I've been happy with my Tatulas and they can be had within budget at the right places.  Hope you find something you like!

New daiwa exceler is awesome for the price

Everyone has their opinions, like avery said, best is subjective.  I personally beleive you get what you pay for and with that I recommend a used highend reel over a new midrange reel. that said I have a BPS PQ and I firmly believe that its a low to midrange reel. my lews BB1 and lews tournament speed spool are far superior than the PQ the same way I feel that the Revo STX and lews tournament Pro are leaps and bounds over the BB1 and tournament reels.

 

again thats my opinion. take it FWIW.

I love my PQ.  With that said, you could pick pretty much anything that has been mentioned here and get a decent workhorse of a reel.  Go to a big box and check them out.  If it feel right TO YOU...you got your pick.  The PQ felt right in my hand.  I bought it..fish the heck out of...and it hasn't failed me yet.

Head to the store pick them up and put them on the rod you want, because there are so many good reels for crazy prices this time of year..I will second the Pinnacle Baitcasters, they are the Oem that has been making many of the reels on the market anyhow, so I picked up an Optimus for $100 and I absolutely love it, and the Producer is a nice reel for $80, The Optimus looks and feels like a reel that sells for alot more..Wonder if they are the Oem since the Frames are identical.

I'm a fan of the current Daiwa Exceler. Retails for $99, but they can be had for under $70 with a little looking. I have Several Exceler's and it's more expensive twin, the Lexa. And unless the Lexa is on sale (which it is BTW right now on TW for $70) I would go with the Exceler every time.

I wish I had $100 extra right now to go toward a baitcaster. Crazy deals on TW, and I'm stuck buying Legos. Bah! Humbug!

H2o mettle xpress is supposed to be good. I am lefty so my options are limited

Have they fixed the grooving issue in the tatula yet?

I don't even know if I believe there was a grooving issue, but I'm not gonna start that up again because there has already been multiple threads on the subject and a quick Google will lead you to them. I have only seen a few actual threads complaining about these supposed grooves and only one of them actually had pictures. If there was a groove problem then it only occurred with a VERY small percentage of the people who purchased the reel and I haven't seen anyone complaining of the problem as of late so I can tell you you can safely assume the reel will not have the problem.

 

I don't even know if I believe there was a grooving issue

 

The grooving issue was an improperly executed spiral wrap guide setup.  Don't have a spiral wrap rod, you wont have to worry about grooving.

The only experience I have with casting reels in that price range came over this summer / fall when I had a chance to fish the Pinnacle Producer LTE reel. 

 

 I am impressed with what the folks at Pinnacle are able pack into this reel at that price point. 

 

A-Jay

 

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/pinnacle-dhc7-producer-lte.html

I wish I had $100 extra right now to go toward a baitcaster. Crazy deals on TW, and I'm stuck buying Legos. Bah! Humbug!

Join the club..............but Legos sound more exciting than the Barbies that I have been shopping for LMAO.

Grooves where?  Pictures?

I wish I had $100 extra right now to go toward a baitcaster. Crazy deals on TW, and I'm stuck buying Legos. Bah! Humbug!

Hahaha this is my life. Someday, zillion... Someday.

Grooves where?  Pictures?

I didn't know there were issues like that on the Tatula either... I would assume it has to be an issue with a certain type of guide position and type on the rod that has the line coming at a more downward angle than the people at daiwa engineered it for... similar to the spiral wrap issue with the T3 review...

 

Mitch

The lews speed spool Lfs is a great reel! A lot better than the traditional speed spool for the same price!

It's $100.00 at TW but I'm sure you could find it for even less on Amazon.

If I was looking for a reel in that price range that would deffenetly be my first choice.

Try it out!.....

Pro Qualifier on sale for $69.99 or so, next choice is Academy H2O Mettle on sale.

Pro Qualifier on sale for $69.99 or so, next choice is Academy H2O Mettle on sale.

There is a thread on another site which has new pictures of tatula grooving. I actually think it is from particles in the water where some people fish. The grit acts on the t wing and grooves it in very rare cases

It's gotta be the Lews speed spool. Buy one lews I promice you won't ever want a different brand

It's gotta be the Lews speed spool. Buy one lews I promice you won't ever want a different brand

 

I don't know about that.  I like my TP just fine, but no way am I selling my Shimano or Daiwa reels.  Or my older Patriarch Xts.  I am worried that my wife might call in an intervention team, tho. 

I bought a curado 200e7 out of the bargain cave at Cabela's for $100, wish I could find deals like that more often!

I bought 2 lexas for 42 each at dicks reg price was 98.97