Your Favorite Spinning Reel

[ksdog]

I need to buy a new spinning reel soon for walleye and crappie fishing. What are your favorite spinning reels ??

[gspman]

I like the Shimano Sedona. It's durable, reasonably priced ($50), and fairly smooth. It's a decent reel at a decent price.

[Mark Christianson]

I had Sedonas, buy now have upgraded to Pflueger Presidents and Medalists. A little more money, but wow, what a reel.

They are 10 bearing reels. Sportsmans Warehouse had the Presidents for mid 50's if I remember correct. The Medalist was mid 60's.

[packattack]

Teca's all the way. Smooth as a ...., well you know what I mean. Pretty resonably priced too, I have bought all of mine at sprotmans warehouse.

[delmuts]

my favorite med size reel is the shamano symetre 1000 .

[Wayne Ek]

Ksdog, I have been using Quantum products for alot of years and they hold up, even under the abuse that some of my clients can dish out. They have a magnetic bail trip, so there is not bail spring to wear out, ( a real nice feature if you fish braids alot) and the bail is titanium, so when someone steps on it, it will not break off or bend. I've used the Kinetic Pti (6 bearing) on my client sticks for the past 3 years, without any problem. Well, one did go over board. For my tourny sticks I have been using the Catalyst Pti (8 bearing). I do have one Energy Pti (10 bearing) which I picked up last season, I have this one on a jig worm rod. They come in size 10 thru size 40. I have been using size 10 Kinetics on two of my ice rods, they are small enough to use during the cold water period, then I switch them over to my clients ultra-light rods and slip bobber rods. The size 20 would work better for soft water rigging or jigging rods, I think. You should be able to find the Kinetics for around 70 bucks and the Catalyst for around 90. I have a size 20 Catalyst on my 5'6" dock rod, which is a custom rod a friend made for me, it's a medium heavy, I fish 65 pound Stren braid on the rod, short line HARD!!! hook-sets, and I have not broke a bail yet, that's 3 years of hard use and no problems.

Hope that helps, Wayne

[priorbass]

I would go with okuma,,,AV-15 7BB,TP-15 9BB or EF-15 10BB...the 20 size is nice to...check them out at midwest rod and reel...link is below...I have been fishing these reels for 5 year now

[abens1078]

I'm also going to say Pfluger. I bought the 'Trion' in a Cabelas combo and will be buying another Pfluger this year. I will probably go up to the 'President' this year......like BLB said they are nothing but smooth.

[Rost]

Shimano Symetre has my vote. However, I have heard good things about the Flueger President.

[Captain B.R.K]

REEL (Real) impressed with the Shimano series spinning reels. I have a 500 Sedona on my ultra light rod and a Sahara on my medium action rod. Though mine are the older models (3+ yrs) they have made some cosmetic changes to spice them up a bit. Still same number of bearings, pieces, etc. Just look a bit nicer!!

Another one of my favorites is the TICA reel. Super light reel that I match up with my G-Loomis walleye rod.

Lite as a feather in my hand!

[Guest]

Ive used Shimano,Tica,Okuma and all of them are very good reels. One has to pick out the one you like,and the dollar amount you can afford. Of the three I named,all would fit the bill.

[river rat316]

I would go with the quantum pt series I picked up a catalyst for 60 bucks from gander mountain awhile back and that thing is smooth, wichever way you go make sure it has 2 spools (preferably 2 aluminum spools and not a cheap graphite spool) you'll like being able to switch from braid to mono or vanish when water color and fishing style dictates a change! Ohh and also make sure your reel size matches your rod size so its balanced, and spend a little more money on your rod its way worth it!!!

[friendlyfisher]

I am with the majority. Shimano in my opinion have many great reels. I think the Sahara is the best deal for your money. ff

[Dennis Steele]

I have been a Shimano fan for years. Good quality reels that last. I rigged most of my spinning rods with Shimano because they had a smooth drag and were fairly balanced.

In the last couple years I have been buying more and more Okuma's. I just think you get more reel for your buck. If you compare same price range reels with Okuma, you'll find Okuma with more ball bearings and balance better than the big brand reels. They stand behind their product too. I had a clinet step on one (big guy!) and broke a handle. I called Okuma told them the story and asked them to send out a new handle. I was willing to pay but they sent me out a new handle for free anyway! Thats customer service.

When they first came on the market they were "store brand" reels at some of the major sporting goods outlets. Then they started making a name for themselves.

[Jason Boser]

try the abu garcia 55oo series I think they are, they came out 2 years ago I have been using them and they have been a good reel for average money

[SCUMFROG]

Quantum pti. that all I have to see about that..

[dfv87]

I have used Shimanos most of my life but tried a Tica and have been very impressed. I have an ultrlight Quantum that I also like, all of them are good but sometimes an extra few bucks for the nicer model is worth it. I mean don't spend 200 if you plan on 50 but sometimes allowing a little more room in your spending allows you to get the better reel.JMO.

[Daze Off]

Put my notch in the Pflueger column - got a President last year and love it. Also bought a Cardinal 500 Series that I like alot too. Prior to that I used nothing but Quantums for spinning and baitcasting but have not been satisfied with Quantum's durability in spinning reels. Plan to buy another Pflueger next month when I'm at BPS - they have a combo on an XPS rod for a little over $100 that gives you the reel almost free (if you had purchased separtely.

Daze Off

[Lip RIPPER!]

I really like my Shimano Stradic's. I still wish they made them with the wood handle though.

[TNFL]

I'm not much of a shimano fan I bought one last year $60 and it broke the first night I used it. sent it back to cabela's and the new one broke with the first fish I caught with it. Maybe I had the drag set way too tight. Maybe I need a more expensive model. But if I spend more money on another reel it won't be a shimano. I traded the second one in for a pinnacle (heavy metal series). haven't used it yet but it should do the trick.

[Mark Christianson]

Hey ksdog,

Did we make your choice easier?

[Mike Walerak]

I would stay away form Ticas just for the fact that parts are hard to get, or at least they were. I use all Shimano stradics and symetre's for the fact that they are tough as nails, smooth and parts are readily available. Most repair shops have many of the Shimano parts on hand.

People would not realize what a trip to the repair shop does to a reel. Remember your reel when it was new? that is what it feels like after you take them to the shop. A new bail spring and good cleaning does wounders for about 15 bucks. Plus it keeps them reliable for years to come.

mw

[D4 Army]

Green abu garcia. Medium or light.