Recommend me a first baitcaster

I JUST CHECKED, BPS STILL HAS A FEW MODELS IN BOTH LEFT AND RIGHTY OF THE OLDER EXTREME BC REELS FOR 40 BUCKS!!!!!!!!

THIS IS THE REEL I LEARNED ON, ALONG WITH THE PRODIGY FROM CABELAS. I STILL HAVE ONE I USE, COULDNT ASK FOR A MORE ECONMICAL, LONG LASTING AND EASY TO USE BRAKE SYSTEM, I HIGHLY RECOMEND YOU TRY ONE OF THESE, THEY SOLD FOR 99 AT ONE TIME

definately an extreme...a quality reel at a great price

As an old-time here -- I still use my Ryobi reels which are mostly identical to the Lew's reels but without all the ballbearings (for the younguns here, that means 25+ years) -- I have to say that for a beginner, price should be a component into choice.

Worst thing to happen is that you don't get your technique down and had spent $120 or $220 on a reel that now you hate. Now you hate yourself and go kick the dog. I haven't found a baitcaster that I can't cast (of course not, I haven't tried them all), but having said that I know there are good ones and bad ones -- just can't get the bad ones to cast as far, or need more thumb control, or like my old Ryobi's are rough when reeling, or break easily (no, not the Ryobi's -- that's why I still use them -- they just work).

For instance, my father was given a Pinnacle as a retirement gift (with rod). Generally it is a good setup for Florida fishing (bass; light salt) with enough bearings for smoothness, and instant anti-reverse. I generally like it, and it casts easily and far, and with its friction brakes. But the dang plastic gear that makes the wormgear run the line oscillator (I have no idea what it is called) broke. So now it is good with low amount of line or shorter casts as the line bunches in retrieve. It is more prone to backlashing now and when it does, that ends the fishing for a while and possibly the line. No parts available.

Also, I have noticed that the $40 reels at BPS, Gander and Cabela's sometimes appear to be the same. I know that there are manufacturers out there that will put any label on their reels, possibly putting several store-brand names on the same reel?

So, long story finished, are there reels out there in the $40-60 range for extreme budget-necessary fishers who do not need a reel to carry them but need a dependable reel without plastic gears? Some plastic parts seem to be OK, but not in gears. What is today's equivalent of yesteryear's Ryobi?

Thanks for reading and thanks for discussing.