Best baitcasting reel for $100?

[Guest]

I've been looking at a few around that price that look pretty good, such as the EON, Cabela's prodigy, Trion, Ect. Thanks

[Bobb-o]

ambassadeur hands down

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Diplomacy - The art of saying "nice doggie" while you find a rock.

[bucketmouth64]

Pflueger Trion has been my best reel to date. I am also trying Bass Pro Extreme if you want to try off brands. Trion has not had one mechanical problem in 2 years. Good cast control and drag.

[Deitz Dittrich]

why not spend an extra $14 and get a Shimano Curado?.. best reel for the money in my opinion hands down!

[Dan Wood]

ditto on the curado - best baitcaster I've found for the money..

[Coach Dog]

Curado! Spend the extra 20 bucks or so, and you won't regret it. Smooth as silk!

[bassin]

curado!

[Blackstarluver]

I have used an EON for two seasons and have found it a darn good reel. Casts well drag is smooth. I want to get the low profile version for lighter applications.
God lyk!
JC

[kslipsinker]

Got to love the Shimano Curado 200. I picke one up the summer and have really enjoyed using it. Casts better than anything I have ever owned, and I have a bunch of rigs in my boat.

[catchin'whopper]

Quantum Energy PTI's are pretty decent too. I have been happy with that line over the years. no problems at all!

[Dan Wood]

I didn't notice, but they dropped the price on the Johnny Morris signature series reel to $99 at Bass Pro. That is an awesome reel for $99. I still prefer the curado 100b superfree I think, but this is an awesome reel for $99.

[BigMike]

If you are looking to get the best deal, I would wait until spring. You may be able to get an end of season deal on one now and save a couple bucks, but if you wait until spring to buy your reel, you can often times get a free rod (a $30-70 value if I remember correctly) from places like gander and galayans with the purchase of a reel. The better the reel the better the rod.

[dan sexton]

I will agree with Bucketmouth on the "Extreme" from Bass Pro Shops! I swear by that reel. It's real smooth on casting 1/8 oz. dart heads, and turn around to stick double digit fish with #50 lb Power Pro!
This reel is currently out preforming my Curados and Team Diawas at half the price! For $79 you can buy the reel (I only recommend the 6:2-1 ratio). And, for an extra $20 you can get a rod (many to choose from) with this reel in the combo section.

Just my 2 cents on the bait-caster.

Dan
Side note story: Our season starts this weekend. We should have over 50 boats for the season opener. We are catching fish from 0' to 100' right now...it's insane. My partner and I fished a little 25 boat team event at this lake 2 weeks ago and took 2nd. 1st place was (14.26 lbs) $950, (13.76) 2nd $450, (13.46) 3rd $200, and (13.44) 4th $100. This is for 7 fish limit! This lake is over-run by Kentucky spotted bass. And if a guy can score a few largemouths he is sure to win. I think we were the only team to weigh just one largemouth. We caught most our fish on jigs in 40' to 50'. After catching them we have to use a needle to decompress their bladders. We also caught dart-head and drop-shot fish. You guys might want to think about California fishing one of these winters.

[berfish]

I got one of the Bass Pro Extreme reels this past summer and it is the best reel I have used for under $100 bucks. The Curado is sweet for twenty bucks more but I have seen two seperate occations where the drags have worn out. I would try the Johnny Morris series if it is true about the price drop. The BP extremes are very smooth and durable.
bf

[Dan Wood]

The Extreme is a good buy for the money. I see they are at 79.99. I thought I paid around $60 for mine, I'd wait for them to go on sale again as they seem to every year. The Johnny Morris is worth the extra $20 in my opinion (currently on sale for $99). Those were selling quite well it seemed at $150. They are a great reel for under $100.

I still prefer my Curado 100B's over everything I own in that size class. I think mainly because it is smaller and fits my hand better. The Johnny Morris is definitely a smoother reel, but also just a little bigger, heavier and bulkier. I like to keep my set-up's as light as possible - that is another reason why I prefer the Johnny Morris over the Extreme for BPS reels.

The Johnny Morris has 10 bearings (9.2 oz.) vs. the Extreme's 5 bearings (9.7 oz.) vs. the Curado 100B's 5 bearing (8.1 oz.).

The Jonny Morris is the smoothest reel I've ever used, but the Curado just seems to fit and feel better (and is plenty smooth as well).

Agree with above on going with the 6.3:1 ratio, unless your using this for cranking only in which case you might want to consider the 5.2:1 ratio.

[bucketmouth64]

I am glad to see that others agree on the bp extreme. Go to Trails End in Fridley when they have their spring garage sale or see them at the sportshow. I bought the reels for under $60. The Johnny Morris reel is clearancing for $99. Go to bps HSOforum. I am tempted to get one, I think it is a can't miss reel with all it offers.

[andy j]

Curado is best for the money, more tourny fisherman use it then anything else. I have a few extra curado laying around with maybe one or 2 uses out of them. a 200(right) and a 201(left) that I would be willing to let go at about the $100 range. Let me know , my email is [email protected]. AJ

[BigMike]

In the new bass pro shop catelogue there is the Quantum Kevin VanDam Signature Series reel (KV600C)for $99. This looks like the exact same reel as the E600PT with 6 ball bearings available with a 5:1:1 and a 6:2:1 gear ratios. I own two E600PTs and I love them!!! The only problem is that they cost $159 new. I got an awesome deal on mine to begin with but if I were to get one now for under $100, I would probably go with that VanDam signature series.

I also have an old Quantum 1300 MG series baitcaster that I really love and it still works great and I noticed they just re-designed a new MG series reel for $60 (it looks like they still have the old design available too). When I go down to the bass pro shop this weekend on my trip to Chicago, I might have to check this one out.

[Daze Off]

I would vote for the Quantum 1310 series - old style aluminum - they were gone for quite a while but just last year the line was brought back - at least at Bass Pro. I bought two of the 6.2:1 and one 3.8:1 for crankin'....... that might bring my total to 10 or 11 of them - the oldest is around 17 yrs old and still kickin'. They have withstood incredible abuse and neglect and keep on performing. They have gone for around $80 for all these years - in fact they are at $70 now since they are made in China and Korea.

Although curiousity has led me to consider the purchase of a Curado to see the comparison.

Daze Off

[BigMike]

Daze, you should check out the new MG 1300 series in the bass pro shop catelogue. It's the same price, but it looks a lot cooler! The old 1300 is a classic design and like I mentioned, I love mine! Solid, smooth and will last forever, even under brutal treatment. But the new design just looks that much better and has the same features. Plus it's not $70, it's only $60!!!

[Daze Off]

Mike,

Will check it out - the wife bought me one of them (I thought) for Xmas - 3.8:1 retreive ratio for cranks or finesse fishing. Perhaps my older ones are 1610 - I think over the years I have models in several series that all look virtually identical. One black one, a bunch of silver ones, a couple of gold ones, and I forget what color the new one is.

BTW, have fun at BPS - I am absolutely green with envy!

Daze Off

[bucketmouth64]

As long as we are on the subject of bait casters, I was at Gander and saw a couple of Pinnacle's for sale. The deadbolt pro w/4 bearings for $59. Seems like a real smooth reel. Was impressed. The other was Pinnacle's limited edition w/ 7 bearings for $79. Again, this seemed pretty smooth. Anyone have experience with Pinnacle? Do they look better than they perform?

[andy j]

pinnacle are not the quality of shimano, Diawa if you are looking for quality