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Joined: Nov 2007
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Campfire Tracker
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OP
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What’s your choice for best bait caster reel for bass Fishing for sub-$100? what say you?
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,708
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2005
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Lew's has a reel that is right at the $100 mark and is a good one.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
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Joined: Sep 2011
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Sep 2011
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I have bought several from Fisherman's factory outlet. They have bins of recondited reels. You about have be in the place though. [img] https://www.ffo-tackle.com/[/img]
These premises insured by a Sheltie in Training ,--- and Cooey.o "May the Good Lord take a likin' to you"
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,690 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2008
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I like my Shimanos but the Bass Pro "Pro Qualifier" I tried lists for about S100. It can be had for considerably less on sale and IMO is as good as any in the $100 range.
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Joined: Nov 2008
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2008
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I’ve had three pro qualifiers (one I had to send back) and have been underwhelmed with them. The spec sheet on them is good, they just didn’t cast vey well. My lews cast better, but some of the lower end ones occasionally pop the thumb bar when casting, locking the spool. If I was buying a bare reel I would look toward Daiwa or Shimano.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,708
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2005
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I think I have six Lew's Speed Spool LFS and my son has that many or more, never had a seconds worth of trouble from them. Been using them for about six or seven years, fishing a couple days per week from mid March until bowhunting gets good in October. I'm a Lew's fan.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,690 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2008
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Anyone tried the Shimano SLX that they brought out about two years ago? It has several optional gear ratios going up to 8:1. I think they list for around $100.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,092
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
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You really need to go look at reels and see what you like. Like everything else there is seldom a best of anything but rather a lot of different personal opinion's on what's best. I have ABU Ambassadors, Daiwa Millionaire, Kastking, Shakespere, Ocuma, Shimano, a really old Zebco and maybe a couple others. Best of the bunch, I don't really know as I like them all. I do lean strongy to my ABU's but the round Kastking I got is really nice too. The Daiwa Millionaire I only got because it was on sale for about 75% off and a store going out of business sale. Really surprised at how nice a reel it is. Another thing you need to determine is do you want a round reel or low profile? I have two low profile's and the rest are round. May be I'm partical to round because that is what I started with and was quite some time before low profile even came out. My Shmino is the first low profile I ever got, a 100. Love that reel! The last low profile I got is a Daiwa RG 100HS. Have no idea which is a better reel but do lean toward the Shimino but that could be because it was my first low profile and no other reason. Love the ABU's as I said but in reality are they really that much better than my other round reels? I don't really know but if I had to get rid of all my reels but one, including spinning reels, I think the one I'd keep is my ABU 2500. Saw one for sale on the internet a while back for $1250! Mine is old and cost no where near that!
At some point your gonna find out picking a reel, bait caster or spinning, it's like picking a wife. Your gonna like what you like regardless what anyone else thinks of it. I'd lower what you want to spend starting out. Look around and you can find a round reel and a low profile that together you can get for $100 easily. Or if your pretty sure you want one over the other, get two $50 reels and see what you like. Te reels being made today are really nice, much better than what was around when I started them. if selection is important, go low profile, ton of them around! And, unless your fishing 8 hrs a day five days a week, your probably gonna have a hard time wearing one out! My first Zebco direct drive I got about 1965 while stationed in Germany Still works today good as it ever did. First ABU was about 1972 and used it a lot till I lost it in a house fire 20 yrs ago. The Shimino I don't remember when I got it but before I moved to where I live now and I've been here 31 yrs! And with all the reels I have now, I seldom use the same reel two time's in a row, just like to switch around. My favorite I think would be that little ABU 2500 but that Daiwa RG100HS is right on it's heels. Simply not pretty enough.
Last edited by DonFischer; 08/04/20.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,708
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,708 |
Low profile all the way...
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 24,293 Likes: 12
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2010
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Joined: Jul 2006
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2006
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Been using the Garcia Max series this year. Bought a Pro, Silver and Black and they have all seemed to work pretty well with no problems. I do like the click adjustable brake on the Pro Max better than the friction brake on the other two. The g/kid has appropriated the Silver as 'his' reel and let me have my Zebco 33's back. He's such a generous soul!
Last edited by Johnny Dollar; 08/04/20.
“My horn is full and my pouch is stocked with ball and patch. There is a new, sharp flint in my lock and my rifle and I are ready. It is sighted true and my eyes can still aim.” Kaywoodie
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 31,285 Likes: 9
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 31,285 Likes: 9 |
I bought a KastKing Royale Legend a while back because I had a hard time believing how good some folks said they were for so little money. I haven't used it a lot (I'm normally a spinning reel guy) but dang that thing is smooth.
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,092
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
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If you like the looks and feel of a round reel, get round. If you like the looks and feel of low profile, get low profile. Probably a personal preference and nothing more. For bigger fish, channel cats, I never ever use a low profile reel. Might work alright but just a bit unsure with the low profile if I actually hooked a big fish. Have a ton of confidence in my round reels, like the way they handle and they cast as smooth as either of my low profile's, and, those low profiles are smooth.
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Joined: Jul 2006
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2006
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If you like the looks and feel of a round reel, get round. If you like the looks and feel of low profile, get low profile. Probably a personal preference and nothing more. For bigger fish, channel cats, I never ever use a low profile reel. Might work alright but just a bit unsure with the low profile if I actually hooked a big fish. Have a ton of confidence in my round reels, like the way they handle and they cast as smooth as either of my low profile's, and, those low profiles are smooth. Used a Silver Max low profile to land a 72# blue cat and it seemed to work fine.
“My horn is full and my pouch is stocked with ball and patch. There is a new, sharp flint in my lock and my rifle and I are ready. It is sighted true and my eyes can still aim.” Kaywoodie
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Joined: Mar 2011
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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My Daughter and I have switched over to the Lews. Think you get more bang for the buck with them. On the medium weight rods we spool with braid then a 15 lb. floro. which makes a great jig setup.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,092
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Well that's one. If you like the low profile and are confident in it, use it! It's simply a matter of what you prefer I started casting reels a good time before low profiles came out. Have the first low profile I ever bought, found it in my son's stuff Still a super reel but I would not consider it for channel cat fishing I'm sure it's in my head but it just doesn't look up to the job to me Works great on small mouth bass! I have reels I'm much more confident in for bigger fish! Oh, those low profiles, I do have, two, I would not hesitate to use on bull head cat's. Then again I've caught bull heads on an ultra light spinning set up with 4# line.
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Joined: Jul 2006
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Hi Don,
Have you had any low pro failures? I haven’t, but I’m always ready to learn!
I see Penn is bringing out an lp series. The 400 series looks like it would be just the checker for catfish. The price needs to come down a good bit but if I start saving now I might be able to sneak one by the wife before next spring...
“My horn is full and my pouch is stocked with ball and patch. There is a new, sharp flint in my lock and my rifle and I are ready. It is sighted true and my eyes can still aim.” Kaywoodie
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,110
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,110 |
Shimano SLX is a fantastic reel for the money.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,092
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,092 |
Failure's? No. Did have a newer zebco that was a really nice looking and feeling reel but had way to much trouble casting it. My second low profile was a Shimano 200, I think it was a 200. Had trouble casting it too. My most expensive bait caster is my ABU 6500. Got it quite a while back about $65. I have never really been in a position to buy an expensive anything just to try it out. Did buy my Kastking Rover 40 just to try out; about $45!
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 24,293 Likes: 12
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 24,293 Likes: 12 |
Shimano SLX is a fantastic reel for the money. yep their slx rods are too
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,800
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Carry what you’re willing to fight with - Mackay Sagebrush
Perfect is the enemy of good enough
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Joined: Sep 2006
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Hi Don,
Have you had any low pro failures? I haven’t, but I’m always ready to learn!
I see Penn is bringing out an lp series. The 400 series looks like it would be just the checker for catfish. The price needs to come down a good bit but if I start saving now I might be able to sneak one by the wife before next spring... I had a Omega I think it was called, never could cast it. gave it away and got a Dawai thaat has been really nice. My second low pro was a Shimano 200 I think was the model. Couldn't cast it either. Wouldn't surprise me if for the most part it's in my head. I simply trust round casting reels a great deal.
Last edited by DonFischer; 08/19/20.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,092
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,092 |
I have a 2500C great reel! I was curious and looked them up the the other day. Found one looked exactly like mine, green and the same handle. $979, I didn't pay anywhere near that price but also got mine about 20 yrs ago. There were other's from the mid $700's to the most expensive for $2250. Nice as mine is, I wouldn't pay anything near what some of these are going for, but then, I would not sell mine either! Had it out for bullheads yesterday evening and every time I take it out I am overwhelmed how really nice and smooth this reel is.
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 61,059 Likes: 20
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 61,059 Likes: 20 |
I doubt if I payed over fifteen dollars for this reel. Fisherman's Factory Outlet, Sprite Lake, Iowa.
These premises insured by a Sheltie in Training ,--- and Cooey.o "May the Good Lord take a likin' to you"
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 6,665
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 6,665 |
$200.....
Just bought a Diawa lexa 300hsl loaded with power pro 40lb braid I’m going to run 20lb pline floro leader....
Salmon are up in the river here...... FG knot 😉
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 9,099
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 9,099 |
I just keep buying old used Garcia reels and rebuilding them. Best way to go on a budget.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Edmund Burke 1795
"Give me liberty or give me death" Patrick Henry 1775
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Joined: Jul 2006
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Fisherman's Factory Outlet, Sprite Lake, Iowa That’s where that soft drink comes from!
“My horn is full and my pouch is stocked with ball and patch. There is a new, sharp flint in my lock and my rifle and I are ready. It is sighted true and my eyes can still aim.” Kaywoodie
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,092
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,092 |
I doubt if I payed over fifteen dollars for this reel. Fisherman's Factory Outlet, Sprite Lake, Iowa. I've got 5000. First really good reel I ever got was a 5000 about 1971. But Is that one of the ones said to be made in China. I notice that thumb bar on it. Got that on my Kast King and hit it by accident hooking a cat. Boy was that a disaster! Worst bird's nest I ever saw. had to quit and go home and cut the line off! Now if that one of your's in a China one, how's it working for you? Hard to believe a lot of the negative stuff. I think a lot of guy's write it to seehow bad they can make it sound. That was exactly what got me to buy my Kastking Rover 40. $40 and been a really nice reel, except that dang thumb bar!
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 990
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2004
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I agree...handle the reel and see if you like it. I prefer left handed reels even though I am right handed.
Today i fished with daiwa and lews and shimano...the Lews got the bass, motor oil culprit.
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