Spinning reels

[redneck joe]

Realizing I've not really fished much since my early 30s. From a kid to then it was pretty much my life but since it has been a worm or dock fishing for crappie or whatever every few years so I am discovering I don't know much and when gathering up all my gear I mostly had crap reels and poles from garage sales over the years so I donated all that but one Shimano and went to wally world to get an ugly stick.

Im a medium to light kinda guy and one thing I hate on a spinning reel is wobble when reeling. Shimano used to be the one but who knows now. Newrest bass pro is hour drive so not wanting g to do that was spoiled I worked a mile from the OG Bass Pro in Springfield mo.

Anyway, what are the good brands now and for those that use spinners what has no wobble?

 

[dingbat]

I use freshwater spinning reels when light tackle jigging for Rockfish (Stripers) in saltwater

Believe it or not, the Okuma Avenger series, are work horses. Won one at a drawing with the fishing club years back. Figured I’d make short work of it jigging Stripers. Not only did it hold up, I ended up buy four more for guest to use on the boat.

Have both the AV30 and AV40 loaded with #10 braid in my arsenal. The AV30 is still alive and has caught many stripers in excess of #25 in its da.

Avenger

The Avenger B Series stands as a trusted choice for anglers who demand smooth, reliable performance across a wide range of fishing situations. Built with durable components and refined engineering, this reel delivers the confidence and control needed to handle everything from freshwater lakes to...

okumafishingusa.com

 

[aspeck]

I am partial to Diawa and Okuma.

 

[tphoyt]

I’m Penn and Shimano guy. I have never used anything but spinning reels so I’m of no help with the wobble as I probably have and just don’t know it. My newest reel is a Shimano Saragosa and it is a smooth running reel. It’s probably 12 years old now. The only thing I didn’t like but got used to was the manual bail.

 

[redneck joe]

I had penn as a kid, loved it dissappeared in a move in the late 70s. Shimano Sidestab series as an adult. That saragosa is showing mid $300 on amazon, not sure I'm ready for that.

 

[tphoyt]

Yea it wasn’t cheap. I had a bunch of gift certificates saved up for my local tackle shop so I took the plunge. With the rod it was 5 bills.
But unless I lose it or slam it in the truck door it will last me a lifetime.

 

[redneck joe]

Forgot about ebay. The sidestab series is all over the place sub 50 bucks. In looking over i remembered I had a solstice as well but then remembering more I much prefer the rear drag so looks like fleabay to grab a couple sizes!!

 

[redneck joe]

Alright, made an offer and a bid on a sidestab 2000 and a 4000 respectively. Remembering more, I had two spare spools for my 4000 which was always nice. If I win, I'll see if I can't find at least one.

 

[dingbat]

Alright, made an offer and a bid on a sidestab 2000 and a 4000 respectively.

I'd check parts availability before buying reels that are no longer in production.
The Japanese are notorious for discontinuing parts support after 7 years

 

[Mc Tool]

I use a Penn Conflict 20 and an Abu Garcia Revos2 also in 20 size . While they are smaller reels they are solidly made and have a good drag and a reasonable bearing count . They will easily handle 6lb Rainbow Trout. I have found that a lighter weight set up is easier on the wrist .
One thing I dont like about all this new stuff is that Im using 6lb un-fused braid and I find the noise of the braid thru the guides irksome .......Its the only noise I make standing at the rivers edge .

 

[dingbat]

One thing I dont like about all this new stuff is that Im using 6lb un-fused braid and I find the noise of the braid thru the guides irksome

Switched over the Sufix Performance braid a while back which helped, but found the "New Guide" and "KR" Concept guide placements reduce guide noise considerably over the traditional "Cone of Flight" placement.

Just beware, I see rods labeled NGC all the time in stores. Problem is, guide placement is specific to the spool diameter and up sweep of the reel. Not sure how one could sell a generic NGC rod...lol

 

[redneck joe]

Switched over the Sufix Performance braid a while back which helped, but found the "New Guide" and "KR" Concept guide placements reduce guide noise considerably over the traditional "Cone of Flight" placement.

Just beware, I see rods labeled NGC all the time in stores. Problem is, guide placement is specific to the spool diameter and up sweep of the reel. Not sure how one could sell a generic NGC rod...lol

You got some 'splainin to do here. That might as well been in Klingon.

 

[Jeff J]

I have never heard of most of what dingbat mentioned. I can guess what most of it means but I suspect a person would have a need for a rod and reel to be in excess of $500 for it to matter.

I will say the rod and reel setups I have that cost more than $200 are leaps and bounds better than anything I ever saw at Walmart. Unfortunately, the extent if my knowledge is that micro guides are for bait casters and the tapering guides are for spinning reels.

 

[Pmt133]

I have an old... older than me at this point... ABU garcia rod with a newer Penn Fierce II reel with either 15 or 20lb mono on it that I pulled in a lot of stripers with. I have run the avengers listed above too and they are excellent as well. The bait feeder was nice for live lining and the combo was fun for jigging as well. Was an absolute blast sitting on top of a pod and hitting schoolies with it when you couldn't grab anything else. That rod hasn't seen water in like 7 years now though and it's a damn shame.

 

[Mc Tool]

Switched over the Sufix Performance braid a while back which helped, but found the "New Guide" and "KR" Concept guide placements reduce guide noise considerably over the traditional "Cone of Flight" placement.

Just beware, I see rods labeled NGC all the time in stores. Problem is, guide placement is specific to the spool diameter and up sweep of the reel. Not sure how one could sell a generic NGC rod...lol

Its mostly just the tip and I do fit ceramic tips to all my rods if it didnt come with one .
Its an old hang up from my nylon days because the noise made is similar to the noise nylon made when it was rubbing against something it shouldnt be , and it reminds me of some of the crap reels I had as a kid .
Huh , things change , couple of years ago I dug out my all time fave reel from olden days ( yore ) a Sillstar rear drag thing ........and I was surprized at what an actual piece of crap it was , not a bearing in sight , pot metal crown wheel and pinion , yuk .
I think any spinning reel needs a metal frame , brass or stainless gears , at least 5 bearings and better with 7+ , carbon drag washers ( kept maintained ) and a stout bail arm assy . Here than means gettin 400 bucks into the sunlight .
Id spend the bulk of my budget on a good reel and then go a bit cheap on the rod , fit a creamic tip. Budget reel seats are not so bad on light weight gear ( Im thinkin 3 -7 gram lure/bait ).

 

[dingbat]

I think any spinning reel needs a metal frame , brass or stainless gears , at least 5 bearings and better with 7+ , carbon drag washers ( kept maintained ) and a stout bail arm assy . Here than means gettin 400 bucks into the sunlight .

USD or NZD?
Can buy a reel fitting that description for less than $100 USD in the States.

I only use spinning tackle for light tackle jigging. Typically no more than 30 grams or so. My only criteria is a full metal body, a good drag and an anti-reverse bearing.

Been using 360 Penn Slammer Classics the past 10 years. NLA in the States, found a distributor in Australia. Shipped to my door for less than $120 USD

Id spend the bulk of my budget on a good reel and then go a bit cheap on the rod , fit a creamic tip.

I’m the exact opposite. Easily spend 2-3X the cost of the reel on a rod.

Think about it….the rod does all the heavy lifting. The reel is simply a means to store and retrieve line.

Budget reel seats are not so bad on light weight gear ( Im thinkin 3 -7 gram lure/bait ).

Not worried about the bait…worried about what picks the bait up and runs…lol

Not sure what a “budget” reel seat means.

All the cost is in the labor to install the seat on the blank. The difference in cost between a no-name and a branded reel seat is a couple of bucks at best.

 

[airshot]

"Try before you buy" has always been my moto...even fishing rods and reels. If they are gonna wobble, they will do it in the store before you buy it. Never caught fish big enough to require top of the line equipment. Most of my gear is at least 10 years old, some older. If it doesn't work they way I want it to, toss it or give it to some young folks to get them interested in fishing. Can't remember all the gear I have given to youngsters to get them started. I have about a dozen setups in my barn waiting for some young person to come along that wants to try fishing. Driving an hour to get to a well stocked fishing gear store is just a Sunday drive, better to have many choices than a limited selection be cause this is when we tend to buy things that we are not totally satisfied with...because this is all they had ! Try before you buy will get you more of what you really want.