Bait casting reel

[ronaldlee]

Can you buy a good quality bait casting reel for less than $100 ? If so , please  name some names . Thanks, Ron

[btmidwest]

Good as in sturdy - yes.  Where I have problems is when I try to cast say a weightless trick worm on a cheaper reel.  For lures with some weight to them abu garcia makes the C4 mag and the 5500 series along with other models.  I picked up a couple of cabelas' prodigy round reels but haven't had them long enough to say although they have worked fine for the past year.  I picked up a AG 5500C in 1980 and used it for plastic worm fishing and inshore salt water fishing for years and it's still going though seldom used now days.  In my experience the curado's and revo's shine when using the lighter stuff.  Some people get around that by using spinning gear for the lighter stuff.  Just my 2 cents.....

Oh I almost forgot - if you don't have experience with baitcasters get ready for a learning curve...... & bird nests.  Some say professional over runs - I cannot, some of mine aren't.

There is alot of experience on this board, maybe some of the others will chime in with ideas.

BT

[Zulu]

What's a bait caster?
Zulu

[Savage .250]

What's a bait caster?
Zulu

    Zulu....................................

[mccleese]

I have picked up 3 Curado's used in great shape for under $100 on the internet.

[btmidwest]

Good find!!

[MGMorden]

I use an Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 5500 for most of my bass fishing.  I got mine used for around $45 (looked brand new), but I think they're only like $75 new.  Absolutely amazing reel for bass fishing*.  I know that there are better and more expensive reels out there, but personally, the 5500 is smooth, and extremely durable for me.   After having gotten used to it, I also have come to prefer the simplicity of the round reel over the low profile ones.

* I say for bass fishing because it throws any lures I'd use for bass excellently.  Unfortunately as btmidwest mentioned, they're not good for lighter stuff.  When I throw light panfish jigs and such I just go back to a cheapo spincast as I can't stand spinning reels. 

[bubbinator]

I was in Academy Sports last week and noticed several name brand reels under $100.  Read the specs- more bearings+more$, but some are good deals.  Alos look at Bass Pro Shops catalog, they have some good rod/reel combo deals that save you some bucks.  The timing is a little bad, but that just had a Reel Trade-in deal swapping old reels for big discounts. The trade-ins go to charity. the store mgr. told me.

[mmt7714]

There are a ton of good reels on the market today for 100 bucks or under. Seriously consider the more moderately priced pflueger reels. They are excellent reels for the money. All major brands have more moderately priced reels and most are of decent quality. This was not so several years ago when you either paid out the butt or bought junk. Now finding a quality reel for 100 or better is not hard. Bass pro reels are decent reels for the money also. Shimano's citica D, which replaced the curado as their affordable line reel, is of excellent quality and can be had new for 120.00 or so. Hope this helps.

Mike