Best Low End Aluminum Frame Bait Cast Reel ? 2025
ChrisD46 reply :
While I have toyed with the idea of trying a Kast King bait cast reel - I can't get past the idea of them not having an aluminum frame (to minimize reel body flex and ensure long term gear alignment ) . That said , what are your favorite lower end bait cast reels with all aluminum one piece frames ?
Happybeerbuzz reply :
Daiwa Fuego CT. It’s a $55-60 reel on eBay when there is a discount code available. Otherwise it is $65+.
burrows reply :
rite now the most affordable most durable reel is probably the diawa fuego on amozon for 63 bucks.
BoatSquirrel reply :
This makes 3 for the Daiwa Fuego. I got one a month ago, have fished it half a dozen times and am very impressed with the ease of casting and control. As usual with Daiwa, great product and excellent bang for your buck.
NYWayfarer reply :
On 12/12/2018 at 3:05 PM, ChrisD46 said:While I have toyed with the idea of trying a Kast King bait cast reel - I can't get past the idea of them not having an aluminum frame (to minimize reel body flex and ensure long term gear alignment ) . That said , what are your favorite lower end bait cast reels with all aluminum one piece frames ?
Kastking has an Aluminum framed reel, the Spartacus Maximus https://www.amazon.com/KastKing-Spartacus-Maximus-Profile-Baitcasting/dp/B06XW8T28M
It also comes in Seafoam Green color https://www.amazon.com/KastKing-Spartacus-Maximus-Metal-Baitcasting/dp/B07J4QZDYW
Low end to me is $100 and less. My vote would be for the Lew's LFS. You can find this reel on sale most of the time in the $60 - $70 range.
Joshua van Wyk reply :
Fuego ct, best in its price class!
Catt reply :
I'm starting my second year with a Lew’s LFS SSG1H 6.8:1.
It's spooled with 65# braid, 7' MH Fast rod, 3/4 oz tungsten weight, & Owner 4X Jungle Flipping Hook 4/0.
This little reel has performed flawlessly in heavy cover & larger than average bass.
For $99 it's worth every penny ????
ChrisD46 reply :
Thanks for the replies :
*Currently on Amazon the 7:3:1 Fuego CT is $73 while the 8:1 is $74 .
*I have heard complaints that lower end Lew's bait cast reels long term quality is not so good .
*The Fuego CT has only 5+1 ball bearings vs. the 10+1 ball bearings of the Kast King (hope the Fuego CT has enough) .
*Found the Academy H2O Mettle on sale for $39 , however I need faster than a 6:3:1 gear ratio .
I have Daiwa spinning reels and love them - never and issue and built well .
I have not tried a Daiwa bait cast reel before (of course hear great things about the Tatula) .
If posters here agree that the Fuego CT is a great value reel - then the search is on for one lower than the Amazon $73 ~ $74 dollar range . If not , then the price is certainly better than the $99 showing currently at TW .
Catt reply :
On 12/12/2018 at 10:04 PM, ChrisD46 said:*I have heard complaints that lower end Lew's bait cast reels long term quality is not so good .
My youngest son has a Lew's American Hero Combo going on 3 years old without a single issue.
My grandson has a Lew's® Laser TXS also going 3 years old & again without a single issue. That boy puts that reel though bass that most adults!
Keep em clean & probably lubricated ????
NYWayfarer reply :
Lew's LFS on sale at American Legacy Fishing for $69 with a 10% discount if you sign up for their newsletter.
https://www.americanlegacyfishing.com/lew-s-speed-spool-lfs-casting-reels-51416.html
Joshua van Wyk reply :
On 12/12/2018 at 10:04 PM, ChrisD46 said:Thanks for the replies :
*Currently on Amazon the 7:3:1 Fuego CT is $73 while the 8:1 is $74 .
*I have heard complaints that lower end Lew's bait cast reels long term quality is not so good .
*The Fuego CT has only 5+1 ball bearings vs. the 10+1 ball bearings of the Kast King (hope the Fuego CT has enough) .
*Found the Academy H2O Mettle on sale for $39 , however I need faster than a 6:3:1 gear ratio .
I have Daiwa spinning reels and love them - never and issue and built well .
I have not tried a Daiwa bait cast reel before (of course hear great things about the Tatula) .
If posters here agree that the Fuego CT is a great value reel - then the search is on for one lower than the Amazon $73 ~ $74 dollar range . If not , then the price is certainly better than the $99 showing currently at TW .
https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-2017-Daiwa-Fuego-CT-7-3-1-Casting-Reel-FGCT100HS/272610084090?epid=566108388&hash=item3f78d3c4fa:g:R34AAOSwm7pZyreu
$60! Sold from American Legacy Fishing.
Boomstick reply :
As others have already hinted at, I'm fairly sure the Daiwa Fuego has a monopoly on reels that meet your requirements.
Hook2Jaw reply :
You can find the Fuego CTs on eBay for as low as $59.something shipped when I looked about two days ago. I've had no problems buying from those sellers. Both the 6 and 7 speed are that price, the 8 gear ratio is about 65.
Welcome to fuegoresource.com, guys!
Also, anything @Catt says can be taken to the bank, so I'm sure those Lew's are exceptional bang for the buck as well.
The only experience I've had with Kastking went like this, "hey man, can I try that speed demon," followed by a high pitched squeal from the amazing 10bb system.
HazeRVA reply :
Another vote for Fuego CT! Have 2 and love them.
burrows reply :
On 12/12/2018 at 9:35 PM, Catt said:I'm starting my second year with a Lew’s LFS SSG1H 6.8:1.
I also have owned this reel and can honestly say it is a work horse of a reel with an aluminum frame its extremely durable and light weight. I don't think you can find it new for less than 100 bucks but if you can its a definite second to the fuego probably even more durable but not as good a caster.
^this is the picture of it when I posted it for sale after three years of pretty hard abuse^
georgeyew reply :
On 12/12/2018 at 10:04 PM, ChrisD46 said:
*The Fuego CT has only 5+1 ball bearings vs. the 10+1 ball bearings of the Kast King (hope the Fuego CT has enough) .
Don't put too much emphasis on the 10+1 bearings. My Kastking Spartacus has 6 bearings in just the 2 knobs. I am not bashing it. It's a great reel.
new2BC4bass reply :
On 12/12/2018 at 11:56 PM, georgeyew said:Don't put too much emphasis on the 10+1 bearings. My Kastking Spartacus has 6 bearings in just the 2 knobs. I am not bashing it. It's a great reel.
I think the old greenie Curados had something like 5 bearings. Many are still going strong today. Great workhorse reels. I never even consider the number of bearings a reel has when I go to buy one.
GReb reply :
My vote is the LFS. I own the Fuego too but haven’t really cared for it. Not as smooth or ergodynamic as the Lews
GrumpyOlPhartte reply :
While I can’t hold a candle (even a match) to Catt’s experience, I have been using a Lew’s LFS for three years. I’ve dropped it, drowned it, pulled up logs with it, and stepped on it. Heck, I’ve even caught bass with it. It’s still as smooth as ever and as I submit this, Tackle Warehouse is offering them for $70.00. I never regretted paying full price so if ya want to give it a try, now would be a good time!
Tizi reply :
Lew's Tournament MB is on sale at American Legacy for $99.99. the LFS is a good reel, however, the MB is better in my opinion.
LonnieP reply :
Another vote for the Fuego CT
GrumpyOlPhartte reply :
@Tizi: I have both and definitely agree. Neither reel is a slouch; however, given my druthers, I would grab the Tournament MB for a hundred bucks! Still, if budget comes into play, the LFS for $70.00 is, in my mind, a darned good deal.
BaitFinesse reply :
Daiwa Fuego CT or Shimano SLX would both be great. Don't get worked up over ball bearing counts. It is a marketing ploy and some brands stuff excessive amounts of crummy ball bearings in the handle knobs just to rack up ball bearing count to persuade low information buyers into purchasing their product.
smalljaw67 reply :
The Lews LFS speed spool is by far one of the best $99.99 reels I ever used. It is an aluminum framed reel with really good performance and is a lot lighter than a Fuego CT. Just about every angler in my old bass club has at least 1 of those and I know a guy that got 4 after using the one he got for his son, and 3 years later and all those guys still have and use them with no issues.
LOTR88 reply :
Another vote for Lews, I have both the LFS and the Tournament MB, both are great. The MB casts a little smoother and has a dual breaking system. If you can swing the MB I would go for it but the LFS is a solid reel.
chattooga_ basser reply :
Another vote for the Lew's LFS series. I bought 3 of them in 2016 and they have been taking a beating and still performing great.
TBAG reply :
I'm a Shimano fanboy and that's all I've ever owned when it comes to baitcast or spinning reels. I own Curado K's, and Stradic Ci4's. That said I bought a Fuego CT off Ebay when it was on sale for $50 after the recommendation from this forum. I didn't need it but was curious about Daiwa and from all the praise it gets here. I've only fished with it a couple times but so far it is amazing and even crazier that it was $50.
So, another vote for the Fuego CT.
Happybeerbuzz reply :
On 12/13/2018 at 10:34 PM, TBAG said:I'm a Shimano fanboy and that's all I've ever owned when it comes to baitcast or spinning reels. I own Curado K's, and Stradic Ci4's. That said I bought a Fuego CT off Ebay when it was on sale for $50 after the recommendation from this forum. I didn't need it but was curious about Daiwa and from all the praise it gets here. I've only fished with it a couple times but so far it is amazing and even crazier that it was $50.
So, another vote for the Fuego CT.
It's the low price of the reel that makes it so special. Sure, when it was released, it went for $99.99 and some places still sell it at that price next to the SLX, LFS, Casitas, etc. However, the reality is that there are many places where it is in the sub $65 range which puts the Daiwa Fuego CT in its own category as far as I'm concerned.
Nathan.bass.canada reply :
On 12/12/2018 at 10:04 PM, ChrisD46 said:Thanks for the replies :
*Currently on Amazon the 7:3:1 Fuego CT is $73 while the 8:1 is $74 .
*I have heard complaints that lower end Lew's bait cast reels long term quality is not so good .
*The Fuego CT has only 5+1 ball bearings vs. the 10+1 ball bearings of the Kast King (hope the Fuego CT has enough) .
*Found the Academy H2O Mettle on sale for $39 , however I need faster than a 6:3:1 gear ratio .
I have Daiwa spinning reels and love them - never and issue and built well .
I have not tried a Daiwa bait cast reel before (of course hear great things about the Tatula) .
If posters here agree that the Fuego CT is a great value reel - then the search is on for one lower than the Amazon $73 ~ $74 dollar range . If not , then the price is certainly better than the $99 showing currently at TW .
I would never take bearing count in consideration. Typically, reel companies actually place more bearing in the reel to lower the tolerances on the parts they make. More bearings usually point to a lower end reel, they also add weight. There is exeption of this in very high end reels.
Nathan,
burrows reply :
????I only buy reels with 20 plus bearings ...
MAN reply :
The H20 Xpress Mettle reel has an all aluminum frame and is cheaper than the Fuego. Its on sale right now for $39.99. Hands down the winner in the price game on aluminum framed reels.
https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/h2o-xpress™-mettle-mt2-baitcast-reel-right-handed#repChildCatid=903506
BaitFinesse reply :
On 12/21/2018 at 1:13 AM, MAN said:The H20 Xpress Mettle reel has an all aluminum frame and is cheaper than the Fuego. Its on sale right now for $39.99. Hands down the winner in the price game on aluminum framed reels.
https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/h2o-xpress™-mettle-mt2-baitcast-reel-right-handed#repChildCatid=903506
Dated mystery OEM regional house brand reel or Daiwa Fuego CT. Not a hard decision for me and it shouldn't be.
Joshua van Wyk reply :
On 12/21/2018 at 1:13 AM, MAN said:The H20 Xpress Mettle reel has an all aluminum frame and is cheaper than the Fuego. Its on sale right now for $39.99. Hands down the winner in the price game on aluminum framed reels.
https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/h2o-xpress™-mettle-mt2-baitcast-reel-right-handed#repChildCatid=903506
I'd still take the ct even if that reel was $9.99!
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