Spinning Reels that are rain proof / water proof, under $150 looking for suggestions. Proven Reels only please.

[Ersteman]

Hi Guys, 

 

I couldn't find much on the subject, so maybe it's not a thing, but I'm looking for a few spinning reel suggestions under $150 that are proven to be used in the rain. I usually don't fish in the rain, but might have to make an exception here b/c I'm getting antsy and the weather forecast in my area has a lot of rain predicted, lol. 

If you've used a particular make/model and it's worked just as good after fishing in the rain with it, please give me a few suggestions.

Also, if it's not a thing, please explain why, as I would be curious to learn. 

I'm not sure if this is a sealed drag/bearings thing or what. It's not always easy to find out if a make/model of a reel has sealed drag/bearing. 

Appreciate the responses.

 

Also, I currently have some Pflueger Supremes (2-4 years old), Some Daiwa Fuegos (2-3 years old) and an Abu Garcia Revo X(2 yr old), so I'm not sure if those will be fine or not. Would rather get your opinions than find out the hard way and ruin a good reel.

 

Thanks!

Mike

[MN Fisher]

No reel is 100% waterproof - but I had no qualms about using my Supreme-30 after a heavy squall came through for the rest of the day. Now I DID do a minor servicing to it after the day was over - blow-out of remaining moisture and a touch-up of oil on critical places - but far as using it through a rainy day...I got no issues with that.

 

Same thing for my Shimano Miravels, Ultegra or even Nasci. Any decent reel should be fine during a rainstorm and the rest of that day....just give it a little love once you're home.

[bulldog1935]

All worm-drive Shimano, Stradic through Stella, have "X-protect", which are labyrinth seals.  

I have the same type seals in spendy bicycle cartridge bottom brackets.  

(hose down and ride for 50,000 mi)

If you submerge them, they will eventually leak-through, but as long as they're operating, they continuously sling water away to the outside.  

I've fished Stradic and Vanquish in the salt (hard) for 5 years, and they're still good as new.  That includes liberal hose-down after every trip  

 

If you buy Stradic from JDM, you're close to your target - $160.  

https://www.digitaka.com/items/5/4/1/STRADIC

Might also hunt around for sales in USM stock.  (Stradic FL, Stradic FM)

 

I looked it up - Shimano Ultegra also gets you X-Protect and you should easily find this at your price point.  A buddy fished Ultegra side-by-side with my Stradic for the same 5 years.  

https://fish.shimano.com/en-GB/product/reels/spinning/frontdrag/a075f000035yx29qaa.html

Miravel and especially Nasci specifically do not have X-Protect.  

[casts_by_fly]

I was also going to say just get the jdm stradic. It’s basically your budget and you won’t touch another reel at that price point that’s as good. 

[JackstrawIII]

1 hour ago, Ersteman said:

I currently have some Pflueger Supremes

You're all set. This is what I use and I fish in the rain more often than I'd like.

[Brian11719]

+1 for the ultegra (or any shimano reel w/ x protect). This is one of the main reasons I suggest the ultegra over the lower end reels...never know when it's going to rain.

 

^ The last gen ultegras were a steal at one point I got one for $75. You can probably still find one for well under your budget.

[bulldog1935]

as long as we're posting youtubes, TackleAdvisors first turned my head to Shimano, with his Stradic FL review - note his thesis, which was also the truth then.  

 

[Big Hands]

A few years ago, I found a Loomis rod with a Stella 1000FD reel (2007-2009 vintage as far as I can tell) floating tip down with just the butt cork sticking out of the water. I have no idea how long it had been it the water. I took it home and posted on several local boards to see if someone had lost it, as well as the lost/found at the lake) and could not find the rightful owner.

 

I cleaned up the rod with some polish, lightly sanded the cork and cleaned up the reel.

 

The Stella has a port screw that allows you to put lubrication into the body of the reel. I expected to find water in there, but it looked as good as new. To say I am "impressed" with the sealing on that reel is an understatement.

 

It's amazing if they have attained that level of sealing on an Ultegra spinning reel that sells for under $150, 

[king fisher]

Diawa BG.  A little heavy, but bullet proof.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

You don't need a legit waterproof reel to bass fish, like a Zeebass or VS to fish in the rain.  Most quality reels will handle the occasional rainy day without issues, especially if you service them regularly.  You can get reels that offer good water resistance within in your budget and are absolute blast to fish.  You can get a Stradic FM from Japan for around 150$.  Unless you get a rare dud, they are silky smooth and the AL body gives it a solid feel in hand.  For such a nice reel they hold up great against SW, so rain won't be an issue.  Stradic uses X protect, its like a combination of hydrophobic coatings and labyrinths on points of ingress along with physical seals in key places.  Ultegra is essentially an older gen Stradic.  You get the same water ingress protection, but the overall feel is a little less refined, still very nice though.  Miravel wouldn't be  bad choice either, but I have no experience with it.  It uses core protect which isnt as effective as X protect, but still protects the reel well enough IMO.  BIggest difference is that MIravel is made from a composite material instead of AL, which makes them about a half oz lighter than Stradic.

 

Daiwas' Fuego @ 110$ is the best at its price point.  Its lighter and smoother than the competing Shimanos at the same price or slightly more.  Fuego uses a composite frame, which is light and strong.  Some people say they can feel the frame "flex" under load, but fishing for LMB/SMB with a reasonably set drag you won't have any issues. Fuego uses a light seal at the handle as well.  Its method for protecting the rotor from water ingress is different from Shimano.  They use a proprietary magnetized oil, (ferrofluid) to fill areas of ingress.  That fluid will keep unpressurized water and debris from getting to the AR clutch or deeper into the gear box.  They call it MagSeal.  It definitely works, but there are some drawbacks.  It doesn't last forever and eventually needs to be replaced. It can also be compromised by dropping the reel into the water or assembling disassembling incorrectly.  It sounds worse than it is.  If you dont work on reels yourself, a certified dealer will replace the MagSeal when you get a the reel deep cleaned every few years.  Daiwa basically offers Fuego without MagSeal and-1 spool support bearing which is Exceler (99$).  Both reels are outstanding and the best in their respective price points.   

[Dinger0306]

If you were super worried about it, get a Shimano with X-Protect or a Daiwa with MagSeal. I wade-fish quite a lot, so my reels have accidentally been submerged a few times. The only reel I've had issues with afterward was a cheap Shimano Sienna, but my Daiwa Regal has handled it like a champ. 

[Choporoz]

6 or 8 years ago, my answer would have been emphatically Pflueger, avoid Shimano.  Pfluegers were far and away the best in the rain.  Some Shimanos had problems.

   Now, the opposite.   I've had issues with newer Pfluegers.  Shimano fixed their rain-related design problems.