bait caster

[john nowell]

i am looking to buy my first bait caster what kind of bait caster would be best for a noob to use? but i do want the bait caster to last and not brake in the first week. my price range is $80 or less can someone help me out with this please and thanks.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

If you are a noob you will want a bait caster that will brake.

[john nowell]

i dont want to wast my money 

like broken 

 

i ment to say broken

 

[LCG]

Spend a few bucks more and get a Shimano SLX or Daiwa Fuego. Aluminum frames will be much better and the reel will last. You can also save a few bucks by buying used. Good luck to you.

[Tatulatard]

What aluminum frame centrifugal or dial brake reels can be had for $80 these days?  My fuego ct was $80 but that was pre covid purchase.  I don't think bps fire sells their pro qualifiers anymore.  They dropped their bionic plus reel.  The last gen of that one was the same platform as the kistler reels.  It was a darn fine reel for $80 normal retail or $60 on sale.  Their are plenty of plastic reels for $80 but I would avoid all those.  Watch out for "carbon fiber" reels too.  They a plastic polymer with some amount of a graphite/carbon powder mixed in.  The physical properties of the material is defined by the polymer used since the carbon fibers are so short strand they add little to the material as reinforcement compared to a real or long strand carbon fiber product.  They work just fine and are affordable but just aren't super solid under load as a aluminum reel and the really cheap ones can develop issues after a few seasons of use.  

 

 

[scaleface]

I've been pleased with the Piscifun Phantom .   They are around 70 and with discounts can be had around 50 . Some people are afraid of their durability but I have been using one heavily for three years and it has performed admirably .I dont like the Phantom X as much , they are not as smooth as the Phantom . 

[john nowell]

is it metal??

 

[scaleface]

2 minutes ago, john nowell said:

is it metal??

 

No . Carbon fiber , plastic or whatever they call it.

[MN Fisher]

Daiwa Fuego CT on sale - the MagForce-Z braking is very nice despite being magnetic

Or for just a little less

Daiwa CA-80 (yes, it has an aluminum frame) - standard magnetic brakes, not the 'Z'.

 

Both can be found for $80 or less if you're patient and look around - I got my CA-80 for $60 during a Fleet Farm special.

[Eric 26]

You should check out the Piscifun Alloy M reel, aluminum frame available in 6,7,or 8 speed and right and left handed retrieve. I do not own one but I have several Piscifun reels and I’m happy with all but one. They’re priced at $89.99 but you get 15% off going through them directly which is usually a wash after tax and shipping or you can search for them on Amazon where you might find them cheaper. I’ve bought both ways and with Amazon you can usually find some type of coupon for a discount. I’ll agree with @MN Fisher on the Daiwa CA80 I bought mine on Amazon for the same price, but in pictures and “Debo’s fishing” you tube review I feel these 2 reels are pretty much the same. Again I will repeat this reel is available in the 3 popular speeds with my preference for all around being the 6.3:1 and although I’m a right handed person I prefer left handed retrieve, same as my spinning reels. Best of luck to you and looking forward to hearing what you ultimately end up buying.

Edited May 24, 2022 by Eric 26
Added content

[MN Fisher]

Just now, Eric 26 said:

but in pictures and “Debo’s fishing” you tube review I feel these 2 reels are pretty much the same. 

They're probably both Doyo reels, made on the same line, just the colors and labels are different.

[Eric 26]

7 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

They're probably both Doyo reels, made on the same line, just the colors and labels are different.

I’ll second this, just didn’t want to ruffle anyone’s feathers ?

[MN Fisher]

Just now, Eric 26 said:

I’ll second this, just didn’t want to ruffle anyone’s feathers ?

(snort)

 

Quite a lot of the lower-end reels from a lot of brands are re-labeled Doyo - Abu, Pflueger, etc.

[FrnkNsteen]

49 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Daiwa Fuego CT on sale - the MagForce-Z braking is very nice despite being magnetic

Or for just a little less

Daiwa CA-80 (yes, it has an aluminum frame) - standard magnetic brakes, not the 'Z'.

 

Both can be found for $80 or less if you're patient and look around - I got my CA-80 for $60 during a Fleet Farm special.

I was going to suggest these same models. 

 

The other one that came to me is the H20 Express Mettle at Academy Sports. I know it used to be an aluminum framed 10 bearing reel that actually cast really nice. The only downfall I had with them is Right Handed only and only availabke in a 6.4 ratio.

[dodgeguy]

Go to Sportsmansoutfitters.com  and buy a Lew's LFS for 99$. They give free shipping and no tax.  By the time you pay shipping and tax on a 80$ reel you are paying the same. It's the best reel made in that price range. Comes in lefty and righty an ratios from 5 to 8 speed.

 

[Eric 26]

I will add one more thing to this post, as far as your price range if you can bump it to $100.00 dollars you will be able to get an aluminum framed reel from multiple manufacturers that will last. I like many others on here have and still have and enjoy a variety of reels in this price range and most are made by Doyo with pretty similar features, think Abu Garcia Revo X, Lews LFS, Daiwa CA80 etc. The one that I can think of off the top of my head that’s different is the Shimano SLX which uses centrifugal brakes vs magnetic braking. You can use the search tool on here if you do not understand the difference between the two, @bulldog1935 recently wrote about this exact difference and you may or may not find it helpful. Lastly I will add there are reels that offer both braking systems on one reel, with the cheapest that comes to my mind being the bps pro qualifier at $99.00. Although  I don’t own one I have the carbonlite 2.0 which is the same frame in a different color and a few other extras to set it apart. With the upcoming holiday you should be able to find something that will make you happy at close to your price range. The biggest problem in my opinion is going to be finding something in stock either online or in store.

[new2BC4bass]

11 hours ago, john nowell said:

i am looking to buy my first bait caster what kind of bait caster would be best for a noob to use? but i do want the bait caster to last and not brake in the first week. my price range is $80 or less can someone help me out with this please and thanks.

Break.

11 hours ago, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

If you are a noob you will want a bait caster that will brake.

Pretty sure this is a tongue in cheek reply.  Funny! 

11 hours ago, john nowell said:

i dont want to wast my money 

like broken 

 

i ment to say broken

 

Don't you love typing on a phone? 

[LrgmouthShad]

6 hours ago, dodgeguy said:

Go to Sportsmansoutfitters.com  and buy a Lew's LFS for 99$. They give free shipping and no tax.  By the time you pay shipping and tax on a 80$ reel you are paying the same. It's the best reel made in that price range. Comes in lefty and righty an ratios from 5 to 8 speed.

 

Or get it off of TW’s memorial sale. Actually bought one today. Then only $5 more than OP’s price range

[NYWayfarer]

Budget of $80…
 

Go to Walmart and get yourself the Abu Garcia Black Max for $46 That’s the best bang for the Buck reel out there. Very sturdy for a graphite frame reel and casts a mile once set properly. I have reels that cost way more (Lew’s Pro Ti, Shimano SLX DC and Abu Garcia Revo Sx) but the Black Max on a Vengeance rod always seems to be with me on the kayak.

 

For $77 you can get the Abu Garcia Max Pro. Also in Walmart