Best 3000 size spinning reel for $100 or less?

[Clumsy fisherman]

Opinions? Recommendations? Yes, I am a cheapskate.

[Skunkmaster-k]

I have been enjoying the Pflueger President. It’s pretty smooth with a good drag. No complaints so far. 

[king fisher]

If you plan on using it in salt water the Diawa BG.  Nothing else comes close to the BG for the price.  For freshwater only, all the major companies have a quality spinning reel in that price range.  I really like my Plueger President, but some say they have gone down in quality in the past few years.  Mine is 8 years old and good as new.

[PhishLI]

34 minutes ago, Clumsy fisherman said:

Yes, I am a cheapskate.

Are you a cheapskate who demands that your spinners have an anti reverse switch?

[PressuredFishing]

I own 3 pfluger presidents, have had them all now going on 5 years still just as new with very minimal maintenance and heavy fishing. I will say hindsight 2020 I felt as though the diawas (revros legal regal ballistic etc etc) are twice as smooth and personally I feel as though the line lay is a tad bit better and the spool design is better. With that said I like the pflugers alot and my favorite thing about them over the diawas is the positive clicking sound when flipping the bail, it locks in really crisp like and prevents that bail flinging back over issue when you cast

[Clumsy fisherman]

12 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

Are you a cheapskate who demands that your spinners have an anti reverse switch?

Yes

[Deephaven]

The Fuego LT is nice.

[Wprich]

Check ebay for a previous gen Pflueger Supreme(silver) or Supreme XT(blue with orange or gold accents).  If not one of those are available get a President or president XT.

[Revival]

Fuego LT

[NYWayfarer]

It used to be the Revo X but they raised the price of that to $119

 

So IMO now it is the Abu Garcia Elite Max.

[Clumsy fisherman]

39 minutes ago, Revival said:

Fuego LT

What are the advantages of the Fuego over the Regal? I have spent my you know what on fishing stuff this year. A good spinning reel for $60 is tempting.

[new2BC4bass]

I have no experience with Daiwa's new reels other than a BG that I got for less than $100.  May be a bit heavier than others of the same size, but the tiny bit of extra weight doesn't bother me.  Love the reel, and I'm not even much into spinning anymore. 

 

I do have several older Daiwa reels and admit to being slightly bias.  I'd opt for one of their reels.  There are several models that cost less than $100.  My B-I-L is still using an older Revros that I bought him several years ago.  He lives in Florida (is retired) and fishes much more often than I do.  He has never complained about the reel.

[Clumsy fisherman]

2 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

I have no experience with Daiwa's new reels other than a BG that I got for less than $100.  May be a bit heavier than others of the same size, but the tiny bit of extra weight doesn't bother me.  Love the reel, and I'm not even much into spinning anymore. 

 

I do have several older Daiwa reels and admit to being slightly bias.  I'd opt for one of their reels.  There are several models that cost less than $100.  My B-I-L is still using an older Revros that I bought him several years ago.  He lives in Florida (is retired) and fishes much more often than I do.  He has never complained about the reel.

I bought a BG3500 with the idea of using it inshore. But, I haven't done that, so I put it on a 7' MH St. Croix. It casts very well, considering, but it is too heavy for that rod. That is the reason I am thinking about another reel, but I am a little over my head in my spending, so I may have to wait awhile and get the best bang, for my buck.

[Deephaven]

Best bang for the buck is always used...but that takes patience.

[Clumsy fisherman]

58 minutes ago, Deephaven said:

Best bang for the buck is always used...but that takes patience.

Just call me paranoid, but I do not trust Pay Pal and I do not trust ebay with my credit card. Also, if it's not brand new, I want to see it before I buy. I don't want the hassle of trying to return it, assuming I that is possible. We have several pawnshops in my area, but 95% of everything there is stolen. I do not support thieves. There is a used sports store. I don't know whether their stuff has been stolen, but I suspect everything but the big exercise eqipment may have been, So what that means is I usually by new. Amazon does have some used stuff. I do trust Amazon.

[MN Fisher]

Check ALF's used section - they put used reels out there and you can sometimes find a real deal.

 

Example: Both my Patriarch BCs were bought from there. $200 each new - both rated at 'Good'. Except for some boat rash, both are 10/10 mechanical condition...and I paid about $70 each.

 

Far as the Pay-Pal - I've been using them for 10 years...never had an issue.

I usually steer clear of E-Bay, but sometimes there's things you can only get there - like the replacement logo stickers for my Alumacraft rebuild...reproductions of the originals.

 

Just have to find someone there who has a good rating with LOTS of raters.

[Fishlegs]

5 hours ago, Clumsy fisherman said:

What are the advantages of the Fuego over the Regal? I have spent my you know what on fishing stuff this year. A good spinning reel for $60 is tempting.

The fuego has a better handle, a better bail, and magseal.

 

Here’s a link where you can do a side by side comparison of the differences. Daiwa Spinning Reels

 

I have a couple of Daiwa Excelers that are very similar to the fuego minus the magseal. They are nice reels for the money. Look around and you can find the regal for under $50, or the Exceler for about $60.

[Revival]

11 hours ago, Clumsy fisherman said:

What are the advantages of the Fuego over the Regal? I have spent my you know what on fishing stuff this year. A good spinning reel for $60 is tempting.

No experience with the Regal but I have the Fuego 2500.  I have recommended it to family and friends and they all love it.  Light, smooth and no issues whatsoever.

 

If you can find a deal on the Exceler like @Fishlegs mentioned, go for it.

 

Also there is a barely used Tatula LT 2500 for $135 on the Flea Market.  That’s a good deal for that reel if you don’t mind a 2500 instead of a 3000.

[Hammer 4]

I have used the 2500 size Fuego for a couple of years now, great reel, don't feel the need for a 3000.

[MickD]

15 hours ago, Clumsy fisherman said:

Yes

"Are you a cheapskate who demands that your spinners have an anti reverse switch?"

Be sure what you choose has a switch.  Many newer models are eliminating them.  Every Daiwa reel, spin or cast, that I have is an excellent reel.

[Chris Catignani]

2 hours ago, MickD said:

"Are you a cheapskate who demands that your spinners have an anti reverse switch?"

Be sure what you choose has a switch.  Many newer models are eliminating them.  Every Daiwa reel, spin or cast, that I have is an excellent reel.

Yes...I "was" fishing Pflueger Trions and had upgrade to Pflueger President because Trion removed the AR switch.

I really like the Presidents....I was looking for something "cheaperish" because I have like 11 spinning rods and like that there all the same.

[Mobasser]

You could also check out a Lew's Speed Spin. Several models to pick from, with an AR switch.

[PBBrandon]

Any Daiwa LT reel is very very good for the price. I have a Fuego, Exceler, and Regal and they are all really great reels. The BG is definitely the most refined reel for that price, only downside is the weight. You won’t beat a BG for 100 bucks

[Hulkster]

I will put in a vote for the 2022 Shimano Nasci. 

 

this updated model has the screw in handle and is super smooth 

 

I just bought a 1000 FC and its awesome 

[Dumbbassanglr]

New nasci is sick. Also as was mentioned the fuego. These are the best two by far for bass.