Baitcasters

[Scott787]

I'm trying to look to replace my old baitcasting reel that I use for large mouth bass and some trout fishing. It came with an abu Garcia rod combo that was 100$ total for the combo. Nothing spectacular. I'm not sure what a good baitcasting reel would be to get. I want to use it on Large mouth bass and trout. Hoping to keep the price within 120$ for a reel. Any good recommendations?? 

[MN Fisher]

Daiwa Fuego CT - despite having several more expensive reels, I still have a couple in my lineup.

Right now - you can get one from Amazon for under $100

https://www.amazon.com/Daiwa-0001-4482-Fgct100Hs-Fuego-Speed/dp/B06VWMR5S3?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1&psc=1

[Pat Brown]

Another vote for the Fuego CT - hard to beat for the money.  Still rocking two I got 3 years ago and they've caught some doozies.

[Texas Flood]

Lews Speed Spool LFS. Best reel Ive used under $100.

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Lews_Speed_Spool_LFS_Casting_Reel/descpage-LSSCS.html

[gim]

Shimano SLX

[ABU is overpriced]

At that price Tatula 100. A bit more ghetto option would be the standard SLX as well.

[Eric 26]

As I just posted in another post if you’re comfortable buying from Japan you can get either a SLX MGL or a Tatula 80 for at or just above the $100.00 price point from Japan Lure Shop at least and both will have the ability to get you into some smaller trout lures, or you can buy a bfs spool for the Tatula from Ali Express for sure as @bulldog1935 has shared the listing with me and have a dual function reel that can be used on species appropriate rods.

[Bigbox99]

24 Tatula, Fuego SV or just go the budget route and get the FLS for $75.  

[Obi_Wan]

I've had nothing but great performance with Bass Pro Shops reels.  My favorite is one they don't make anymore, but they still make some good reels.  I agree with all the Lew's recommendations and then some.  I used to be an Abu Garcia fan and I have nothing against them, but Lew's and BPS has overtaken them.

[Bazoo]

Of the brands I've tried, my favorite so far is the Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier 2. Second is the Abu Garcia Ambassadeur followed by their Black Max.

 

The BPS PQ2 is my favorite of everything I've tried of mine and my friends'. It is not the smoothest, nor the quietest, but it is the workhorse. It's a day in day out reliable, with nothing that aggregates or causes issues. Dual brakes so you can dial it in right where you need it. I have 2 and use them daily.

[The Baron]

I’ve got mostly Shimano Chronarch, SLX DC and Curado DC reels, also a couple BP Johnny Morris, Diawa Tatula and Tatula P/F, and one Quantum reel.  As I buy more reels, I’ll be leaning heavily toward Diawa.  I just picked up a Diawa cc80 and I’m highly impressed with it for such an inexpensive reel.  So based on my own experience, I believe Diawa offers the most bang for your buck.

 

In fairness, I don’t own any Lews reels but I’ve got a couple Speed Stick rods that I’m very happy with.

[Functional]

for lower cost reels I have the below 3 for a few years.

SLX MGL: Nice little reel, handles very light lures down to and including a ned rig if wanted. Fits my hand perfectly. Only downside is it seems the brakes are a hair touchy and it seems to go from not enough brake to too much very easy. Takes a bit more for me to dial in this reel so if you are swapping a wide range of bait weights it could be a chore. Tied for my favorite handle next to the Lews LFS SS.

 

Fuego CT: Nice reel, for me it seems to shine with heavier lures like spinners, chatterbaits, etc. Id say 3/8oz and up is a nice good all around reel. For my hands its a bit big/round for me but its still manageable. Knobs are beefier on this reel than the SLX and LFS, not my favorite but thats personal taste. 

 

Lews LFS SS: Wont throw down to a ned rig but will do down to a 1/4 and 1/8oz Trig and jig and all the way up to a 2oz swimbait. Despite only having mag brakes the reel is very easy to dial in. This has become my favorite reel for everything but skipping (the SV spool reels just do better here). Can be had regularly for like $80, sometimes cheaper if you really hunt. 

 

For reference I use a Medium glove. I may try a Curado for the hype but at this point with the reels I have the LFS SS is my go to reel. 

[PondProwler9000]

15 hours ago, Functional said:

for lower cost reels I have the below 3 for a few years.

SLX MGL: Nice little reel, handles very light lures down to and including a ned rig if wanted. Fits my hand perfectly. Only downside is it seems the brakes are a hair touchy and it seems to go from not enough brake to too much very easy. Takes a bit more for me to dial in this reel so if you are swapping a wide range of bait weights it could be a chore. Tied for my favorite handle next to the Lews LFS SS.

 

Fuego CT: Nice reel, for me it seems to shine with heavier lures like spinners, chatterbaits, etc. Id say 3/8oz and up is a nice good all around reel. For my hands its a bit big/round for me but its still manageable. Knobs are beefier on this reel than the SLX and LFS, not my favorite but thats personal taste. 

 

Lews LFS SS: Wont throw down to a ned rig but will do down to a 1/4 and 1/8oz Trig and jig and all the way up to a 2oz swimbait. Despite only having mag brakes the reel is very easy to dial in. This has become my favorite reel for everything but skipping (the SV spool reels just do better here). Can be had regularly for like $80, sometimes cheaper if you really hunt. 

 

For reference I use a Medium glove. I may try a Curado for the hype but at this point with the reels I have the LFS SS is my go to reel. 

+1

[Bazoo]

With the Abu Black Max I mentioned, I can throw a pretty light lure. A weightless 6" Zoom Lizard or Super Fluke. I threw the fluke today.

 

Right at the limit weight wise is a Lunkerhunt Pocket Frog. Supposed to be 1/4 ounce I think, but they are on the light side of 1/4 ounce. This is with 10lb Big Game. If I dropped to 8lb it'd throw better I bet. I got a spool, might as well try it as I am about to respool that one. Right now It has Suncatcher Big Game in 10lb... great to see to tie knots... but I figure the bass can see it a mile away too, so I don't have much confidence in it. I was just trying it out.

[GreenPig]

SLX are hard to beat for the $

[dodgeguy]

On 7/11/2024 at 1:18 PM, Texas Flood said:

Lews Speed Spool LFS. Best reel Ive used under $100.

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Lews_Speed_Spool_LFS_Casting_Reel/descpage-LSSCS.html

I Agree 👍 

[CaughtMeABiggun]

Here is a list of reels that have been previously mentioned or may not have been mentioned that can be easily found for 100 bucks or less.

 

BPS Extreme

BPS Pro Qualifier

Abu Revo X

Ark Gravity 1

13 Fishing Origin C

13 Fishing Inception

13 Fishing Inception G2

Daiwa Fuego CT

Daiwa CA 80

Lew's LFS

Quantum Accurist

Shimano SLX

Shimano Caius

Piscifun Alloy M

Kast King Skeet Reese Icon

 

[ABU is overpriced]

You might also want to check the used market. A Daiwa TDZ or an OG Daiwa Alphas can be had for those prices, and they're excellent reel that will last forever.

[Mjmj]

On 7/11/2024 at 3:03 PM, Bigbox99 said:

24 Tatula, Fuego SV or just go the budget route and get the FLS for $75.  

What site is this

[Bigbox99]

25 minutes ago, Mjmj said:

What site is this

Aliexpress and Google.

[zell_pop1]

Bass Pro has the latest PQ for $79.98 if you are a club member. This latest one has external dual brake adjustment like the $120 and up Shimano reels.

 

[Dye99]

On 7/11/2024 at 10:19 AM, gimruis said:

Shimano SLX

This. JDM gets you more quality for a tad bit of savings. I love my SLX reels.,

[new2BC4bass]

On 7/13/2024 at 1:12 PM, ABU is overpriced said:

You might also want to check the used market. A Daiwa TDZ or an OG Daiwa Alphas can be had for those prices, and they're excellent reel that will last forever.

OP:  As you can see there are quite a few good reels within your budget.  It's even possible to get a Scorpion MGL or an SLX XT at that price.

 

However, both of the above used options are excellent reels.  Both are high on my 'favorites' list.