What is the best performing reel you guys have used? Cheap or Expensive, old or new.

Mine would have to be the Curado 200e7 (Second would be the Chronarch 100A), and for spinning, Stradic 1000FJ.

 

Shimano Core (discontinued but still available)

 

Roger

My Curado 200HG

Daiwa Steez SV 103 and Zillion SV TW are tied for #1 spot as far as baitcasters are concerned.
For spinning reels, its Daiwa Saltiga. That thing is powerful.

Curado 70.

Right now I can only say my Met '13 because I caught fish with them and used them.  However the two reels I've yet to use in a "reel" fishing situation are the Met MGL and Conquest 100.  Out of the box the Conquest feels crazy smooth and refined.  Until I can use both of them they aren't the best I "used" yet.  ?

Spinning reels, the old blue original daiwa certate.

 

Casting reels, the original daiwa zillion 

 

The most durable reels have ben my daiwa ss1300's

My best performing spinning reel is a Pflueger Patriarch XT and 'OTHER' casting reel, with a Shimano Core right behind.  The 'OTHER' casting reel is only a couple years old so only time will tell if it stays #1.

Core 50mg7 but want to try a metanium 

Baitcasting -  Pflueger Patriarch

Spinning - Quantum Energy

baitcast--ambassadeur 4600c4   spinning penn 430ssg.

MET MGL

Stradic Ci4+

Spinning Shimano Stella

 

Baitcasting Shimano Calcutta DC

Baitcasting - Core 51Mg7

Spinning - Stradic 3000FK

Stradic 1000 fj/fk

Chronarch 50e

Met MGL over all Mets and Core 50.

 

2016 Vanquish over 2014 Stella (durability of the Stella withstanding)

 

 

old green shimano/bantam curado. it'll throw anything into anything, wind, sleet, hail, dark of night doesn't matter. and hardly ever have to change the braking. first time i picked one up i was amazed. still have two going strong after 20+ years of hard use.

the last model of chronarch, the previous model citica or the lews bb1. they are all very very close in my opinion.

TD-Z w/1016 spool swapped in

Baitcasting would be my Lews LFS. It may be one of the cheaper ones I have but I love that thing.

Spinning would be my Stradic CI4+ as it is my first that is not a $25 rod and reel combo.

Baitcasting - for me, I cut my teeth on the old Ambassadeur 5000 (red) back in the late 60's. Have 4 of them now (various models, but all Ambassadures) and have given several to my grandkids. Have never been in a boat with anyone that could do anything better, than what I could do with these old reels. Maybe I'm just missing out, but I'm happy!

 

As far a spinning goes, the Pflueger President is far & away the best bang for your buck today.

 

Both of these comments do not take into consideration anyone's particular preferences for brand or style, nor what gives you your own brand of confidence. Just my opinion. A cane pole and string will still catch fish.

I don't have a lot of fancy expensive reels, but I recently got a Curado 300e for free and so far, I think it might be the smoothest one I own.  Next would be my Johnny Morris Signature.  Then my Johnny Morris Carbon.

I liked my OG Zillions.  They are heavy by today's standards.  My purple Alphas were a great.  So were E-series Shimano.  Still live my Calcuttas.