linesider83 Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 I been fishing for a long time, allot of offshore, but i started fishing when I was a kid in freshwater. Still love to bass fish like every week and stuff. I was in the market for a 2500 series reel to fish with 6 or 8 pound test. I am looking for the best bang for the buck between these 3, I have expensive reels like accurates for offshore, but I would like to get your guys input on these. I would like to prob keep this combo for freshwater, but I want to know if I fish off the beach in saltwater or some intercoastal I wont be hurting them too bad or at all. I see these reels are under 100$ , but I have found them for better prices online then at the big name stores. I have found the following Daiwa exceler 2500HA - $49.00 Shimano Sahara 3000FD $68.00 Shimano Symetre 3000FJ $78.00 I have seen online people give the daiwa exceler good reviews, and Im sure you cant beat the price for 49.00 but I dont mind spending a few extra bucks if I am going to have a better reel at the end of the day. I am currently fishing a reel I had in the closet, its a daiwa shock 2500, I know and feel its cheap but I recently caught a nice 5 pound largemouth with it. Quote
Super User Jig Man Posted January 12, 2012 Super User Posted January 12, 2012 I gave up on the Ds and got rid of mine. I have several levels of S spinning including the Sahara and Symmetry reels. If you will use it a bunch, I'd get the Symmetry. I have some of them that are 11 years old and have been used a bunch. An occasional cleaning and once in a while an antireverse clutch is all they have had done to them. Quote
Super User SirSnookalot Posted January 12, 2012 Super User Posted January 12, 2012 The Shimanos are approved for saltwater, not saying the Daiwa will give your trouble, it probably won't for occasional use. Quote
BassinSoldier Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 x2 for the symetre. Best bang for the buck at that pricepoint imo. Quote
linesider83 Posted January 12, 2012 Author Posted January 12, 2012 Nice snook on the avatar tarponhunter, I fish allot for snook in miami to jupiter, but had a quick question for the guru's, I am liking this forum, very quick responds, thanks so much, drinks on me. Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted January 12, 2012 Super User Posted January 12, 2012 I think you will be happy with the Symetre, but if you can afford to step up to the Stradic, I think you will like it even more! Quote
linesider83 Posted January 12, 2012 Author Posted January 12, 2012 I mean I can afford the stradic, just Im not too sure I want to spend so much money on it, for bass fishing and maybe summer time beach fishing, where im not dunking in the reel in salt, ehh still unsure Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted January 12, 2012 Super User Posted January 12, 2012 Well, let me be more specific: I am recommending the CI4 which has many of the features previously available ONLY with the Stella series. I have the Symetre SY500FJ on an ultra light rig, a Stella 1000FA for a medium light rig and two Stella 2500 FD & FE. So, I'm not really comparing apples to apples, but I REALLY like the CI4 at its pricing point! Â Quote
Super User eyedabassman Posted January 12, 2012 Super User Posted January 12, 2012 I think you will be happy with the Symetre, but if you can afford to step up to the Stradic, I think you will like it even more! I agree with RW here! You can't go wrong with these two reels. Quote
linesider83 Posted January 12, 2012 Author Posted January 12, 2012 The rod that I was using was a redbone, its good and light to my standards, not some crazy ultralight but not easy at all, I was seeing that 2500 and 3000 same size just more line, cant go wrong with 3000 size shimano then for that feature, like the extra line or not really? Quote
trevor Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 I honestly cannot recommend the Exceler, or any affordable spinning reel made by Daiwa. I know lots of people that have had great experiences with them, but of my three Daiwa spinning reels (two Tierras and a Regal of some series) I have had all three go bad in a very short time. And it's not like I am hard on my gear or anything. I would definitely recommend the Symetre. Or, if you want to get a much better reel for a tad more (on eBay for under $100 brand new) I would go with the Saros. The Saros is an exceptional reel, with better features than the Symetre. The Saros is almost identical to the Stradic FI. Quote
linesider83 Posted January 12, 2012 Author Posted January 12, 2012 Yeah ur right trevor, I see it can be had for about 100.00, just so many options Quote
Super User SirSnookalot Posted January 12, 2012 Super User Posted January 12, 2012 @ linesider........I fish Redbones, I have 3 that I use for inshore icw, beach and jetties. I don't like spending other peoples money so I don't recommend, this is what I use for doubly duty salt and bass. Redbone med 8/17 with a abu soron20 this outfit handles bass well plus a variety of inshore fish, I've caught 25# jacks & 40# tarpon on it, of course most fish don't go that big, but as you know, you never know what's out there. Personally I like stradics and sorons, both handle salt water and both reels have excellent drags. If you shop on line you may find a nice deal on a stradic fi, I think I saw one at Dick's for 119. I fish between Jap Rock in Boca and Hobe Sound. Quote
Super User NorcalBassin Posted January 12, 2012 Super User Posted January 12, 2012 If you're not going to go up for a Ci4, the Sahara would be a great consolation prize. I have a couple in my aresenal (along with some Stradics) and been more than pleased with the performance. Quote
Triton Man Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 I have to recommend anything other than the excellor. I picked one up last year cheap since they were coming out with a new version, 2 actually. I had high hopes from lots of good reviews. It does reel nice, but feels a little cheap, not a problem. But in less than a year of moderate use the anti-reverse is just starting to slip at times. A quarter turn to a full turn backwards which I cant stand when setting the hook. I have a saros also that I liked but a rubber gasket or something like that broke and would bind up the reel on the retrieve. I've since removed it but most likely it was to keep dirt and water out. Some good deals on Quantum catalysts and energy's for around 100bucks or less. Dont have to deal with salt issues so sorry if I recommend something that wont work for you. Quote
linesider83 Posted January 12, 2012 Author Posted January 12, 2012 I seen on tackletour they picked the stratic 3000Fj an editors choice, seems like a good one, I guess the ci4 lighter , what's the difference, which is better? Quote
Ima Bass Ninja Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 I just picked up a 3500 exceler (see here ) but have only used it once. It felt great to me and performed well. Only time will tell if it holds up though. Quote
trevor Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 I seen on tackletour they picked the stratic 3000Fj an editors choice, seems like a good one, I guess the ci4 lighter , what's the difference, which is better? The Stradic CI4 has a lot of cosmetic upgrades, but it is also a very light reel. I think if you are using anything but the finest spinning rods, the CI4 could actually be a little too light, making the rod tip feel heavier. But that is more personal preference. Here is a link to the CI4 review on tackle tour: http://www.tackletour.com/reviewchimanostradicci4.html Quote
Super User Team9nine Posted January 13, 2012 Super User Posted January 13, 2012 I've got all three that you mentioned, and all have performed fine for me. I've seen some not so great comments on the Exceler, but I've landed a 44 pound flathead on 8lb. line with mine and the reel performed flawlessly. That said, I'd probably pick the Sahara out of the 3. I've owned it the longest of the bunch, and hence used it the most, and it has held up great. The recommendation on the Stradic is good one - they're really nice if you want to jump up to that price point. -T9 Quote
ToledoEF Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 I had a sustain 2500 that was stolen and I loved it, I replaced it with two stradic 2500 ci4s which I love more. I had a saros I gave to my brother good reel, sahara was nice and the symetre which are all nice, but if you can go there, the ci4 is awesome. Quote
ToledoEF Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 As weird as this sounds, I currently down have any rods, I sold them all and I am gonna try new ones lol. I had them on combos of 6'9 ML to 7'2 M spinning rods. Quote
linesider83 Posted January 13, 2012 Author Posted January 13, 2012 I am thinking about which rods, I have been seeing the bass pro carbonlights, the saint croix mojo bass, think fenwick has one also, the style rods with the open real seat and split handle type, I have been reading reviews on them all night but it seems some people have the brake very easy, eh dont know man. Quote
flippin and pitchin Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 Check the flea market on this forum for the Saros. There has been a couple for sale with photos. A Saros for 90 to 100 bucks would be a great choice. I have three and a Symetre and a Stradic FJ but I was able to get smokin deals on all of them. Welcome to forum by the way. Quote
linesider83 Posted January 13, 2012 Author Posted January 13, 2012 Thanks for having me, I know its out of my range that I was thinking, but i can get a 3000 shimano stradic FJ for about 140.00, I think for the extra 40$ might be worth it, I am trying to find a nice rod for it, something with split handle, 7 ft, but been reading reviews 1 Quote
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