On the hunt for a new spinning reel 2025

The Rooster reply :

As much as I love my baitcasters I know I will always have a use for at least one spinning reel/rod on my boat.

But recently I have become disillusioned with my Pflueger spinning reels. After having 2 President reels, both of which grind like a coffee maker, and the 2nd one getting worse all the time, I am now afraid to trust getting another one, or going higher and more money such as with the Medalist or Supreme.

So I am switching brands.

I want to hold the price to $100 or less if I can. I'm looking at Shimano of course (Symetre), and also at Daiwa, of which I have no experience with that brand at all but they "look" solid. While looking at them, several models actually, I see some of them have 7 bearings, and some have 8. I'm wondering where the bearings are placed at in the reels, and also where the extra one is at with the 8 bearing reels compared to the 7 bearing ones. Anyone have any experience with these reels to know??

Daiwa

Exceler - 7 bearings, $70

Tierra - 8 bearings, $125 normally but on sale at Cabela's for $95 puts it in my price range

Cabela's Prodigy - 8 bearings, $100 (made by Daiwa)

Cabela's Tournament ZX - 8 bearings, $70 (made by Daiwa)

Bass Pro Shops TD-Pro - 7 bearings, $120 but on sale for $80 (made by Daiwa)

Any other info on these would be useful as well. How smooth they are, how durable. Anything you know about them would help.

Jake... reply :

spinning reel sub $100???

Shimanoooooooooooooo

Dan: reply :

I've heard really, really good things about the Tierra. Out of the reels on your list, I would get the Tierra hands down.

roadwarrior reply :

Symetre SY2500FJ...Strong, smooth, silent and reliant.

The best bang for the buck.

http://www.cabelas.com/p-0060367123667a.shtml

8-)

-HAWK- reply :

My vote goes to the Shimano Symetre. Although I love and have never had a problem with my PFlugger President or Supreme. I am rough on these two reels and have not serviced them in two years. Not one problem yet.

SirSnookalot reply :

I recommend only what I have personally owned and for at least 6 months of good hard use.

My 2 supremes are perfect after 1 year.

I'd buy 2 less lucky craft lures and buy a stradic fi.

The number of bearings is not always the measure of a better reel, Shimano does use fewer bearings than other mfgs, but some of their reels are of higher quality than those of their competitors

Dan: reply :

Quote
Symetre SY2500FJ...Strong, smooth, silent and reliant.
The best bang for the buck.

http://www.cabelas.com/p-0060367123667a.shtml

8-)

Reliable?

Raul reply :

From that list:

Exceler: excellent value, great reel for the price, silky smooth.

Tierra: for $95 is a no brainer.

Add to the list:

Shimano Symetre

pizz reply :

Save a few more bucks and just get the new Stradic CI4 for $199.. after trying out reels over time.. ive learned that u do get what u pay for.. and going the cheaper route isnt always the ticket. The Stradic is really light.. has amazing castability and comes in a 1000/2500 as of now. so u can choose which one u want based on what application u are using it for. Also it has a higher gear ratio 6.0:1 vs most cheaper models so u can reel in slack or down on bites faster.

besides, Tackle Warehouse will probably have a 15% off sale soon again. or just ask for gift cards for your bday/xmas/anniv whatever.

hope this helps.

kikstand454 reply :

as usual.... when it comes to this im going to suggest the quantum incyte.

11 bearings and less than $60.

i have had one for both salt and fresh water for years now, and it still casts and reels like the day i got it with minimal maitenence by me.

it has been throwing braid in salt water and drop shots in fresh water and has caught many many fish including big reds,( including the one in my avatar) sharks and small grouper.

if youre going to use it for freshwater and even then only every once in a while.... why pay 200 bucks?

i know quantum is looked down on here and in some cases i understand why, and the other reels that youre lookin at and that others listed are great reels.

but for less than 60 bucks you can have a great reel and money left over to even get a clarus rod for it.

islandbass reply :

Fortunately $100 buys a lot of spinning reel.

The fussing and decision undulation from this reel to that reel ends with the Shimano Symetre. For bass fishing purposes, you don't really need to go any further than this. Forward from the symetre is just icing on the cake.

Bam! Done! It's Over!

Jake. reply :

You couldn't go wrong with the Symetre or the Tierra.

grimlin reply :

Quote
Tierra: for $95 is a no brainer.

I absolutely love mine.That thing is a work horse.

I want to get another one.... ;D

chasiubao73 reply :

I've picked up the Tierra as a my first Daiwa spinning reel. The reviews I've read have been overall pretty good with a few negative ones thrown in. Like you said, it's on sale at Cabelas and I have $20 off so I jumped at it for under $90 with shipping.

My first reel when I picked up fishing last year was a Shimano Sahara which is still going strong. My buddy started off with a Shimano Symetre. Sahara and Symetre are two solid bang for the buck reels. However, one of the first lessons I learned was that not having a spare spool was a pain.

Just going by what is on paper, the Daiwa Tierra seems like the best pick for you 1)on sale at Cabelas 2)spare spool 3)waterproof drag.

dodgeguy reply :

pflueger medalist ,supreme or supreme xt.

Craiger12 reply :

The Shimano Saros can be found for about $100. One step up from the Symetry and a great reel.

Bronzefly reply :

The Tierra, Symetre FJ, and the Pfluger Supreme are all fine spinning reels in the $100 range. I'd suspect that you would be happy with any of them.

0119 reply :

Im loyal to Shimano but theres only one spinning reel in my arsenal and its a Daiwa. The Coastal which is a Tierra with CRBB's. It is smoother and longer casting than the Stradic's and Symetre's I have owned in the past. Very solid feel.

Grey Wolf reply :

Quote
The Tierra, Symetre FJ, and the Pfluger Supreme are all fine spinning reels in the $100 range. I'd suspect that you would be happy with any of them.

X2.

RoLo reply :

Quote
Symetre SY2500FJ...Strong, smooth, silent and reliant.
The best bang for the buck.

http://www.cabelas.com/p-0060367123667a.shtml

8-)

"Ditto"

Roger

The Rooster reply :

Quote
Im loyal to Shimano but theres only one spinning reel in my arsenal and its a Daiwa. The Coastal which is a Tierra with CRBB's. It is smoother and longer casting than the Stradic's and Symetre's I have owned in the past. Very solid feel.

The Tierra claims to also have CRBB bearings. Thanks for the post though.

0119 reply :

Yeah the Tierra has one or two crb's, the coastal is all crbb's. Interesting that the Tierra is on sale, I wonder if its being phased out for a new model next year. Especially with the rumors about the 'new' Daiwa owners turning the brand into a more high end enthusiast brand.

Pantera61 reply :

Tierra, unless you want to break into your Communion money and grab the Daiwa Advantage. Spinning=Daiwa.

The Rooster reply :

I'm lookin, I'm lookin.

That Shimano Stradic is lookin' pretty nice too though.

Raul reply :

This is how I look at them:

Exceller.- great value

Symetre.- best bang for the buck

Tierra/Stradic.- very nice, but the Tierra for less than a 100 is a no brainer.

chasiubao73 reply :

Here's another one to think about for ya bud:

TD Sol 2000 and 2500 are on clearance at BPS for $169.94. With the $20 off orders over $100 that BPS sends to your e-mail every now and then, it basically ships for free and like an additional $5 off for $165.

hawgwalker reply :

I have 5 okuma stratus reels from Dicks. I think I paid 30 bucks a piece for them and like them as well or more than some high dollar reels that I have used. They are paired with St. Croix legend and Kistler rods so it is not only because I am a cheap SOB. : There is no discernable difference in function between my older reels (5 years) with newer ones (last season) and I have never had any of them serviced. I would say that I use spinning rods 30% of the time over the course of the season. (40 tournament days)

I hooked and landed a 14lb pike in August on 6lb florocarbon that really tested the drag making several long runs after seeing the boat. Performance over and above what you'd expect from a bottom dollar product. I have been slowly replacing all my baitcasters with curado's but with my spinning I'll stick with the stratus.

Jake... reply :

Quote

Quote
Symetre SY2500FJ...Strong, smooth, silent and reliant.
The best bang for the buck.

http://www.cabelas.com/p-0060367123667a.shtml

8-)

Reliable?

http://www.audioenglish.net/dictionary/reliant.htm

zero reply :

i suggest u get johnny morris spinning reel jm2000 and it have 11 bearings but it cost 100 dollars

Fat-G reply :

You need to get a Shimano. Once you buy a Shimano, you'll never buy another brand. Dead serious.

SharkHat reply :

I like a self-centering spinning reel with a lever for the bail. Right now my spinning setup is a Spirex 2500 RG. Absolutely no complaints about the reel so far.

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On the hunt for a new spinning reel 2025

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