I want a baitcaster to spool with mono for topwater, buzz baits, etc. I can get one of these three reels for within $10 difference.

Skeet Reese victory

Pinnacle Matrix MXS100 (from Dick's)

Daiwa Laguna

Which have you used and would recommend?

The Victory.  The others are plastic framed magnetic reels. 

I have a Daiwa Strikeforce reel(magnetic brake) on a megaforce rod. I really like it. Have you personally used any of the reels? Thanks for your time and opinion.

No experience with or opinions on those

reels, just want to welcome you to the

forums, Clifton.

Thanks Darren. I've been trolling the forums for a few years. I just hadn't registered because there is so much info here I haven't had a question that wasn't already answered.

Go with the victory. Like TorqueConverter said, the other reels you mentioned are cheap, bottom of the line graphite reels. I guarantee you, they will eventually wear out after a season or two. What's your budget? There are plenty other good reels besides the victory in its price range.

My budget is very low. I paid about $50 for my Daiwa strikefore/megaforce combo. I'm looking to do the same with my new setup.

That's low... but you can get a older quantum accurist for around 50$ at ebay and it undoubtedly will perform better than all the other reels you mentioned. Or better yet, try to get a pro qualifier, but I think the sales have already ended.  

Pro qualifer

Okay. You guys have got me thinking. I will avoid the cheaper reels. Which of these three would you recommend...victory, accurist, or lew's laser mg?

Id scratch the Lews off that list.  Lews reels are great reels but that one is a plastic framed magnetic reel.  I don't know anything about the Victory but I have an Accurist PT and it's very similar to my BPS Pro Qualifier.  Might as well be a brother from a different Korean OEM mother.  There are a bunch of BPS stuff that some in under $70 and features both an aluminum frame and centrifugal braking.   

I have 10 of the victory reels, and the large handle, aluminum frame and centrifugal breaks work great... I also like the quantum kinetic pt, but right out of the box I would use the victory...

 

Mitch

I have the new 2015 lews high spin speed LFS and it feels really good. For the $100 price point it felt great to me.

Id scratch the Lews off that list.  Lews reels are great reels but that one is a plastic framed magnetic reel.  I don't know anything about the Victory but I have an Accurist PT and it's very similar to my BPS Pro Qualifier.  Might as well be a brother from a different Korean OEM mother.  There are a bunch of BPS stuff that some in under $70 and features both an aluminum frame and centrifugal braking.   

Cabela's currently has the Lew's Tournament MG (aluminum frame) for the same price as the Laser MG.

The laser mg is a cheap reel. I have it, and the gears are not strong at all. I would probably go with the accurist or the Tournament MG on sale.

I ended up getting an Ardent Evercast horizon. It cost me $0.83 (that's right, 83 CENTS). I read that it is the same as the Victory and it looks similar to me. Thanks for the help.