The only spinning reels I have cost $25. I'm looking to upgrade. Any advice on a spinning reel in the $100 range? Mainly looking to fish shakey heads, wacky worms and maybe drop shot.

Thanks!

DAIWA WHISKER SS TOURNAMENT SS 1300(price about $80)

I have seen a few Shimano Stradics for sale for around that dollar amount. I am an Abu man myself, so I got a couple of Cardinals and Sorons.

If you need a drop shot/shakey rod let me know. I got a few Kistlers I am selling.

Jean, thanks for the tips. The reviews of that reel on BassPro.com are great. What is the #1 thing you like about that reel? What do you hate?

Hard to beat a Stradic. One of the smoothest reels I own. About $160-190 new.

I second the Stradic, a Stradic 3000 specifically, I have several. I love the drag, and that its lightweight compared to say the Shimano Sahara which is a good reel in its price range but too heavy for all day fishing. Its my go to for wacky, shaky head and finesse tx rigs. Grab a new one on eBay for a steal, you won't be sorry.

I own over 10 SS TOURNAMENT reels(700,1300,1600,2600)and maybe this tell you something.
For over 10 years i was fishing with these reels without problems.
I like the long cast spool,the SIC (silicon carbide) line roller,strong gear,very fine drag and how put the line in cross on spool(i am fishing just with braid+fluorocarbon leader).

Before i was fishing with SHIMANO(STRADIC ,SYMETRE,SAHARA),but after one season in salt water my STRADIC 4000 stop working right.
So i have seling all my SHIMANO reels and now i am fishing just with SS TOURNAMENT reels.

SS TOURNAMENT is not so smooth like STELLA or STRADIC but do the same service....

IMO is the best spinning reel about price/quality and with minimum maintenance work over 10 years!!!

That is some good advice Jean. I would say get what you feel comfortable paying for. It is really going to come down to preference. Shimano, Abu, Daiwa, Quantum all make great reels.

Well I fish exclusively in salt and only reels I have now are stradics and symetres. Tried all others over the years but they just don't hold up. For less than 100, get a symetre or a used stradic.

I like Pflueger spinning reels. If you're fishing from a boat and are careful with your gear, I think you'd be happy with a President. If you're kinda rough on reels and/or they tend to slip into the drink, President XT. I like having the sealed drag in case it takes a dunk and I still wan to fish with it that day.

Try the spheros by Shimanno.It's made for salt water. I bought mine w/rod for under $100 a couple of yesrs ago and have been plesantly suprised, caspt david

pflueger supreme xt...I swear by them. all 3 of my spinning reels are supreme xt's

I fish crappie so I can't recommend to a specific style of fishing, but I just bought the new carbonlite spinning reel and I love it.

For over 5 years i was fishing just in salt water using DAIWA SS TOURNAMENT 1300(fishing from the bank at ROLLOVER PASS with artificials.
I already sold my SHIMANO reels(stradic,symetre,sahara)and i am very happy with my SS TOURNAMENT reels.
So for me not SHIMANO reels in salt water..... but is just my honest opinion.

i have 15 okuma spinning reels. never a problem. spent $69 on a trio. super light. handled my 7 pounder at falcon just fine.
had a coupla shimano's, but they started making grinding noises after a year.