What kind of spinning reels do you guys like that is under $100?

Im thinking Shimano Sahara or a Daiwa Exceler.

Go to Cabela's website, click on Bargain Cave, click on fishing, check out the Prodigy for $79.99 on sale right now.  I bought one last year and love it.  Very smooth and tight reel.  Made by Daiwa, better than the Exceler since it has the sealed drag system.

don't own a pflueger president but heard a lot of good things about it

One thing to consider....the Daiwa Exceler (and Cabela's Prodigy) has a 4.7:1 gear ratio where the Sahara is 6.2:1 so there is quite a difference in gear ratio for you to consider there.   Don't overlook that for personal preference.  It is the one thing I sometimes miss with my Prodigy.

Symetre at $99. Can't be beat for what it offers.

Reel performance is wonderful these days, even lower end reels.  Trion, Shakespeare agility or dimension, Abu line, hard to go wrong.  An $800 Van Staal won't catch you more fish.

It isn't gear ratio, but inches per wind, something I pay little attention to.  With minimal experience winding a little faster or slower is just built into muscle memory.  Even with crank baits I vary the speed of the retrieve.

Thats all very true indeed.  I just like the faster reels to take up the line quicker between casts.  'bout the only time that matters to me with a spinning reel is when I'm sightin' cruisers.  

Symetre at $99. Can't be beat for what it offers.

X2 and love the new one piece bail.

Later,

Shimano Sahara $79.99 or Shimano Sedona $59.99  

what about abu's 500-600 cardinals?

the winner is the pflueger supreme!!!it's the lightest and smoothest reel in that range.you'd have to buy a diawa steez to get lighter.

the winner is the pflueger supreme!!!it's the lightest and smoothest reel in that range.you'd have to buy a diawa steez to get lighter.

What Dodgeguy said. The supreme is a very quality reel.

The 08 quantum energy is $89 in cabelas bargain cave.  or the Pflueger president, have never used a supreme

You can't beat the Sahara. I have 2 and also 2 of their Symetre models as well. I really can't tell the difference between the two models! I've had the Saharas for 1/2 doz. years and the Symetres for 2 years. Both seem trouble free and have excellent drags. I love how they evenly load line on their spools too!

This year both those models have had price hikes, but their still a top notch value - IMO!

The new one piece bails on the Symetre and up reels is very very nice.  No more getting your line snagged on the bail.  The Sahara and below still have the old style bail.

Later,

In the winter months I give up bass fishing and fish for crappie 2/3 days a week(I'm retired). The method of crappie fishing that I do requires constant casting and movement of your wrist. I use two reels for this fishing, a Shimano Symetre and a Pfleuger Supreme. Both reels have performed flawlessly and I have no complaints with either and would recommend either. That being said, I will always start the day with the Supreme just because of the weight difference. At the end of 6-8 hours fishing there is a hugh difference.

Bare in mine I'm in my sixties and the weight difference  may not matter to the the younger folks.............Tight lines...Al

Another Symetre fan here, I have three that always perform flawlessly. I have a couple of Saharas as well, other than the frame material, I cannot tell a difference.

I don't own a spinning reel that cost more than $100. Of the ones I have and use regularly the Pflueger Supremes are hard to beat, they are the ones I have in my boat now, but I have also had excellant service from my Pflueger Presidents, and Diawa Excellers, and have kept them for back ups, and for bank/pond fishing.

You might also check out Cabela's Bargain Cave for the Quantum Catalyst.  They're on sale now for only $59 and that's a bargain.  I love the 20 size I've got and it's as smooth as silk.  They have a good warranty, lifetime on the bail, and the bail system is magnetic, which, to me is soooo easy to use.  Just my thoughts.  I also have Sahara's and a Daiwa Xia I really like. It has a really large spool for longer casts and faster line pickup.  Really a smooth reel,with 10 bearings, and I think they're on sale at BPS for about $40!  Check 'em out.

Oy!  That Catalyst sounds like a good deal.  I'm not a quantum fan but thats a big price cut!!

Symetre at $99. Can't be beat for what it offers.

Word!

8-)

I do/have owned every reel mentioned so far in this thread except the Supreme.  My three favorite spinning reels are the BPS Pro Qualifier, Shimano Symetre, and Pflueger President.

im kinda in the same boat as the origonal poster , but im looking for a UL/Light reel thatll take a beating if i do some light saltwater fishing.

id prefer an aluminum frame , but its not a must. id rather sacrifice smooth-ness for a durable reel that will last.

those quantum catalyst looks good , but ive had my eye on the abu cardinal 601alb.

the abu has got a good review for the 502 model on tackletour , but the more i look into them , they seem to have spool wobble or something else.

i currently have a flooger president 6725 , but i just want something with more 'balls' to it.

any suggestions?

Been using the Diawa Capricorn for 3 years now its great. Nice and smooth and doesnt get bogged down in the rain like the Shimanos have been known to do. I think they run 50-70$