What is the baitcaster you have or had that most surprised you with performance and durability for the price?

Pflueger President XT casting reel. Thing is amazing for an $90 reel. 

1st gen BPS Pro Qualifier

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

5 minutes ago, Mike L said:

1st gen BPS Pro Qualifier

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

Is that the round reel that looks like a Shimano Calcutta Mike? I have three of those and they're super smooth and cast a country mile. I haven't used 'em for a few years, the thumb bars started sticking, but I think I'm gonna send 'em to DVT this coming winter for rehab. 

Pinnacle Deadbolt Classic baitcaster

 

I don't know if this really counts as a sleeper but I bought 2 of the OG Fuegos for $120 or whatever they were when TW closed them out. They were and still are amazing reels.

OG Fuegos for me as well. Was really surprised by them. 

19 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

Is that the round reel that looks like a Shimano Calcutta Mike? I have three of those and they're super smooth and cast a country mile. I haven't used 'em for a few years, the thumb bars started sticking, but I think I'm gonna send 'em to DVT this coming winter for rehab. 

No

From what I understand Its the first low profile bc model that they put their name on. 

 

 

 

 

Mike

Shimano SLX 

AbuGarcia RevoX or something.  my buddy hated it and gave it to me.  I tinkered with the settings and kept it thinking it would hold me over until I can upgrade to something that rhymes "Zhimanoh" later.  here I am 3 years later and that thing still flings them out there smoothly.  

May be a bit of a surprise ~

The Quantum EXO PT made its debut in retail locations late in the Fall of 2011.

I started my collection a year or two later which includes 100 & 200 sizes.

Some of these were scored for a song on E-Bay. 

Stock handles were 'EVA Foam'.

Didn't care for it.

Went with all new HawgTechs

Better. 

All 9 are still making it happen for me. 

A-Jay

OG Fuego and Citica Es

Super Duty G

 

 

can't explain why this reel can cast 1/8 oz jigheads as far as it does

@Big Rick ok, it has KTF spool bearings, but there are no spool options made for this reel. 

18 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

Super Duty G

 

No reel is a sleeper after you get done tricking it out. 

 

Just sayin'....

39 minutes ago, webertime said:

OG Fuego and Citica Es

I took a Citica E on a trade, not being much of a Shimano guy. I was blown away by how it performed, and even more so when I found out what the cost was new. 

Pinnacle Matrix II, and it's many Silstar Korean clones. Still fishing them today.

Yeah Citica E is a great one I'd forgotten all about.

1 hour ago, Jrob78 said:

I don't know if this really counts as a sleeper but I bought 2 of the OG Fuegos for $120 or whatever they were when TW closed them out. They were and still are amazing reels.

$144 and change.  At least that is what I paid on closeout.  However, not a sleeper reel for me as I had read tackletour's review of it a time or two.

 

Can't speak for durability as none of my reels get fished hard, but the older Pflueger Trion is a surprising caster once I went to heavier line and mounted it on a HF rod.  I didn't know what to expect from the Pinnacle Primmus HS Xi, but I love that reel.  The Cabela's Prodigy (older gray one) has also proved to be quite good.

5 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

$144 and change.  At least that is what I paid on closeout.  However, not a sleeper reel for me as I had read tackletour's review of it a time or two.

That sounds right on the price. I agree that it wasn't a sleeper for me either but it seemed like at the time the Fuego and Sol didn't get the love from the general public that they deserved. I could be misremembering too.

1 hour ago, Bird said:

Shimano SLX 

I got my SLX last year and about 3 weeks after I bought it I foul hooked a grass carp.  I figured the SLX would be toast after that, but it stayed as smooth as ever.

29 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

The Cabela's Prodigy (older gray one) has also proved to be quite good.

That's essentially a Daiwa Advantage, my current frog and inshore salt reel. The look I got last week when I cut off a pad crasher, tied on a 7/0 hook and sent down a livelined 8" bait, Striped bass for dinner.

 

1 hour ago, Mike L said:

No

From what I understand Its the first low profile bc model that they put their name on. 

 

Mike

Yup, they came out with 3 or 4 models their first year, Made by Silstar.

Abu 4601c4. With no fancy breaking system they HAVE to be a backlash nightmare right? I have 2 that are over 20 years old and I’m still amazed at how well they work.

Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier, first generation. I've since upgraded to BPS Platinum reels. Still have three of my PQ's, if needed.

37 minutes ago, Jrob78 said:

That sounds right on the price. I agree that it wasn't a sleeper for me either but it seemed like at the time the Fuego and Sol didn't get the love from the general public that they deserved. I could be misremembering too.

And still underrated by many.  Liked the first one well enough to buy a second before TW ran out of them.  Few years later I picked up a third one in excellent condition.

18 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

That's essentially a Daiwa Advantage, my current frog and inshore salt reel. The look I got last week when I cut off a pad crasher, tied on a 7/0 hook and sent down a livelined 8" bait, Striped bass for dinner.

Yup.  Sent it out for cleaning at the end of the first year I had it.  Guy that did the work on it was impressed enough to buy a couple to keep for non-fishing friends to use when they went out with him.

For me, the original Shimano Bantam Castaic, CA-200…that thumb bar/flipping switch (“INSTAGAGE”) was the greatest. Down to my last one.