Anyone got a good budget baitcast reel they like? 2024
pauldconyers reply :
I've got a reel that has gone craps on me and I am going to have to replace. Current budget won't let me but something nice so I am looking for a "wallet-friendly" option to consider. Will use it on my 7' crankbait rod or my 7'6" jig rod. If it affects your recommendation I use 40 lb Sufix 832 on all my stuff primarily.
TIA
jeffo21 reply :
look on Ebay for a new reel or a good used name brand reel. I have bought several from there and happy with one of them. I prefer Lew's but they fit my hand good. Some prefer Shimano or Daiwa it just depends on what you like.
thedilettantedad reply :
I picked up an Abu Garcia UltraMax combo at Dick's for $40. It is my first baitcaster, but am happy so far.
JoshFromBolo reply :
For cheaper reels, I would definitely look at Abu Garcia. Specifically the Black Max which is 50 dollars or the Silvermax which is like 10 more dollars. Me personally, I have the silvermax and I love it, if you search them up though there is extensive reviews on both reels and they get outstanding ratings.
ratherbfishin1 reply :
What is your price range?
Russ E reply :
if you are in the $50.00 to $ 80.00 range a KastKing assassin or speed demon pro are not bad.
if you are looking in the $100.00 to $120.00 range, an abu garcia revo SX or a Lews Mach II are both decent reels.
there are several others. These are the ones I own.
new2BC4bass reply :
New or used? Or doesn't it matter? How much can you spend? I'm assuming the lower the better. New: (besides the Abu reels) quite a few guys here are liking some of the KastKing reels. I've read good things about Sports Academy's H20 Xpress Mettle.
Used: Could be all over the map depending on your budget. Probably my best deal so far is a $250 reel for $65 that is is very good condition. A steal. 
Once you get to the $100 range you have several nice reels to choose from...new.....and even more used.
ratherbfishin1 reply :
I will also say go used... look on the flee market forum, you can find some good deals.
LionHeart reply :
Diawa Diego CT on EBay right now for 70 bucks. Done
Boomstick reply :
I have a Black Max and it's not too bad. While it retails for $50, you can find them on sale as low as $30 and they're definitely worth it.
I'd also look at Kast King if I'm on a budget.
sdsc357 reply :
2nd on the fuego ct. Wait til there is a coupon, you can get it for about $55.
burrows reply :
On 10/2/2018 at 8:47 AM, LionHeart said:Diawa Diego CT on EBay right now for 70 bucks. Done
I seen it for 62 bucks on amazon yesterday. I’m assuming you’re talking about the fuego
DINK WHISPERER reply :
Fuego ct
LionHeart reply :
Lol, Diego.
Mike F reply :
The lews American hero was my first casting combo, the tan desert camo one, I’ve since upgraded to tournament mb’s, but the reel from that first combo is a fricken workhorse and casts really nice in my opinion, it’s a little slower and lacks the fit and finish and some of the bells and whistles, but it does it’s one job quite well IMO, not sure where to buy it as a standalone reel but I imagine it’d only be around $50. I also had a black max, and in my opinion the lews hero reel is much nicer as far as performance and feel, only downside: it’s kindof ugly and doesn’t look good on really any rod lol.
greentrout reply :
KK Royale Legend baitcaster out of the box new 39.98 best seller Amazon is a compelling option...
good fishing...
Lead Head reply :
Can't say enough good things about the fuego ct at its price point ($50-$60 on Ebay). Do a forum search and read up on it. Pretty much a tatula without t-wing.
Oregon Native reply :
Kast King....Speed Demon
Crankin4Bass reply :
Fuego CT is a solid reel for the money. It's surprising how good it is for the price. I had a BlackMax as my first baitcaster. The Fuego is miles better.
There is also the new Shimano SLX at $100
TBAG reply :
I'm a Shimano fanboi and most of my BC reels are Curado K's but I decided to grab a Daiwa Fuego CT last week when there was an ebay code, so got it for $50. I haven't fished with it yet but spooled it up and put it on my jerkbait rod and tossed a practice plug around the yard. So far it seems like it's going to be an awesome reel, especially for the price.
burrows reply :
If I needed a reel and only had 100 bucks I would get the shimano SLX...
BassCats reply :
Go check out the flea market. Someone is switching to left hand and is selling tons of great reels at great prices.
JFlynn97 reply :
On 10/2/2018 at 8:23 AM, JoshFromBolo said:For cheaper reels, I would definitely look at Abu Garcia. Specifically the Black Max which is 50 dollars or the Silvermax which is like 10 more dollars. Me personally, I have the silvermax and I love it, if you search them up though there is extensive reviews on both reels and they get outstanding ratings.
Agreed with the silvermax, the thing is an absolute workhorse. 3 years now with minimal maintenance (i'm really bad when it comes to maintaining my reels) and it still works like a beast. But like many others have said in this thread, you can find a Fuego CT brand new on ebay for 60-70 bucks and it's fantastic. I love them so much I have one in each gear ratio (the 6.3:1, 7.3:1 and 8.1:1), easily some of my favorite that I own
Buffdaddy54 reply :
I've got a Fuego CT 8:1:1 Brand New I will sell you for 55.00 plus shipping. PM me if interested.LEFTHAND RETRIEVE
GeekFisher reply :
I love my new kastking assassin and Royale Legend Elite. I'm relatively New with baitcasters and can cast the RLE a mile. I had more trouble dialing the Assassin in but end up with good results with casting distance w/o backlashes even in high winds and this reel is LIGHT ! Both are comfy in my average size hands. They replaced Shimano's in my still incomplete arsenal !
FishTank reply :
It depends on your budget but I have liked my Shimano Caenan so far. It has been a no-frills reel but it works and gets the job done. I picked mine up for $60 on Amazon but I do see they are now priced higher.
shovelmouth83 reply :
i liked the shakespear alpha. 6.3 i bought it close to 7 years ago and was doing good then the line leveler sprocket inside lost some teeth. i like it but i bought lews reels and they are my go to reel.but i am going to try some diawa.
haggard reply :
$99 Shimano Caenan with 6.3:1 ratio.
My first baitcasting reel, bought it a year ago knowing I wanted Not Junk but not over the top. Since then I've bought several "nicer" reels but last month thought I'd use it again for old time's sake. There's something about it that just feels great, so comfortable.
High enough quality to instill confidence, but low enough quality to not obsess over it. This translates to focusing on the fishing, not the reel.
Joshua van Wyk reply :
The best reel under a $100 is without a doubt a Daiwa Fuego ct. You can buy this reel sub $60 on eBay and if you don't like eBay it can be had for sub $70 on amazon. This really an amazing reel for what you pay!
On 10/2/2018 at 7:09 PM, Crankin4Bass said:Fuego CT is a solid reel for the money. It's surprising how good it is for the price. I had a BlackMax as my first baitcaster. The Fuego is miles better.
There is also the new Shimano SLX at $100
I have both the fuego and slx, in my opinion the slx is a more "refined" reel, but the fuego definetly out performs it and it can be had for half the price.
burrows reply :
On 10/4/2018 at 8:30 PM, Joshua van Wyk said:The best reel under a $100 is without a doubt a Daiwa Fuego ct. You can buy this reel sub $60 on eBay and if you don't like eBay it can be had for sub $70 on amazon. This really an amazing reel for what you pay!
The best or one of the best ? Because I’ll take a casitas over a fuego any day I don’t care if that fuego has an aluminum frame. I’m not saying it’s not one of the best but it’s certainly not the best. One of the best options for 100 reel is the slx and it’s evident as one tw bestsellers.
Joshua van Wyk reply :
On 10/4/2018 at 8:37 PM, Burrows said:The best or one of the best ? Because I’ll take a casitas over a fuego any day I don’t care if that fuego has an aluminum frame. I’m not saying it’s not one of the best but it’s certainly not the best. One of the best options for 100 reel is the slx and it’s evident as one tw bestsellers.
Imo the fuego is the best. I've fished the slx, casitas, and the fuego and the fuego is my preference. And the fact that I can get a fuego for half the price makes it better despite the casitas being able to cast a little bit farther.
NYWayfarer reply :
Still no word from the OP on what "budget" means to him. To me it is something in the sub-$50 range. If that's what I had to spend I would get a Kastking Spartacus. This reel and the Kastking Stealth are what brought me back to baitcasting.
Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :
On 10/4/2018 at 8:37 PM, Burrows said:One of the best options for 100 reel is the slx and it’s evident as one tw bestsellers.
This one?
Too bad if the accent color is red I would buy 2-3 more. Anyhow I plan to get one more when next sale come.
My take on the SLX is pretty decent if you look pass that feeling of cheap black matte. The casting is just okay (compare to 70 and bantam) just like old VBS system where I have 2 on 4 off and spool tension pretty loose. The drag is okay but I can upgrade to cabbon drag pretty cheap. It feel more solid that those of Abu Blackmax but at double the cost.
The most important part and why I bought this reel is size and comfort. I can never find a reel that small and comfort to palm like Shimano. Daiwa Fuego is huge and heavy I don't mind those for moving bait but anything else that required a lot of shaking/twisting SLX win hand down.
To OP the best of me might not be your and the cheapest might not be the best option. Buying a reel just like small investment, you want the reel that suit you and last you for a long time and still hold some value when you wanna trade up.
Joshua van Wyk reply :
On 10/4/2018 at 8:37 PM, Burrows said:The best or one of the best ? Because I’ll take a casitas over a fuego any day I don’t care if that fuego has an aluminum frame. I’m not saying it’s not one of the best but it’s certainly not the best. One of the best options for 100 reel is the slx and it’s evident as one tw bestsellers.
The reason the fuego isn't one of tw bestseller is because who would buy a reel for $100 when it can be had for $60-$70 on Amazon? And I got my fuego on eBay for $47 with a promo code. This is cheaper than a kast king assassin and is a much better reel!
burrows reply :
On 10/5/2018 at 10:29 AM, Joshua van Wyk said:The reason the fuego isn't one of tw bestseller is because who would buy a reel for $100 when it can be had for $60-$70 on Amazon? And I got my fuego on eBay for $47 with a promo code. This cheaper than a kast king assassin and is a much better reel!
That’s cool bro but the fuego just got fuegoed by the slx...
Joshua van Wyk reply :
On 10/5/2018 at 10:33 AM, Burrows said:That’s cool bro but the fuego just got fuegoed by the slx...
I fish both, and if I had to choose one it would be the Fuego. That is my opinion.
burrows reply :
On 10/5/2018 at 10:35 AM, Joshua van Wyk said:I fish both, and if I had to choose one it would be the Fuego. That is my opinion.
Well you obviously prefer magnetic brakes that’s cool I prefer centrifugal brakes and I cast into the wind no problem no backlash whatsoever and a further cast.
Joshua van Wyk reply :
On 10/5/2018 at 10:40 AM, Burrows said:Well you obviously prefer magnetic brakes that’s cool I prefer centrifugal brakes and I cast into the wind no problem no backlash whatsoever and a further cast.
I feel like I can't get the slx to it's full potential. I have 2 brakes on 4 off for almost everything and a lose spool tension. It casts far but not as far as my Fuego, I think I set up my fuego different than most. I have very lose spool tension and keep my external brake on 7.
J.Vincent reply :
Figure out a way to get two different reels; you won't be happy swapping reels ; plus with the presentations you mentioned you would want a 6.3 to 6.6 for medium cranking and a 7.3 for Jigs/Frogs.
Smalls reply :
I’ve got like 3 Garcia pro max reels. I think the reel is like $70, and the combo is $80. The rod is...meh. Better than a Berkeley Lightning. It’s a tough rod, just don’t expect a STEEZE. But for a combo, the reel is gold, and you basically get a free rod. I actually don’t understand how they sell the black max, when with the pro max you at least get a half decent reel for just $30 more
burrows reply :
It’s funny how we’ve gone on and on and OP still hasn’t even replied or mentioned his budget yet ????
NYWayfarer reply :
On 10/5/2018 at 10:29 AM, Joshua van Wyk said:The reason the fuego isn't one of tw bestseller is because who would buy a reel for $100 when it can be had for $60-$70 on Amazon? And I got my fuego on eBay for $47 with a promo code. This is cheaper than a kast king assassin and is a much better reel!
The lesson to take away from this statement is never pay full price for a reel. Even Kastking runs 10-20% off deals combined with ebay coupons make them practically a steal. My KK Speed Demon cost me $35 shipped and is still one of my go to baitcasters.
Joshua van Wyk reply :
On 10/5/2018 at 8:44 PM, NYWayfarer said:The lesson to take away from this statement is never pay full price for a reel. Even Kastking runs 10-20% off deals combined with ebay coupons make them practically a steal. My KK Speed Demon cost me $35 shipped and is still one of my go to baitcasters.
Agreed! I've never paid full price on a reel ever!
pauldconyers reply :
On 10/5/2018 at 3:24 PM, Burrows said:
It’s funny how we’ve gone on and on and OP still hasn’t even replied or mentioned his budget yet ????
Budget friendly obviously doesn't mean $500. Most higher end reels can run around $300 so it would not mean that either. In this scenario I would say $80 and under. Most people had no problem recommending something in that range. Yes all people's budgets are different but when higher end items are around $300 I would think it would stand to reason under $100 was sort of implied.
J Francho reply :
On 10/6/2018 at 1:57 AM, pauldconyers said:I would think it would stand to reason under $100 was sort of implied.
I would too. I like my Assassin. It's held up well for two seasons.
GeekFisher reply :
On 10/6/2018 at 2:20 AM, J Francho said:I would too. I like my Assassin. It's held up well for two seasons.
I first thought my Assassin was harder to dial in than my Royale Legend Elite until I found out the centrifugal brake ???? I'm so dumb sometimes ???? Really got to RTFM here and then ! Its a mater of personal preference but I also like the matte black finish, and it's grippier than slick clear finishes, which help. Happy to read it held so far 
bayvalle reply :
I would rather put money into a good rod than reel. After purchasing a KK Royale legend ($34) I liked it enough to get 2 more to replace some older reels and spend the money I saved on higher quality rods. The KK does everything I'd want a reel to do.
BDR reply :
There is no better bang for your buck than Kastking. Speed Demon or Assasin are my two fav Baitcasters. Or if you need a 5.x gear ration the royal legend elite.
Maxximus Redneckus reply :
Are the fuegos aluminum framed and 60$ thats a deal for sure ..ive never had a issue with graphite frames some ppl have.IMO it just feels better all around with metal in hand
Crankin4Bass reply :
On 10/8/2018 at 12:32 PM, Maxximus Redneckus said:Are the fuegos aluminum framed and 60$ thats a deal for sure ..ive never had a issue with graphite frames some ppl have.IMO it just feels better all around with metal in hand
Yes. Aluminum frame with graphite or composite side plates. Feels solid for $60.
ChrisD46 reply :
Academy H2O Express Mettle MT2 : 6:3:1 , 1 piece aluminum frame , brass gears and 10 ball bearings for $60 but can be had for less on sale or year end clearance .
NYWayfarer reply :
As I mentioned previously in this thread, Kastking often runs sales.
If you click the Kastking link on the right side --------->
and underneath the Speed Demon advertisement click on the word fishing reels it brings up a menu of all their reels (Spinning and Casters) on that menu you will see a lot of reels have 10% off coupons and some have money off coupons, like the Assassin has a $15 off coupon available.
LCG reply :
Daiwa fuego ct.
Bluebasser86 reply :
I've been really happy with my KK Assassin. 2 years of heavy use and going strong and still one of the furthest casting reels in my boat.
Oregon Native reply :
After using a couple of the KK....they are going to be on my Christmas list. Not a fancy name ......but not a fancy price.
TBAG reply :
As mentioned earlier in this thread, all my BC and spinning reels are Shimanos but I picked up a Fuego CT a few weeks ago off the bay because it was under $50 and I needed another reel for a new rod I just got. It has gotten rave reviews so I decided to buy into the hype. I still haven't fished with it but it seems awesome.
I would have picked up a SLX but the LH retrieves aren't releasing until end of year. I've got one preordered and am anxious to try it.
But to OP (if he ever returns) I would recommend the Fuego CT.
pauldconyers reply :
On 10/11/2018 at 7:54 PM, TBAG said:As mentioned earlier in this thread, all my BC and spinning reels are Shimanos but I picked up a Fuego CT a few weeks ago off the bay because it was under $50 and I needed another reel for a new rod I just got. It has gotten rave reviews so I decided to buy into the hype. I still haven't fished with it but it seems awesome.
I would have picked up a SLX but the LH retrieves aren't releasing until end of year. I've got one preordered and am anxious to try it.
But to OP (if he ever returns) I would recommend the Fuego CT.
I went for the Fuego CT in the 8.1 speed. I was kind of on the fence about it but Saturday was just walking through Scheels and randomly they had that exact model on sale for $49 and for that price I felt I could not pass on it. We have had a ton of rain around here lately so I have not gotten to really try it out much. I did sneak out to a local pond to just throw it a few times. I think my Lew's casts a hair further but not a big deal. Looking forward to trying it out more and playing with the settings.
Joshua van Wyk reply :
On 10/12/2018 at 10:58 AM, pauldconyers said:I went for the Fuego CT in the 8.1 speed. I was kind of on the fence about it but Saturday was just walking through Scheels and randomly they had that exact model on sale for $49 and for that price I felt I could not pass on it. We have had a ton of rain around here lately so I have not gotten to really try it out much. I did sneak out to a local pond to just throw it a few times. I think my Lew's casts a hair further but not a big deal. Looking forward to trying it out more and playing with the settings.
You may or may not know this, but Daiwas have a very specific way they need to be set up for maximum distance. I have mine with the spool tension set to where there is a little bit of side to side play, and I start with the external dial at 15 and work your way down.
scaleface reply :
I broke the thumb bar off a daiwa and they are on back order so I needed a new reel . i just ordered the KastKing Assasin with a 15 dollar off coupon . 45 dollars total .
Shaners reply :
Daiwa Fuego CT.
scaleface reply :
Got my Assassin in the mail today and I am returning it for exchange . Its not engaging properly after the clutch bar is pushed . It doesnt do it every time, about once every 15 pushes .
ItsHardwick reply :
On 10/12/2018 at 7:58 PM, Joshua van Wyk said:You may or may not know this, but Daiwas have a very specific way they need to be set up for maximum distance. I have mine with the spool tension set to where there is a little bit of side to side play, and I start with the external dial at 15 and work your way down.
Please explain. I’ve never heard this.
Joshua van Wyk reply :
On 10/17/2018 at 3:10 AM, ItsHardwick said:Please explain. I’ve never heard this.
So your spool tension is the little dial next to your drag star. You adjust it to slow down your spool. With magforce braking systems that dial is supposed to be looser than normal. Usually you set up a reel so that the bait lowers slowly and doesn't overrun when it hits the ground. This works but you don't get maximum distance. Instead you adjust it until your spool just clicks slightly when you move it back and forth.
ItsHardwick reply :
Ahh yeah. That’s how I do pretty much all of mine anyways haha.
TKFactory reply :
On 10/2/2018 at 9:41 AM, Mike F said:The lews American hero was my first casting combo, the tan desert camo one, I’ve since upgraded to tournament mb’s, but the reel from that first combo is a fricken workhorse and casts really nice in my opinion, it’s a little slower and lacks the fit and finish and some of the bells and whistles, but it does it’s one job quite well IMO, not sure where to buy it as a standalone reel but I imagine it’d only be around $50. I also had a black max, and in my opinion the lews hero reel is much nicer as far as performance and feel, only downside: it’s kindof ugly and doesn’t look good on really any rod lol.
I agree that it is a work horse. Sure is. I mean almost to the point off being better than "high" end reels. I disagree that it is ugly. I think it looks pretty darn awesome. And the plus side is that when you buy the reel you are supporting the military which is awesome for Lews to do.
Fishingmickey reply :
Shimano Caenen or one step up the Casitas.
JustALineWetter reply :
When my old Ambassadeur reel finally gave up the ghost this spring, I got a Pflueger President. Filled with 50# Power Pro, it never let me down when punching heavy jigs into growth. Having had Pflueger reels for years, I'm sticking with them.
Koz reply :
I did not want to spend a lot on my first baitcaster and bought a Lew's American Hero combo and it was and still is a good reel for the price. That reel is still in my arsenal, but I gave the rod to my son for his new reel. Last week he spent some of his hard earned summer chores money on a new BPS Formula Limited reel that he got for $50.
I haven't tried his reel yet, but he was using my American Hero and he said the BPS reel is much smoother than the AH. FWIW, he just became a teenager and is in that moody stage where everything - including fishing - is now lame. But after using his new BPS reel he commented that he liked it so much he would have to get back into fishing a lot again.
BassWhole! reply :
On 10/9/2018 at 5:26 PM, ChrisD46 said:Academy H2O Express Mettle MT2 : 6:3:1 , 1 piece aluminum frame , brass gears and 10 ball bearings for $60 but can be had for less on sale or year end clearance .
It's $40 right now. The black Max can be had for $35 if you shop around. I have fished both these quite a bit, and they held up well, and neither will be a good excuse why you aren't catching.
greentrout reply :
On 12/8/2018 at 1:05 PM, Koz said:I did not want to spend a lot on my first baitcaster and bought a Lew's American Hero combo and it was and still is a good reel for the price. That reel is still in my arsenal, but I gave the rod to my son for his new reel. Last week he spent some of his hard earned summer chores money on a new BPS Formula Limited reel that he got for $50.
I haven't tried his reel yet, but he was using my American Hero and he said the BPS reel is much smoother than the AH. FWIW, he just became a teenager and is in that moody stage where everything - including fishing - is now lame. But after using his new BPS reel he commented that he liked it so much he would have to get back into fishing a lot again.
own this reel...not the limited...got it bout a yr. ago...light...7 oz....fits in palm...ipt 30"...7:3...12 lbs. max drag...use it for bank fishing and on small private waters in a jon boat...casts well with minimal backlash with dual brake system...paid for it on sale 50 dollars no shipping charge... not as tight as other more expensive reels but should hold up well for my style of fishing...
good fishing...
related Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic
previous topic
most viewed Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic
© 2024 - fishing.qciss.net. All Rights Reserved.