Choosing a fishing reel

GTN · May 29, 2025

Those reels are classics! It was my first spinning reel in 1972. Do get rid of them.
I like Shimano Symetre and Sedona in the 4000 size. The bigger spool size gives you less line curl imo

holdover · May 29, 2025

Diawa makes a good reel

Saltwater60 · May 29, 2025

I really like Pfluger supreme or President reels. I’ve had pfluger for the last 25 years and one has never failed me. I have about 10-15 of them between me and my son. My son has a kastking he swears is great.

218bee · May 29, 2025

You don’t mention what type of fishing you’re into, but I’m also a Shimano fan. Personally I fish salt water (Blues & Stripers) and use a Shimano 3500-series Baitrunner. Best of both worlds. Use it for top water plug casting and baitrunner function works great with a bunker chunk for bass/blues. Can use them for medium/large fresh water too, like reservoir fishing with sawbellies/minnows. Maybe a little big for your 6’ pole. Have a few on 6’6” and 7-footers and they look right at home. Pick up a used clean one on EBay for around a hundo.

Bustedknees · May 30, 2025

I hardly ever fish so I like the old Zebco 101 retard reel . It has a big ass white button like a gun safety.

camper4lyfe · May 30, 2025

I'd honestly look at respooling the current reels and see what you think of them. They may be just right and don't need to be replaced.

As far as potential replacements; don't ask me, I buy stuff on clearance.

Robin · May 30, 2025

I always liked the Penn stuff, never had an issue.
Though, looking at the current pricing I'm happy I haven't needed one in the last thirty years or so.

Saltwater Fishing Reels | PENN Fishing® US

Pull in your catch at sea with the saltwater reels at PENN Fishing® US. Shop our selection of baitcast, conventional, fly, and spinning fishing reels today!

www.pennfishing.com

Robin

Saltwater60 · May 30, 2025

Robin said:
I always liked the Penn stuff, never had an issue.
Though, looking at the current pricing I'm happy I haven't needed one in the last thirty years or so.

Saltwater Fishing Reels | PENN Fishing® US

Pull in your catch at sea with the saltwater reels at PENN Fishing® US. Shop our selection of baitcast, conventional, fly, and spinning fishing reels today!

www.pennfishing.com

Robin

You can’t go wrong with penn products.
OP, you’ll be happy with any of the brand name gear out there. Go to a shop, bring your rod, and see what feels right on the rod. I like to know the balance of the rod and reel and how smooth it ranks in. The capacity and gear ratio are the other two things I look at. If it doesn’t feel right on the rod all else could be great but I won’t buy it. If you fish for a long time you will get fatigued.

pjzwtl · May 31, 2025

Robin said:
I always liked the Penn stuff, never had an issue.
Though, looking at the current pricing I'm happy I haven't needed one in the last thirty years or so.

Saltwater Fishing Reels | PENN Fishing® US

Pull in your catch at sea with the saltwater reels at PENN Fishing® US. Shop our selection of baitcast, conventional, fly, and spinning fishing reels today!

www.pennfishing.com

Robin

Ditto on Penn

OwenP · Jun 5, 2025

Been wanting to get into fishing more this thread helped spark it for me again

Saltwater60 · Jun 7, 2025

OwenP said:
Been wanting to get into fishing more this thread helped spark it for me again

what are you waiting for? Make it happen.

holdover · Jun 7, 2025

I was going to go with Penn myself this year, but I read some reviews on Fish USA and they were stateing that the newer Penns are not the same quality they used to be , just sayin.

holdover · Jun 7, 2025

Right now Im looking for a Lund boat , I know they are over priced and all but they have a lot of things I like , like being able to handle the rough water in the great lakes , I was going to pull the trigger on a 2012 Tyee yesterday ,But it had just sold

The new ones are way out of my price range at 80K and up

Saltwater60 · Jun 8, 2025

holdover said:
Right now Im looking for a Lund boat , I know they are over priced and all but they have a lot of things I like , like being able to handle the rough water in the great lakes , I was going to pull the trigger on a 2012 Tyee yesterday ,But it had just sold The new ones are way out of my price range at 80K and up

These boats are absurd honestly. I want a fishing boat but I’d like to take my family of four plus another set of father son fishing boats I’ll likely end up with a sub tracker bass buggy in a few years. I cannot justify the price of these other fishing boats for the size and what you get. I know I won’t likely be able to go out on the lake fishing but I fish the Niagara River mostly so it will handle that just fine. New ones are $36,000 with a trolling motor, motor, trailer, and fish finder. I can handle that.

holdover · Jun 8, 2025

The Tyee can handle 6- 8 passengers , the one I was looking at on boat trader was 2013, 34K 150 merc, and a 9hp. tiller motor, thats about as much as I can afford too, My preference for the bigger lund was its reputation in rough water, safety first, being a newbie boater, I didnt want to piss off a lot people If we all drowned, so I am willing to spend the extra bucks for security. Thats The way I see it anyway. Its not going to seem like a bargain if Im taking water in a storm and the engine dies .

I have a motorized Kayak , and I learned some good lessons fast about the lake , its no fucking joke , The water got choppy out there and I was wondering if Im going to make it back . security is my main concern so thats why I was leaning that way

pshift · Monday at 11:03 AM

Penn / Shimano, can't really go wrong. With an older reel, get rid of the string first, take it apart, check for any rust or corrosion on the inside. If there is any rust or corrosion inside, get rid of it. If none, lithium grease for all of the internal components is your best bet. Have my equipment for 20+ years and resisting the urge to get something 'new' every time I go to the sporting goods store.

Saltwater60 · Monday at 7:07 PM

holdover said:
The Tyee can handle 6- 8 passengers , the one I was looking at on boat trader was 2013, 34K 150 merc, and a 9hp. tiller motor, thats about as much as I can afford too, My preference for the bigger lund was its reputation in rough water, safety first, being a newbie boater, I didnt want to piss off a lot people If we all drowned, so I am willing to spend the extra bucks for security. Thats The way I see it anyway. Its not going to seem like a bargain if Im taking water in a storm and the engine dies .

I have a motorized Kayak , and I learned some good lessons fast about the lake , its no fucking joke , The water got choppy out there and I was wondering if Im going to make it back . security is my main concern so thats why I was leaning that way

I hear you and I know what they say you can have in the boat people wise but there aren’t even that many seats in the boat.
I get your thoughts and fears especially on the lake but I do not plan to go out on the lake. Maybe Chautauqua or another small lake but not Erie or Ontario. That is limiting but the pontoon boat has a nice fishing section and a nice lounging section. I have not made up my mind yet and I’m looking for a good option in the deep v fishing category but I haven’t found anything that will work for me. I’m leaning toward the 18’ bass buggy.

OwenP · Thursday at 1:18 PM

Saltwater60 said:
what are you waiting for? Make it happen.

Your right. I think I just need to get off my rear and go

Choosing a fishing reel

.177 BB

.308 Win

.475 A&M Magnum

.950 JDJ

.44 mag

.308 Win

.308 Win

.577 Tyrannosaur.

.950 JDJ

.308 Win

.40 S&W

.950 JDJ

.475 A&M Magnum

.475 A&M Magnum

.950 JDJ

.475 A&M Magnum

.338 Win Mag

.950 JDJ

.40 S&W