best $100 spinning reel?

[rboat]

Dad is moving closer and wants to do some fishing. I want to get him a new spinning reel for dads day. Have a 100 to spend. Give it a shot. What do you think?

[coolhandlala]

You can get a shimano sedona fro about $50 and it is a great reel, very smooth and durable with a very strong yet smooth drag.  Then you have another $50 to get him some lures or something.

[rfrazier]

Shimano Symetre... Best bang for your buck. On sale for $70 shipped right now at ***. Now you got me thinking.  :-/

[nralover]

Yep- Symetre for 70.00 on sale is about the nicest spinning reel you could get and have some money left over for lunch together...

[hawgchaser]

Abu Garcia 702 is $109 and is very impressive. It has the carbon drag system that is unmatched and can also be used in saltwater if you ever do any inshore fishing. I don't know about the symetre but I like them a lot more than my saharas. these reels are built like a tank but still weigh 8oz.

Another forum member turned me on to these and I am very happy he did.

http://www.abu-garcia.com/prod.php?k=78553&sk=78551&p=PURC701LX%20(1130455)

[Bassyak]

I just got a Shimano Saros off of eBay for $100 and it's got some significant upgrades over the Symetre (I have one of each and definitely prefer the Saros).

[Jake P]

Symetre 100%

[South FLA]

Get the "old man" a symetre, fill it up with some line, and get some soft plastics all for $100.00.  Shop around and you'll find it, *** still has that deal!

[bronzeback01]

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_94739_100001002_100000000_100001000_100-1-2

http://www.setthehook.com/reels/plueger/supreme.html

i have had the symetre and i liked it but this is better IMO

[The Rooster]

Man this looks like a Shimano club in here. ;D

I'm gonna have to go with the Pflueger guy here though.  Just bought two new Pfluegers today myself and can't wait to try them out tomorrow morning.  Seem to be very smooooth.  I only spent $100 for both of mine though, the Trion ($40) and the President ($60).  The Pflueger Medalist is nice though for $80 and is an all aluminum frame to boot.  

And I have a Shimano Sedona right now by the way, and I despise that reel.  It's smooth enough, but it's too free spinning, everytime I open the bail it rolls forward on me making it hard to crank closed again.  Have to flip it by hand.  Then the line is constantly letting loops get in it on the reel.  Thought it was the rod for a while causing it with small line guides but tried another reel on that rod and the problem was solved, so it must be the reel's operation.  Also, I saw after I bought it that it has only one bearing on the crank handle shaft, and the other side, the one I like the handle to be on, has a nylon bushing instead, which will wear out after a while.  If you get one of these, either upgrade to one that has more bearings like the Symetre, or get something else cause nylon bushings will be smooth for a while but eventually will wear down and need replaced.  It will let the handle crank develop some slap in it that you don't want.   I gave mine to my wife who hardly ever fishes so it should last her a long time, but me, I'd wear it out much too soon for me to feel it was worth $50.  Wish I'd known more about that reel before I bought it.  

[Micro]

I think the Abu Garcia 600ALB is the best spinning reel under $100 right now. About $80.

HPCR bearings, all aluminum (body, side plates, rotor, bail arms), brass and stainless steel guts, carbon matrix drag. super thick bail.

Cabelas AG Cardinal 600ALB

[Grey Wolf]

Man this looks like a Shimano club in here. ;D

I'm gonna have to go with the Pflueger guy here though. Just bought two new Pfluegers today myself and can't wait to try them out tomorrow morning. Seem to be very smooooth. I only spent $100 for both of mine though, the Trion ($40) and the President ($60). The Pflueger Medalist is nice though for $80 and is an all aluminum frame to boot.

And I have a Shimano Sedona right now by the way, and I despise that reel. It's smooth enough, but it's too free spinning, everytime I open the bail it rolls forward on me making it hard to crank closed again. Have to flip it by hand. Then the line is constantly letting loops get in it on the reel. Thought it was the rod for a while causing it with small line guides but tried another reel on that rod and the problem was solved, so it must be the reel's operation. Also, I saw after I bought it that it has only one bearing on the crank handle shaft, and the other side, the one I like the handle to be on, has a nylon bushing instead, which will wear out after a while. If you get one of these, either upgrade to one that has more bearings like the Symetre, or get something else cause nylon bushings will be smooth for a while but eventually will wear down and need replaced. It will let the handle crank develop some slap in it that you don't want. I gave mine to my wife who hardly ever fishes so it should last her a long time, but me, I'd wear it out much too soon for me to feel it was worth $50. Wish I'd known more about that reel before I bought it.

Any reel below 60.00 leaves a lot to be desired in quality. I don't care what brand it is. JMHO

[Chad.]

Man this looks like a Shimano club in here. ;D

I'm gonna have to go with the Pflueger guy here though.  Just bought two new Pfluegers today myself and can't wait to try them out tomorrow morning.  Seem to be very smooooth.  I only spent $100 for both of mine though, the Trion ($40) and the President ($60).  The Pflueger Medalist is nice though for $80 and is an all aluminum frame to boot.  

And I have a Shimano Sedona right now by the way, and I despise that reel.  It's smooth enough, but it's too free spinning, everytime I open the bail it rolls forward on me making it hard to crank closed again.  Have to flip it by hand.  Then the line is constantly letting loops get in it on the reel.  Thought it was the rod for a while causing it with small line guides but tried another reel on that rod and the problem was solved, so it must be the reel's operation.  Also, I saw after I bought it that it has only one bearing on the crank handle shaft, and the other side, the one I like the handle to be on, has a nylon bushing instead, which will wear out after a while.  If you get one of these, either upgrade to one that has more bearings like the Symetre, or get something else cause nylon bushings will be smooth for a while but eventually will wear down and need replaced.  It will let the handle crank develop some slap in it that you don't want.   I gave mine to my wife who hardly ever fishes so it should last her a long time, but me, I'd wear it out much too soon for me to feel it was worth $50.  Wish I'd known more about that reel before I bought it.  

Any reel below 60.00 leaves a lot to be desired in quality. I don't care what brand it is. JMHO

x249467975469

[ww2farmer]

Pflueger Supreme