Walmart Ozark Trail Spinning Reel

[Kirtley Howe]

I was given a Walmart gift card. After buying the usual assortment of hooks, line and lures, I had about $20.00 left on the card. Just for fun I decided to buy an Ozark Trail spinning reel (about $15.00) to keep on a cheap rod in the truck for spur of the moment fishing stops. I was not expecting much for that kind of money. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the reel. When I first got it, I loaded it up with 8lb test mono. While filling the reel, I noticed that it was very smooth reeling. It is a bit (about 1/3 ounce) heavier than a similar sized Pfluger President reel I have, but still not as heavy as a lot of cheap reels. I don't find the weight to be a problem. I have now been using the reel for about a month. So far, the reel has been flawless. In fact, I like it so much I have moved it over to my "regular" spinning set-ups. The drag is very smooth and is consistent in function. The reel is still as smooth reeling as when I took it out of the package. Time will tell if it stays this good after an extended amount of use, but so far so good. If you are looking for a decent cheap reel, you may want to check one out.  Now I have to buy another one for my "truck" rod. d**n bait monkey.....

[GRiver]

4 minutes ago, Kirtley Howe said:

Now I have to buy another one for my "truck" rod. d**n bait monkey.....

Haha I was just at Walmart looking at Ozark rods for my truck rig, but all they had left was spinning rods. 

[Kirtley Howe]

BTW, my fishing buddy bought an Ozark Trail baitcasting reel. It is pure crap. One of those $20.00 Temu reels would be a better reel than the Ozark Trail bait caster.

 

[33oldtimer]

I've got the Grit Stik spinning combo for $20 which is sort of an Ugly Stick knock off. So far so good. Also have the Ozark Trail Baitcasting combo for $40. It's worked well for me. Alex on Realistic Fishing Youtube channel has that same baitcasting combo. Said he used it 5 days a week for two years before he started having issues with it. A pretty good run for $40.

[Bigbox99]

The only walmart fishing thing I recommend is some of the rods there.  Don't buy any of the reels.  As far as the ozark trail goes I hear their gravel bike and ridge mountain bike are pretty good for the $.  

[MAN]

They are like every reel at that price point....hit or miss.  I bought the $9 Walmart spinning combo 2 years ago to test it and got almost 2 years of white bass and perch off of it.  Then I donated it to my church's kids' fishing pond, and it was in pieces after just a week.