Getting back into fishing, who is the reel deal nowadays?

Spinning Shimano stradic. Baitcaster I'm a noob with still and have 2 daiwa tatula. They seem decent so far. I'm sure there are better though.

I tend to agree with everyone on spinning reels. I use Daiwa exclusively for those... but I barely throwing spinning reels.

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but cheap baitcasters aren't worth using

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I also tend to agree with this but I cannot rate the discontinued Lew's Laser MG's highly enough. They were about $70, which I guess isn't cheap but it isn't top of the line either. I bought all of my reels in 2018 and they're all still going strong.

I just clean them once a year and that's that.

I have had to buy new reels just as I increase the variety of what I throw, and I got a Lew's Mach 1 and a Lew's Speed Spool LF. Both are < $125 and both are performing well. The Mach 1 fell into the water the first time I used it and it has no issues.

So that's my two cents. Personally, I'd spend the big money on rods.

For bait casters, I think the daiwa tatulas are the best bang for your buck. I have several and have yet to have a problem with one.

Yeah I have 2 coastal sv's that I surf fish with and absolutely love them. I can sling the hell out of the smaller mirrodines with those reels.

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Yeah I have 2 coastal sv's that I surf fish with and absolutely love them

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I have a 150. Picking up a second one soon but not sure if I'll end up getting another 150 or the smaller 80 size that recently came out.

The coastal SV is crazy good. I liked it so much I bought a Japanese Zillion last year and the difference is minimal.

I don’t know if it’s a supply chain issue or not but some of their JDM models that were made in Japan are now made in China. I hope that’s temporary. I just checked my Coastal (US model) and it was made in Thailand.

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I also tend to agree with this but I cannot rate the discontinued Lew's Laser MG's highly enough.

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That’s a fair point. I was given one as a gift when they were the new thing and yeah, it’s probably the only sub-$100 baitcaster that I would use. It doesn’t compare to my nicer reels but it shouldn’t, and it’s a better caster than my older ~$100 Shimanos, a Cardiff and a Citica.

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it’s probably the only sub-$100 baitcaster that I would use

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At the $100 range Lews is hard to beat. I picked up a Lews Speed Spool LFS on a whim for $100 because I needed a back up and had a gift card to Dick's to burn. It is better than it's price tag.

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Time to blow some cash

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Shimano Curado DC

I highly recommend fishing on peoples brush piles if you get a chance.

I have a Stradic, a Nasci, two Spinfishers, and a Penn Battle II. I will take the Battle II in 2500 or 3500. My favorite rod is an Abu Garcia Veritas 7 foot, medium. You can't go wrong with this setup.