+2
Still using a couple of the Shimano Bantam Chronarchs. Definitely bulletproof.

New reels: Shimano SLX DC
Lew's BB1 Multistop

I lucked into 20 brand new Curado 200E 7's about 3 years ago to go along with the ones I already had. Just opened the last of them a few weeks ago. My plan is to send 5 in at a time to Shimano for full servicing and try to use these for the next 5-10 years. To me, they are the best reel ever made for the money.

I'm a Revo guy. Love the SX. Have a lot of them. Have one Rocket. Wish I could afford more. Have three Lews reels now. Two Tournament MB's and a Wide Spool for cranking that are great. I still have a couple old Daiwa Fuego's that are still excellent reels

I spend most of my time throwing swimbaits...the Curado E301's are excellent reels for my medium sized baits and my new favorites are the Tranx 301HG reels...they have replaced my Shimano round reels.

I can't believe nobody has mentioned the core. That Core 100MG7 is probably my favorite reel of all time. I only have 1 left but I always find myself using it.

I'm a Shimano guy through and through. I have some E series Curados and Citicas that have never been broken down and still work flawlessly. Newer stuff is awesome. Chronarch, Curado, etc. I will say that the SLX XT might be the best "bang for your buck" reel out there. Solid frame and comparable performance to the higher end Shimanos for $129.00. It's basically stealing.

Spincasting: any pre-70 Zebco 33 (best worm reel ever designed). Close 2nd Johnson Century series (can be fished as a spinning reel config with those rods also). As an aside, the Johnson has a drag numeral system that when set (say you put the dial on 8) will not break 8 pound test line. Highly unusual.

Spinning: lately a Finn Nor S-200 is the favorite in the litter.

How the pre-70's reels were made, who made them and what to look for if buying one:

They were the best reel for the money back then, but they have been outdone now. They are still great reels. I will never sell the ones I have.

This a great reel but the best bang for the buck is the Daiwa Tatula CT.

Shimano Core 50Mg7
Shimano Chronarch 50E

Beast of a reel. i have one and it can do it all!!!

Spinning - I absolutely LOVE my Shimano Stradic Ci4+ 2500 (matched with Castaway Skeleton Nano Mag Heavy rod) and for ultralight rig a Stradic 1000 (before Ci4+ was available) matched with a Fenwick rod.

Baitcasting - just got a Shimano Metanium but have not fished it yet. Also just got a Shimano Tranx 201 yesterday and have a Tranx 301 on the way. Wanting to try fishing larger swimbaits. Have only fished spinning rods for decades and wanted to switch things up and heard (on TFF forums) baitcasters are really a better match for throwing large swimbaits. Have not fished the baitcasters yet but based on reviews/research I'm sure they will work great. I am obviously a big fan of Shimano.

Ken

I’ve been on the fence about selling my greenies and upgrading to some newer reels, but I just can’t bring myself to do it. I’ve got a CU100 and a CU200 that work flawlessly and both look almost brand new and are absolutely perfect.

I want to try a Daiwa Tatula or maybe some other newer high end Shimano. I’m having a hard time justifying buying anything else without selling a couple I’ve got first since I simply have too many reels.

Really want something newer but I think if I sold off the last of my greenies I will regret it later down the road. Unless there’s a reel out there that I will be so happy with that it would make me not ever want to touch a greenie again after using it.

Shimano Scorpions and Chronarch E series. My old greenies are holding up pretty well though.

As of late I have been buying Johnny Morris Platiniums in 8 ratios and really like them.

All lefties of course.

A few of my favorite things. Shimano Calais 200DC, Chronarch 50Mg, Core 50Mg7, Calcutta 200DC, I was impressed with the Antares A but haven't used it fishing yet. If you can beat these, send reels.