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BlueSkiesWI

06/02/2015 09:07AM

Looking to get a new one before my trip, whats your favorite spinning reel?

Of all the roads you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.

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Ragged

06/02/2015 09:30AM

I like my Quantum Smoke spinning reels

He leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. Psalm 23:2/3

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GGrant

06/02/2015 09:50AM

I have always preferred Shimano reels; the ones I have now are Stradic FI (older model) in 2500 and 3000 size. My son has the Saros model in the same sizes. Both solid build with excellent drag systems, never failed on us, and I am sure there are other Shimano models that would perform well also.

“...whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.” -John 4:14

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eOar

06/02/2015 10:08AM

I probably have a dozen or more spinning reels. I really like my Pflueger Supremes in 30 size. They weigh 7.5 ounces and have a 44mm spool diameter which is a good size to prevent tight line coiling. I also have a couple Quantum Catalysts and love them - one of the smoothest drags I have ever had on a spinning reel. But it is a 9oz reel. I bought my wife a Smoke and it is a very nice reel. I'm still ticked at Shimano for what they did to Gary Loomis - but that's another story. =)

If you're still on your student budget I would suggest a Pflueger President. A very nice reel for the money! I had a rich friend that hired a quide 3 days a week and when he invited me along we always used Stellas or Daiwa Steez reels. I honestly think my little President was just as smooth.

Sometimes it's nice to match your canoe with your rod! =)

"Fishing is not an escape from life, but often a deeper immersion into it..." Harry Middleton

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shock

06/02/2015 10:11AM

for spinning reels , i,ve always gone with shimano. last year i purchased a shimano syncopate for $30 (i,m on a budget now days) what an awesome reel for $30

keep your line wet, good things will happen

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BearBrown

06/02/2015 10:15AM

I really like my pfleuger supreme and purist reels. They have been awesome so far. The pfleuger president is always highly reviewed too.

In the same price range shimano makes the sedona, which I detest. Lots of plastic, sticky bail, thin wire on the bail easily bends out of shape as well. I'm sure shimano makes better reels than this if you pay top dollar. The two that I had failed far too fast.

Richard "Bear" Brown

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lyontyl

06/02/2015 10:34AM

I haven't used many because my Pflueger President has held up so well. I use the mediums for my summer setup and the ultralights for ice fishing. Great spincast reel. I have heard the Purist is great too!

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toddhunter

06/02/2015 10:53AM

Shimano. As much as you can afford.

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aburgs129

06/02/2015 11:43AM

One to consider is the Quantum Exceller (sp?)

We've got them at the store i work at and I've been messing with one quite a bit. I'll be bringing one with me in a couple weeks to demo. It's $80 and feels like a $120+ reel. comes in a size equal to that of a president 30 or shimano 2500 give or take a few oz.

in the woods we return to reason and faith - rwe

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06/02/2015 12:28PM

How about the old Johnson Century....closed bale!
I still own and use six or 7 of them....can't buy them any more.
I never used an open face and doubt that I could learn.
I have caught many big northern with them over the years.
mk

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eOar

06/02/2015 12:34PM

The problem with most close faced spincast reels is the drag. I don't know of a decent one.

"Fishing is not an escape from life, but often a deeper immersion into it..." Harry Middleton

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tbellrichard

06/02/2015 12:57PM

I too vote for the Pflueger President. It's a great reel. Love it on my light St. Croix. That rig actually makes jigging for walleye fun!

Six days shalt thou paddle and pack but on the seventh day thou shalt wash thy socks. ~Aldo Leopold

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drglock

06/02/2015 02:12PM

Another vote for pfleuger. Last year I bought a president and a purist. both were about the same price and both are outstanding reels for the price.

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scsuspitzer

06/02/2015 02:22PM

Same here. President on a St. Croix rod.

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walllee

06/02/2015 03:05PM

Have fished Shimano Symetre for years. I bought a couple Shimano Soros this season. I think the Symetres drag system is not as good as it used to be, but still a good reel.

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wuuin

06/02/2015 03:59PM

picked up a pflueger president reel and fenwick HMX rod because of recommendations from this site. super happy with both of them.

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Savage Voyageur

06/02/2015 04:33PM

I use Shamano Symetre reels. They are very smooth.

"So many lakes, so little time." WWJD

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WhiteWolf

06/02/2015 05:23PM

Get as many ball bearings as you can. I have a 20 yr old Stradic that is as smooth as the day I got it along with cheap reels I got several years ago that are junk. You get what you pay for.

Come on guys--- maybe you need a refresher-- It's all ball bearings nowdays!!!

The two loudest sounds known to man: a gun that goes bang when it is supposed to go click and a gun that goes click when it is supposed to go bang.

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revile63

06/02/2015 05:31PM

Daiwa Ballistic EX

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overthehill

06/02/2015 07:01PM

pflueger president for the money.....smooth and durable.

Not to Hurry-Not to Worry

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Basspro69

06/02/2015 09:14PM

Pflueger President for value, if money isnt a concern then the high end Daiwas and Shimanos will fit the bill.

" I want to know Gods thoughts , The rest are details " Albert Einstein. WWJD

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mooseplums

06/03/2015 08:57AM

Pflueger Medalist, and now the new Pflueger Purist

"I am haunted by waters"~Norman Maclean "A River Runs Through It"

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walleye_hunter

06/03/2015 10:26AM

I purchased an Abu Garcia Orra S20 last year based on a recommendation from Arlo. I have been very happy with it. Abu Garcia has some of the best drag systems in the business right now. The drag system is what is most important to me in a reel when I am bobber fishing for big spooky walleyes with 4# test and #8 hooks.

"Man's heart away from nature becomes hard." Standing Bear

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MNDan

06/03/2015 11:41AM

The Shimano Syncopate is a helluva deal for $30 - I've got a couple and they are great, especially for those of you that like/miss the trigger that was so popular years ago. It's nice that Shimano has kept a couple of models around that have it.

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dpreiner21

06/03/2015 12:34PM

quote walleye_hunter: "I purchased an Abu Garcia Orra S20 last year based on a recommendation from Arlo. I have been very happy with it. "

I am an Abu Garcia fan as well. I have both an Orra SX30 reel and Cardinal Stx. Love them both.

The very basic core of man's living spirit is his passion for adventure.

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ElkMan

06/04/2015 10:27AM

Not to sound like a broken record but a Pflueger President on a St. Croix is a very tough combo to beat.

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BlueSkiesWI

06/07/2015 11:21AM

Ended up getting the Shimano Syncopate. My first reel had the quick trigger bail, so I went back to it again. Hard to beat the price too.

Of all the roads you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.

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QueticoMike

06/07/2015 11:35AM

quote Ragged: "I like my Quantum Smoke spinning reels"

I can be followed on Instagram @queticomike

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ParkerMag

06/09/2015 10:45AM

Used to fish the Diawa Tournaments, then went to Shimano Stradics, and now use Shimano Stellas. All have seemed pretty nice to me.

“I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.” - Henry David Thoreau

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blutofish1

06/10/2015 02:53PM

blutofish

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aburgs129

06/10/2015 07:12PM

quote ParkerMag: "Used to fish the Diawa Tournaments, then went to Shimano Stradics, and now use Shimano Stellas. All have seemed pretty nice to me."

dang. those are up to $800 MSRP a pop now.

in the woods we return to reason and faith - rwe

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scramble4a5

06/10/2015 08:52PM

quote eOar: "I probably have a dozen or more spinning reels. I really like my Pflueger Supremes in 30 size. They weigh 7.5 ounces and have a 44mm spool diameter which is a good size to prevent tight line coiling. I also have a couple Quantum Catalysts and love them - one of the smoothest drags I have ever had on a spinning reel. But it is a 9oz reel. I bought my wife a Smoke and it is a very nice reel. I'm still ticked at Shimano for what they did to Gary Loomis - but that's another story. =)

If you're still on your student budget I would suggest a Pflueger President. A very nice reel for the money! I had a rich friend that hired a quide 3 days a week and when he invited me along we always used Stellas or Daiwa Steez reels. I honestly think my little President was just as smooth.

Sometimes it's nice to match your canoe with your rod! =)

"

+1 on the Pflueger President. Very smooth and not terribly expensive.

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ParkerMag

06/11/2015 06:41AM

quote aburgs129: "
quote ParkerMag: "Used to fish the Diawa Tournaments, then went to Shimano Stradics, and now use Shimano Stellas. All have seemed pretty nice to me."

dang. those are up to $800 MSRP a pop now. "

After my ex "stole" most of my more valuable gear I've been replacing the Stellas w/ barely used ones on eBay (most have shipped from Japan). I've been grabbing them for ~$350 per.

“I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.” - Henry David Thoreau

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mr.barley

06/11/2015 09:03PM

I use a Shimano Sustain and a Shimano Twinpower. The Twinpower is made for the Japanese market and has the smoothest drag I've ever fished.

serenity now

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mr.barley

06/11/2015 09:03PM

Double post...pad my stats...

serenity now

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ParkerMag

06/22/2015 07:38AM

Solid sale on Stradics. Looks to last 'till June 24th.
Stradic sale

“I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.” - Henry David Thoreau

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cgchase

06/22/2015 10:23AM

I love the Shimano salt water reels but I am never buying another Shimano fw spinning reel again after having 2 Saharas and a Symetre bind on me. Google "Shimbindo" and you'll see that lots of people have experienced this issue. As far as I can tell . .they are amazing reels unless/until they get wet . .then they're toast.

On my last trip I brought Shimano Symetre and a Pflueger President - both had been fished just a couple times before the trip. The reels were never dunked but they did get rained on a good bit. By the end of the trip, the Shimano was binding and the Pflueger was just fine.

I've always had good luck with the Presidents. They don't feel quite as nice as a (new) Shimano but they are way cheaper and, in my experience at least, quite a bit more rugged.

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Jaymon

06/22/2015 11:34AM

Pflueger President. Great reel for the price.

Our tradition is that of the first man who sneaked away to the creek when the tribe did not really need fish. ~Roderick Haig-Brown, about modern fishing, A River Never Sleeps, 1946

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mr.barley

06/22/2015 12:19PM

quote Jaymon: "Pflueger President. Great reel for the price."

Scheels had Pfueger Purists ( a step up from the president) on sale for 60 bucks over the weekend. I was very tempted.

serenity now

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joetrain

06/22/2015 01:40PM

I recently replaced my 30 plus year old Penn 430 SS with the Penn Battle II 2000 spinning reel. It is not as well made as they were in the past but after 3 solid months of use I have not had any issues.

I have had the same trouble of the reel binding up on my Symetres as well. They do dry out and then work fine but on a trip that is not what you want to deal with.

The Penn cost $90 and I found a combo deal where it was paired with a matching rod for .01 extra. I jumped on it when I saw it and have not seen it since.

If you fish a lot don't go cheap it's not worth it. ~JOE~

a dio sia la gloria

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WalleyeHunter24

06/22/2015 03:19PM

You can't go wrong with a Shimano. Great drag systems and smooth action. They offer models up and down the price spectrum. The Shimano Sedona is a great reel at an affordable price; you can pick one up for about $60 give or take.

Preserve the integrity and beauty of our natural world. Leave no trace...

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GeoFisher

06/22/2015 10:07PM

I fished shimano equipment for years. Stradic and Symetre spinning in 2000 1500 and 2500 size.

And Curado Green, old style for bait casting.

About 8 years ago I started fishing Johnny Morris reels from BPS. Their top of the line is about 1/2 the prices of the Shimano gear, and honestly, I like the Johnny Morris reels much better.

I still use some old shimano gear, but that is a rarity.

Later,

Geo

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MrBreeze

07/09/2015 06:40PM

quote Jaymon: "Pflueger President. Great reel for the price."

I too have a President. Got it to upgrade the Shakesphere reel that came with my travel rod. These replaced a Shakesphere reel that I used for too many years when a bearing finally started to go out.

I wish I were, I wish I might, I wish I was in the BWCA tonite!

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Murder7was7the7Case

07/09/2015 09:11PM

Pflueger President for value
Pflueger Supreme if you like 6.2.1
Shimano if you got the cash and don't mind some added weight. Will last a life time.

"Work like your 40 live like your 20" - Hammer Hodzic

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Royvet

07/09/2015 09:30PM

quote ParkerMag: "
quote aburgs129: "
quote ParkerMag: "Used to fish the Diawa Tournaments, then went to Shimano Stradics, and now use Shimano Stellas. All have seemed pretty nice to me."

dang. those are up to $800 MSRP a pop now. "
After my ex "stole" most of my more valuable gear I've been replacing the Stellas w/ barely used ones on eBay (most have shipped from Japan). I've been grabbing them for ~$350 per."

Dang nab! You let the cat out of the bag. LOL. +1

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ParkerMag

07/10/2015 08:38AM

quote Royvet: "
quote ParkerMag: "
quote aburgs129: "
quote ParkerMag: "Used to fish the Diawa Tournaments, then went to Shimano Stradics, and now use Shimano Stellas. All have seemed pretty nice to me."

dang. those are up to $800 MSRP a pop now. "
After my ex "stole" most of my more valuable gear I've been replacing the Stellas w/ barely used ones on eBay (most have shipped from Japan). I've been grabbing them for ~$350 per."

Dang nab! You let the cat out of the bag. LOL. +1"

I hear ya, but the supply of them SEEMS unlimited, so I didn't much mind sharing.

“I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.” - Henry David Thoreau

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Doughboy12

07/10/2015 09:53AM

quote mk: "How about the old Johnson Century....closed bale!
I still own and use six or 7 of them....can't buy them any more.
I never used an open face and doubt that I could learn.
I have caught many big northern with them over the years.
mk
"

I worked at the assembly plant in college...have you ever seen the ones with a larger open front? Sort of a cross over.

And yes you can still get the Johnson Century

I'm just here to give my opinion...If you don't like it, ignore it.

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