My Revo Toro Beast 60 HS takes top spot for me . Throwing the big swimbaits is like using baby seals for Great Whites.

OG Zillion with 100m spool and bearings in all the good places.  It's the Toyota Hilux of reels.

If I had to choose one reel I would probably go with the Steez SV TW. Since it is really good at a lot of things.

But, I love to pick up other reels because they either look nicer than the others, feel nicer or can do specific things that just this one reel can do.

 

It would say either my OG zillions or Steez exs. However, I just got my Calais DC cleaned and tuned and man...the reel might over take the Daiwas! "Might", we shall see come opener.

8 hours ago, redmeansdistortion said:

They seem to do that with a lot of popular models.

Because popular ≠ best.

 

Never has, never will.

1 hour ago, Smelter96 said:

It would say either my OG zillions or Steez exs. However, I just got my Calais DC cleaned and tuned and man...the reel might over take the Daiwas! "Might", we shall see come opener.

I tend to agree...assuming we have open water by opener.... ?

 

A cleaned and tuned Calais DC can open your eyes, if you're paying attention...."specially if'n you're willing to accept the input of Esox...

5 hours ago, webertime said:

OG Zillion with 100m spool and bearings in all the good places.  It's the Toyota Hilux of reels.

I'm not sure 1 in 50 Americans even know what a Toyota Hilux is...

Shimano Vanquish 2500S.  

Curado K. Mainly because its my first nice reel. 

Baitcasting a couple of older Shimano Curados.

 

Spinning and older Shimano Stratic. 

 

Honerable mention I love my Shimano Symetres which has been replace by the Nasci and they actually be better in my opinion. 

My favorite spinning reel is a TwinPower 2500HGS.  Prior to that it was a Stradic Mg 2500.  My wife now posesses the Mg and I want it back!

CU200E7. I have a handful of these and even more from the E series line up in general. I don't what it is, these things just have a certain mojo about them...

Shimano Curado 71 is my favorite. It casts light lures well, making it ideal for stream smallmouth. Paired with the right rod it can cover some of the functions of a spinning reel.

10 hours ago, S Hovanec said:

My favorite spinning reel is a TwinPower 2500HGS.  Prior to that it was a Stradic Mg 2500.  My wife now posesses the Mg and I want it back!

Good luck with that my friend.  

I have 3 Shimano 71 XGs, 2 Curado 201 XGs, and 1 201 HG all with full ceramics bearings. I'm going to go with the 71 on the MH 7'2" Xpride. The 201 XG on my Flacon 7'2" Christie is my second. Both are versatile setups and handle a variety of situations. But the 71/Xpride is too sweet.

 

My Stradic 3000 on a MH 7'2" Xpride is also very nice, but I haven't fallen in love with spinning gear yet.

It's a tie between my Metanium MGL XG's and my Stella FJ's... 

I loved my Shimano Sahara 2500FE but I might just have a new crush on Piscifun Carbon X. I love my Citica 200e too.

On 3/15/2019 at 9:05 AM, Scott F said:

I don’t have a favorite reel. A good reel is invisible to me. If I’m thinking about my reel when fishing, it’s because it’s not working properly. It’s hard to say a reel is exceptional because it does what it’s supposed to do. 

Awesome answer. ?

This will be embarrassing considering I’ve read the entire thread. 

 

Favorite spinning is my president that caught my first smallie. 

 

Favorite ted bc is my silvermax that has caught me the most fish.  Trending is the daiwa Lexa I first learned to fish plastic with. 

 

Coolest isn’t even mine. I got a nasty birdsnest in my silvermax. My father in law handed me a combo and I caught a bass with it first cast. Turns out it was his dad’s. His coworkers bought him a Calcutta and had his name engraved on the side when he retired. One day, lord willing, I’ll own it. It’s almost too nice and meaningful to fish with. 

Might be changing my answer! Yesterday I picked up a bantam mgl xg and boy is that sweet! I haven’t fished it yet but threw it on my frog rod, tied on a 1/2oz jackall karea and was tossing it in the yard. Wow it is crazy smooth and bombs that little 1/2oz frog!

Daiwa Ryoga 1520H. Thing is just so smooth and refined it makes my other reels feel sloppy. The only one that comes close is the conquest.

My first modern baitcaster was a Daiwa PMA1000 that I bought in 1987. Even though it’s just about worn to dust I think it’s still my favorite reel.

Right now definitely the Zillion SV TWS. 

For me its two reels, as a fineese angler its a Daiwa Airy Red Pixy, and the Daiwa Alphas Air reels.

On 3/15/2019 at 9:17 AM, HazeRVA said:

Another Tatula SV here, but that Tatula 100 is moving up the ranks.

Another vote for the Tatula SV.  Probably Chronarch MGL after that.

Casting: +1 for the Tatula SV

Spinning: Daiwa BG (never found a need to spend anymore)

JM Platinum, over Chronarch MGL.