New Reel Reviews

[Smiths.R]

I got a new reel last year...a Shimano Sahara. It was amazing until it was making lots of noise, and felt like I was reeling in a log with only a worm on the line. Perhaps it was my fault...but I had only owned the reel for about two weeks when it happened.
Anyway, I want a new reel. I'm between a Penn Fierce and a Pflueger President.
I fished with a friend of mines Fierce, and it was really nice. Small, light, felt great. I've never handled a Pflueger.
I fish almost exclusively for bass. Where I fish has a healthy population of pickeral (some quite big) and I catch the occasional walleye. I love braid, and have #20 PP on my reels at the moment.
Someone tell me why I should get one over the other!
Thanks for the help!

[aavery2]

Pflueger President is tried and true, I don't know much about the Penn.

[Maico1]

Get a Shimano Stella....and do not faint at the price....it will last you the rest of your life.

[drew4779]

I've always been a shimano guy, but I love my pflueger president. I have an old Penn reel and it does the job but it I wouldn't say its quiet. When my Sahara finally bites the dust I was planning on replacing it with another pflueger.

[l3rd]

Not sure I would go to a Stella, but a Stradic would be a good choice. I have 2 Pflueger Supreme XT's and so far I love them, but generally I have been a Shimano spinning reel buyer. If the Stradic or Supreme XT are really a bridge too far, the President might be a good choice, but keep it oiled, some have told me they do not have the better bearings of higher dollar reels. I would think the place you bought the Shimano should take it back if you have had it for 30 days or less. It could be you got a lemon and you might be happy with a direct replacement. Shimano, IME, is about the best there is when it comes to spinning reels., though I have to admit I have always bought upper end gear, a Symmetry is as low as I have ever gone in their current line-up, but I ended up trading it off, a friend had to have it...

[SirSnookalot]

Penn's are good reels and very popular, if you are fishing saltwater, the fierce is moderately priced around $60 and imo it's just ok. I don't suggest specific brands, but for under a $100 I think there are many better choices than that Penn for bass fishing, I personally don't care for it even for saltwater. Buy within your budget, most bass specific reels should work out well.

[roadwarrior]

Perhaps it was my fault...but I had only owned the reel for about two weeks when it happened.

Take it back to the store for replacement or send it in to Shimano for replacement. Why didn't

you address the issue when it came up? The warranty may state that it is only good for a year,

but give them a call and I bet they will take care of you.

Try to talk with Dan Thorburn. http://fish.shimano....r_Services.html

[Shinyboy]

To the Pfleuger point, I have two Supreme XT's and they're pretty hard to beat for the money. You can find them on sale often and they are just well built.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Your experience with the Sahara isn't typical. I suggest looking into a warraty replacement as RW said. Failing that, the cost of a service is only $16.20 for members (plus shipping and parts if needed) so you may not want to just junk the reel. If and when the time comes I also like the bang for your buck the Pflueger spinning reels provide.

[Smiths.R]

I guess I didn't mention that I did send it back for repairs. I have no beef with Shimano at all, nor did I mean to imply that.

Thanks for the advice gentlemen.

[l3rd]

I guess I didn't mention that I did send it back for repairs. I have no beef with Shimano at all, nor did I mean to imply that.

Thanks for the advice gentlemen.

I get that you have a foul taste in your mouth, I certainly would. That said, I'd still wait and see, the Shimano may come back and be all you want... I was told at the Bass Pro Shop that they use the same high quality bearings in all their reels. Not the same size, but bearings made to the same exacting standards, if so, I suspect it should be a pretty nice reel once they fix it... If they machined something improperly on the reel itself, and it fails again, I'd send it back again telling them that you suspect an alignment issue in the shell itself, but I would also buy a replacement at that point. YMMV

[smalljaw67]

I don't want people getting mad at me when I say this, but every Shimano reel under $120 has only lasted a full season and no more. First was my grandsons Sienna, I though it was a good reel for the price, well I found out that if it gets wet it is done for at least a day because it binds up, in fact I had this problem with my Symetres. To make a long story short, my granson used the reel about a dozen times or so and it felt and sounded like a coffee grinder, and the best part was Shimano customer service basically blew me off as it was a cheap reel even though it was less than a year old. The top of the line products from Shimano are some of the best on the market but their mainstream products leave a lot to be desired. If you want a good spinning reel for not a lot of money go to Cabelas, right now they are having an inventory clearance and in that sale is the old model Tournament ZX spinning reel, it is $49.99. This is basically a Diawa Tierra, the only difference is it hass all regular ball bearings were the Diawa Tierra has 2 CRR or corrosion resistant ball bearings. The Tierra was originally over a hundred dollars and is a proven reel. The other thing with this ZX reel is you are going to have a spinning reel with an all aluminum body and rotor for 50 bucks, in todays reels you can't touch an all aluminum body and rotor spinning reel for less than 80 to90 dollars. I have the old ZX and I got it last year for 40 dollars and if I would have known then what I know now I would have bought 3 of them. ......................http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Fishing-Reels/Spinning-Reels%7C/pc/104793480/c/104760180/sc/104837580/Cabelas-Tournament-ZX-Spinning-Reel/732207.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Ffishing-fishing-reels-spinning-reels%2Fcabelas%2F_%2FN-1102842%2B1000002949%2FNe-1000002949%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104837580%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253Bcat104793480%253Bcat104760180%26WTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_stype%3DGNU&WTz_l=SBC%3Bcat104793480%3Bcat104760180%3Bcat104837580

[l3rd]

Wow, sounds like trading off the Symetre may cause some hard feelings, wish I had kept it if that's what I have to look forward to.

[BassinSoldier]

I had a symmetre and a pfleuger president. While the shimano felt more buttery smooth, the pflueger president was BY far the best $60 I have ever spent on a reel. Smooth and solid. I'd buy another, and I am acutally plannin on it now to be exact. I need a new spinning reel myself and I think the president is a good reel for the job.

[scumstriker]

first off if you dont clean and take care of your equipment it won't last i promise you that. second off spend 15 dollars and get some reel grease and oil take the reel apart after getting it new and apply some grease to the gears no matter what kind you buy every reel i have had comes with little oil and sometimes it isn't even placed on the gears. I have two Pflueger Supremes and my dad uses the Shimano Symetres and he has had those reels for 4 years atleast and no issues. Just take care of your equipment!

[SirSnookalot]

I don't touch my freshwater reels, I'm using supremes (not xt) and after several (I use them all 12 months) years they still perform like new. A drop of oil every now and then, I've screwed up more reels by trying to be my own technician.