I'm a Shimano fanboy and that's all I've ever owned when it comes to baitcast or spinning reels. I own Curado K's, and Stradic Ci4's.  That said I bought a Fuego CT off Ebay when it was on sale for $50 after the recommendation from this forum. I didn't need it but was curious about Daiwa and from all the praise it gets here. I've only fished with it a couple times but so far it is amazing and even crazier that it was $50.

 

So, another vote for the Fuego CT.

5 hours ago, TBAG said:

I'm a Shimano fanboy and that's all I've ever owned when it comes to baitcast or spinning reels. I own Curado K's, and Stradic Ci4's.  That said I bought a Fuego CT off Ebay when it was on sale for $50 after the recommendation from this forum. I didn't need it but was curious about Daiwa and from all the praise it gets here. I've only fished with it a couple times but so far it is amazing and even crazier that it was $50.

 

So, another vote for the Fuego CT.

It's the low price of the reel that makes it so special.  Sure, when it was released, it went for $99.99 and some places still sell it at that price next to the SLX, LFS, Casitas, etc.  However, the reality is that there are many places where it is in the sub $65 range which puts the Daiwa Fuego CT in its own category as far as I'm concerned.  

On 12/12/2018 at 9:04 AM, ChrisD46 said:

Thanks for the replies :

 

*Currently on Amazon the 7:3:1 Fuego CT is $73 while the 8:1 is $74 .

*I have heard complaints that lower end Lew's bait cast reels long term quality is not so good .

*The Fuego CT has only 5+1 ball bearings vs. the 10+1 ball bearings of the Kast King (hope the Fuego CT has enough) .

*Found the Academy H2O Mettle on sale for $39 , however I need faster than a 6:3:1 gear ratio .

 

I have Daiwa spinning reels and love them - never and issue and built well .

I have not tried a Daiwa bait cast reel before (of course hear great things about the Tatula) .

If posters here agree that the Fuego CT is a great value reel - then the search is on for one lower than the Amazon $73 ~ $74 dollar range . If not , then the price is certainly better than the $99 showing currently at TW .

I would never take bearing count in consideration. Typically, reel companies actually place more bearing in the reel to lower the tolerances on the parts they make. More bearings usually point to a lower end reel, they also add weight. There is exeption of this in very high end reels.

 

Nathan,

?I only buy reels with 20 plus bearings ...