Ok I fish for catfish mainly with Penn fierce spinning reels and a few 6500 c Garcia's. I try out new reels every year . I have decided to try the Ming yang cl60 reels out . l want a reel that does not break and a drag that works good. I don't want something that I need to work on. I would also like a reel that I can buy for less than 75 bucks each. Stuff happens to reels and lake fork owns a few of my reels. Yes I have thrown my share of combos in the lake. It goes like this: I got a 3/4 ounce red trap tied on and throw it out. Then decide to kick that trolling motor on high. Then my Mercury hits a stump and throws me down so I drop my combo in the lake trying to remain in the boat. Yes I have done my share of swimming. Since I took the pay cut and retired it is not smart for me to spend over 100 bucks for my reels. I don't mind cleaning and oiling my reel maybe once a year. But I don't want level winds that don't work or line releases that stick. The Ming yang looks pretty good online. Any experience that you can share?

I use the Lew’s LGS 200’s. Never a problem with them. 39.95 at Academy

Don't do it If you catch fish over 5lbs. I've had 3 Ming Yang's strip gears on me. Not worth the money.

I pretty much use abu’s only when Catfishing, I did get a ming yang around ten years ago and used it a few seasons but it didn’t last and I never checked into getting it repaired-
I have no idea if the quality has improved since then, but I just know the abu’s have been trustworthy l-

Littlewheel I will try your spinning reel. Just to let everyone know academy has a baitcast reel it sales for 39 bucks that seems to be a solid reel. I bought two and have been using them about a year during with power pro on heavy fiberglass rods. Ok I use those yellow fiberglass rods from academy that I buy for 14 bucks. They just work good for me and catfidhermen are supposed to be cheap. I am not that cheap I just choose to get my prop fixed about 3 times each year because there are stumps that like to eat my stainless props on my boat. I liked how the Ming yang looked because it is probably a eastern knockoff of my old ambassador's.

Those yellow rods from academy never failed me with some big fish when I used them for several years-

I was curious if anyone else is using the yellow rods. I have three of them and they work great. Now I mostly use one of my right power pro rods or the special Rod that Stubby built for me. If I had the money I would use Stubby rods on all of my rigs and they are worth every penny. If a fish breaths on my stubby rod I know he is there. I make sure if the bite is very light I use that Stubby rod. When I had him build it he asked me what I wanted. I told him to make me one he would use every day. I have caught hundreds on that one rod. I got a Penn fierce reel on the rod and it is the setup for those pesky fish. I use this for my crappie fishing also. Just a hint crappie like my baited holes also. I catch a few crappie in Stubbys cheese bait but those are the hungry fish.

I have a Ming Yang CL 60. It works better as a Jugline weight.

If you're looking for a solid catfish reel, I tried the Okuma. Very budget friendly and works amazing on a 7ft Ugly Stik.