i need a spinning reel for under $100....it really only has to have one characteristic.....it needs to have a very very good drag.  i will use this reel for fishing mainly soft plastics for LMB, but it will also double for hybrids and stripers.  if you have caught one of these i know you know how they can pull drag.  i know the shimano symetere will come up really fast so thats one, any other suggestions??

thanks

Cliff

P.S. i would like a mid size reel.  for reference a shimano sonora 4000 is waaay to big for my liking.

ol' flooger supreme xt

I just picked up a Shimano Saros 2500 on  eBay for about $99.  Solid reel, just a couple steps up from the Symetre (I have one of those too).  Haven't caught any bigguns on it yet, but when I set the drag it felt pretty smooth.

Shimano Symetre

Abu Garcia Cardinal 600ALB or 700LX. These have the whopper carbon matrix drag of the Revos. The 700 is very similar to the 800s. I have four 800 and my 804 has hauled in several stripers.

Someone around here got a 700LX for $49 after all the rebates and discounts.  

600ALB

700LX

 

pfleuger supreme

http://www.setthehook.com/reels/plueger/supreme.html

Shimano Stradic 2500 the white ones. AWESOME reel

shimano sedona! go under dog goo!

Shimano Stradic 2500 the white ones. AWESOME reel

Amen!

Love the Stradics

If I am fishing for stripers the 4000 is my choice. When the big stripers are running or if casting in the surf, the 6000 is what I use. You can find them real reasonable on e-bay & Craig's list.

Ronnie

Shimano Symetre

x2. There isn't a better reel under $100.  I know stradics and saros reel have been recommended, but at normal price they exceed your budget.

So unless the bait monkey tempts and convinces you to increase your budget to acquire a stradic or saros, then the symetre is the ticket, unless you find either under budget.  

-pround and pleased symetre owner.

thanks for the help guys, i will let you know what i get!!

Cliff

Pflueger Presidents work just fine too.

i have a kevin van dam signature series i got from bass pro and i love the reel!!!

Alex

Shimano Symetre

x2. There isn't a better reel under $100.  I know stradics and saros reel have been recommended, but at normal price they exceed your budget.

So unless the bait monkey tempts and convinces you to increase your budget to acquire a stradic or saros, then the symetre is the ticket, unless you find either under budget.  

-pround and pleased symetre owner.

I'd have to agree.  I'm a Stradic-Fanatic - I have 4 right now in different sizes but, for the budget you names, I'd got with the Symetre and put braid on it.   I love braid on my spinning reels and I use a swivel/leader combo to reduce line twist and increase stealth.

well here is what i ended up with.  i got a shimano sahara 2500FB and put it on a American rodsmiths 6'7" med lt fast finesse rod.  used it today catching some whites, gonna hopefully get some LMB tomorrow with it.  it feels really great, i dont know what i enjoyed more, fishing with this combo or looking at the crazy little sparkles in the reels paint and the "marble" look on the rod blank when the sun hit them just right.  this was a much needed combo for my arsenal.  i have this combo and a HVY combo for jigs and the like and a Med Hvy combo for whatever else.  i am set now!!

thanks for the help guys!!

Cliff