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What’s the quality buy regardless of price? Mainly for fish up to 50 lbs or so.


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Since you said quality buy regardless of price I like the Shimano Sienna FD in 2500, midsize or 4000, a little bigger. Around $30 with a lot of the same features as their more expensive reels. I've never caught a 50 or even a ten lb fish with them so don't know how the drag would hold up but have been using them for over five years for all kind of fresh water and salt water surf fishing with no problems. They quit making the FD model a year or so ago but you can find them on ebay.

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Regardless of price? Buy a Saltiga or Stella - I'm sure they're great. I have a spinfisher for exactly the kind of fish you are expecting, and haven't been let down. Have a Sienna RD too, and it's been very nice for inshore fishing - light and reliable, but not enough line capacity for larger fish.

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If price s not a consideration then a Shimano Stella is gonna be tops.

Lots of great reels for a fraction of the cost though. Hard to beat a Saragossa for the money. Diawa Black Gold gets really good reviews and are about $100. Quantum Cabo’s a bit more. I like the Penn Battle II’s well enough.


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Check out the Daiwa BG4000, very affordable SW reel at about $100, (I've got two now, both spooled with 30 lb. braid). Great inshore SW reels.


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Always Shimano for me.

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I been using shimano Stellas I believe since 2003. I have about 8 of them. Most 4000s. A few 6000s and 10k . Still using the first one I ever bought. Only one ever needed a bearing in the line roller. I fish exclusively in the salt. I fished an average two days a week from 2003-2009. Less after but still alot of fishing. Skiff, wading , yaking . Keep them rinsed and lubricated and they will last a long time. Salt and saltwater fish are hard on reels. I must disclose I havent bought one in 7 years so if they changed them up I wouldn't know.


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new model Shimanos are not as robust as those of several years ago, I can't get a whole season out of them (Stadics and Sustains) any more. Have begun trialing some other brands after a couple decades of loyalty to Shimano. I've never had enough class to own a Stella.


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You usually get what you pay for,no matter the brand. Just don't buy into the latest gimmick until it's been vetted.

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Originally Posted by R_H_Clark
You usually get what you pay for,no matter the brand. Just don't buy into the latest gimmick until it's been vetted.

This


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If you are not wanting to spend hundreds, the Penn Battle 2s hold up and cast very good and made for braid. You can pick them up for under $100 on ebay often in $60-70 range.

I have about 20 from 1000 to 4000 size. In larger sizes I have gone with the Fin Nor and they are rated as one of the top salt water reels. They are under $100 or so in the 50-60 size.

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I tried several and settled on a Shimano Thunnus for my salt water use. Has been great so far.


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The Daiwa BGs have been great reels for me.......I fish close to 30 or 40 days a year on the east coast, as well as the middle grounds out of tampa..........the 4000 has caught blackfin tuna, yellow fins up to 25 pounds, mutton snapper and of course all the spanish and blues you could want to shake a stick at off the piers here..........I was a die hard shimano guy(still have a number of older stradics that are still going strong) but the new BG series from Diawa is as good as I have used in a while.........

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I always begin and end my spinning reel shopping in the Shimano section.
I have a bunch of Sahara and Sedona models, but if price were no object, it would be a Sustain.


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I had luck with Diawa. Emcast

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28,

I can heartily recommend the Shimano Stratic ci4+
I have two of these in the 2500 size that I use for just about everything.

You may want to up size to the 4000 series, due to the upper fish/weight size you mentioned.
Either the ci4+ or the FK will work very well for you.

The ci4+ utilizes carbon fiber and is very light weight, helping keep day long fishing fatigue down.
The FK is basically the same reel without the carbon fiber. Both are very smooth with fast retrieval rates.

Good luck 🎣


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A buddy of mine fished with a bunch guides and told me many guides are using Penn Battles with good sucess. Hear say but probably good information.


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Fished with a guide on the Charleston harbor jetties last week - all his rods were Ugly Stik Big Water or Tigers and all his reels were Penn Fierce II & Battle II (6000 & 8000), or Penn SSV (inshore - 4500, 5500). All spooled with braid (30 lb. to 50 lb.) I asked about his choices - said Ugly Stik's are nearly unbreakable and if they go over the side he hasn't lost much investment. As to reels, he personally prefers Daiwa for his own use but, Penn has a terrific Charter Captain/Guide program and he can buy all he needs at dealer wholesale, Daiwa limits him to 6 reels per year. He also feels the Fierce is just as good as the Battle for the life expectancy - the extra cost of the Battle doesn't give him any longer use than the Fierce. Interesting to listen to his take on it.


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Have always been a big shimano fan and thought the sahara was a great durable reel for the price point.
I put in a lot of hours in the salt.I think shimano quality has diminished the past 10 years for their

r sub $200 reels

I think then past few years diawa has really improved their quality and design. Picked up a diawa battle and really think it is a good reel.

Have a few penns too and no complaints. For the money I would go Diawa.

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If price is no object, Van Stahl or Shimano Stella. With the right rod, they will stop most anything short of big marlin and bluefin. Smaller sizes will last damn near forever with proper maintenance.

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