Spinning reel recommendation

Hello everyone, I'm looking to buy a new spinning rod to put on a Powell 7' 1" MH to mostly throw a shakey head on.

Everyone suggests a Shimano Stradic but that's a bit out of my price range. Seems like the Daiwa BF has some things that good reviews in the $100 range.

Is this a good reel? Are there any other reels in that price range i should consider?

Lastly, It seems that a lot of people are going with a bigger spinning reel. What size would you recommend? I was told the Daiwa runs 1000 bigger than others, is a 3000 too big?

Thanks!

I use a Shimano Sahara 3000 which is just the high speed version of their 2500 size reel. It’s in my mind the right size for all around use.

I love the Sahara series

Pfleuger President is like $45 bucks and I like it every bit as much as my spinning reels that cost 2-3 times that much. I think mine is the 2000 size.

Another vote for the Sahara 3000. $79 and mine has done everything I have asked of it.

Bought a backup rod for wife last year, and put a Okuma Ceymar C30 on it after some research; pretty nice reel for the money. Have several Presidents and they hold up pretty well too.

Sahara's are great reels for the money. The 3000 size is perfect for my use.

Sahara's are great reels, the Revo X is a good reel, although it is $99.99 at TW. IMO, unless you fish with a Spinning reel exclusively, there's really no need for a $200 reel, it's not going to take the beating like all of our bait casters do.

Good reel suggestions above.

Size 3000 is not too big, especially if you are going to be doing some larger/heavier size deep water shaky head fishing.

This, I have four Presidents from a 20 up through the 35 and have fished the heck out of them for four years and they work and look like new. And the most important part, the drag, is excellent right out of the box. I also have two Stradics and the Presidents feel solid and well built immediately after putting down a Shimano and picking up a Pfluger.

Daiwa BG is a great reel or the price, The Fuego LT is good too, it has the magseal to keep water out. Both are around $ 100. If you go up to $ 180 you can get the Tatula LT. And finally if you are wanting to spend around $230, you can get the Ballistic LT; also magsealed. Look at getting spinning reels in the 3000 size. The larger diameter spool will help you out with line management. I'm not sure that Daiwa runs a 1000 size bigger, at least I haven't noticed.

I'm a little biased towards Daiwa lol. Shimano's are great reels too! I know the NASCI is a pretty sweet reel and not a bad price to boot. I feel like I've had better luck with Daiwa; And I feel like I get more reel for the money IMO. But I do have a Shimano Symetre 2500 that I've had for years that is still smooth as butter.

I've been partial to Shimano for many years but always heard from different reel repair guys from Texas to Florida that if you are looking for best bang for the buck, to look at OKUMA. Have heard that for many years and just heard it again last week when I picked up my reels from cleaning.

Bill Dance has good info on Spinning Reels .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpD9GkRGrrk

John, I bought a Revo X this year in the 20 size. Plenty big. It holds plenty of line. I've very pleased with it for 100 bucks

The Daiwa Revros is super smooth and $42.

tough to beat the pfluegers for spinning reels, they are high quality and value priced.

I also have a Revo-SX that i like a lot, but i can't say its any better than the pfluegers. No need IMO to spend over $100 on a spinning reel, for me at least.

I love my Stradics but I also have a few of the Shimano Nasci spinning reels. For right around $99, it'd be a top choice in that price range.

Lots of really good reels mentioned here!

Brad

Pflueger president. Been using it for years. Great reels for great price.

Another vote for the Shimano Sahara. I've used it in saltwater a lot, and it's still never given me any problems.

+1 on the Shimano Sahara. Have also read good reports on Lew's spinning reels but I have not used one.

Stradic. But I fish a saros for my salt rig and it falls right where it should between that and the Sahara. I don't think they make them any more and they're stupid cheap on Ebay now. That's what I'd get. Might buy an extra actually now that I looked.

I'm a Shimano guy but let my wife put together her own set up recently. She went Okuma on the reel and man is it smooth. She has had no issues with putting a whipping on the bass lately.

What model Okuma?

I have a Lews and a couple of Sahara. The Lews feels clunky and cheap compared to the Sahara’s.

Ditto, good bang for the buck. I have reels that cost 4 times as much and don't work any better!

Cheers,

George