Most Dependable Spinning Reel @ 200$ & 100$ 2024
Alonerankin2 reply :
I am interested in the dependability factor here..
I know shimanos are great casters, I haven't had
Great luck with dependability... So what reels are
Holding up very well? I am looking @ 1000 and or a bigger/ size if its light.. Eg.. Magnesium etc..
What has you're recent (2 years or less) experience shown at the 200$ and 100$ range.
jbsoonerfan reply :
Do you have your fire proof suit on? Because you have probably started a fire storm with the Shimano groupies.
dwtaylor reply :
While it was good the first 2 years, last year my Patriarch took a dump. It just started to get sloppy and fall apart. The bail spring kept popping out and it wouldn't click on some casts.
I had the thing professionally cleaned and lubed on a regular basis.
With that said, I bought the thing at a college angler discount and was very happy for what I paid.
Given the choice again, I would go with a Stradic CI4. You should be able to find the discontinued models in the $150-$200 range. Nice light reels.
Alonerankin2 reply :
On 5/3/2014 at 9:17 AM, jbsoonerfan said:Do you have your fire proof suit on? Because you have probably started a fire storm with the Shimano groupies.
ROFLMAO!!! Yea probably!
Tywithay reply :
Best I've used in that range is the Stradic FJ. I've tried the Pflueger Supreme XT and Patriarch, both crapped out in less than a year. The Daiwas held up, but didn't manage line as well as the Shimanos. I've had too many issues with Abu casters to try a spinning reel, so can't speak for those.
jonnyblazex reply :
My brother bought a Patriarch spinning reel a couple years ago, and now it is pretty worn out and sloppy. He took pretty good care of it too, but I guess nothing lasts forever. I just picked up a shimano stradic ci4 plus, it is a very nice reel, nice smooth powerful drag, and comfortable ergonomics, as well as super light weight for its size in a 2500, it weighs less than most reels that are the next size down. I liked the 2500 size better than the smaller reels, because it packs a much stronger drag, I believe it was something like 14lbs, compared to only 6 to 8 on a small reel. The gear ratio was also nice, 6.0:1. I also have a 50 dollar Shimano Sonora, the orange colored one. For the price, it cant be beat. I have been fishing it for over 4 years, and it is still as smooth as day one. I just do seasonal maintence at the beginning of the season, and clean it off when needed as it gets dirty.
Alonerankin2 reply :
So far seems as shimano is still getting the nod
Anyone else?
SirSnookalot reply :
There is no scientific evidence what's the most durable, we can only address our past experiences. I don't think too many small reels used in freshwater are going to wear down or need repairs, unless you are banging out 10# peacock bass every single day. My 3 Supremes have never needed any kind of service, nor has my medalist and arbor used in saltwater. That is a claim I can't make for other brands. I have had constant issues with some brands, for the most part the reel failures have had nothing to do with saltwater elements or size of the fish.
For some reason people seem to think a stronger max drag is important, I did at one time myself. Conventional wisdom tells us to set the drag based on the mono pound test, braid relative to mono diameter, the drag with 10# line shouldn't be more than 3#, no need for 12-14# of drag. The tighter the drag with lighter line and a heavier fish on only increase the chance of the line breaking.
iceintheveins reply :
I am a Pflueger man, and I have five presidents, they make up the bulk of my spinning reel arsenal. They just seem to be much better quality than Shimano is now, and I used to really be into Shimano. I still have two Sedonas that work reasonably well, but go with the Pflueger. The Supreme MGX is a great $100 reel.
Hogsticker reply :
Older Daiwa Tierra, Advantage, Sol are about as bulletproof as you're gonna get. Rest assured
Hi Salenity reply :
I'd love to buy those old junk Patriarchs from you guys. Send me a pm! 
BassinLou reply :
I have had a shimano stradic CI4 for several years now and its working just like the first day I bought it. I have yet to have it serviced. Just saying. 
aavery2 reply :
I have a Patriarch and a Supreme XT both have been fantastic reels, as mentioned above, to anyone wanting to part with your 1 year old worn out Pfluegers, shoot me a PM. No where else are you going to get a reel with a Magnesium frame, extremely smooth, and good line management for 100 dollars.
frogflogger reply :
not relevant but my cardinal 4 is still smooth as butter - it's older than many reading this
Arv reply :
X2. All I use are daiwa tierra's on my spinning rods. Pfleuger may also be worth checking out as well if you don't care for shimano.On 5/3/2014 at 7:44 PM, Hogsticker said:Older Daiwa Tierra, Advantage, Sol are about as bulletproof as you're gonna get. Rest assured
0119 reply :
There is still a chance to get that excellent Cardinal 4. A limited edition is available procured by Simon Shimomura himself. But at $400 plus I can't swing it. O.P. I see no durability in shimanos either and will never buy one again. CI4 and FJ have disappointed me. I'm thrilled with my Daiwa Lexa, Coastal and Ballistic. Perform better, are tougher and the company supports me, something shimano never did. I'm also very happy with the Abu Revo spinners, perhaps the smoothest drag out there, rivaling high end fly reels.
Alonerankin2 reply :
On 5/3/2014 at 9:50 PM, 119 said:There is still a chance to get that excellent Cardinal 4. A limited edition is available procured by Simon Shimomura himself. But at $400 plus I can't swing it. O.P. I see no durability in shimanos either and will never buy one again. CI4 and FJ have disappointed me. I'm thrilled with my Daiwa Lexa, Coastal and Ballistic. Perform better, are tougher and the company supports me, something shimano never did. I'm also very happy with the Abu Revo spinners, perhaps the smoothest drag out there, rivaling high end fly reels.
You Guys referring to the 70's circa cardinal 4?
I was about 13 or so and if it was green? I think..?
Was considered the must have spinner... Rear drag knob... Man... Always wanted that reel... Never got one.... Seems like guys are getting good copy's or not.... I like my shimano baitcasters real well..... But.. Spinning? Yea... No so much... Decisions, Decisions...
bigbill reply :
My two top reels for me so far have been the okuma epixor and the fin-nor lite models. The fin-nor lite is no longer offered but the fin-nor are awesome reels. The okuma epixor is another awesome spinning reel. I been using these spinning reels for over a decade now probably two decades. If using these reels for three months straight fishing everyday for years it should count and say something about there quality and reliability.
I pounded these reels and they came back wanting more. I still have my Wal-Mart quantum too these were my first decent spinning reels. I do have a box of junk which I refuse to mention the brand but they were good for trout only.
My best spinning reels for under $100 are,
1. Okuma Epixor spinning reel. It's a 10 Ball bearing reel.
2. Fin-Nor spinning reel
3. Globe spinning reel it's a clone to the okuma
4. Viva spinning reel
These four reels have performed flawless for me. I'm still using them today. I can't say I fully life tested them because they haven't failed me yet. It's an on going test every year like I said for over a decade now. Keep in mind just because there not popular doesn't mean there not a quality reel.
Fin-nor manufactures those heavy duty saltwater gold reels we see used on tampon to sail fish to sword fish.
I like to test spinning reels priced between $50 to $100.
My PB of 10# was caught on a black beauty 6' spinning rod, with a Wal-Mart quantum spinning reel, using Excalibur silver thread copolymer line. Don't forget the number one thing that's most important is the quality of the line we use. I wore out this rod to the point the foam upper handle had a vertical crack in it from bending at the handle.
My very first trout fishing quality reels were the D.A.M. QUICK 110 & 110N UL spinning reels from the early '70's. These were flawless in operation and still like new. I stopped using them and put them away when I seen these $30 reels when they were new in an antique shop selling for $70 each. This tells me if we purchase good equipment it maybe worth more down the road when it becomes antique. I got old so fast my early fishing equipment is antique. Who knew?
0119 reply :
On 5/3/2014 at 11:46 PM, Alonerankin2 said:You Guys referring to the 70's circa cardinal 4?
I was about 13 or so and if it was green? I think..?
Was considered the must have spinner... Rear drag knob... Man... Always wanted that reel... Never got one.... Seems like guys are getting good copy's or not.... I like my shimano baitcasters real well..... But..
Spinning? Yea... No so much... Decisions, Decisions...
Yup the old green and white. Still the preferred reel of Ned Kehde an excellent writer for In-Fisherman.
SirSnookalot reply :
I agree with 0119, Shimano hasn't met my durability standards, I'd only buy a stradic if the price were about $120 for 4000 size don't think the reel is worth more than that. I don't compare out of the box performance with a reel used in continually over a period of time. I have to factor customer service and availability of parts. If a reel passes my saltwater use I have no fear of it being a good freshwater reel. 10 or 12# bass don't test a reel over time, how many that size will one catch on one reel.
I do believe Finor is under the Zebco/Quantum banner these days.
bigbill reply :
In salt water that's the roughest test a reel can endure.
I wished I purchased ten of those fin-nor lite reels back then there awesome.
Heavy usage in time does take its toll on cheaper equipment that's not really designed for 24/7 usage. My rod was bending at the lower section at the upper handle were it finally split.
I just used my PB setup as an example the line is the weakest link in our setups.
I been looking for a new fin nor spinning reel too.
Alonerankin2 reply :
On 5/4/2014 at 12:43 AM, SirSnookalot said:I agree with 0119, Shimano hasn't met my durability standards, I'd only buy a stradic if the price were about $120 for 4000 size don't think the reel is worth more than that. I don't compare out of the box performance with a reel used in continually over a period of time. I have to factor customer service and availability of parts. If a reel passes my saltwater use I have no fear of it being a good freshwater reel. 10 or 12# bass don't test a reel over time, how many that size will one catch on one reel.
I do believe Finor is under the Zebco/Quantum banner these days.
Yes , I see you're point here... There is no contest
Between Saltwater fish types and freshwater largemouth or smallmouth bass fishes.... Thereby requirements for freshwater use.. Would, I suppose, still have great need for a strong bail system? But the true need of a saltwater tuff reel
Vs.. A only freshwater small fish reel would be vastly different . In my case the reel would be only
For freshwater.... So it seems, for me at least.. Less is more.....?
SirSnookalot reply :
http://www.raleightacticalsupply.com/catalog/product.asp?pid=100204&ret_id=1377119
SirSnookalot reply :
On 5/4/2014 at 1:22 AM, Alonerankin2 said:Yes , I see you're point here... There is no contest
Between Saltwater fish types and freshwater largemouth or smallmouth bass fishes.... Thereby requirements for freshwater use.. Would, I suppose, still have great need for a strong bail system? But the true need of a saltwater tuff reel
Vs.. A only freshwater small fish reel would be vastly different . In my case the reel would be only
For freshwater.... So it seems, for me at least.. Less is more.....?
As I mentioned earlier I thought the symetre was smoother than the stradic, I like that reel and for me $99 is as much as I spend for freshwater.
Alpha Male reply :
Quantum Accurist or Smoke. or even a phlueger president.
0119 reply :
On 5/4/2014 at 1:22 AM, Alonerankin2 said:Yes , I see you're point here... There is no contest
Between Saltwater fish types and freshwater largemouth or smallmouth bass fishes.... Thereby requirements for freshwater use.. Would, I suppose, still have great need for a strong bail system? But the true need of a saltwater tuff reel
Vs.. A only freshwater small fish reel would be vastly different . In my case the reel would be only
For freshwater.... So it seems, for me at least.. Less is more.....?
I would not think anyone would want to limit themselves and purchase equipment not capable of of catching multiple species. I find flathead catfish much more of a fighter than saltwater fish the same size. Besides if a company cannot or will not make a reel capable of handling multi species and only capable of the minor effort of catching a bass, I would not buy anything they make. They wouldnt deserve your money.
Hogsticker reply :
Like I said. Older Daiwa reels. All aluminium, low gear ratios, sturdy air bail, fantastic line management, wobble free no matter how fast you turn the handle and under load. Nine ounce tanks built to last and perform. Nobody makes em like that anymore. Can't find one, get a Lexa.
0119 reply :
Very true
DTack reply :
My vote is a Shimano Symetre, I use the 3000 size. I don't do any other types of fishing with a spinning reel so I can't comment on that at all. With bass fishing I've had a couple Symetres for 3+ years and a couple of those years I fished 100+ days a year. Reel is still going strong and I feel like I've put it to the test on black bass, once again I don't have any other type of experience to compare it to. I have not personally used another brand of reel as I haven't felt the need as far as spinning tackle goes. Baitcasters I own a few Daiwas mixed in.
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
$100-$200 is a generous budget for a quality spinning reel. You can't go too far wrong with any of the major brands at that price point. The Pflueger spinning reels are a good bang for the buck in general. The Shimano A/R assembly is by far the best, I like the Daiwa Air-Bail. The thing I see in spinning reels is with the bail and rotor on the outside, they don't tolerate a lot of banging around and being laid in the dirt etc. On top of that, they tend to be neglected maintenance wise because casting is not mechanical like it is in a baitcaster.
new2BC4bass reply :
Can't give advice on the most dependable $200 reel. In the $100 price range consider old tech.....Daiwa Tournament SS. No infinite anti-reverse, but good solid reels that seem to hold up very well.
EDIT: Check out this thread. http://forums.tackletour.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=57408
jtharris3 reply :
Shimano FTW! Pick one in your budget range and have at it! My reel of choice is the Symetre. I've been buying them since the 80's and love them!
Oregon Native reply :
Not sure of cost but it was given to me as a gift and has been used hard. That is a Shimano Stella. Amazing reel
Alonerankin2 reply :
On 5/8/2014 at 7:22 AM, new2BC4bass said:Can't give advice on the most dependable $200 reel. In the $100 price range consider old tech.....Daiwa Tournament SS. No infinite anti-reverse, but good solid reels that seem to hold up very well.
EDIT: Check out this thread. http://forums.tackletour.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=57408
Nice tip.. Thanks
thehooligan reply :
Best reel in that price range is the stradic fj. A little heavy but its a workhorse. The ci4 and ci4+ are also amazing reels. I've witnessed my buddy who's very hard on his gear completely try to destroy his ci4 3000 and he can't kill it. It regularly gets dunked in the water dropped in the sand and mud, and the reel is still super smooth.
I'd recommend any of those 3 reels, you want light weight go with one of the ci4's, you want super smooth and bulletproof, get the FJ.
livetofish28 reply :
I have been extremely impressed with my Abu revo sx 30 it's extremely smooth and sturdy. It doesn't have any play in it than I can tell and prefer it to the shimanos I have. I'm probably going to get shot for that statement lol
Tight Lines
Andrew
0119 reply :
Yeah I like my Revo Inshore 30 better than any shimano Ive had.
SirSnookalot reply :
When I think of dependability I'm looking at how often the reel goes in for service, when it does what's the return time and are parts always available. My opinion Pflueger tops in that department and Shimano at the bottom. None of my 5 Pfluegers have ever needed service and every one of my Shimanos have gone down several times, the additional expense has come close to the original price. My barracuda reel is a Pflueger arbor, most fish are 20# + caught in saltwater, if a reel stands up to that without the need for service I'd be rating that pretty high on the dependability scale.
The best reel is another issue, as with dependability it's purely subjective and based on one's own experience. In the sub $200 market there is no reel I like better than my Quantum cabo 40, extremely smooth, line manages quite well and a drag that I salivate over, 30# max drag on a 14 oz reel, and I've had to crank it down. True it's heavy by bass standards and certainly way more reel that's needed for sub 10# fish. I do feel it's the best reel I have ever used and I have hard time wanting to use any of my other reels.
These threads always turn to Shimano and they aren't bad reels at all, I don't have a performance or weight problem with them and I like their line management best of all. Just hard to put them on the top of the heap when there so many other reels just as good IMO. For freshwater I wouldn't spend more than symetre if I were a die hard Shimano user. Fishing 7 days a week in all elements, any reel dropped in sand is going to need a cleaning at some point, I've never cleaned a freshwater reel and mine are as good as the day I opened the box.
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