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Spinning Reel Recommendation?

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Us5Camp

09/01/2011 10:35PM

My trusty spinning reel of many years, greater than 10, has bit the dust. I don't fish much < 5x's per year.

Looking for BWCA packing friendly replacement recommendations.

My old one... a modest Shimano TX2000
had the quick trigger on the bail, that I sorta got used to, so one with that feature would be good, but unlike an old dog, I am also willing to learn to live w/o it :)

Also interested in a packability and durability. It'll be a single reel for everything in the BWCA (Pike, Panfish, Walleye, etc.).

EDIT: Added -- Budget < $75
Regards,

"Who wants to take that long shot gamble... And head out to Fire Lake" Bob Segar

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mc2mens

09/01/2011 11:15PM

I've got a Shimano Sahara 2500 I really like. Here are more Shimano spinning reels.

"Big fish eat little fish."

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tonyyarusso

09/01/2011 11:17PM

Now, you haven't given any sort of budget guidelines, so it's a pretty wide-open question, so I'm just going to assume from your frequency that you're also looking for something relatively inexpensive. I'd suggest taking a look at the Abu Garcia "Cardinal" line. There are four levels within it: 100 ($35), 300 ($40), 400 ($50), and 500 ($70). At the 400 and 500 levels you get a spare spool.

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Jackfish

Moderator

09/02/2011 06:51AM

I think Shimano reels are an excellent choice. I own several and think their value vs. cost is very high. Find one that fits your budget and I doubt you'll look back.

It's only a spot on the map... until you go there.

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walllee

09/02/2011 07:42AM

SHIMANO

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HenryParsons

09/02/2011 08:45AM

Pfleuger. There are several models under $75.

"The Green Hornet has caught more fish than you've lied about Gustafson!" -Walter Matthau

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jrlatt

09/02/2011 11:27AM

Here is one you might want to consider: Baitrunner 250

It has the quik fire II and two drags. I like it for trolling. I can clik the button and set the drag so it just keeps the line from going out. If I get a snag or a fish hits it doesn't take the pole. It gives me time to pick up the pole. When you start reeling it clicks off. It is light weigth at about 12oz.

There are other baitrunner reels out there. Shimmano does have a fighting drag which is very easy to adjust the drag from the rear.

Maybe you want to switch to a baitcaster. I have been thinking about it. I have always used spincasters and don't own a baitcaster. They are lighter. 12oz is a light spincaster. 8 to 9 for a baitcaster.

There is a learning curve on them you will have a learning curve going to a regular spincaster. Just to remember to flip the bail.

reel

Browse the website. Baitrunners are under Offshore reels.

Happy Trails

Jrlatt

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Us5Camp

09/02/2011 12:37PM

Thanks All.... had occasion to drive to The City today... saw a Pflueger that I liked (6930)... drove away happy

http://www.pfluegerfishing.com/products/products.php?p=12

Pflueger President 6930
-
Cabelas Link - good picture, many reviews

"Who wants to take that long shot gamble... And head out to Fire Lake" Bob Segar

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izzy

09/02/2011 04:53PM

I have been fishing with the Pflueger President reels the last 2 years and I really like them. No problems so far and the drag is very smooth. Money well spent.

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schweady

09/02/2011 05:33PM

Get the best Shimano you feel you can afford. Pretty easy to do a search and line them up by price. Quality follows a pretty similar upward path.

"You can observe a lot by watching." -- Yogi Berra

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lundojam

09/02/2011 09:20PM

The Shimano Sahara might run you a few bucks more than 75, but I recommend that one and here's why: the drag is smooth and it is FAST. I think it is a 6:1 gear ratio, which means 1) when you are top-water fishing and the productive part of the cast is over, you can reel in in like a second and start over 2) It is easy to keep pressure on hooked fish, even while trying to control a canoe 3)you can retrieve a lure fast, which is often the ticket, especially this time of year, 4) you can cast ahead of the canoe on a drift and reel fast enough to move a lure properly, and 5) you can take up slack in a jiffy as you set the hook while slip-bobber fishing. My wife has ben using one for 5 years now, (as have I) and her catch rate has gone way up compared to the slower and poorer reels she used to employ.

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snakecharmer

09/02/2011 11:23PM

I've been extremely satisfied with all my Shimano reels. And I really like their Quickfire system.

"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after"
~ Henry David Thoreau

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schweady

09/03/2011 11:29AM

quote snakecharmer: "And I really like their Quickfire system."

Really? I've had a couple of reels with QF in the past and it could often make for a less than satisfying hook set. I'd rather use a reel with a dead-stop anti-reverse at any point that you stop cranking. You quickly get used to running the bail up to the top to open it for the next cast and you miss fewer fish.

"You can observe a lot by watching." -- Yogi Berra

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snakecharmer

09/04/2011 10:26AM

I never experience the hookset problem mentioned. I just automatically close the bail and back reel to the home position and it stays put. It's like blinking. I never even give it a thought. I suppose it's whatever you are used to.

"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after"
~ Henry David Thoreau

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schweady

09/04/2011 01:28PM

There you go. Glad it works for you. I know I had a few times fishing artificials with a closed bail and on some slack line it would lollygag backwards a half turn or so and then the set wasn't so sure. Or I'd get a pesky loop at the very least. Of course, live bait rigging with an open bail evens the playing field.

"You can observe a lot by watching." -- Yogi Berra

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MNDan

09/06/2011 02:59PM

I just sent my two favorite older Shimano Solstice's to the bottom of Lake Ima this weekend, so thx for all of the info in this thread. I'm gonna miss the quick fire, but I guess I'll get used to something like the Sahara...

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Jackfish

Moderator

09/06/2011 03:38PM

quote MNDan: "I just sent my two favorite older Shimano Solstice's to the bottom of Lake Ima this weekend..."
I hope that's just a figure of speech and not something you would purposefully do.

It's only a spot on the map... until you go there.

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