What kind of spinning reel for all-purpose fishin?

[Hammer Handle]

I fish mainly bass and northern.

I like to use at least 10 lb test. Weight of lures varies greatly.

What is a good spinning reel for $50 - 150?

Just looking for some advice....

[broken_line]

whatever reel fits your hand is built fot that line wieght! you can get a heck of a nice reel for 100 bucks..

[DuckBlind]

Shimano Symetre, Sahara or Sedona...all good reels.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Pfleuger reels are nice too.

[mainbutter]

I have a shimano something, a daiwa something, and a pflueger president and love them all. I'm a fan of shimanos, my brother has a shimano sahara I happen to particularly like as well.

However my pflueger president is my go-to for pike on my med-heavy rod to throw slightly bigger baits for pike and bass.

The fact is that there are so many great reels out there, you really can't go wrong in that price range.

[deadeye]

I have a few pflueggers that I am very fond of. I got a trion and a couple presidents that have been great for the money.

My nice one though is a quantum energy pti. That thing is sweet it was just a little more spendy.

The longest running reels I have are made by fin-nor. The Ahab series reels. I have had a hard time finding them recently hence the switch to pfluegger. I have one that I got in 98 (I was in middle school and mowed a lot of lawns for that) and it still works perfect. I also have a couple others that are still in the game too.

Whatever you end up getting get the larger of the options in the series. Size 3 or 4 depending on what brand you go after. Its better to have a little extra line capacity vs the little reels. Also, you might be better off getting a couple of the mid price range reels vs. one nice one. That way you can have a couple presentations rigged up and ready to go at all times.

[mainbutter]

Oh I forgot to mention quantum, deadeye's post reminded me..

I have a quantum cabo pt (I think) on the saltwater rig I keep at the grandparents' place in florida. Fan-TAS-tic reel, great for snook. I'd imagine quantum's more affordable reels are great too.

[nofishfisherman]

For $50 the Shimano Sedona is a nice reel. I don't have the money for multiple reels designed specifically for each species so I got 1 Sedona and it has been a great all purpose reel.

[walleyejgr]

pflueger arbor

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Quantums are my favorite all purpose spinning reels. I love where the drag setting is on most of them, on the back of the reel instead of on the spool.

Just wish they made a good, powerful Catfish reel.

[Ed Carlson]

The new Gander Mountain™ GSX Titanium Spinning Reel 11 bearing Gander Mtn reels are a high quality reels and very attractive reels that will not break the budget, at $79.

The 10 bearing GSXTS-20 Gander Mountain™ GSX™ Tournament Spinning Reel at $59 are high performing and rock solid smooth reel too. I run a couple of them and very much like the long stroke spooling that basically eliminates line loops from super braids.

[mrklean]

i have 2 Quantums and like them they are med lights 6 ft rods but they handle bigger fish very well, plus it makes the fight better, but i have 8lb fireline on and have pulled in some big fish with no problems

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Shimano symetre ($100) or sahara ($80). Either one in the 2500 or 3000 size would be a great reel.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I too am partial to the Shimano line of products.. really all depends on how much you want to spend. bang for the buck.. the Sahara may be one of the best out there.

[chief]

Hammer,

In your price range you'll have lots of choices. If you lean toward your midpoint, you'll still have lots of choices and you'd be getting a surprisingly high quality fishing tool.

If bass and pike will be your primary targets, and if you're looking for one reel that will cover the waterfront (so to speak), I'd go with a 3000/3500 size from any manufacturer. Reels of this size will serve you well paired with six and a half foot rods for finesse/plastic presentations, and they'll excell with seven foot rods if you're throwing spinnerbaits, spoons, cranks, and topwaters.

It's best to buy a reel that comes with a spare spool. Using 10lb mono on one spool is fine, but I'd suggest a 15lb (or so) braid on the other one. This pairing will give you great versatility in a lot of conditions.

This being said, I'd look at (in ascending order by manufacturer):

Pflueger Presidents/President XT/Medalist/Supreme

Shimano Sahara/Symetre/Saros

Abu Cardinal 500/ Soron SX/ Soron STX

Quantum Kinetic PT/Catalyst PT

Okuma Epixor/Inspira

[gurkster]

pflueger president

[KyleM.]

I would suggest Cabela's Reels

[FISHINZ4ME2]

Has anyone bought the Scheels brand?? I was told they are made by Pflueger..

They look pretty nice and seem to be very smooth...

[eurolarva]

I must have gotten a lemon Quantum. I will never buy another one with all the problems I had with mine but thanks to that piece of fishing structure I found shimano and I will never go back. I have the sedona and the one just cheaper then the sedona and what wonderful reels. Never again am I buying to combo rigs from gander or fleet farm.

[mr_jman]

FishinZ - I have bought several Scheels reels but the Ice fishing ones that run about $30 or so. I have been very impressed with those reels so far. They will be used again this year for the 3rd season still going well!

Lots of great options mentioned by everyone I like my Abu Garcia cardinal combo I have. Very smooth operation on those reels.

Not sure how many people buy Mitchell reels, but I have about 5 of these reels in several sizes. At the $35 - $50 price range the reels have been very reliable for me so far the past few years! The Avocet II's are what you would probably be looking for. I see these sold at Gander mostly.

[My_Key]

I have a couple Shimanos(Sedona and Sidestab) that work great, a Pflueger Trion that I love and I bought a Mitchell Avocet II for ice fishing last winter that works pretty good too.

[riverkid21]

I would go Shimano. No question. I'd recommend the Symetre.

[srfishin15]

My friend bought one of the scheels brand reels and it is smooth but the drag slips occasionally so I would go with something like shimano

[CJH]

Pflueger - smooth and flawless. (President, etc...) Just picked up an Arbor and like it, but only fished with it one day so far. Seems to cast pretty nice and is as smooth as the other pflueger's I have used.

I had problems with several Shimano's.