Most over and under rated spinning reels? (Page 3): You are absolutely right about maintenance, especially with reels. I look at it like I look at maintaining my vehicle, if you don't...

Bcmech1 Loc: Clinton Wisconsin

azmntman2003 wrote:

I have bought deep sea reels and spinning reels over the years. I am still using reels that I bought 15 yrs ago that were cheap back then and still going strong. Use them in both waters.
The key is washing them after salt use and keeping them greased properly and taken care of. They are mechanical tools nothing more. Treat them right and they should last.

You are absolutely right about maintenance, especially with reels. I look at it like I look at maintaining my vehicle, if you don't do it, it won't last. I take apart, clean and relube all my reels every year. I would do it more often, but being in the Midwest, I only fish fresh water. That said, if one takes a dip in the water, it gets cleaned and relubed.

MuskyHunter Loc: Torrington, CT

Being a very old guy, I have had many reels...Mitchell 300, 308, all manner of Daiwas (which I found to be very nice reels and still have after many years of use), but far and away the very best I have ever owned are the Shimano Stradics (which are quite expensive). These have been replaced by the Vanford reels and they have an even higher line (which really cost an arm and a leg). I cannot see them getting better than the Stradics.

Clappy Loc: Michigan

I own several Pflueger Spinning Reels, especially the President Series. I find them to be of good quality, and reliability at an affordable price.

azmntman2003 Loc: Port orange

I hear you.

Glenn Smith Loc: Bethlehem,Pa

Check out the Fishdrops Spinning,and casting reels,sleepers IMHO!

woodguru Loc: El Dorado Ca

Robert J Samples wrote:

Well, if it was a truck or boat, I would say, "check the nut behind the wheel!" But a reel, perhaps it is the user, not the reel! I have often found that decisions about the quality of a reel is largely based upon the expertise of the user! Just Sayin...RJS

Well Robert, I'm just gonna say you have never used an $800 Japanese Shimano Stella (not to be confused with our domestic Shimano)...because if you had you would know there is a difference. I'm a fan of serious quality bearings and drags, but not a snob, when I find affordable things that feel like their pricier competitors I'm all over them. There is a catch to the phrase "good reel for the money", spend the money and there may be differences, it's just whether they are worth it to you.

That said, I found a reel last year while I was checking out Daiwa's Stella equivalent that's about $400, that I cannot tell the difference in smoothness from a Stella for under $100...Cadence Primo at $95 or so, or a Lux at about $10 less. They are insanely smooth and have a crazy high drag level on even the smaller 1000/2000 reels.

Just sayin...Lol

UncleRob Loc: NE Maryland

never owned a Shimano that I didn't wanna throw overboard. Dunno what it is about them, but they don't feel right to me.

nutz4fish Loc: Colchester, CT

woodguru wrote:

Well Robert, I'm just gonna say you have never use... (show quote)

woodguru, thanks for the info on the Cadence Primo, Stella, and Lux. Great excuse for me to use when I waste a couple of hours @ the Bait& Tackle shop.

MNMudminnow Loc: MN (MSP metro/Alexandria) & FL (Ft.Myers)

nutz4fish wrote:

woodguru, thanks for the info on the Cadence Primo, Stella, and Lux. Great excuse for me to use when I waste a couple of hours @ the Bait& Tackle shop.

I don't believe there is such a thing as time wasted while at/in a "Bait& Tackle" shop...I may do a bit of lingering but never wasting.

nutz4fish Loc: Colchester, CT

MNMudminnow wrote:

I don't believe there is such a thing as time wasted while at/in a "Bait& Tackle" shop...I may do a bit of lingering but never wasting.

Of course you're correct, MNM. I definitely should have bracketed wasted with quotation marks.

JackM Loc: North East Florida

UncleRob wrote:

never owned a Shimano that I didn't wanna throw overboard. Dunno what it is about them, but they don't feel right to me.

My two oldest reels are Shimanos. They still work ok but I thought after a decade that it might be time to do some routine maintenance. I loosened the screws but was unable to remove the rear panel to access the inside. I even emailed customer service but they didn't have an answer. They both are at least 21 years old 10 of them in saltwater and have never been greased. One was dropped overboard but recovered after about 10 minutes in 5 feet deep saltwater. One of them has a screw on the bail that keeps backing out. I put some Locktite on it and it seems to have fixed the problem. If I caught a 20-pound redfish I think it would be the end of either of them. I use them to fish sabiki rigs mostly.

Clappy Loc: Michigan

JackM wrote:

My two oldest reels are Shimanos. They still work... (show quote)

I assume the cover is meant to be removed after removing the screws. Sounds like corrosion, or salt residue is preventing the cover from moving. Try soaking the real in white vinegar. use the cheap stuff, works just as well as the god stuff.

JackM Loc: North East Florida

Clappy wrote:

I assume the cover is meant to be removed after removing the screws. Sounds like corrosion, or salt residue is preventing the cover from moving. Try soaking the real in white vinegar. use the cheap stuff, works just as well as the god stuff.

Good idea!
I'm sure you are right, about corrosion. I never thought to soak it in vinegar. I happen to have several 1/2 gallons of the stuff around. I use it all the time. But not to soak my reels. I certainly have nothing to lose.

Clappy Loc: Michigan

JackM wrote:

Good idea!
I'm sure you are right, about corrosion. I never thought to soak it in vinegar. I happen to have several 1/2 gallons of the stuff around. I use it all the time. But not to soak my reels. I certainly have nothing to lose.

Vinegar is pretty much benign. I have used it on a real in the past, also I soak my kitchen faucet nozzle when the stream/spray buttons start t stick. Be sure to rinse and lubricate the real after soaking in vinegar.

JackM Loc: North East Florida

Clappy wrote:

Vinegar is pretty much benign. I have used it on a real in the past, also I soak my kitchen faucet nozzle when the stream/spray buttons start t stick. Be sure to rinse and lubricate the real after soaking in vinegar.

I live in the land of hard water. I soak the shower head and sink faucets but my tankless water heater is the biggest project. I flush it about every 18 months. It takes an hour to do it right. I use a 5-gallon bucket with a small pump and 4 gallons of vinegar.