Finesse reel opinions

[Chrisper4694]

So I won a pretty nice $200 dropshot style Rod. I have a bunch of gift cards to dicks so I figure I'll splurge on a nice reel to match it. I'm thinking 100-150 price range. Light enough to match the rod and smooth enough to battle big freshwater fish. What do you guys think?

I've been looking at pflueger, Abu Garcia. Never tried Lewis, but have heard good things.

[XXlyakattacker]

Spinning or baitcaster?

[Jigman13]

Come a lil out of pocket on top of those gift cards and get yourself the shimano Stradic CI-4 or the new Daiwa ballistic. If you're gonna splurge you might as well go for broke dude... Then again, I'm a tackle whore lol

[Chrisper4694]

Ehh, idk man, that's a lot of bells and whistles that I just don't see making a lot of difference. I have 75 in gift cards and a 15 coupon. I don't mind paying for quality, but I don't usually pay for bells and whistles.

[Jigman13]

The shimano saros is nice. So are the daiwa excelers and the new fuego. Procyon ain't bad either. I've been leaning more towards daiwa as of late bc my shimanos started ceasing up on me. Prob need a good grease job...

No bells and whistles with ci4 stradic and ballistic. Just well made machines with cajones! Plus they're pretty light reels in 2000 size.

[catfishonthelake]

Just my personal preference...but for a freshwater spinning reel I would go with a Shimano. The Shimano Sahara is around $80 and in my opinion, the best reel on the market for the money. The Symetre is in the same price range and is a solid reel as well. If you're going to up your price tag to $150, I'd agree with the Saros, and since I'm a fan of overspending and pricey gear :D, the Ci4 would be my reel. The Ci4 is super-light as it has a carbon fiber frame that is substantially lighter and stronger than aluminum. These reels were designed for finesse fishing to handle super light lines. They're pretty sweet if you ask me.

That being said, I have a bunch of Saharas and they're the most dependable reels I own for their price point. I've tested hundreds of spinning reels in my lifetime and I have zero faith in anything that says Daiwa on it. Spend $80 on a Sahara and you'll have it for the rest of your life if you don't totally beat on it and send it in for service every few years.

[Chrisper4694]

that's some good info. I've always been a big fan of shimano rods but never fully got sold on their reels. My daiwa saltwater baitcaster is probably one of my favorite reels. spinning i've always gone semi cheap with pflueger and never been disappointed on the value. I would never buy another quantum as i've had nothing but crap gear from them.

I think i will probably give shimano spinning reels a chance, you've got me leaning towards the sahara...a great reel for $80 sounds pretty damn sweet to me!

I'll probably load it with #15 pp, use it for drop shot, ned, downsized jerkbaits, etc.

[catfishonthelake]

You got it Chris. I do think that's the way you should go. The newest generation Sahara (the FE I think) is pretty sweet looking too, I think it's a gunmetal-type finish. The 2500 or 3000 is under 10 ounces, is perfect for 15-lb. braid, has a 6:1 gear ration and 11lbs. of drag. That will certainly handle anything you hook into.

[FASTEDDIE29]

I've had a Shimano Sedona on my ultra lite jigging rod for 16 years! The rods have changed but the reel still works the same as the day I bought it!

[UglyStick]

Shimano...Shimano...Shimano... I agree 100% with Mark's (Catfish) suggestions.

For dropshot the reel isn't as important, it's really more the rod. If you were talking finesse swimbaits, I would say don't go less than a Stradic FK or Stradic CI4 - I fish a Stella for my finesse work and wouldn't trade it for the world... but then again, I'm also a high end tackle whore... :)

[ScowardNJ]

I wanted to put together a tits up deep water walleye jigging set up so I picked up a Stradic CI4 2500 on St. Croix LT XF rod this spring..8# braid- It's pretty sweet, light and smooth and casts a mile. My buddy hooked me up with a 3000 sized spool which is compatible with the reel. I put 10#sufix on it and BT'd fluke in the bay with my walleye rod and it had no problem sticking legal sized fluke. Solid drag! It's worth a look.

[XXlyakattacker]

The Ci4 is a great reel, I have several of them and no issues. But the same treatment is also a nice cheaper choice. It has surprised me how well it has functioned.

[Jigman13]

I abuse my Saharas. They're good reels. Annual lube job is all they really need. Mine are loaded with #15 slick. Been wrangling walleyes and hybrids on it all spring. I recommend greasing it fully out of the package. They come out of those clam packs pretty bone dry.

But I do love my ballistic... Paired it with a 6'10 cumara worm n jig rod. Super light but a horse!

Ultimately it comes down to feel, preference and what you're willing to spend. Let us know what you end up getting!

[Mikey topaz]

push button snoopy pole walmart $19.99

[Jigman13]

push button snoopy pole walmart $19.99

You over paid lol. The frozen rods are only $14.99!

[Chrisper4694]

F snoopy! spiderman

[Capt. Lou]

Daiwa Ballistics will outpace comparable reels in their class & the best feature rhey're sealed so,u can use in saltwater .
They're light & gearing ,drags super smooth used one one several months , on a variety of fish salt / fresh & outperform any Stradic I own , Stella's as well for the Bucks tough to beat !! I own & fish them all so it's not a catalog comparison .just boughtn 2 more the other day, for jigging fluke n Tog
My Daiwas have always held up better then when u compare apples to apples !!

[briansnat]

I've been a Shimano spinning reel fan for many years. I have some nearly 30 years old and still catching fish. Ya can't go wrong with the Sedona.