Fishing Reel

[sonicimpulse]

I'm looking for a realy good real to hold 6lb mono and sometime braid. I will be using this to catch a lot of bass, pike and walleye. I don't want a real that after one season the gears are blown on it. Any insight on this would be great.

Thank you,

Kenny

[roadwarrior]

Depends on how much you want to spend.

Take a look at the Shimano Symetre, Stradic CI4 and Stella 2500FE.

That will get you started!

[Dave T.]

Yea, a price range would be good. Wouldn't hurt to know what kind of rod you are putting it on either.

BTW... 6lb mono for Bass, Pike and Walleye? You are certainly going "light".

[sonicimpulse]

My rod is the Okuma Citrix Medium Light. I'm trying to stay around $100 for a real.

Thanks for the help so far.

[NCLifetimer]

I just got a Basspro Pro Qualifier reel, right at $100 bucks. Can't speak for the long term durability, but its a great reel so fair, almost comparable to the Lews Tournament Pro I have and just as smooth as my quantum Energy PT. Look at the reviews on Basspro .com, 400+ people can't all be wrong. I personally can't image a better reel for a hundred bucks, ill buy another if i want another $100 reel.

[Dave T.]

In that price range, as RW said, the Shimano Symetre or for even less, the Sahara. The Pflueger Supreme, or for less... the President would also be good choices.

[Crestliner2008]

Over 40 years of fishing, I've never had a reel "blow" it's gears. And I fish a lot. I've had Shimanos, Pfluegers, Quantums, BPS and Garcia. Some of the lower end reels do have problems with a smooth drag system and make you "feel" the gears turning. As you move up the brand lines to more moderately priced reels, these traits are reduced dramatically. Most brand names today offer you moderately priced reels that flat out perform. They have to. It's a very competitive field.

On the low end ($30. - $40.) I would have no problem buying a Garcia 100 series reel. Have 4 and still have them in use.

On the moderate end ($50. - $75.), I don't think you can go wrong with a Shimano Sahara or Symetre if you have the additional funds. I have 3 of these, two being the Symetres. I can't tell the difference between them actually. These 3 reels see most of my fishing use currently and are over 5 years old.

High end? I've never felt it necessary to go higher than the moderate price range actually. I don't have the money to spend +- $300. for a reel. And have never had the need to. JMO.

[NBR]

I agree highly Crestliner. I have had such good luck with moderately priced bait casters and plain cheap spinning reels that I don't look at high end reels any more. Re to the spinning reels I back reel rather than let the drag slip so drag quality is not a big deal to me. Bait caster drag falls into the same category. I set the drag rather light and if I need more my thumb applies the needed pressure.

[LgMouthGambler]

Pretty much all my reels are in the $100-$150 range. There are many to choose from in that range and I think the quality is good to the point where they are not a garbage reel and not too over priced. As far as limiting to a $100 budget, I think the best bang for the buck is going to be a BPS Pro Qualifier. I have one and its very good all around. No problems soo far, and everyone talks nothing but good things about them.

[SirSnookalot]

Under normal conditions I've never blown the gears on a moderate priced reel, but I have under non normal conditions. I was fishing offshore and did not take one of my better reels, instead I took one of my guest reels, I like all my gear to see action. I had a lengthy battle with a 6' lemon shark, using a cardinal 177. Managed to get the fish in, but my next fish, a bonita fried my reel it just froze up and was trash. Had I been using one of my better reels I'm confident everything would have been fine.

Personally I would spend tops of $100 for a freshwater spinner and $200 for a saltwater.

[Packard]

Shimano Sahara's are nice. I'd look at the Pflueger Supreme MGX as well.

[Bass-minded]

Penn is a good reel, but it is a little exsensive.

[Hooligan]

I have, under normal freshwater circumstances, shredded the gears in lower priced reels, usually it's the worm gear that drives spool oscillation that ends up being the culprit. While there are those that say it can't happen, it can and does. In that $100 range, the Shimano Symetre or Daiwa Exceller are two very good reels. I'm partial to the Exceller at that range, preferring that over the Pflooger reels for the sake of a much better drag, higher quality components and not some foolish notion that because it has ten bearings it's a better reel.

[Bluebasser86]

I have one of the Pfluegar Supreme MGX's and really like it. It's very light, casts really well, and so far I haven't had any problems with it binding after extended use. The Shimano Symetre is another great reel for that price but every one I've ever had started to bind after extended use or during steady rain. Pretty much any spinning reel you get around the $100 range will do just fine though.

[Hooligan]

BB makes a good point, the Supreme is a very different reel than the older Presidents, the new ones, too, for that matter. The drag is much better and the new MG has a solid body that will help to keep things in line. While I still do not like the way the have the spool shaft placed, it's probably far better than the older reels.

[SirSnookalot]

Penn is a good reel, but it is a little exsensive.

If you mean expensive not all of them. Penn reels cover the price spectrum.

As far as Pflueger goes, certainly not the strongest drags as far as max numbers, but the drags are smooth and handle fish quite well. My 5000 medalist (sitting in box only because it's 18oz), nothing but a 4000 with larger spool capacity has caught some incredible 30+ jacks and dorado, to date it's still the smoothest reel I own and it's like new after 4 years. I have 3 supremes, the 35 was my beach snook reel for 18 months, these snook can test your drag, performed flawless and it isn't even a sw reel, I use it for LMB now.

I don't recommend or rate best and worst, but will say I think Pfluegers are an excellent value, have yet to touch MGX.

After posting this I just may put my Medalist back into service.

[TRYTOFISH]

Buy the president, sve 50 bucks to buy more worms!