I'm looking to get a new spinning reel for a drop shot rig. For those of you who use them a lot what's the best reel out there for under $200.00 bucks?

check out the shimano stradic ci4, its a great reel and looks sweet

X2 stradic. Regular or the mg depending on $. Put it on a crucial or cumara dropshot rod.

I bought a Stradic Ci4 and it is sweet. I used to only used Quantum Pt spinning reels..not anymore--by far the best spinning reel i have for that money.

Great thanks for the help Does Academy have them?
Ok the 2500 ot the 1000 I guess its spool size?

get the 2500 model if you're bass fishing, you'll be glad you did, and it also weighs lighter than any other reel on the market in that size. A very nice reel.

Hard to beat a Stradic 4000. The 2500 is great too, but I wouldn't go with the 1000. I have it and it's really an ultralight.

I have the Stradic 2500 and put it on the new Falcon HD rods ($69) and I absolutely love it.

I havent seen the Ci4 at Academy, and yeah, the 2500 is perfect size..i gave cabelas a call to make sure they had one ( i got the last one they had back in Feb) and they held it form me while i drove in.

OK Great now where the heck can I get one???
No one seems to have any of these in stock?

Any Shimano.

try Ebay and save a few bucks.

The Stradic 3000FI is nice. Larry (the fishing physicist) recommended it to me and I've been very happy with it. I paired it up with a St. Croix I got from Macks Tackle and use it for small mouth and large mouth here in Oregon.

You don't need to buy more tackle. Just put some light line on a lighter action bait casting rod and see how you like the technique.

I picked up the stradic c14 this past monday at the bass pro in garland. They had another one in stock, might try giving them a call.