best baitcasting reel around $100

[CatchinBass333]

i’m looking into getting a new baitcastign reel but don’t want to spend a lot right now any recommendations or should i just wait till i’m willing to invest more?

[GreenPig]

Shimano SLX if I was buying a 4th SLX.

[Jar11591]

Lews Speed Spool LFS 

[Eric 26]

Daiwa Fuego $119.99 so right around $100.0

[ironbjorn]

Shimano SLX 

[WRB]

Welcome to BR!

We have several forums and 1 for Rods, Reels, Line and knots. Tackle Warehouse is a good resource to study reels and rods to determine prices. 

Daiwa, Shimano and Lew’s are all popular brands and TW indicates “Best Seller” to help decide.

Tom

[the reel ess]

I have a Daiwa Fuego and a Lew's LFS in that range. My Lew's is the better reel. I know a lot of people like the Fuego. That's why I bought it. But it feels cheap by comparison. I will say it's a couple years old with zero issues. I also have a BPS Johnny Morris Carbonlite 2.0 that's a couple years old. Other than cosmetic differences it looks and feels exactly like the Lew's. I would recommend it. But it's $129.

[padlin]

Got my grandson an SLX XT this winter, so far he loves it. Take a look at the SLX series, there’s one to match your budget, $100 thru $199.

[bloom]

How bout used? some good deals in the fishing flea market.

[Pat Brown]

I like the Feugo, the SLX and the Speed Spools at that price point.

 

 

Personally I think the Fuegos work the best for most short range stuff with heavy line.

 

They seem to have a shallower spool which I like when the line constantly takes a beating and I'm gonna be making short range pitches mostly.

 

The SLX seem to work the best for moving baits.  I really like the drag on these and that comes in handy when ole big smokes the Jerkbait with light hooks.

 

The Speed Spools are great all around reels and seem to be the most balanced.

 

If you're only gonna get one, probably should get the Lew's.

 

[Catt]

10 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

Lews Speed Spool LFS 

 

Sorry y'all but Diawia & Shimano can't touch that!

[T-Billy]

12 minutes ago, Pat Brown said:

I like the Feugo, the SLX and the Speed Spools at that price point.

 

 

Personally I think the Fuegos work the best for most short range stuff with heavy line.

 

They seem to have a shallower spool which I like when the line constantly takes a beating and I'm gonna be making short range pitches mostly.

 

The SLX seem to work the best for moving baits.  I really like the drag on these and that comes in handy when ole big smokes the Jerkbait with light hooks.

 

The Speed Spools are great all around reels and seem to be the most balanced.

 

If you're only gonna get one, probably should get the Lew's.

 

I agree. The Lews isn't great with light baits because of their heavy spool, but 3/8oz on up they're good to go. The Lew's is the best built in the price range IMO. The Fuego is the better pitching reel with it's lighter, shallower spool and Magforce braking. I have no experience with the standard SLX, but I like my XT and 70 MGL models.

[Catt]

13 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

The Lews isn't great with light baits because of their heavy spool, but 3/8oz on up they're good to go.

 

Guess I'll have to stop throwing Wacky Rigged Trick Worms with my LFS. 

[Reel]

Shimano SLX

 

[TnRiver46]

I’ve always been partial to these but the price has gone a bit over $100

 

they still have a few models under $100, a little wider and heavier and a different spool release 

[dodgeguy]

Lew's lfs all the way

[ska4fun]

Tatula 100

[Tatulatard]

Fuego ct.  It's big and clunky but a proven platform with lots of support.  20 years from now you should still be able to find parts since it shares so much with the tatula ct and HD reels dating back to 2013.  I don't even know if "lews reels" will be around 20 years from now let alone parts for a specific reel.  The magforce z centrifugally driven magnetic braking is also nice over a purely centrifugal or purely magnetic braking.  The lfs is awesome but the one I had couldn't cast a frog as far as my fuego ct which isn't a deal breaker but I can't help but feel it should be dual brake like its bass pro sibling.  The slx is awesome too and casts lighter weight baits very well with a 14 gram spool but is not going to have the level of control as the lfs for skipping.  The fuego ct does both in a very rugged and long lived but clunkly platform.  

[Mojo Bass]

Another vote Shimano SLX

[NavyToad]

Another vote for Lews. The consensus seems to be Lews, Daiwa, or Shimano.

Time to get busy doing some research.

 

[Happybeerbuzz]

Everyone is putting forth the Daiwa Fuego CT as Daiwa's $100 offering.  I have three of them from when they were $100 reels (or less), and I think they are the bee's knees.  However, today, it would be accurate to pit the CA 80 against the SLX and LFG.  Beyond pointing out apples and oranges, I have no experience with any of the three so I will stop here. 

 

[optimator]

I’m looking for another baitcaster myself. Right now I’m using a couple of Fuego’s, a SLX MGL & a Curado. I’ve got $50 in Amazon credit to add to it. I’m tempted to try a Lews but my only experience a few years back with a Laser was less than stellar. 

[PhishLI]

7 minutes ago, optimator said:

I’m tempted to try a Lews but my only experience a few years back with a Laser was less than stellar. 

The new LFS is a completely different animal regarding build quality. The mag-brake is the same though. If that's what you didn't like about it, then move on.

[optimator]

1 hour ago, PhishLI said:

The new LFS is a completely different animal regarding build quality. The mag-brake is the same though. If that's what you didn't like about it, then move on.

Mag brakes are fine. It just got geary and noisy pretty quick. I’ll most likely move up to the tournament series if I go that route. 

[A kid from Canada]

Check online or your local tackle shops to see which one goes on sale or is cheapest. I'll think the Fuego has the largest frame so that would be my last choice because I love palmability.