Need Recommendations For Smaller Spinning Reel

lwestatbus

I am looking for a smaller (2500 size or under) spinning reel that will provide good service without breaking the bank. I am absolutely new to Florida fishing and have found that the $25 combo I got when Sports Authority was going out of business isn't cutting the mustard. I have already invested in a good quality medium duty rod and reel and also a decent quality smaller baitcasting reel and rod. But I have an inventory of light weight artificial lures (courtesy of Sports Authority) and am looking for recommendations for a real that will provide good service for a couple of years or until I can smuggle in a better quality reel without my wife noticing it.

My objective is to have a lower weight reel that can maximize the casting distance for artificial lures in the 1/8, 1/4, or 5/16 oz range since I have a bunch of them. I plan on spooling up with braided line and have a good medium rod already. I'm willing to spend $50 without blinking but can stretch to the $120 range if there is a compelling reason to do so. I can sling these lures out a good distance with my Penn 4500 Spinfisher but that is overkill and wears me out.

I'm currently using a Shimano R2000 that came on a Sports Authority fire sale combo and which I later learned was about a $13 reel if it were sold separately. I'm actually doing OK with it but it has a trigger on the bale which gets in my way and can't be wound with braided line without risking a break in the spool. So I'm willing to upgrade.

I handled a Shimano Stradic 2500 at the local outfitters and it was a dream but also priced at $199, way too much (for now). Have looked at Penn Battle II 2500 and also Penn Clash 2500 and these seem OK for what I am ready for now but am also looking for alternatives, especially something closer to $50 that works well. What I would really like is something that will give acceptable service now that can become an upgrade for one of the grandkids once I save my pennies for a better reel down the road.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Oh, if anyone has any links to reviews of reels I'd certainly like to hear about those.

GSRswapandslow

check Cabela's...they were selling the Shimano Symetre for $59.99 a few weeks back (i bought 2) in the 2500, 3000, and 4000 size. I have one mounted on a 7' M Star Stellar Lite rod..and absolutely LOVE the combo. The other reel is on a 7' M Ducketts Ghost rod...which I like, but will most likely replace with with a Medium/Lite Stellar soon

BryanC

Two low-cost reels that I have seen recommended here from time to time are the Pflueger President & Daiwa Revros. I bought one of each of these a couple months back, in order to compare them. Neither has failed me yet, but I definitely am inclined to grab the President before the Revros. The frame on the Revros flexes way too much for my comfort. The President has a solid feel.

Flec

I have several Shimano $30 Sienna's and they have served me well the past 2 years. Last week I bought a Pfluegar President and will use it first time this weekend. I fish these Sienna's every weekend, casting lures for trout,snook, and reds. They are great value for the $$.

duckmanJR

The President is a great reel bang for the buck...It's one achellies heel is the handle...It is cheesy and will start to corrode and flake the fake chrome off if you do not baby it....But knowing this in advance...I would say a *light* coating of some light grease..or keeping it sprayed with corrosion X or the like...should keep it good to go.

kellercl

Stretch to a $100 and go Fin Nor Inshore? Best bang for the buck, IMHO. I love mine. Not as smooth as my Sustain, but it wasn't $300 either.

joeg26er

Used Stradic!

duckmanJR

joeg26er wrote: »

Used Stradic!

Yes...get one a couple letters away from the newest...so you can't get parts for your $200 reel...they make a great paperweight on your desk... :rotflmao

nightfly

I bought a $50 okuma ceymar. Its not as smooth as some of my other reels but it gets the job done

kmagnuss

Pflueger President is $45 new on ebay and a helluva reel. For $100 a Shimano Nasci is better but probably not 2x better.

Jack Hexter

Everyone knows I'm a Daiwa guy but at your $100 price point I used to recommend the Shimano Symetre. Since Shimano discontinued the Symetre, :shrug you can't beat the new Daiwa BG's for $109.95. Best on the market at that price point. Blows the Shimano NASCI and the Penn Battle II away.

MH79

Jack Hexter wrote: »

Everyone knows I'm a Daiwa guy but at your $100 price point I used to recommend the Shimano Symetre. Since Shimano discontinued the Symetre, :shrug you can't beat the new Daiwa BG's for $109.95. Best on the market at that price point. Blows the Shimano NASCI and the Penn Battle II away.

I think I would go with the new BG as well. Alan Hawk gave this reel the thumbs up and it seems to be a great value for a $100 reel.

lwestatbus

Many thanks for all of the great advice. Going to make a decision in the next day or so.

I'm so glad I found this site as this is exactly the kind of help I was hoping to find.

1outlaw

lwestatbus wrote: »

Have looked at Penn Battle II 2500 and also Penn Clash 2500 and these seem OK for what I am ready for now but am also looking for alternatives,

I bought the Battle II about a month ago....Very nice reel, no complaints thus far. Went and bought another 1 this past weekend.
Drag very smooth, light weight, handle doesnt feel odd. We will see how they do on the long term.

Davehuz

Remember-- you can get it good or you can get it cheap! You can't get it good and cheap. Go for the long buck and invest in your future fishing. Well maintained reels can last over 30 yrs. I'm still using Penn 320s and Penn 4400SS spinners (and parts are still available- something to think about) that I bought in the mid 80's and they are as good as new after a lot of years catching blues and striped bass up here on the Chesapeake. Wash it well after every use and you'll get tired of using it before you wear it out.

duckmanJR

Davehuz wrote: »

Remember-- you can get it good or you can get it cheap! You can't get it good and cheap. Go for the long buck and invest in your future fishing. Well maintained reels can last over 30 yrs. I'm still using Penn 320s and Penn 4400SS spinners (and parts are still available- something to think about) that I bought in the mid 80's and they are as good as new after a lot of years catching blues and striped bass up here on the Chesapeake. Wash it well after every use and you'll get tired of using it before you wear it out.

The problem Dave is like most companies...things are now "Hechto in China"....Sadly, Even most of Penns line except Internationals and the Baja series or whatever that became in it's newest form.
I agree that old 1980-90's Penns are all solid with great parts availability...Todays stuff is not yesterdays gear.

duckmanJR

MH79 wrote: »

I think I would go with the new BG as well. Alan Hawk gave this reel the thumbs up and it seems to be a great value for a $100 reel.

The BG is a great reel...I have a little BG 10 and love it...low tech but flawless operation.

In the $50 range...Nothing touches the President though.

VeroDD

duckmanJR wrote: »

The BG is a great reel...I have a little BG 10 and love it...low tech but flawless operation.

In the $50 range...Nothing touches the President though.

Agreed! I am still fishing a 4000 President I bought 14 years ago! No issues.

permit_me

i am quite pleased with my Diawa Lexa 3000 for $80 (free shipping, no tax) I got last year as gift. would buy another (put it on a Fin-nor inshore 7'mh). It handles reds, tripletail and cobia. Fine for fish up to 30 lbs. It's pretty light and it's smooth still after 1 yr and no maintenance other than rinsing and wiping down w/ rag sprayed w/ wd40. I think I like it better than my quantum Bocas. Time will tell, though.
It has already handled fish that have wrecked symmetre, president and medalist of equal size. I am also impressed with the shimano Saros 2500 given to me. It has handled some nice fish in the 5-15 lb range, not as smooth as it was 2 yrs ago.
whatever you choose, go with a true saltwater reel, would be my words of wisdom...

Flec

Well today I tried my new Pflueger President. I had an unusally good day and caught probably 21 fish in 3 hours including a triple slam with the biggest being a 26" redfish beside a mangove shoreline. I was impressed with the new President 6930 with 15lb braid. It is slightly heavier feeling than my Shimano Sienna 2500's, but it is really a 3000 size reel to be fair. It handled the redfish well as I applied max pressure to keep it out of the groves. Time will tell if it is worth twice the price of my Sienna's.

permit_me

sounds like you got your $ worth today. it's all icing from here out.

Alex from GA

Okuma RTX 30s. jet.com with 15% off about $65. Very very light and smooth. Small but holds 200 yds of 6 lb.

K-Dawg

I just ordered a Daiwa BG-2500 SW on Amazon for $81. We'll see if it lives up to the hype.

I also own some of the other reels mentioned in this thread... Battle II, older Saros and President. Hard to go wrong with any of them, but the Shimano is the most expensive.

kellercl

Congrats on the new purchase and enjoy.