only difference. Do you know if they're the same base reel or not? I can’t speak as to Scheel’s, but the Cabelas I’ve seen in the past were based on the Fuego which makes sense seeing the Fuego as a workhorse base model. 1 Quote
Super User MN Fisher Posted March 8, 2022 Super User Posted March 8, 2022 Just now, Delaware Valley Tackle said: I can’t speak as to Scheel’s, but the Cabelas I’ve seen in the past were based on the Fuego which makes sense seeing the Fuego as a workhorse base model. Sounds like it is then - probably all of Scheels spinners that are made by Daiwa are based on the Daiwa reels in the same price-category. The Scheels Guide is the same MSRP as the Fuego LT... Thanks for at least the 'hint'... 1 Quote
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