Best baitcasting reel under $100?

[Tatulatard]

11 hours ago, T-Billy said:

I prefer that kind of linear mag brake. Simple, effective, zero maintenance, and while they may not be the longest casting system out there, I get plenty of distance. I do wish there was more aftermarket support for Lew's though. I'd like to have some lower capacity spools for them.

The reels Lews uses have shallow spools and they sell them but they locked behind a doyo korea language barrier.  I know I stumbled across a section of their site with spools for sale once but it was all in Korean. It would be easier to have the stuff for sale from a 3rd party with a more friendly site to navigate through but I don't know of any such thing.  It's sucks that there are no chinease spools for them either like the abu low pros. A shallow, light weight magnetic spool can be really good at skipping and casting baits to cover effortlessly with a flat trajectory.  I have a daiwa fixed rotor I use for this.  There is always the remote possibility an abu spool might work but its slim.  Anyone try to fit a black max 3 spool to a Lews LFS?

[grantn_fishing]

Thank you all for your replies I just got done ordering the Shimano SLX! Hope it performs like you all said it would. I already have a RevoX and I love it. So I figured I would see if there is any other good reels for $100. Also does anybody know why the RevoX went from $100 to $120??

[garroyo130]

1 minute ago, grantn_fishing said:

Thank you all for your replies I just got done ordering the Shimano SLX! Hope it performs like you all said it would. I already have a RevoX and I love it. So I figured I would see if there is any other good reels for $100. Also does anybody know why the RevoX went from $100 to $120??

flation

[grantn_fishing]

@garroyo130 That sucks because I just got mine in December and started to really like it.

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, grantn_fishing said:

Also does anybody know why the RevoX went from $100 to $120??

Almost everything went up 10%-20% across the board for rods and reels...doesn't matter the brand.

[grantn_fishing]

@MN Fisher That really sucks. 

[Tatulatard]

4 minutes ago, garroyo130 said:

flation

My paper towels get smaller for the same price but abu can't srinkflate the revo to a 6 oz 32 millimeter spool reel for $100...

3 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Almost everything went up 10%-20% across the board for rods and reels...doesn't matter the brand.

For the usdm market.  Prices have never been better on overseas markets.... even in usd for us models, leaning me to belive Its not an exchange rate thing but a us retailer "issue".  

[grantn_fishing]

@Tatulatard I can agree with that because isn't Shimano made in Japan or something. Their prices haven't gone up at all I don't think. I could be wrong tho.

[Tatulatard]

13 minutes ago, grantn_fishing said:

@Tatulatard I can agree with that because isn't Shimano made in Japan or something. Their prices haven't gone up at all I don't think. I could be wrong tho.

There is a massive price difference between a usdm and jdm metanium.  Part of this is the current exchange rate but part of is is also the the heavy discounts these Japanese retailers are offering.  I haven't seen a good fishing reel sale in the US since before covid yet the usual Japanese sites have been offering the normal heavy discounts the whole time.  I chalked this up to the explosion in bass fishing during the lockdowns causing high demand to exceed supply and us retailers being resistant to returning to normal and still going "mrsp or no deal".  My tatula elite was the nail in the coffin.  I got that for $180 from non us retailers when they all wanted $230+.  Same reel and it was paid for in usd.  

[T-Billy]

5 hours ago, Tatulatard said:

  It's sucks that there are no chinease spools for them either like the abu low pros. A shallow, light weight magnetic spool can be really good at skipping and casting baits to cover effortlessly with a flat trajectory.  I have a daiwa fixed rotor I use for this

I recently bought a Fuego CT with a Ray's Studio BFS spool in the deal. Spooled it up with 20# 832, paired it with a 7' MH XF ARK Tharp, and I'm like'n it for light 1/8 and 3/16 Trigs. It's gonna see lot's of action once the grass comes up.

[zell_pop1]

Now that it is $100 instead of $120 I think my BPS inshore reel is best for the price. Casts as good as the SLX with higher drag rating and more line capacity, has dual brakes but I just use the centrifugal one.

[JustJames]

35 minutes ago, zell_pop1 said:

Now that it is $100 instead of $120 I think my BPS inshore reel is best for the price. Casts as good as the SLX with higher drag rating and more line capacity, has dual brakes but I just use the centrifugal one.

Just to say, higher drag rating and more line capacity have nothing to be considered as one reel better than others. Longevity, comfort, smooth drag and smooth operation and standup to abusive are better consideration when buying a reel.

[Tatulatard]

23 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

Just to say, higher drag rating and more line capacity have nothing to be considered as one reel better than others. Longevity, comfort, smooth drag and smooth operation and standup to abusive are better consideration when buying a reel.

Higher number more better.  Unless it's weight, then that's bad!  This is the current sentiment.  Not that I agree with it.

[zell_pop1]

2 hours ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

Just to say, higher drag rating and more line capacity have nothing to be considered as one reel better than others. Longevity, comfort, smooth drag and smooth operation and standup to abusive are better consideration when buying a reel.

It is just as smooth as the SLX and Fuego CT reels I have owned ...time will tell on longevity.

[JustJames]

2 hours ago, Tatulatard said:

Higher number more better.  Unless it's weight, then that's bad!  This is the current sentiment.  Not that I agree with it.

Higher number is better in some sense but not for Bass Fishing in General. I never once considered buying a reel base on Drag capacity. We don’t use full capacity of the drag anyway. I set my drag base on rod, line and structure where I fish. How long do you think bass can run? 5 seconds? A minute? Do we really need high drag reel for bass? YES, there are some situations that lock down high rating drag is better like Frog or punching thick weed but I call that special reel type.

Line capacity, I buying a reel also base on what type line I’m gonna use. I only have two 200 size reel 15-17lb line for 2oz swimbait and topwater, mostly 50-70 size reel and a few 150 (103 Daiwa) for 8-12lb line which is plenty for bass fishing and I don’t have to worry much about backing the reel or add unnecessary weight to spool.

 

Not that I disagree with you, but this is how I consider which reel best.

[CrashVector]

For $100, I'd go Abu Garcia Max Pro.  Comes in at $90.

 

The combo with the rod is $120, but I'd forget the crappy rod and get just the reel.

 

Tons of reviews on it say it punches well above its price point.

[WRB]

Have any of you been to a gas station or grocery store the past year? It’s called inflation and supply & demand, get use to higher cost of living  and goods to 20%.

Daiwa’s and Shimano reels are always a good choice, Lew’s is made by Dobo who makes Pure Fishing brands.

Tom

[PhishLI]

21 minutes ago, CrashVector said:

For $100, I'd go Abu Garcia Max Pro.  Comes in at $90.

If you're going to spend $90 there's no good reason get a plastic reel. Save a few more shekels for a SLX, Fuego, LFS, or Quantum Accurist PT. All very solid. The Quantum's a big favorite for salt fisherman in my area due to John Skinner. J&H near me sells them by the thousands and rarely gets a defect. Super solid with a fully supported pinion and great braking system.

[CrashVector]

37 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

If you're going to spend $90 there's no good reason get a plastic reel. Save a few more shekels for a SLX, Fuego, LFS, or Quantum Accurist PT. All very solid. The Quantum's a big favorite for salt fisherman in my area due to John Skinner. J&H near me sells them by the thousands and rarely gets a defect. Super solid with a fully supported pinion and great braking system.

 

...or $115 for a Revo S.

[PhishLI]

11 minutes ago, CrashVector said:

or $115 for a Revo S

Sure. That too.

[Bluebasser86]

I've been really happy with the Daiwa CC80, which I've got for around 50-60 bucks each time I've bought them. They cast and handle way above their price range. 

[MN Fisher]

8 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I've been really happy with the Daiwa CC80, which I've got for around 50-60 bucks each time I've bought them. They cast and handle way above their price range. 

That gives me good feelings for the CA-80 I picked up this winter for my pitching rig. It's basically the same reel, just an aluminum frame instead of carbon. Got it from Fleet Farm during a special they had - paid $60.

[PhishLI]

27 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

That gives me good feelings for the CA-80

My SIL is very happy with his. Got it from the Fleet farm sale you posted last year. Something like $53 with free shipping.

[Tatulatard]

23 hours ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

I never once considered buying a reel base on Drag capacity

Me too.  Unfortunately many use max drag and reel weight as pretty much the only two things when purchasing a reel.  

[garroyo130]

5 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

That gives me good feelings for the CA-80 I picked up this winter for my pitching rig. It's basically the same reel, just an aluminum frame instead of carbon. Got it from Fleet Farm during a special they had - paid $60.

 

Aren't CAs and CCs linear mag brakes instead of Magforce Z?