whats the best baitcaster under $100?
The one that you can afford!
(There are lot of topics on this already, use the search bar!)
Arguably the BPS Pro Qualifier on sale.
I really like the Pflueger Supreme baitcaster. metal frame, smooth bearings, can be had around $80
Used citica e
On 1/16/2016 at 12:40 PM, I.rar said:Used citica e
Used Citica E, Used Curado I, Used Daiwa Tatula... the list goes on. There are SOOOO many excellent reels that are normally in the 130-200 range that can be found for great deals used.
Shimano reels are almost always as good 5 years later as they were out of the box from a mechanical perspective. You'll have people who say the same thing of their Daiwa, Lew's, Abu, and some of the other brands as well.
Go with your brand preference, buy used, and get the most bang for your buck that way. Put a "Want to buy a good used reel (name your specifications) for under $100 request in the BR flea market. You'll find something that will serve you better from a value standpoint than buying new, guaranteed.
The lews speed spool lfs is right at $100.
As a broke college student I strictly use reels in the 80-130 range and I have all the reels that you've probably heard are "the best" low budget reels but my absolute favorite are the BPS pro qualifier, the Daiwa AIRD, and the Lews speed spool. The bright side is you find these reels on sale all the time. If you have time to wait the Pro Qualifier usually goes on sale in the spring for around $70. I actually recently just bought another Daiwa Aird off ganger mtn because they were running a sale on them.. after coupon codes I purchased the reel and a pack of jig trailers for $46 dollars. Other great reels that I have personally used are the Abu Garcia Orra sx, and the Revo S. To the comments above.. If you can find a used shimano in great condition for $100 I would definitely pick it up but the people who sell them often don't let them go for less than 125-200 and the ones that go for $100 are many years old if you're like me it'll make you a little weary.
You can get a lews speed spool on sale for $90. http://www.cabelas.com/product/Lews-Speed-Spool-Baitcasting-Reels/1165497.uts
Any $150-$200 reel on sale for $100 or less!
Tom
Shimano caenen for sure!
On 1/16/2016 at 12:40 PM, I.rar said:Used citica e
X2 this would be my choice. You can get one in good condition for under 75. True workhorse.
Personally I like the Orra Sx or the Speed Spool. Can't go wrong with either
On 1/16/2016 at 11:34 AM, ABW said:The one that you can afford!
(There are lot of topics on this already, use the search bar!)
If everyone used the search function for every topic that had been discussed there would be very little If any topics to discuss. To the original poster, keep asking questions as this Is what this website Is designed to do; ask questions, learn, and generally enjoy yourself.
Inexpensive reels; there are many options with my personal choice being the Shimano Caenan. I bought one on sale for $50.00 two years ago and It's been great. I use It mostly to throw small weightless worms. It casts well, is fairly smooth, and I've caught fish in the 5+ range and it handled quite well.
Reels that cost me less than $100: Abu Black Max 1600C, Pflueger Trion, Daiwa TD-S, Curado 51E (new), Daiwa Procaster (new), Tatula, BPS Carbonlite (gold ones), Cabela's Prodigy (gray one, new). 1600C, 51E and Carbonlites all handle light baits very well. Obviously they will handle heavier, but I keep them on Medium power...or less...rods. The Trion and Prodigy are great with 3/8 oz. up although they definitely will cast lighter, but I keep them on MH or H rods. Tatula and TD-S are very good all-around reels and are used on MH rods.
Used is good. Many of mine are, and were purchased in very good to like new condition (and still are). I have to tell you that after my experience with the Pinnacle Primmus, I wouldn't be afraid to try their less expensive (below $100) reels. Especially given the good reviews given in the Tackle section of this site.
The thing is, Adam, to buy the reel that interests you the most regardless of what our opinions or suggestions are. It is doubtful you will be unhappy with your choice if you do a little research first.
Daiwa Tatula on sale...
I use a pflueger supreme $99 as one of my backups. It seems very nice for the price. Good drag and casts a variety of weights very easily.
the new casitas from shimano looks promising , proven braking and spool , ergos will be hard to beat , i have 2 hg lefty's on order will report back once recieved.
I have experience with only two sub-$100 reels: the Abu Orra Winch and the Daiwa Tatula. My other reels are more expensive, and I expected the lower-priced reels to feel and act differently; to be at least somewhat inferior to their pricier stable mates. The Orra has been a good reel (I bought a second one), but it doesn't feel as good as my better reels. The Tatula (which I also purchased a second example of) feels pretty much as solid, smooth, and good as reels I own costing much more. I was extremely impressed with their value.
You can find new Tatulas on the big auction site for under $100. Great reels for the money!
Tight lines,
Bob
New KastKing stealth looks sweet. It is 7.0:1 gear ratio 10lbs drag 5.9oz. It is light. $60.
I have the legend which is the same but a little heavier and I haven't had any issues since July 2015 it still casts great.
The H2O Mettle from Academy on sale is tough to beat. I have a few and the most a paid for any was $40. They've been bulletproof so far with the oldest one over 3 years old.
a used Citica E for sure. or a Tatula
I really like Lews Speed Spool for $90-100
I recently purchased two BPS Pro Qualifiers for $50 each and they are surprisingly nice and smooth
On 1/16/2016 at 12:19 PM, Allen Der said:I really like the Pflueger Supreme baitcaster. metal frame, smooth bearings, can be had around $80
Pfleuger quality is impressive.
Do yourself a favor and get one with a solid metal frame. A lot of baitcasters in this price range are essentially the same as the $125 model except without the lightweight components or without one or the other type of braking system. Buy one with a solid metal frame and you should get years of trouble free operation. You can tell the difference by looking at the reel foot.
Lew's Speed Spool LFS.
I agree Lews
On 1/17/2016 at 12:56 PM, DaleGribble said:I use a pflueger supreme $99 as one of my backups. It seems very nice for the price. Good drag and casts a variety of weights very easily.
I personally feel Pflueger is under-rated. I still have one Trion purchased used. (Gave one to a deserving young man who was thrilled with it.) Not pretty. Not the lightest. Mine is mounted on a 6'10" HF and spooled with 17# mono. Casting machine with this set-up. Love my Patriarch XTs. Definitely wouldn't hesitate to buy another Pflueger.
On 1/17/2016 at 2:24 PM, Bluebasser86 said:The H2O Mettle from Academy on sale is tough to beat. I have a few and the most a paid for any was $40. They've been bulletproof so far with the oldest one over 3 years old.
Someday I will get lucky and catch the H2O on sale, and pick one up. Preferably at the $25 price some have been lucky enough to buy one at. Hate paying full price.
On 1/16/2016 at 11:31 AM, Adam Kain said:whats the best baitcaster under $100?
A $200 reel that one of our members is selling in the Flea Market.
On 1/19/2016 at 3:58 AM, roadwarrior said:A $200 reel that one of our members is selling in the Flea Market.
Great advice!! I have seen some great deals in the Flea Market on barely used reels. Probably the most bang for your buck going this route
Check out the Lew's American Hero line. My brother got two for Christmas, and for $60 it would hard to beat for a "cheap" reel.
That new fuego caster is under a bill new on fleabay. From what I gather, it's a tatula without the t wing....
If you can pick up the Johnny Morris Signature Series reel from BPS for under $100, that is one hell of a smooth reel; it's a little bigger than the PQ and the Revo SX's, but it fits my palm nicely, and is a great looking / feeling reel. I like the Pro Qualifier, as well - pretty smooth, tough, has the DBS (although I set mine at two and forget it), and is a wench. As I posted in a different area - I forget which one because they keep moving my posts all over the place - I dunked a BPS PQ in April, fished it out last month, and it works just fine.
I would go with an Abu Orra SX or a Quantum Team KVD. (I can't lie, I really do like some of the stuff that Quantum puts out)
I would personally save another 30 dollars. 130 dollars is the price range that I call make or break, anything over you can make it work for years fairly well, and reliably. Anything under that is going to break, it's going to get pretty bad boat rush if you have it stored improperly during hot months, or have it laying in a boat during the hot days with sun.
Hey guys,
So I have 5+ years of fishing experience with a long hiatus due to going to school in the city. However, I'm finally going to be able to get back into fishing in the spring - ice is still frozen at most places near Chicago. So, all that experience for the most part is with a spinning reel casting out crankbaits when I was younger, but I've made the decision to purchase a casting setup to try it out. To get back in the swing of things, I'm probably going to be fishing a lot of basic rigs - mostly bottom dragging stuff. Any suggestions, besides the one mentioned already? I found this Lew's Laser MG on sale. Is this comparable to the Speed Spool that was posted on page 1 of the thread, etc? Any feedback would be appreciated, thanks. By the way, price range is under $100 for the reel.
On 1/16/2016 at 11:37 AM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:Arguably the BPS Pro Qualifier on sale.
^^This^^ !
Daiwa Tatula can be bought for $94 and it is the best reel made under $100.
I'm glad to hear this I bought 3 Tatulas this off season.
I assume the Pro Qualifier usually goes on sale during the classic, is that right? What kind of markdown is typical?
If memory serves me right, it usually goes for about $70 during the sales. It went down to $50 one time, but not sure if that was during spring sale or end of the year sale.
On 1/26/2016 at 8:00 AM, SenkoGuru said:Daiwa Tatula can be bought for $94 and it is the best reel made under $100.
No doubt the Tatula has positive fans - conversely it has just as many negative fans due to the "T" wing level wind .
I'm sure most people don't even notice the Daiwa Laguna on any display shelf, but for $60 it can not be beat. I oiled mine up and was smooth as butter. I will say after about a year of grueling use on it, you can really hear the gears grind when your fighting a fish, but was not hesitant to buy another. With the fact that this reel is only $60, you can get a fish-able setup to catch all kinds of fish for about 140 bucks! ( do not recommend the Laguna rod, as mine broke before I could even use it ).I use many mid priced range reels ( Revo SX and Revo STX are a few examples) and can honestly say it preforms right up there with them. If you ever see one on sale pick it up ( I found and bought one for 30 bucks at Gander Mountain! ). Like I said, they retail at 60 dollars, so go ahead, do yourself a favor and pick one up! This was the very first baitcast reel I have ever owned and think this would be a great addition to any arsenal!
I have purchased a few brand new Daiwa Aggrests for under $100. These are great reels.
havent fished one but ive heard good things about the new Daiwa Aird reels. i think theyre around $69-79.
Another vote for the Tatula. Under 100 new.
Lews Speed Spool or the Abu Pro Max 79 99 at Tackle Warehouse right now.
You can find a Daiwa Laguna black casting reel right now for $30 brand new and that is a good reel and reviews are always positive and that is paying $60....The Silver max, Pro Max reels can be found for under $30 as well, usually reconditioned and they are a good deal, I would also strongly consider the Pflueger Trion and right now you can buy a Lews Speed Spool brand new the lazer for $49 on ebay...
I have high end reels and lower end reels, and sometimes I can't tell the difference, I just like bringing less expensive stuff when I am off land, or kayak, or someone is borrowing....I have been amazed at how much of a beating the Silver Max can take and still hold up, same with Daiwa Laguna which I would have figured are not good.
Someone mentioned the Mettle from Academy and I plan on buying several when they go on sale since I have never heard a bad thing about them and they have awesome specs for the money...
If I can spend $50 or less on a reel, that is important to me as I can now buy a better rod, and better line....and maybe some tungsten weights which are super expensive and that is what makes bargain hunting so fun...You can find reels like the Okuma Serrano brand new on Ebay and win the auction for $50 and that is a legit $200 reel that is saltwater ready...I have 3 of them and Okuma honors the 3 years even if you fall and break a piece...Customer service is unreal, one guy online is stuck with them and they are not popular since they are green and marketed toward saltwater but it is just like the Komodo which is awesome....
Lew's Laser!
On 2/19/2016 at 12:53 PM, eyedabassman said:Lew's Laser!
I'm assuming you haven't fished the other reels mentioned.
Lew's Laser!
Yes I have! I have! The only ones that I don't have are the Tatula,orra,Caenen.And the others are very nice reels! But I like Lew's line -up of reels the most. Nothing wrong with the reels that were posted!!!!!!!!
I got the Tatula for $89.99, an $150 dollar reel that's really well built. I don't see anything wrong with the TW system, it doesn't negatively affect the performance it's just not the greatest thing since sliced bread like Diawa claims it is.
On 1/16/2016 at 11:37 AM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:Arguably the BPS Pro Qualifier on sale.
Exactly. Can't beat em. That's what EE uses and he can throw anything he wants.
A couple new challengers to this category, the Pflueger President and President XT. The XT is backordered for the foreseeable future so I'll have to wait awhile on that one. I got the President in hand, spooled, and fished for the first time yesterday. If it was any indication, it's going to be an awesome little reel.
If you go up $10 a Tatula type R can be found new for $109.95. It is as good as anything up to the $200 to $250 range.
picked up a lews carbon fire few months ago from dicks on sale for 60 and so far has been a pretty good reel
Man this question gets asked like 3x a week. No hunting, would be the Lew's Speed Spool LFS. Sure you can hunt around for a Tatula or a BPS PQ, that's up to you.
I have multiple, used once, lews reels I'd come off of for pretty cheap...PM me..
On 9/28/2016 at 4:32 PM, Robert Riley said:Man this question gets asked like 3x a week. No hunting, would be the Lew's Speed Spool LFS. Sure you can hunt around for a Tatula or a BPS PQ, that's up to you.
Hunting? All you have to do is go on flea bay and type tatula in the search bar. Or go to Sportsmans outfitters.com and do the same thing.
On 1/16/2016 at 11:37 AM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:Arguably the BPS Pro Qualifier on sale.
^This^ !
A Citica 200E would be a great choice, also try checking out amazon for some great deals on Daiwa Tatulas.