Ive always loved the Shimano with rear drag quickfire spinning reels. I have two 100 dollar bass pro gift cards and Ive decided to pick up a new rod and reel. I have bait casters for Largemouth fishing and want another spinning reel because my wife and kids usually use mine and Im sometimes stuck using a baitcaster on a windy day crappie or bream fishing. What would you recommend? I plan on using a 6lb test. I will probably use it for lightweigt lures fishing for Crappie, white bass, bream, etc. I will probably get a 6 to 7' rod. I really like the longer rods. Is Shimano the best in that price range? Is Shimano the best in any range?
Best Spinning reel???
Doug Hodges
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The best reel on the market is worthless without a good rod unless you enjoy casting alot and not reeling much in. Its like buying the best rifle and putting a $20 scope on it. The best combo I have it a bass pro Pro Qualfier on a 7' carrot stick. I never gets rat nests unless I put too much line on it and the rod is senceitive enough to feel everything. And all for about $175.
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I 1000000% agree. I spend more on my rods than I do on the reels.
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Ok. I still have the two gift cards and I bought two of those reels and a t shirt for my boy that I actually saved more in shipping than the shirt cost. Now I need a couple of rods. Any suggestions anyone?
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There are a ton of good spinning reels out there and of course, Shimano is probably one of the best. I have tried all makes and models and found it somewhat amazing that my best spinning reel is one of the BassPro Extremes which is an 8-bearing unit and cost me all of 15 bucks. They sold them in both front and rear drag models and smooth as silk. Very well balanced and if you spinned the handle as fast as you could, there was no wobble or out-of-balance problems. Also had two sizes - a medium and large. I originally purchased two to check them out and was so impressed, I went back and got four more as backups and for spare parts if/when they wear out.
I got these reels in the Outlet instead of the main store. They originally sold them for something like 30 bucks but were getting rid of the inventory and sold them for half price in the Outlet Store. So what I am getting at is check out the Outlet Store before you go crazy in the Main Store. I believe the stuff in the Outlet Store carries the same warranty as the Main Store so you can always take it back if you don't like it.
Hate to say it but most complaints about spinning reel tangles and such are more operator problem than reel problem. If you are turning the handle on the reel when a fish is taking out line, it will twist the line something awful. Using any kind of reel without a barrel swivel with spinners will twist your line. If you get slack in the line when you are casting, it will throw out a birdnest or knot up your line if you are using braid. But I will admit that some reels are better than others and that some lines are better than others. What you want to look for in the reel is smooth reeling, immediate anti-reverse, very smooth drag and easy drag control. I think the rear-drags are the best.
Anyway, good luck on your purchase.
Cheers.....
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I love that outlet store. I got several of my rods from there. They had two Johnny morris 150 dollar rods for 80 bucks each one time I was there. I buy a lot of my hunting and fishing stuff at the outlet store. I always check there first before I go into Bass Pro.
The biggest problem with bird nests is how you put the line on the reel.
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That's true about putting the line on the reel. If you don't put on enough, you won't get much distance on your casts. If you put on too much, you'll get tangles or knots when you cast. If you cast a lure way out and let it hit the water and then start reeling slack line, it'll form a loose-loop setup so in the next cast or two, you end up with a mess as well. Some guys don't realize that you have to lay the spool of line down so that it coils off the spool in the same direction as you are putting it on the reel. Lay it one way and it comes off right. Lay it the other way and the line twists as you put it on the reel. Try to load it off a spool on to the reel like you would a baitcasting reel and it'll twist as well.
There are a lot of fine little points about using a spinning reel you need to know so it doesn't drive you crazy or turn you off about using one.
Cheers.....
There are a lot of fine little points about using a spinning reel you need to know so it doesn't drive you crazy or turn you off about using one.
Cheers.....
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Wish I could help you on this, I am an Ugly Stick type of feller, got everything from Ultra Lights to Heavy in Ugly Sticks. I like the looks of those carrot sticks though!
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i have always used shimano but the last 2 i have bought were junk didn't get a year out of either of them and both cost over 100 dollars , i bought i 49 dollar pflueger president and it has been great. I don't know what shimano changed the old ones i had lasted forever but the new ones have been awful.
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Ive got to get some rods. My new reels will be here any day. I found a guy that builds rods locally to match your reel. He charges about 150 each. Im going to have him redo some I already have. He seems to be a lot smarter than me. Says he can change a few guides and get several additional yards of casts out of my set ups.
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These folks are based in Mountain Home and make some very fine rods.. http://denalirods.com/
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X 2 I have 5 of them. Love them.
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I used to be a big Mitchell fan but after purchasing a pfluger president and fishing with it that is all I use now. I have it set up on a real nice shimano rod with a lifetime warranty I purchased from Bass Pro. the nice thing about the warranty is I don't have to send it back to the factory, just take it back to the store (Bass Pro) and they replace it.
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Is that just for Shimano rods? Do you have to set up that warranty. I have a Johnny Morris I just snapped in half because I dropped the trolling motor on it.
I thought I was the only one that still used a Garcia Mitchell 300!
That is the only spinning reel I've ever owned. It was used when I got it in the 80's at a flea market and I did some research on it and mine was made between 1959 and 1968. I think I paid $8.00 so I've definitly gotten my money's worth. It came with 4 spools so I've always used it for everything from trout to catfish. The old ones were made in France and if you ever take one apart, the gears are made like a nice watch and are basically indestructable.
That is the only spinning reel I've ever owned. It was used when I got it in the 80's at a flea market and I did some research on it and mine was made between 1959 and 1968. I think I paid $8.00 so I've definitly gotten my money's worth. It came with 4 spools so I've always used it for everything from trout to catfish. The old ones were made in France and if you ever take one apart, the gears are made like a nice watch and are basically indestructable.
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The rod is more important than the reel. The reel just needs to be smooth and have a good drag system. I bought my wife a Shimano stradic a few years ago and it is probably the best I have used. Those BPS spinning reels with the big diameter spools are hard to beat for the money since you have one of their cards. I have never bought myself an expensive spinning reel. I usually spend more money on the rods than the reel.
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Sorry - a little off-track here, but where exactly is this (Bass Pro?) outlet store you speak of?
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Outlet store is next door to the big store in Springfield, MO.
Amy
Amy
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all spinning reels are smooth out of the box. how do they function after 6 months in the boat? I've always had good luck with shimanos
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I got the two Presidents yesterday, My Johnny Morris rods are on back order. I cant wait to put them all together. The good thing about the reels is that they came with an extra spool. I am going to put 4lb on two of them and 6 and 8 on the other two.
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