Going to pull the trigger on one of these 2 spinning reels.  My buddy swears by the Smoke but I want to try a Shimano. I have a couple of Presidents that started off smooth but started getting a little grindy.  Took them completely apart cleaned them and put some Ardent reel butter and oil on and it it helped a little but they both still have a little clicky feel on the retrieve.  Anyway I want to try a little higher end spinning reel. The Smoke is smooth but I don't have any local stores that carry the the Symetre.  Any opinions shared would be appreciated. 

I have 3 smoke spinning reels, they are all great. I haven't had any problems with them and I have had one for over 2 years.

I have limited experience with both of them BUT I just bought a Smoke from Cabela's on clearance.

 

My friend had the Symetre and had recommend it to me. I fished with his on a couple trips and absolutely loved it. I was ALL set to buy one but then I saw that Cabela's has marked their Smokes down from like $170.00 to $67.98. This same friend said he had used the Smoke and for the price would recommend the Smoke over the Symetre.

 

So I went to get a Smoke for $67.98 and found one at the back of the pile with a mis-marked tag and Cabela's honored the price. I ended up getting the Smoke for $29.99.

 

Fast forward a couple weeks, it is the smoothest spinning reel we have ever owned. I say we because I bought it for my wife but I've sure used it a few times recently!

 

Anyway if you have a Cabela's, check there first. They are clearancing them out.

 

 

 

Oh and here is the one I bought with the mis-marked price! The sticker it NOT the right one for the product. I think someone who worked there purposely marked it at $29.99 so someone could come get it because they are anti-tamper price stickers and it looked untouched, newly stuck to the box. Plus it was hidden at the bottom back of the pile. I just found it first!

 

I have refs that the Smoke is better then the Exo.

Although I'm sure the Symetre is good also. Id get the smoke if it is cheaper.

Were those clearance smoke reels in the bargain cave section of the store? I'm gonna have to check my local Cabelas out.

I have limited experience with both of them BUT I just bought a Smoke from Cabela's on clearance.

 

My friend had the Symetre and had recommend it to me. I fished with his on a couple trips and absolutely loved it. I was ALL set to buy one but then I saw that Cabela's has marked their Smokes down from like $170.00 to $67.98. This same friend said he had used the Smoke and for the price would recommend the Smoke over the Symetre.

 

So I went to get a Smoke for $67.98 and found one at the back of the pile with a mis-marked tag and Cabela's honored the price. I ended up getting the Smoke for $29.99.

 

Fast forward a couple weeks, it is the smoothest spinning reel we have ever owned. I say we because I bought it for my wife but I've sure used it a few times recently!

 

Anyway if you have a Cabela's, check there first. They are clearancing them out.

 

 

 

Oh and here is the one I bought with the mis-marked price! The sticker it NOT the right one for the product. I think someone who worked there purposely marked it at $29.99 so someone could come get it because they are anti-tamper price stickers and it looked untouched, newly stuck to the box. Plus it was hidden at the bottom back of the pile. I just found it first!

 

That is a sweet deal!

Picked up a smoke a month or so ago, it's nice, should have spent a few more dollars and gotten another ci4!

Were those clearance smoke reels in the bargain cave section of the store? I'm gonna have to check my local Cabelas out.

 

No but they had them in two sections. They had them out on the shelf like a normal reel then they also had some on an end cap. They had ALL of the PT's on clearance for $67.98. I picked the PT40 though as my wife already had one of the smaller Quantum reels and this was an upgrade for her to use for large mouth bass.

 

Oh and the fact is was marked $29.99 helped me pick the PT40!