Having owned president's , stradics, symetres, etc. Daiwa Exceller is the best value winner.

I've not owned the President, but I certainly have to agree with you on the Exceler.   It's a very good reel for the money.   I started out with one of them early this year and now I have four of them.

Shimano Sedona 1500 or 2500 $49.99 reg price.

This is an economic reel for someone on a tight budget.

Smooth as silk.  

To me, value is in a name.  I buy Abu Garcia Cardinal reels, one because they are cheaper, and two because they are easily obtained anywhere!  I have one that is about 10 years old, I would say, and it still works like new.  You just have to maintain a reel, keep it oiled and clean it after every single use, and make sure you replace things that wear out.    I think new, my reel was 25 bucks on sale at a wal-mart.  The thing that caught my eye, was the adjusting knob on the bottom of the reel!  I think it is an MX series Cardinal also!  Worth every penny I spent on it.  

personaly u cant go wrong with shimano, i use the stradic, bro uses the symetre my uncle uses the sahara and my cuz uses the sedona either way u cant go wrong and we all beat the heck out of these reels just depends on how much u want yo spend ;D, the only diffence u may feel between them all is smothness but their all made with quialty

I'm kind of surprised to see only two posts for Abu Garcia Cardinals. I think they are the best spinning reels for under $50.

okuma v system has 15 bearings for just over 100 bucks

I would like to say the daiwa sol but it would be the stradic at the price point.

Daiwa Tierra.

Its the reel that the stradic wants to be when it grows up. $119

floog president.

mainly because i havnt fished with much of anything else besides store bought combos and i picked up a president combo for less than $60 at sports authority.  

okuma v system has 15 bearings for just over 100 bucks

HOW DO ALL THOSE BEARINGS MAKE IT A BETTER REEL ?

For as long as I can remember I have always fished shimano.  Today with a more open mind, I have ventured to pick up a few others at bass pro.  The sol, while not "value priced" at bass pro, can be found for much cheaper.  However when compared side by side to the Stradic I was reminded again why I have always chosen Shimano.  There just wasnt a comparison as the Stradic (to me) seemed far superior.  I fondled a lot of the others mentioned...pfhlugers quantums daiwas and many more that were both more expensive and cheaper than the stradic.  The stradic as my number one choice, I would then have to say that the saros would be my next.  I can honestly say that I had an open mind as I tried to get a feel for them as best I could without actually boating any fish with them.  But for value hunters like myself and most people out there, Ive got to know Im making the right choice the first time.  For me, that starts with the stradic and saros and continues down the Shimano line.

I sold my Penns and got Pflueger Presidents.

Just an absolutely amazing reel for the price.  

pflueger president hands down.  The mitchell advocet is good reel for $20

I've fished with Shimanos for several years and they are very nice, but I test drove a Floog Supreme this summer and Im gong that way.

Flooger PRESIDENT

followed closely by the Trions

Daiwa Tierra.

Its the reel that the stradic wants to be when it grows up. $119

LOL   I had a Daiwa Tierra, after 2 months it died and I returned it and exchanged it for a Stradic.

My vote for overall value would go to the Shimano Symetre.  That being said I have strong love for the Stradic.    

I've had three Fleuger Presidents($59.99) and they are awesome.  Someone put it perfectly---good value and tough as nails!!  If you want an even better one---try the Flueger Supreme $99.99--even tougher and smoother than the President.

I've had three Fleuger Presidents($59.99) and they are awesome. Someone put it perfectly---good value and tough as nails!! If you want an even better one---try the Flueger Supreme $99.99--even tougher and smoother than the President.

X2-------AGREE COMPLETELY

OK, I'll through in the Daiwa Exceler...  Admittedly the bail occassionally trips prematurely on the cast and it is sometimes difficult to trip the bail by cranking.  My Stradic 2500FH trips on the cast about half as often and is slightly smoother.  I trip the bail by hand so it doesn't matter to me (opnly to my Dad who fishes for pumpkin seeds).

The difference to me is that the Exceler's line management is as good or Better than my Stradic FH.  More importantly, though, the Exceler provides better casting distance with all other factors being the same.  Since I fish from the bank an extra 10 to 20 feet is the difference from falling short of the structure and getting past it.  I usually choose the Exceler over the Stradic for this reason.

I could buy 2 Excelers for the price of 1 Stradic FH and almost 3 for the price of 1 Stradic FI.  However, I'd still love to try the new FI  ;D

Cheers!

Depending on your pricing point, either the Symetre or Stradic:

"Strong, smooth, silent and reliant."

Depending on your pricing point, either the Symetre or Stradic:

"Strong, smooth, silent and reliant."

You left one out " OVERPRICED"

In all fairness, RW gave me a Stradic , it is a well made reel. I just can't see the difference from my trusted and well used presidents at a lot less money.

For me its the Quantum Catalyst PTI off ebay from Wildwestbargains for $45 and liked it so much I'm getting the New 09 Catalyst PTI-B from BPS for $139.

Doggone it, Muddy, you went and muddied-up (pun duly intended) the whole picture. I have a Symetre 1500, my only shimano & love it. Also have a Trion GX-7 and love it. Shimano's, especially on sale are great. As are Pfluegers.

Have two shimano spirex 1000 series that are smooth and great for trout. Both have served me well. Went with two Shimano Symetre 2500RE on M/L Avid and M/L Powell. Symetres feel just a little bit more smoother and picked them up at Cabelas on sale $59. I agree some reels of the same model in the store feel different than others. Maybe after a little use they all break in about the same . Dont know. 8-)

Hey Both manufacturers make great reels. I love Flogger but I love bustin RW's stones even more ;D