Has anyone here ever used a pflueger monarch? I'm looking for a baitcasting reel to put on a rod my step dad gave me and I saw this one as walmart. It's $40 with a 6.2:1 gear ratio I think. I'm not interested in putting an expensive reel on it so don't waste your time trying to tell me that I need to spend atleast $100-$150. Thanks.

Never fished one but if you have an Academy nearby their Mettle baitcaster is a great reel for about $20 more and goes on sale often. I bought mine for $29 a couple years ago and it's still going strong right alongside all my Curados and Lew's. 

Never handled that reel.  As bluebasser said, the H2O reels get good reviews and can be bought on sale for about what you want to spend.  Another option is to keep an eye on the classifieds.  Also Abu round reels often can be had for that price or less.

I've never seen the mettle in store but I did notice the monarch has zero play in the spool as far as moving side to side. Can't say the same for some of the more expensive reels I've looked at.

I've never seen the mettle in store but I did notice the monarch has zero play in the spool as far as moving side to side. Can't say the same for some of the more expensive reels I've looked at.

 

That is controlled by the cast control knob.  That is the smaller knob off to the side under the handle.  If the spool has side-to-side movement, simply add more spool tension using the cast control knob.  Problem solved.

I've never seen the mettle in store but I did notice the monarch has zero play in the spool as far as moving side to side. Can't say the same for some of the more expensive reels I've looked at.

If you find one at Academy I would highly recommend handling one. There's a guy on another forum that throws A rigs at Beaver Lake for stripers with one and has yet to have one fail on him. I've fished mine hard and expected it to quit a long time ago but it still works just as good as the day I bought it and I've not done an ounce of maintenance with it yet after over 2 years of use. 

I own one of these but in the 7.4:1 gear ratio. And have it o. A 7' jig rod and am amazed on how it feels. Honestly the best reel for the price. Not one thing wrong with it for me. To me feels better than my Dads high end reels. Worth every penny.

731. Just got it. Very Impressed. Feels like my high end abu's.