Under 100 dollars, the H20 Xpress reels from Academy are AWESOME reels.

Abu Revo X Gen 4 has a lot of features for just $100

Another vote for the SLX

Basspro Pro Qualifier 2 100.00 bucks

Revo sx just works and works, I rinse them off about once a year, add 1 drop of oil and they last forever.

Here is my take. Add a reel every once and awhile. Get a quality reel and keep it in working order.
If you don't go in salt your maintenance is minor and they will last 20 years.

Bass pro qualifier 2, Tatula CT are good. Carbonlite reel is 100% garbage

For 49 bucks you can buy 4 Black Max's for the price of 2 of the SLX and I have 3 SLX. I also have 2 Black Max's and candidly they throw great. Johnny with Fish the Moment uses them alot.

Shimana SLX

After trying low end Lews and Revos the past couple of years I will be going back to Shimano. I’ve beat up all brands equally and the Shimano reels have lasted the longest.

Lots of good value reels mentioned; at the $70 price point, I recommend the Pflueger Supreme.

I am a novice at fishing with anything. I was totally convinced that no one made a bait caster that I could throw with any accuracy and not bird nest it every other cast. Then I tried a Daiwa Tatula SV TWS. I bought two of them used from the classifieds on this forum.. Both were spooled with line and they are awesome. I don't have them as loose as an experienced guy but I have no worries about back lashing them.

Wayne

There’s only one brand of reels. - Lew’s.

This is right on. I also like the Lews Tournament MP. Both in the $150 price range and cheaper on sale.

At the BASS Expo in Houston they had some great prices on reels. Only put them out occasionally.

I also have gotten them off Tackle warehouse on close out at years end.

Best deal I ever saw was American Fishing had Curado 50 E for $89.Those were great reels. I was going to buy 10 of the but didn’t. Still regret that.