Just like many anglers, I'm currently on a tight budget. I had been using an older baitcaster that I received as a gift a few years back. (Not sure the brand) That baitcaster held up for a long time but has recently had problems and I'm very impressed how long it held up. But the time has come for a new one. I'm looking at the Lews Mach 1 right now. Im planning on spooling it with 15lb flouro. Is there any other reel I should be looking at?

The guys on here will do a better job for you if you give a budget and what your fishing for. I have noticed academy reels get a thumbs up.

I just fish for LB. I am willing to spend $130 at most. Yeah I have looked at Academy reels, but I notice that they collapse under pressure. Like when you get a good fish on, the reel's handle will turn but the spool will stay still.

I've been fishing for over 30 years and as time as gone by gear has gotten much better and also much more expensive. I believe their is a point of diminishing returns and don't think I need to spend $200 a reel to have quality gear. I've recently purchased 7-8 of the Abu Garcia Orra SX reels. I read the specs and compared them to my Revo gen 1 and 2 and the old Curado 200's that I loved. They are similarly built and have similiar specs. So for me, at $99 each (before 20% off at Tackewarehouse for Memorial Day) these are a great bang for the buck.

Lew's are good, but if you wanna get a top of the line reel try the Shimano Metanium,they are currently on sale at Tackle Addict for $350. They will prove to be a cost savings in the long run. I still use Shimano reels that I've had for 20 years.

The good lews with brass gears is 139 at academy. Save about 40 more dollars and you will great reel from the top manufactures diawa , 13,lews,abu garcia,and possibly a few shimanos.

Ive had good success with lews, even the cheap ones have been holding up great for the last two years. They never let me down so I stick with less for all my bait casters

Is this an all purpose reel? Or will this be a specialty type of fishing? If I had to pick one reel it would be the Curado. Save up a couple more bucks and you'll be happy.

Honorable mention goes to th3 Okuma Citrix. Beast of a reel for $120.

All the Lew's reels are good. I have to say the BPS Pro Qualifer is a great reel and very inexpensive.

With that mentioned I picked up a couple of Mark Rose Lew's reels at Walmart for my customers for $55 each added a 2 year warranty for $5 so now that reel has a 3 year warranty.

Lews standard 1 year and the other 2 years kick in after the Lews warranty runs out. To me that is a great deal. IMO

All my customers love these Mark Rose Lews reels. They cast really good also.

We fish the heck out of our Academy H20 Xpress Mettel reels. I have 5 of them currently, some are old some are new. If I ever think one is starting to act "funny" at all (either real or imagined) I bring it back to Academy and they give me a new one. I have never had one fail. I also have two BPS Pro Qualifiers, a little more expensive and they do seem to be a little better quality than the H20. I highly recommend either of these inexpensive reels.

H20 Express Mettle. $50 ( sometimes on sale for $30 or $40)

Most of the BPS reels are good. Same for the Academy brand they sell. Watch the sales. I've bought the Mettle reels at Acadmey for 25 dollars on sale.

I use h20 Mettles as academy will replace them no questions ask. I am hard on equipmentt, well my son and his friends are hard on equipment.

Honestly, the best reel for under $100 is the Lews LFS. http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Lews_Speed_Spool_LFS_Series_Casting_Reels/descpage-LSFS.html

It's built strong, good parts, easy to clean and reassemble, etc. Plus, lews warranty is good. They have a 24 hour turn around which usually means they send you a new one.

I have plenty of 250$ reels... and recently bought a Lew's Mach 1 after a friend recommended and am continually BLOWN away. for 100$, the reel is amazing![u][/u]

Tighten the drag and you won't have that problem