Brand loyal with reels?

[bassheel]

Are you brand loyal with your reels? Just hard to step away from my Shimano reels. 

[padlin]

Same here, I have no need to try another brand. I have tried a couple other brands in years past that didn't compare. To expensive to experiment. 

[bulldog1935]

Nada. 

 

It's fair to go with what you know, especially what you know how to set up that gives you good results.  But if somebody out there does it better, especially for a niche target, do not pass go. 

 

 

[LrgmouthShad]

I own Lew’s, Shimano, Daiwa, Kastking, and Abu Garcia across 7 reels. Can’t say my experiences with all of them would cause me to be brand loyal. 

[garroyo130]

I group reels by price point, not brand. A $200 Shimano is probably closer to a $200 Daiwa than a $50 Shimano.

[cadman]

Same here, I am loyal to ABU Revo MGX and MGXtreme. I have 20 of them in my arsenal. I've tried others along the way and come back to ABU. Maybe the higher end Shimanos are better, but I don't want to spend money doing trial and error.

[Cbump]

Nope. Have 13 Daiwas, 4 Lews, 1 Abu, 1 Penn. This is just my bass stuff. 
I have plans for another Daiwa, a Shimano spinning reel, and a Shimano for a BFS setup. 

[Jig Man]

I’ve tried several brands over the years but stopped when I bought my first Curado.  I don’t even know how many reels I have, but they are all Shimanos.  

[Mike L]

Me neither….

But, A lot of my stuff is kinda on the older side but when/if I need a new one I know I won’t look past the Curado or Chronarch. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[12poundbass]

I used to be a Abu Garcia fanboy and had only Abu reels. A few years back I got a Kastking reel as a gift and liked that reel. I added a few more KK reels. Two years ago I pulled the trigger on a Tatula and fell in love! I’m now up to 4 or 5 Daiwa reels.

 

Rods, I’m slowly getting a collection of Dobyns. 

[Chris Catignani]

Shimano baitcasting...and Pfleuger spinning.

I struggled for a long time to replace my ABU Zebco Cardinal 3's and 4's.

[QED]

Not directly.  But if I like the form (especially ergonomics), fit and function of a particular reel, then I am more likely to buy a successor model of that particular reel.

[Koz]

When I got back into fishing about a decade ago I bought Lew's products because those were the better reels in my price point at my local DSG. 

 

Last year when my hotel owner gave me a bonus, he told me I needed to spend some of it on something I would not normally buy for myself. So I used some of it to buy a Shimano Curado K and an Expride rod. Since then I bought a Curado DC, a Curado MGL, and added more Exprides to my arsenal.

 

I like everything about those Shimano rods and reels, and they are all in a price point I am comfortable with. I don't see the need for a $500 reel or a $500 rod. Of course, I said the same thing when I was buying $120 Lew's rods and reels.

[A-Jay]

 Not really brand loyal but do appreciate quality fit, form & function.

My reel arsenal is a mix of mostly Shimano & Quantum casting reels

and Shimano & Diawa spinning reels. 

All have a specific purpose and most see regular duty doing it.

Keeping them all clean & serviced has help extended the life span, especially the Quantum reels. Thank you @Delaware Valley Tackle

These particular Shimano's are all fairly stout and a pleasure to fish.

A-Jay

 

 

[MeatHead1313]

Majority of my casting reels are Daiwa, but I do have a 13 fishing concept z and a couple Shimano reels as well.  

Spinning is an even mix of Shimano and Daiwa. 

[suzuki2903]

Shimano, Lews and daiwa  all have their place and time. Maybe a little bit brand loyal towards shimano for quality and casting distance.   Spinning is all Lews high end reels and just what I’ve used for years and stick with. 

[Darth-Baiter]

Shimano heavy here, with a smattering of Daiwa, Lews and Abu.  as they get upgraded my Shimano lists gets longer.  but that Crazy old Abu, keeps zinging lures with the enthusiasm of a much higher end reel.  

[FrnkNsteen]

Not really brand loyal here. For casting reels I have Daiwa, Shimano, Abu, Lews, and BPS. I started with Abu Ambassadors and expanded to Revo S, STX, and Winch. When Gander Mountain was closing down their stores I got some REALLY good prices on Lews reels so I picked up a hand full and like them. 

 

What I use depends on the application. I really like Daiwa Mag brakes for pitching, skipping, and any close in work where I'm working around cover. For cast and retrieve techniques where a centrifugal brake shines, I like Shimano reels or my older Gen3 Revo S.

 

Lews dual systems like the Custom SLP. Tourn MB or the Abu Revo Stx work nice when you're doing a bit of both like T-rigged plastics where I may pitch it around here and there, then cast out a little further at a more distant target.

 

For spinning reels I have always been more loyal to Daiwa starting with older Regal X and Regal Z. Liked the Pflueger President for a while too. But they have dropped off a bit in quality IMO. Currently like Daiwa Fuegos, Regals, and even the cheaper Revros. I don't spend near as much on my spinning reels as casting.

[dodgeguy]

Lew's all the way. I just feel they are the best for the money. I'm not saying other reels aren't good because that's not true. I also think people criticizing Lew's for not making their own reels and having Doyo do it don't know Lew's history. Lew's has always farmed out production. Shimano and Browning have both produced Lew's reels. I also feel their is nothing wrong with Doyo quality as I've never had a failure.I regularly outcast others with the famous Japanese reels every time we fish.Lews products and service are top notch.

[padlin]

Would one be correct in assuming that for a given price point, most or all major reel brands will have similar reels? for example a $200 Shimano and a $200 Abu will both feel very similar. Kind of like buying suv's.

[Darth-Baiter]

this is an interesting conversation.  I fish with a few guys.  I always chat up total strangers out on the water.  in addition, I have been known to watch a few youtube videos on the matter.  

 

I dont gravitate to the gear everyone is using.  I never look and I never (mentally) question the equipment. when a youtube starts talking, "I throw this on a.....with a ......spooled with...." I kinda blur out my hearing.  I am not that interested.  

 

I am however interested in how we all lean forum-wise.  we are all over the place.  

[webertime]

Buy from the folks that make their own stuff.  In this case Shimano and Daiwa for me.

[Tennessee Boy]

I’m not brand loyal.  I am loyal to the history and traditions of fishing.  What does that have to do with fishing reels?  I buy products from companies that have played a part in that history and tradition.  The Chinese are very good at copying products designed by others.   I’m sure I could catch just as many fish with a Chinese copy.  I want to reward those who got us where we are and are working to move us forward.  Shimano and Diawa are such companies.   There are others.  Most of the brands out there are just names slapped on reels designed and manufactured by others.   Some were once great companies that were sold to companies that are only interested in the brand.   There are many I’m not sure about.  I had great respect for Lew Childre. After his death his company was sold and soon after that the Lews brand was retired.  Then someone bought the brand and claims to honor the tradition.  I’m not sure what to make of Lews and won’t be buying any Lews branded reels anytime soon.

[volzfan59]

I'm extremely brand loyal. I know what I like and what gives me excellent service. I only use Shimano spinning reels and BPS Platinum casting reels. I do have some left over first generation of BPS Pro Qualifier reels as back ups if needed. Those were purchased before the Platinum line was released.

[ATA]

I am not brand loyal but Shimano have the best reel in every application I need. So there is no way but get Shimano.