Best reels

[WildDog3]

Wanna see what your guys choice of reels are.

[Guy Williams]

No contest in my eye's. Just a better product for your money.
Guy Williams

[MrSkeeter]

Well, as for me, it depends if you're talking about a spinning or casting reel.

I've used both Shimano and Diawa spinning reels and have settled on Diawa ... I chose Diawa mainly due to the drag performance. As you spinning reels are pretty close in terms of smoothness.

However on the casting side, I still say that the Shimano's are better ... I'm currently using the Japanese versions (Scorpion Metanium XT's and MG1000's) and I don't think Diawa can beat them in Casting. I think the Shimano casting reels are smoother and free'er running than the comparable Diawa's in the casting side of the fence!!!

[Cooch]

Until ya find the ones ya like and are most comfortable with. Hmm, and besides, what kinda poll fer reels leaves off ABU GARCIA? When it comes to bait casters, my personal choice every time is ABU!

If you haven't tried the new C4 Record, you should, I am playing with a new RNC40 on my ripbaits, and the only thing I've caught the past two weeks has been a boat load of stripers, What a smooth casting reel and power monger. at 6.3:1, iIt's the fish wench of all fish wenches! $84 retail, the ABU standard line continues on in great tradition with this series reel. As easy as I'm taming these stripers with this reel, it's usage on the blackies is unfair, advantage Cooch!

The second reel I have been playing with lately is a newer model from this Swedish manufacturer. Its the 5600EXT-PRO. WOW! I've got it on one of my jig rods and it is the most wonderful reel I have ever layed my hands on. 6.5:1, smooth as silk, heck, smooth as a baby's butt, better yer, smooth as Melissa Ford's arse! LOL It's priced a little steep at $185 or more retail, but like most things in life, if'n ya want the best, ya gotta pay fer it!

Two absolutely marvelous new generation reels from ABU. If'n ya can find yer way out of the typical box and enjoy using round reels, you owe it to yerself to try one of these two new models from ABU GARCIA! They also have a third new reel that ya can read more about out at TackleTour.COM!

[Phil]

IN OUR BOAT, ON THE BANK, SALMON, STEELHEAD, BASS, STRIPERS, CATFIH, DORADO, CALICO BASS, SAND BASS, IT GARCIA AMBASSADEUR AND , MITCHELL FOR THIS FAMILY.

JIGS

[mark poulson]

The "older" Quantum E600PT baitcasters.

[basstamer]

We had a similar post not too long ago like this....my remark was that Pflueger was my reel of choice and my reasons can be seen again if you'll just look through the new Bass Pro Shops "Fall Fishing Catalog"-you will see that not only has Shimano copied Pfluegers design but now Diawa,ABU AND Quantam too now have copied the big deep "reel box" on the handle side. As far as I am concerned thats enough for me let alone the price difference! A Curado is $199.00,A Calais is $649.99,a Diawa Steez is $449.95,a Zillion is $249.95,a Quantum Tour Edition PT is $229.95 and an Abu Revo is $149.99-199.99 VS a Pflueger President at $139,a Supreme is$ 169 and the new Summit is $159. I realize this is the Ford/Chevy thing but man why buy a copy for $40 to several hundred dollars more? Just to buy a name? Not me! I personally sold all my Shimano stuff for my Pfluegers....HATED the quality(or should I say LACK of) of the ABU's I had and sold to buy my Shimano's....had a couple Diawas years ago and did not care for them. I make $50,000 a year and have a house payment,wife,kids-one in college that I am paying for,etc....how can you guys afford $400 Reels on top of $300 Loomis'???? I guess I am doing something "wrong" and I will just HAVE to stick with my Pfluegers,Kistlers and Lamiglas'. Good luck and tight lines!
Scott
PS I vote PFLUEGER!

[TTCal]

They also have a third new reel that ya can read more about out at TackleTour.COM!

LOL.. thanks Cooch.. I assume yer talkin' about the Revo STX that JIP just finished writing up a week or two ago.

We also reviewed the Record last year though it was the larger version (RNC60) and not the 40.

I agree it all comes down to what each angler is comfortable with both in terms of performance, comfort, and cost. Unfortunately for me, I like too many of them.

[Bill K]

My #1 choice is Shimano Curado(old style) #2 Abu-C-4. Good and easy to set up, with smooth drags and they just go and go. Bill K

[Gary Dobyns]

I think Daiwa has always had the best spinning reels by far. In casting Shimano had the market cornered for years. Now many companies have great casting reels. If your looking at a reel in the $250 range, you've got to see the new Zillion by Daiwa. They are awesome and have a 6.3 and 7.1 gear ratio in both left and right hand versions.

[sTony]

I'm with Cooch on the Abu Garcia reels. At their price point they are tough to beat and I am switching over to them bit by bit. I think I've got six of them in use now including the C4.

For me budget is everything but I dont' feel I've made a compromise using the ABU reels, they're great!!!

sTony

[Dan McKenzie]

After basically only using curado's both regular and super free I bought a Diawa two months ago, super tuned version. It is with out a doubt a piece of crap. It casts like a tow truck, it is so bad that I nearly threw it in the river on Saturday and would have if my brother wasn't there to start laughing. I wouldn't recommend one of the to anyone (unless you happen to be fishing against them) It's junk, all 140 dollars worth of it.

[Gary Dobyns]

Anyone can have a problem. It is how things are handled after that. I have used the TDA reel that you are having issues with for over a year and a half. Mine were early versions and the lock nut on the handle works loose, no other problems. Send it in to get fixed.

[Dan McKenzie]

Since I didn't chuck it into Davey Jones locker I'll send it in and see what they can do with it. It's frustrating to spend money on something that doesn't perform, I didn't even consider that it may have a problem.
Can you adjust the weights on it like with the Shimano's? I didn't open it up because it doesn't access very easy, I assumed that you couldn't and left it at that.

[TTCal]

Can you adjust the weights on it like with the Shimano's? I didn't open it up because it doesn't access very easy, I assumed that you couldn't and left it at that.

Dan,

Sorry to hear of your reel troubles.. just an FYI, Daiwa reels use a magnetic brake control system and adjustment is made on the outside of the reel, via the dial in the sideplate. There's no need to open the sideplate except to gain access to the spool and bearings for periodic lubrication:

[Dan McKenzie]

I've adjusted it in just about every conceivable combination that a 6th grade graduate can, the reel is just not what I expected, grant you it's not top of the line, but for the price it should perform. After Saturdays problems I thought maybe line?? So I spooled it up with fresh 17lb yo-zuri hybrid, nada. I will open it up and lubricate it, if that doesn't work and it is still in the boat when I get home Saturday I'll get a return number from them and see if they can look at it.
When trying to set up the reel I made very minor adjustments, one click up one click down, etc...nothing radical. I also notice a slight noise when reeling in, it started right out of the box and hasn't changed.

[TomAtkeson]

I bought a bunch of Daiwas when they first came out with the TDAs and I love them had a simular problem with one and they fixed it very quickly. I also had a SOL, god I loved that real but some one decided they needed it for fishin more than I did...

[rickyshabazz]

I have about 25 TDA and I love everyone of them, except for the one that I stepped on.

They are great reels are smooth and cast very well.

[Ken C.]

So Dan, what exactly is the problem with that reel? I was thinking of getting one since I have one of the Viento's that so far has worked nicely for me. Depending on what the problem is maybe Tony Mello can take care of it for you?

[Dan McKenzie]

Ken, the main problem is the reel doesn't come close to the smoothness or casting distance as a curado sf, in fact any curado that I own. My only experience with casting reels is with curado's and castaic's. With what I read prior to buying it and what I saw posted on here I expected it would take some time to get used to it i.e. different feel, but I didn't expect that after a month and a half it to be nothing more than a back up. After seeing the posts I believe there is something wrong with it, sponserships and whatever aside, pro's wouldn't fish with something that didn't perform, that'd be like Jeff Gordon racing on cheapy tires from wally world. I'm going call service and send it in to be checked. Every manufacturer has problems sometime, just the luck of the draw I guess.

[Larry Hemphill]

I feel I can speak highly of the Shimano line since I use them constantly with clients - some who have never even done much casting before. The ONLY problem I have ever had with one or two is the ones clients dropped overboard - with the rod attached!! I do believe with today's technology - all equipment is pretty darn good. I feel Shimano has set a standard that is really hard to beat - from inexpensive reels to some that must be gold plated!! I'm sure with modern technology, it is hard to find a bad reel these days.

[Andy Giannini]

I use Shimanos and Daiwas, and a few left over Quantums. My ABU stuff is striper/set line stuff. My biggest reel is a PENN.

The Curados do really well, and the clutch is bulletproof. I do like the magnet feature of the Daiwas. For cranking they let me cast into the wind and get away with murder. For pitching, they let me use a wide variety of different weight baits with just a click and no need to take apart the reel. I just went to the new Curado on my flipper and miss the magnets for pitchin. That new Curado is pretty fancy, its not really the same class reel at all, with a much higher price point in the market.

Have not tried the latest Quantums, so no input there.

I was just thinking back, the Curados used to be black, and then they were red, with two sizes, and green, and now chrome.

Spinning rods? I hate em, but I have Shimanos and Daiwas.

I think if you get a tattoo, and swear to just one brand you miss out on what the others have to offer. Price point, castability, DURABILITY, etc. I kinda got away from Quantum because they charged me a bit much for repairs, and I did not get my reels back, they were remanufactured and were somebody elses.

.02 A.G.

[leachman90]

For spinning I have fallen in love with the Diawa SOL.It is as smooth as any reel I have ever touched.

[Paul W]

I havent had good luck with Daiwa either. I picked up a TDX several years ago and it was garbage right out of the box.....it casted horribly, had a jerky drag, and was loud when reeling in. A bit apprehensive, I got a Daiwa Coastal baitcaster 2 years ago because it looked like a good reel for my inshore stuff. Again, not a great reel....drag was fine and casting was ok, but again it was loud much like my TDX and the gearing was no good, it was too fast with no power and I actually got tired fishing a trap for Bass one day. I dont know what I was thinking, but when the Viento came out I picked one up last year. When the thumbar was depressed, the reel would only HALF engage till you turned the handle about 5 times then it would fully engage. I'm 0 for 3 on Daiwa and I'm not going back!!!!!!!

Paul W

[bassrippin365]

I had a couple of daiwa doo-doos,Then i went out and bought a curado and never looked back.Its all shimano for this ole boy.Just to let everyone know i was casting a crankbait and when i casted the side plate blew off and went into the water,while the spool spun line on the floor board.My buddy got a good laugh out of it.

[dragon1]

Let's look at current reels within the last say 10 years...most of the better reels still available today have come from that time period for most of the manufacturers. Some are in their second or third generation or version, but IMO it will otherwise give a better outlook at the current Bass Reel Market.

If not, we can look at the Quantum 80's reels, Shimano Corsair and early Citica/Coriolis, Eon/Abassadeur AB, Daiwa mid 80's graphite body reels and other manufacturers' bad reels...they have all made them.

Also, we need to note that Shimano, Daiwa and Abu are not only among the most popular Bass Reels today...but are companies/corporations that really control the design, engineering, assembly/production of their products from start to finish.

To be fair, Shimano is the market's leader & Daiwa IMO is second...Abu is coming back again and with the beginning of the Morrum series starting making progress again. Their C5 Mag was not as good as advertised and neither are their Record reels (folks having problems w/these reels already)...however, the Revo will give them a rebirth because it is an LP reel made right and doesn't just ride on the Abu Garcia legacy name and is priced more than competitively. To be really fair, Abu unfortunately also has to deal w/Pure Fishing...a marriage that hasn't necessarily been the best for Abu's product developement team.

I also feel that if Daiwa's Customer Service had been better in the last 10 years or so, they would be looked at with a better light today than what they are. I cannot tell you how many posts I have read about Shimano reels being sent in after a couple of years of use for correction only to have a BRAND NEW reel sent back to the customer at no charge. When this happens to Daiwa, unfortunately, the customer did not receive the same type of response (and for many years very poor service) which in turn doesn't help to grow that brand's loyalty. It is not to cover up however, for Shimano's overall (not reel/model specific) dominance in the Bass Reel market over Daiwa in the last 10+ years....but it didn't help.

Quantum is kinda in a spot by themselves since I don't believe they use the same outsource to make their reels like what is made for Pinnacle/Pflueger/Browning/BPS, etc. However, they are coming along nicely in Product Developement, is priced fairly, has great customer service and has the best Pro Endorsement Staff...therefore, they will always be able to sell and grow with a less than top shelf product IMO.

Pflueger/Silstar/Pinnacle are a third tier company that copies Daiwa/Shimano which learned from Abu Garcia and even Lew's (for Amercian Bass fishing reels anyway)...not the other way around. These reels are good for the dollar but not amongst the best in regards to overall durability or material quality or engineering design...and their parts availability will be very slim 5 years after the model is gone.

In the end, it is preference and how much one wants to spend to enjoy his or her fishing experience...that being said, currently the race is among Two Giants with a Third trying to make a comeback, in the BASS FISHING MARKET.

[Blue_R70]

Hey, dragon1

I see that you've wandered over here from the Tackle Tour and/or BFHP boards...welcome aboard!

[350V RGR]

These day's it up for grabs. I mean so many company's are putten out good stuff and I cant dump 30 reels just to have whats hip.

Shimano (JAPAN) Reels

Scorpion 1001 Mg With 85mm ZPI
Scorpion 1001 With 85mm ZPI

Metanium both Mg and reg

TE 401-- I havent seen a better Shimano for the use and price (Swimbait)

Biomaster 2500
Biomaster 3000S (Shallow Spool)
Biomaster 4000S (Shallow Spool)

I started buying Japan stuff because they have more stuff on the Reels then the US models for the same price. I did the reserch if you dont believe me check it our your self.

Good Luck with your buys

Will Mathers

[lionkiller]

Until ya find the ones ya like and are most comfortable with. Hmm, and besides, what kinda poll fer reels leaves off ABU GARCIA? When it comes to bait casters, my personal choice every time is ABU!

ABU Revo STX -was there when I needed it for two of my best nights ever. I like the Low profile, power, casting ability.

My TD's are a close 2nd. Though the Viento leaves a bit to be desired.

[dragon1]

Hello Blue_R70...yeah,

I don't really go looking for other sites but I stumbled on to this one while trying to find out more info on the "burner" reels.

I am trying to complete as much info as I can about the Zillion, Met MG7 (which of course won't have much feedback until prolly late Spring 2007) and the Revo STX 7.1:1.

I will need one for this Spring...but just one?

I didn't mean to jump the post...but I feel that we just need to be fair in our opinions on certain reels and manufacturers' offerings. I overall feel that Daiwa has made LP reels with very good designs and engineering qualities...however, that Shimano has gotten the Manufacturing QC part better...hence the consistancy of reliability and durability reports. That being said...when both reels are right in the higher ends...my Daiwas outcast my Shimanos.

So far as Abu is concerned...I really hope them the very best on the Revos...now if they can just figure out how to get spinning right! Because honestly, in that arena, Daiwa and Shimano distance themselves even more vs the comp for Bass Sized Reels IMO.

BTW, Abu's round reels have almost always been very good...except for the Eon, Ambassadeur Anti Backlash (mid 90's?)Royal Express, Hank Parker special, reels of that nature.

JMHO, that's all.

[mac (Doyle McEwen)]

I have some of all of them, brand names that is, not specific reels..I have found if you take care of your reels they will tend to take care of you..I have read of all the problems people have had with the different brands and can honestly say I haven't experienced any of them..It could be that I don't get to use them as much as some of you, therefore my reels don't go through all of the wear and tear..I clean and service my own reels at least once a year..The only problem I have ever had was on an older Shimano (and I mean older), one of the gears stripped and the reel was virtually useless..That is until I found one like it at a fleamarket that was missing the handle and levelwind guide..I bought it for parts for $1 and rebuilt my bad reel..No more problems..That is until that reel and 20 others were stolen..Oh well, I started all over and still have had few if any problems..

mac