Best reel ever

Just noticed Shimano is announcing the Stella FJ and Bantum MGL. Would the Bantum be above or below the metatanium? The Stella looks like the top of the line spinning reel of all time

IMO the Bantam will be above the Metanium. But again, its all what you are looking for. The Metanium is a nice reel, but, its not made for heavy duty work. The aluminum gears get noisy quick, and dont hold up to abuse. Also, I think its a little on the awkwardly long side. The Bantam, that will be more fitting to what we used to remember the Bantam as, a heavy duty workhorse. Its gonna have solid brass gears, the pinion supported by dual bearings, metal wormshaft and pawl. Its basically what I would compare as the modern day Curado200SF.

I have to say I think one of the best bangs for the buck right now it the Daiwa SV TW line. Dang near impossible to backlash and will cast even the lightest of lures without issue. They list for $199 but there's a couple of sellers on ebay that have them listed for between $115-130 depending on what ratio it is.
IIRC the seller on ebay is alpha2omega. I just picked up my 4th one and am seriously considering replacing all my reels with them

I'd say Shimano and Daiwa still lead the pack. My oldest reels are also the most dependable reels. They are Shimano and Daiwa. I've tried other brands and have been repeatedly disappointed. I can't speak to the digital reels durability, but there are lots of used digital reels for sale. The longest cast I ever witnessed in person was made by a Pro with a digital Calais. They are among the most expensive and may be what you need.

get a decent reel, the rod is more important.

been looking at this one too

I have 8-10 aldebaran love them I get them on ebay or japanlurecompany about 320 shipped.

Stoked that I found the bfs hg aldebaran, the 8-1 is great for flipping and such. Ive been told I should change to brass gears and something about the drag but havent done it yet.

Ha! Actually, not so much a 33, but there is an $80 Zebco Omega Pro and if it wasn't spooled up with the world's stretchiest line (that Cajun brand red mono), it'd be a contender in specific applications.

I know exactly what texdanm means. A high quality spincaster sort of merges the qualities of spinning and bait casting reels in an odd way and it can do things the others struggle with.

Alas, even the higher quality ones are poorly made, poor materials. If not for that, if someone like Shimano would make a high quality spin-caster, you wouldn't find a competitive angler not carrying one in an "over and under" tournament casting small lures rapid fire.

An angler could load the boat with typically smaller LMBs with one.

But, no, certainly this wouldn't be the "one" reel.

Brad

I like my Shimano Curado. I really like all my Johnny Morris reels. My 13 is nice. But the reels I grew up with and that I still use are my round Abu-Garcias. great reels. hard to beat.

Noticed a fairly new Shimano out in the market, a Bantam MGL. Will this be a replacement for the Metatanium?

The Bantam MGL is new so I'm not seeing eBay dealers discounting it yet. (Not much anyway.)

eBay Bantam MGL is $339-349

I buy most of my reels from these two eBay sellers. I've gotten some great deals, such as Steez for the low $300s.

eBay alpha2omega

eBay triacetackle

I love my Metanium MGL, don't have an Aldebaran, but this Bantam is really nice, a little heavy but you don't even notice that because it palms so nice. Super smooth cast and retrieve, Solid and quiet. I'll buy more.

I like Shimano so my favorites are the Metanium, Anteres, Aldebaren for the upper end. The Chronarch is hard to beat in either the mgl or the 150G series. Nothing wrong with that new Curado K.

People are not answering the question, he said "money is no object" and some are recommending spincast reels and Ardents! C'mon Man!!!
Personally, I would stock up on some Calais 100a's and Metanium Mgl's.