Time to replace my 35 year old spinning reel. I need a reel mainly for drop shot and wacky rig. Currently I have a 1000 model Shimano but it's time to at least get to a 2500. Looking to stay under the $125 range. I'm not a tourney guy, just fish every other weekend or so.

So far been looking at:

Daiwa Fuego $79
Daiwa Revros $50
Shimaon Nasci $90
Lew's custom Lite $127

Any insight and recs is appreciated.

Go to Digitaka. You can really save some money on a quality reel. Example - a 2500 Shimano Ultegra is currently $114 shipped.

Daiwa BG $100-$120

I use Shimano Spirex spinning reels. They have a double handle like a bait caster and a trigger so you don't have to deal with a bale. I pitch and flip with them and cast in tight spaces. They are built to help you cover a lot of water quick and I think they are around $70 a piece.

I have the diawa fuego and diawa tatula. The tatula is so light you can hardly feel it. Fuego does not really compare other than they are the same size and shape. Not sure what they go for on digitaka I think they are higher than you asked for. Mine was used when I purchased it.

On digitaka - they have the Tatula but show it is made in China. Pretty sure Daiwa reels are made in Japan. Fakes?

Spirex or Sedona...

This bloke does a complete tear down of the major players in the spinning reel game here....pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of each brand.
He fishes mostly salt water, so most of the reels here are marketed for saltwater.

Daiwa

This is good

Budget Reel = 2024 Daiwa Fuego LT $109.99
Mid / High Reel = Daiwa Tatula MQ LT $199.99

All are on sale right now at BPS w/ their reel buy back and you can get them $30-40 off.

Can't beat those prices.

Daiwa has manufacturers in Vietnam, Japan, and China (cheaper made models). I doubt the Tatula was made in China. The latest Tatula MQ LT is made of the Zaion V material which is made in Vietnam.

Nope made in china same as the ones here.

I'm gonna get roasted for this one but I'll put my $25 Sougayilang up against most any reel under $100. I own Daiwa and Shimano spinning reels and the Sougayilang compares to all except my JDM Daiwa. I caught a 7 pounder on Fork a couple of weeks ago and couldn't believe how perfectly the drag worked. I have a Bass Champs tournament Saturday and I chose to put the Sougayilang in the boat.

Is that Sougayilang with or without pickles?

I will mention the Pflueger Supreme and President spinning reels; especially if Walmart is clearing them out at $25

I have a Lew's Xfinity, a Lew's Custom Pro, a Lew's Smash, and a Pflueger Presidente spinning reel. My favorite out of the bunch is the Lew's Xfinity, and it's one of the cheaper ones.

If I were to buy a new spinning reel today I would go with the Lew's Mach II Speed Spin. I just love a Lew's spinning reel. They're reasonably priced, and work exceptionally well in my opinion.