All those that use reels and or rods under $100

[Northern Strain]

some of us have a tight budget, and may not be able to afford the really expensive reels out there. from the experience of anyone reading this, what are the top performers of the under $100 class and what are the under performers. Also add the rods/reels you use to give anyone else who reads this thread some insight on what they could use.

[LAO162]

While I'm big into getting rods & reels on sale, it's more important to make sure that your great bargain suits your needs.  Make the best of your budget and be patient if you can.  If you identify the characteristics that meet your needs, you know if that bargain is really of value to you. 

I think some of the house brands can be a great value when they are being moved at 30% to 50% off.  I'm very pleased with my Cabela's XMLTi.  The non-Recoil Guide version (XML) sometimes gets below $70.  This year I've been going after closeouts.  I've gotten a couple Kistler's for just a few dollars out of your price range.  I also won a bid on a used G Loomis IMX for $100.99 + $16 shipping.  I'm fortunate in that my situation allows me to be patient.

[grimlin]

While I'm big into getting rods & reels on sale, it's more important to make sure that your great bargain suits your needs. Make the best of your budget and be patient if you can. If you identify the characteristics that meet your needs, you know if that bargain is really of value to you.

I think some of the house brands can be a great value when they are being moved at 30% to 50% off. I'm very pleased with my Cabela's XMLTi. The non-Recoil Guide version (XML) sometimes gets below $70. This year I've been going after closeouts. I've gotten a couple Kistler's for just a few dollars out of your price range. I also won a bid on a used G Loomis IMX for $100.99 + $16 shipping. I'm fortunate in that my situation allows me to be patient.

I have to agree with this...

[Grey Wolf]

While I'm big into getting rods & reels on sale, it's more important to make sure that your great bargain suits your needs. Make the best of your budget and be patient if you can. If you identify the characteristics that meet your needs, you know if that bargain is really of value to you.

I think some of the house brands can be a great value when they are being moved at 30% to 50% off. I'm very pleased with my Cabela's XMLTi. The non-Recoil Guide version (XML) sometimes gets below $70. This year I've been going after closeouts. I've gotten a couple Kistler's for just a few dollars out of your price range. I also won a bid on a used G Loomis IMX for $100.99 + $16 shipping. I'm fortunate in that my situation allows me to be patient.

I have to agree with this...

X3.

[LoneWolf]

bought a pro-qualifer reel from bass pro that has dual brakes on sale for $79.99 it is my first baitcaster with the dual braking system.....i must say it will not be my last. What a sweet reel, casts a mile and is smooth......at this price it is a steal.....i also picked up 2 cabelas prodigy rods on sale for $49.99 that was a steal also......great rod for the money.... ;D

[Goose52]

I've bought quite a few rods and reels over the last year or so, nearly all BPS equipment, and nearly all bought at great sale prices. I have 8 BPS bc reels (5 PQs, 2 RCs, 1 ProLite) with retail prices from $100 to $110, all but one were bought at $80 or less on sale (including two PQs bought on eBay for $30 and $40). I bought a bunch of BPS Extreme rods (retail $100) for $69 or less on sale or clearance. I bought another Extreme spinning rod just this past week - on clearance for $39

I obviously think that these BPS house brands offer great value in the under $100 price range, just be patient and wait for the sales. 8-)

[flippin and pitchin]

If you shop hard there's a number of great products under that $100.00 price point.  I picked up several Lamiglas Excel rods, both casting and spinning at a sportsman's show promo price of $74.97 and two new Revo S reels on a one day in store special for $69.97 each.  I'm surer there's plenty of options out there if you do a little research.  Members of this forum are quick to pass on sales and close outs all the time. 

[K_Mac]

I've bought quite a few rods and reels over the last year or so, nearly all BPS equipment, and nearly all bought at great sale prices. I have 8 BPS bc reels (5 PQs, 2 RCs, 1 ProLite) with retail prices from $100 to $110, all but one were bought at $80 or less on sale (including two PQs bought on eBay for $30 and $40). I bought a bunch of BPS Extreme rods (retail $100) for $69 or less on sale or clearance. I bought another Extreme spinning rod just this past week - on clearance for $39

I obviously think that these BPS house brands offer great value in the under $100 price range, just be patient and wait for the sales. 8-)

I have nearly as much BPS stuff as Goose. A Pro Qualifier baitcast rod/reel combo regularly sells for $190. It is a sweet combo and is the best deal around in my opinion. A Pflueger President spinning reel matched with a BPS Extreme or Pro Qualifier rod is also a good value IMHO.

[shootermcbob]

I am on a very limited budget as well. I have a cabelas fairly close (about an hour and 15 minutes away). I like their fishing rods and reels and watch them closely for sales. I have bought their XML rods for as low as 59.00...they retail regularly for 139.00. I have bought their house brand baitcaster (made by diawa) for as low as 54.00 ...retail for 99.00. I have several rods and reels and nary a problem with any of them. If you watch bass pro, lots of good things being said about their pro qualifier reel and their new carbonlite rods. Both can be had on sale for about 70-80 bucks. I decide what I am going to purchase and then wait for it to go on sale. I also take advantage of cabelas rebates...20 bucks off if you spend a hundred or 30 off 150 purchase.

Last, and not least, keep an eye on the flea market on this website, many really good deals on quality equipment can be had .

[Bassin for Walleye]

The citica (usually $120 but may be able to find cheaper) is an excellent reel. I actually have the older version (201 D) but anyone will tell you that the citica is probably the best for that price. I recently bought the cabelas prodigy reel for $100 and the berkley AMP rod for $30. The reel is excellent but the rod is not the most sensitive but I'm using it for crankbaits and spinnerbaits anyways so it don't matter too much.

[Big Bait Fishing]

i have checked out a few of Cabelas rods and i must say they are good rods for the $$$ , the rods are made by Reaction Strike (their baits are garbage but their rods are top notch !!!!) before anyone starts with the bashing , Reaction Strike makes very good rods , ask any muskie fisherman about musky inovations rods , they will tell you they are an excellent buys for the money . so yeah , take a look at the house brands that Cabelas and Bass Pro Shops has , if you can get them on sale , you can build a very good combo for not that much money .......

[b.wedlund]

I like the Mojo, Triumph, and Vendetta rods which all seem to be under or right near $100.  I have found a couple of premiers under 100 from time to time and I like them as well. 

I have a Daiwa Megaforce which I picked up a couple of years ago for $50.  I tend to like Quantum reels.  The Accurist is normally $99 but I often find them on sale for cheaper.  Right now Cabelas has the Quantum Catalysts on sale for $89 ($139-$149 regularly) so I had to pick one of them up last weekend as well.  I really like that reel and it now has me wondering if I want to take advantage of that sale and put it on a few more of my rods.

I think that if you shop around at all you can find nice rods and reels for under $100.

[Primus]

The Shimano Symetre spinning reel retails for $ 99 and often can be found for less. I'm also a fan of the BPS Crankin' Stick.

[Catt]

Shimano Cardiff 100A $99.95 mounted on a Falcon "Original" series Carolina Lizard Dragger $98.99

[endless]

If looking at spinning gear the gandermountain tournament combo isn't a bad setup. I"ve had it for a year now. The combo goes $79.99 now. After holdays are great. I've bought myself the pflueger supreme on a 7'0 supreme rod for about $75. The reel alone is $99. For baitcasters, it seems the extreme is the best for the nearest price range at full price. I think combo goes for $159.99. If trying to get something now the RCX(rick clunn) combo is going for $159.99. I almost jumped on it but got the last carbonlite instead. Other than that it seems sales, clearance, ebay, or the fishing flea market might be best for good deals.

[swampz]

i hate to sound like a pflueger fan boy but i have yet to use a reel that can outcast, or is as smooth as my ole 100 dollar pflueger trion, and im not white trash but i do have it paired up to a berkley lighitning rod too.

[dodgeguy]

pflueger trion narrow spool and a extreme rod are hard to beat.st. croix mojo would be nice also.

[NEPAfishfinder]

You can never go wrong with an Abu C3 reel. I've been using my 5500 for about 5 years now and i love it. The reel is every bit the workhorse people say it is.

I'm also a big Browning fan and they offer some good stuff for under $100.

[Beastie Bass]

the revo s is top notch and can be had for well under $100. I have 3 mojo's and they're GREAT! I own a few Avids as well, so I can speak for the better half too.

[BassThumb]

You can find brand new Citicas on Ebay for about $90-95 shipped from a few retailers with the Buy It Now option. BTW, the same stores are likely to have Curados for $145 as well. That's where I get mine.

Your bet for rods is to look for a used one on sites like this one, among others. Plenty of very solid performers quickly come and go for around $100 shipped with signs of light to moderate use(cork staining, scratches around the hook holder), like the St Croix Avid, Loomis G3, or Kistler Magnesium.

That's the best way to aquire quality equipment on a budget. New reels on sale + used rods.

[Canadian Kid]

Reels-

BPS PQ's, Carbonlite -- can't go wrong with those at the price they're at.

Rods-

BPS CarbonLite, and Abu Garcia Vendetta -- again, a steal at the prices.

[kikstand454]

new i would probably go ahead and tell you to get a bps PQ combo. its probably the best you can get for the money in a baitcasting outfit.

however....also new, you could easily find an accurist pt and put it on a shimano clarus or convergence and have an even better set up for a tiny bit more.

used you can get great rigs for less than 150 bucks.... you just have to look.  ebay craigslist, this forums (and others) classifieds... lots of places.

spinning id have to say get a clarus rod and a quantum incyte reel. its just amazing for the price you can get them for.

[nubasser]

I have never paid more than $100.00 for any rod or reel because i am on a budget.My advice is like the others here about catching sales on stuff.I would wait till certain mid-to higher priced stuff gets clearanced.It may be last years or the years before stuff but I buy it brand new and take really good care of it.example(revo stx reel release price $200 gander had em for under $100.Also bought Vendetta rod for less than$60.I bought a daiwa black widow 2 for less than $80 and these came out at over $130.Now I will wait for something else I like right now to go on cleareance in a year or 2 as I have alot of other stuff.My local gander has American Rodsmith Rods regularly$149.99 for 1/2 price.good things come to those who wait.If these things are good 1-2 years ago they still are.

[trevor]

The Shimano Symetre spinning reel retails for $ 99.

x2

I also got the SAROS shipped for $99.95!  Check Lakeside reels.

[BluegrassBoy]

I am going to throw my vote in here for the Abu C3 reels as well.  My Dad has been using 4000's, 4600's, and 5000's since before I was born.  As a matter of fact I use reels older than me that work like butter to this day thanks to good maintenance.  The new ones are just as tough and reliable.  And best of all the new ones have thumb bars.  Some of dads are so old they have the release button on the side.