I’m starting to daydream of spring. I’m not in the market for a new reel, just curious what everyone prefers. I used to be a Shimano guy, but a couple years ago bought a Pflueger President and loved it. The following year I bought a Pflueger Supreme and like it even more.

IowaFishinGuy: "I used to be a Shimano guy, but a couple years ago bought a Pflueger President and loved it. The following year I bought a Pflueger Supreme and like it even more."

I stopped buying Shimano when I sent three spinning reels for factory repair and shipped them USPS signature required and I never saw my reels again. Shimano claimed they never received them even though I had a receipt with the date and name of the person who signed for them. They offered me nothing in the way of compensation.

I like the PFlueger President series, decent quality at a decent price, but I'm looking for something different. I use primarily braid and when I cast and engage the reel by turning the handle the braid will occasionally wedge between the roller and the bail collar. (Yes, I know it's recommended to close the bail by hand but that's not how I roll. I accept that my way will wear out bail springs faster but the line shouldn't hang up like it does.) I've used some modestly priced Daiwa spinning reels that I really like.

Oh man what a great question.

I normally take 3 setups for a week long trip. One is for trolling, one is for throwing baits and one is for finesse applications. The trolling rig is a Fenwick Eagle 6.5 ft Medium/Moderate aciton with an Okuma Epixor XT 30. The Epixor has really nice line capacity and I love the drag on that reel. I normally run 10lb braid to a 6 or 8lb fluoro leader. The bait throwing setup for this season will be a 7ft medium heavy/fast action Daiwa Aird X with a Piscifun Carbon X 3000 reel on it. I will probably spool this one with 20lb power pro and a 10lb fluoro leader. The last one is a Fenwick HMG light action 6.6 rod with an Okuma Ceymar 20 and 6lb mono for line. While I know this sounds like overkill I really like having the flexibility for pretty much every presentation. Most of my crew run just one setup and certainly out fish me quite often. I feel like if you were to take one setup a 6.5 ft medium/fast action rod with a 2000-3000 reel and 8lb mono would be a great jack of all trades rig.

That said, to touch on reels I know the President has an outstanding reputation as nearly indestructible and a great bang for your buck choice. I have several friends that use them and speak very highly of them. I really like the Okuma Ceymar for the same reasons. They're relatively cheap, pretty light and feel great in the seat. Haven't had an issue with any of mine. I have a couple of Shimano reels, a Symetre and a Sienna from years ago. I haven't had issues with either of them but prefer Okuma's line of reels for getting great specs without breaking the bank. I'm starting to get pretty decent with my one baitcaster (round Abu Garcia C3) but not enough to deal with the headache of backlashes when I want to be relaxing in canoe country. Our first trip is Mudro to Crooked in May this year and I am already organizing tackle to fight off the winter stir crazy.

It's been 18 years since I've been to BWCA/Quetico and I'm finally getting back solo in May also. Seagull entry point. I'm trying not to spend too much on new gear, but this forum doesn't help! I love to troll by canoe or powerboat on Lake Erie. I think I'll take my Abu Garcia/Ambassadeur C3 for trolling, and Pfleuger President for casting and lighter presentation. I was all set to bring two C3's and a spinning rod/reel thinking I could troll two rods at a time. Reviewing Minnesota fishing regs I noticed only one is rod allowed a time. I guess I had forgotten about that, or I am just so used to trolling with two rods per man in Ohio and Wisconsin. I'll use a 14# braid (6# diameter) on both with fluorocarbon leaders. My bags are packed and I'm ready to go.

Shimano has been my favorite reel for years. Easy to take apart and clean. Smooth as silk reels in the $100 plus range.

I only have Shimano rods and reels. It might have something to do with my sister being a rep for them...

I have friends that work for pure fishing so...discounts. President is my go to base reel but supreme and patriarch are on my better rods and you can tell they're a little better. That said...I'd take a president to the BW any day and do still.

On the casting side, Abu Garcia revo sx or stx or any of those mid to upper level ones have been great. I still throw a black max and some lower end ones too cause they're lefty and I like them better with no issues but you can really notice a difference between a black max and the better ones when it comes to magnetic brake, drag, and such.

bombinbrian: "I only have Shimano rods and reels. It might have something to do with my sister being a rep for them... "

It always helps to have connections! I solely used Shimano, mostly Spirex and Sahara’s, til one day one of my Sahara’s broke, and I decided to try the President because a buddy had one and raved about it. After using it, I was sold on it, especially being $20-30 cheaper than the Sahara. Don’t get me wrong, I still use the Shimano’s I have, but I will probably replace with Pfluegers when they wear out.

To those that use Okuma, I’ve heard good things, but have never tried, and I don’t have any friends that have one that I could test out. It seems like they all work, it’s just what each person prefers

I have a size 20 Lew's mach 2 speed spin on a 6'6" MLF cabelas fish eagle 54 as an all purpose setup . Fast retrieve, smooth drag, and a nice grippy handle on the crank. A great value for its price range ($70), even if it's styled like something the teenage mutant ninja turtles might fish with.

For trolling and big baits I have a size 30 Sahara on a 6'6" MH G Loomis IMX. It's smooth and it takes up line quickly... It came preowned with the rod. Otherwise I probably would have gone with something else. I always pick the shimanos up at the store and they feel decent, but there's something about them that just doesn't grab me. That said, it works well.

+1 for the Pflueger President

Shimano Sahara is the fastest one I can find, which I like for lots of reasons. You can really "burn" a retrieve, which is sometimes the ticket. When fishing topwaters tight to cover, you can start over more quickly. In the hands of a less-experienced angler, they automatically keep a tight line when they have a fish on. You can gather up slack efficiently. I never wish my reel was slower, but I often wish it was faster. The little bit of power you give up is easily mitigated with a properly set drag.
Do tell if you know about a faster one.

For a low-profile baitcaster, Daiwa Tatula is my choice. Still finding the right rod for that one.

My "nice" spinning setup is a Pflueger Purist on a Shimano Clarus rod. It's supposed to be a small step up from the President but I can't feel it.

For trolling, which I do a LOT of, I use round baitcasters with loud clickers. Have seen strong value out of the Kast King Rover reels.

A random rod grab from the racks but covered the main reels I run.

Revo Toro NaCl currently on a heavy catfish rod but also use for pike, musky, etc.

Revo Stx is one of my main bass rigs...this one on an HMG I like a lot.

Supreme XT

President XT

I've done BW trips where all I took is a cardinal spinning reel and whatever rod it was on and did great when I was younger. Now that I have a little nicer stuff I'll take it, but I still wouldn't bash anyone for taking whatever reel they like on an ugly stick or something. I have a few custom rods that I take now actually

hard to beat the shimano's for under a $100 , but the pflueger's are excellent reels too.

Shimano Stradics for spinning, Shimano Calcutta’s for bait caster situations..

I have a pflueger president and like it. Looking to get a Piscifin carbon x 2000 reel. Hear nothing but good things.

Stepped up from a Pflueger President to a Patriarch model. Really like it. Ultralight and smooth with a great drag.

I've bought Shimano spinning reels for probably 40 years. I don't fish a ton when I'm away from Canoe Country, but when we're up there, we fish hard all day (or close to it). I've never cleaned, oiled or repaired my reels and they've never given me reason to buy a different brand.

I don't recall the exact models I have, but they generally cost in the neighborhood of $50-$60. We use them on St. Croix Premier spinning rods.

One of my paddling buddies has Pfluger Presidential reels and loves them. Different strokes for different folks.

Daiwa reels for me .

Each of us are informed by our unique life experiences. I learned to fish with a cane pole. For me, any old open-faced reel is fine. I have three rods with reels-I have no idea what brands are out there in my garage. And, I have a very small tackle box. Dad taught me how to "think like a fish"...so, I just catch fish...enjoy the hunt. I don't think the reel matters much- as long as it gets your line out there and back. I'm getting older every day.

I run the Shimano Nasci reels and absolutely love them. Buttery smooth and the drags are powerful. If you go 2500 size and up it gives you 20lbs of drag (I think the Presidents give you 8-10lbs unless you go 40 size and up). The 3000 has a T handle that I'm liking more and more when fighting bigger pike. They're pretty lightweight and one differentiating thing is they don't have an anti-reverse switch on them. I like that as I never use it, one less thing to fail, and it allows the reel to be sealed so it could be ran in saltwater if needed. Also, I think that's what allows it to have such a beefy drag. All that to say, for $100 I feel like i get a ton of quality and value out of the Nasci.

For my kids, I run Presidents. They're bombproof and excellent reels for the money. I also have a Diawa Revros, but haven't put it through its paces yet but I've heard great things.