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Best sub $200 spinning reel

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Looking to replace a few spinning reels. What are your favorite sub $200 reels in the 2500 or 3000 size? Would like to stick with daiwa or Shimano. 
 

Anyone try the new miravels?

  • Super User
3 minutes ago, 5by3 said:

Anyone try the new miravels?

Haven't gotten it out yet - we still got hard-water here - but my bench-testing of my JDM Miravel 2500 has me chomping at the bit to get out and use it.

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Daiwa Kage LT for me

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Newest Aluminum bodied Stradic should be a winner as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I paid around $180 last fall and thought I got a great deal. 

Still happy with my purchase.

 

I Love You Smile GIF by corgiyolk

1 hour ago, roadwarrior said:


this.   Only spinning reels I use now.   I have 4.   ?? 

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Haven't gotten it out yet - we still got hard-water here - but my bench-testing of my JDM Miravel 2500 has me chomping at the bit to get out and use it.


where do the Miravels rank or what are they comparable too?? 

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23 minutes ago, MiceNReets said:

where do the Miravels rank or what are they comparable too?? 

They're about the level of the Ultegra (I have one of those in 1000 size), but include a couple technologies you gotta go to the Stradic or Vanford for...I think it's the lowest priced Ci4 framed reel in their lineup.

10 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

They're about the level of the Ultegra (I have one of those in 1000 size), but include a couple technologies you gotta go to the Stradic or Vanford for...I think it's the lowest priced Ci4 framed reel in their lineup.


hmmmm….  Maybe I’ll have to try one.   Looking for a new 1000 size reel. 

If you could get your hands on a deal go for the shimano vanford. 

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On 2/6/2023 at 7:12 PM, MiceNReets said:


hmmmm….  Maybe I’ll have to try one.   Looking for a new 1000 size reel. 

Stradic is the entry-level Shimano worm-drive.  

Here's how they manage threadline braid (1000S).  

FLRRMqs.jpg

It's the same design as the Stella using lower-cost materials - all the parts interchange.  

When introduced in '19, TackleAdvisors dubbed it "The Best $400 Reel You Can Buy."  (because you had to spend more than $400 to get a better reel)

Noteworthy, Stradic has forged alloy frame, only part of what keeps it properly aligned under load.  

Marketing suckers many into composite frame for weight, and uselessly large drag numbers.  

davSyc9.jpg

*Edit Miravel is not worm drive so Inshore Spheros SW is the entry level Shimano worm drive. 

 

That said, get the Stradic if you can swing it. 

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Regardless of what you choose if you can wait until the bps spring sale and have an older or newer reel your willing to let go you can trade in the old one and get money off your new purchase. For instance you will get $30.00 off a Shimano Miravel bringing it to $100.00 or $40.00 off a Shimano Stradic bringing it to $160.00. I’ve taken advantage every year for the past several years and if they don’t have it in stock they can order it and honor the trade in. For what it’s worth I’m in no way affiliated with BPS but hate to see anyone pay shipping for something you can handle in store and walk out with. FWIW the reels are supposedly refurbished and given to a charitable cause.

I've been thinking about getting a miravel. All of the research I've done so far shows it's in the Sahara/nasci family. Its placement is weird, if the information from an Australian article I read is right, it's pretty much a nasci made out of CI4+. So it's more like the Ultegra in the core series instead of being designed from the start as a MGL rotor reel, though it's labeled as a MGL reel. I would have already gotten one but I got the tatula LT from digitaka first. 

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Miravel is the next-step longer spool pitch on locomotive drive.  

 

You see the same progression in Shimano worm drives - '16/FK was shorter pitch than '19/FL.  

The trick with longer spool pitch is having the spindle stiffness to keep the gears and rotor bushing from wearing over time.  

The new '22 Stella and the next '23 Vanquish squeeze that a bit farther.  

But if you're in the $200 reel market, '19 Stradic still shines above the rest.  

 

Don't know if you are interested in used. There is a swap meet in Mogadore Oh on March 19. You can read about it on Ohio Game Fishing forums/lounge. I have a like new 1 hr used Shimano Stradic ci4 4000 (it seems small for that size) that I am taking (along with some bait casting). There should be some good deals there.  

Even ChatGPT is bought by Kastking:

 

Screenshot 2023-02-09 164837.jpg

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@newapti5

seriously dated info, since the referenced Shimano '17 model has been replaced by the '21 Vanford in Shimano's worm drive line-up.  

Not to mention, they managed to post all that without an analysis or showing us inside for any their their reasoning.  

Even Tackle Advisor's truncated YouTube channel is updated by a few more years.  

 

1 hour ago, bulldog1935 said:

@newapti5

seriously dated info, since the referenced Shimano '17 model has been replaced by the '21 Vanford in Shimano's worm drive line-up.  

Not to mention, they managed to post all that without an analysis or showing us inside for any their their reasoning.  

Even Tackle Advisor's truncated YouTube channel is updated by a few more years.  

 

 

Yeah, I guess the AI gathers its info through how many time certain reels were mentioned on the Internet, not how deep and creditable that info was.  Anyway, I am a bit released that AI ain't gonna replace us soon. 

15 minutes ago, newapti5 said:

 

Yeah, I guess the AI gathers its info through how many time certain reels were mentioned on the Internet, not how deep and creditable that info was.  Anyway, I am a bit released that AI ain't gonna replace us soon. 

 

Ive seen all of those but the KastKing heavily recommended on the salt forum. 

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I really like the Daiwa Tatula LT, and they're on sale for $149 on TW right now. I should probably get a couple before they're "upgraded", to the new model with no AR switch ?

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