What is your must have ?

[KYntucky Warmouth]

Bare minimum? I have to want the reel.

that's usually what gets me, I do like to find things at a discount.  I try to look around for deals on ebay and here in the flea market.  I have payed retail for exactly two reels since I have been bass fishing, a Quantum Code and a Mitchell Avocet.  The Mitchell was bought as my first "bass'' rig and the Code was my first baitcaster.  Since then if its a good deal and I want it, it's mine.

I also like for the reels to match the rods they go on.....

[lynyrdsky1]

Cost? Everything costs. Do you mean value? What do you value then? That's the question.

meant how much I'm going to have to pay for it.

[J Francho]

Well, yeah.  Can't buy it if doesn't have price.  Still haven't answered the original question. 

I'm jerking your chain.     You mean if you have $100, and the reel is $150, its out of the question.

[northern basser]

Good word of mouth from others that have used one.

I also like others opinions (who have used it).  Lately I've also preferred to stay under 8oz.  Oh,  and that its a shimano (unless its a pat. xt!!) ;D ;D ;D

[lynyrdsky1]

Well, yeah. Can't buy it if doesn't have price. Still haven't answered the original question.

I'm jerking your chain. You mean if you have $100, and the reel is $150, its out of the question.

Haha its fine. I mean if there is a reel for 150 but theres one thats for 100 that has the same performance but the only difference is its cheaper, you go with the cheaper one. Sorry for not being clear about that.

[J Francho]

Good word of mouth alone doesn't tell me anything. It depends on whose mouth it comes from, and context.  Most people like what they have, simply because its all they know.  And that's fine, but rarely can you find someone that can compare and contrast two products fairly.

[philsoreel]

Strong enough for more than just bass. Something I can work on myself. And even if it is made by Shimano it has to be made in Japan. No more Malaysia, no more Taiwan, no more China.

Like buying a Metanium instead of a Chronarch?

All of my Cores  and Curados have made in Japan on the box but my Stradic CI4s have made in Malaysia on them. Are all CI4s made in Malaysia?

[Big Fish Rice]

I'll add another *Shimano* vote, but I don't think it's needed

For baitcasters, Shimano is my only way to go. For spinning reels, I've used everything under the sun and have been pleased with several companies. (Shimano, Pflueger, Daiwa, Okuma)

[Ima Bass Ninja]

ok i have to add a side bar here.. I understand lots of people are big Shimano fans, so i ask what does the quality or part does your Shimano have to have in order for you to consider purchasing. I ask this because i've seen reels with the Shimano name on them at K-mart and they ain't all that great of quality. I realize there's a difference, but there has to be something else that draws you to a Shimnao whether it be feel or weight or looks or something

[Bluebasser86]

Weight, performance, durability, word of mouth, looks, price, want, they all factor in. I've fished with about every brand from my days when I could check a reel out and take it fishing when I worked at Cabela's. I love my Shimano's but I have been very impressed with the Revo SX and STX. I have an S that lasted one season before the levelwind quit working. Just got one of the new BPS Rick Clunn powerfishing reels and I like it really well so far.

[Fish Chris]

Well, maybe nowadays, all spinning reels have this.... But I could not use a reel which doesn't have infinite anti-reverse.

I like a reel to be tight / precision / smooth..... but I don't care what brand it is, I promise I can make it sloppy and loose over time. Especially my micro-lights. And I have no idea why this is ? Every micro-light should be able to handle a few 100 lb Sturgeon, right ? 

Peace,

Fish

[Goose52]

Well, maybe nowadays, all spinning reels have this.... But I could not use a reel which doesn't have infinite anti-reverse.

I like a reel to be tight / precision / smooth..... but I don't care what brand it is, I promise I can make it sloppy and loose over time. Especially my micro-lights. And I have no idea why this is ? Every micro-light should be able to handle a few 100 lb Sturgeon, right ?

Peace,

Fish

That's a good point. I finally took one of my mid-80s Shakespeare Sigma spinning reels out of front-line service because the clicking from the anti-reverse pawl on the rachet was driving me nuts! I also still occasionally fish a Mitchell 408 from the 60s and it clicks too, but it's more subdued than that Shakespeare. But on all these old reels, you immediately notice the back-play that we don't have on the more modern reels.

[philsoreel]

The best way I can explain my love and trust in Shimano is this....

  In 93' or 94'(getting old, can't remember) when Shimano came out with the Chronarch, my buddies all called me a fool for paying $200 for a fishing reel.  Just being conservative we'll say that reel is 16 years old. For 16 years that reel has been on every single fishing trip I have been on and I fish alot. I replaced one spool shaft bearing(three months ago) and that's the only part that has ever needed replacing. That reel is still smoother, quieter, and tighter than most $200 reels today. I sold it on ebay two months for $152.

 

That is why I choose Shimano.

[ChiCityBasser]

For me it's quality and performance and also value/deal and my product of choice is Quantum. Now I know quite a few on here have had issue with them but I've only been fishing the last 4-5 years and they have performed for me solidly. I have other reels in my arsenal including Daiwa, Cabelas reels(made by daiwa), a no name rainbow bm spinning reel and a shimano. My quantums spend more time on the water with me and only had a issue with one quantum reel. Took it back and replaced it with a Quantum. Great products and have worked for me everytime.

[00 mod]

Good palm-ability! I have small hands( no need for jokes here http://www.snopes.com/risque/penile/size.asp ) and I like the smaller bait casters that I can palm! Also weight so I dont get tired using it all day! and Shimano only!

[tholmes]

As far as "must-have" qualities, on the top of the list is right-hand retrieve. Then comes affordability, if it doesn't fit my budget, I ain't buying. After that it's reliability, comfort and smoothness on the cast and retrieve.

I really don't care who makes it and I don't need 15 bearings and a 12:1 retrieve ratio.

Tom

[Primus]

Anything But Quantum.

I will be buying all

SHIMANO

in the future.

That sums it up for me, whenever I try anything else I end up being disapointed.

[tennwalkinghorse]

Smooth Drag

[The Rooster]

For baitcasters, it must be a Shimano and it must have an aluminum frame. 

For spinners, it must be a Shimano, it must have infinite anti-reverse, and it must have main drive gear support bearings on both sides of the gear (most do but the Sahara does not, there is one bushing).  The reason for that last one is that I retrieve with my right hand, even on a spinning reel, and if a company puts only one bearing on the main drive gear it's typically on the left side (as with the Sahara and one Sedona I owned in the past).  I'm assuming they do this to promote the slickest retreive possible and since it seems that most of the world retrieves left handed on a spinning reel then that's where they put the one bearing.  When I switch the crank to the right, I am now on the bushing side of the gear.  My feeling is that a plastic bushing will wear out fairly quickly and especially if it's on the same side that I crank on.  It would receive more pressure than otherwise since I switch sides with the crank handle so even if I do decide to purchase a reel with a bushing on the main gear, I quickly order a bearing to replace it with.

[0119]

We are all just lucky there are so many brands to choose from and maybe develop a loyalty for.  This forum is Shimano biased, tackletour is Daiwa biased, most surf fishing forums are Abu or Penn biased.  No one should rely solely on the unseen people in the 'air' of the internet for advise when it comes to selecting a quality reel. I would hope they never rely on the advertisement passing as fishing shows either. 

[SirSnookalot]

We are all just lucky there are so many brands to choose from and maybe develop a loyalty for. This forum is Shimano biased, tackletour is Daiwa biased, most surf fishing forums are Abu or Penn biased. No one should rely solely on the unseen people in the 'air' of the internet for advise when it comes to selecting a quality reel. I would hope they never rely on the advertisement passing as fishing shows either.

  X2

[Goose52]

We are all just lucky there are so many brands to choose from and maybe develop a loyalty for. This forum is Shimano biased, tackletour is Daiwa biased, most surf fishing forums are Abu or Penn biased. No one should rely solely on the unseen people in the 'air' of the internet for advise when it comes to selecting a quality reel. I would hope they never rely on the advertisement passing as fishing shows either.

X2

X3

[WdyCrankbait]

Ergonomics, if it does not feel good in my hands I will not use it.

[brushhoggin]

castability. i was throwing a 1/4 texas rig with 55lb braid into 15-20 mile an hour winds sunday, 25-30 yards with an STX, which i appreciate