OK, so it's been a few years since I've done any fishing but with my son getting older, I figure I better get back into the game. I've been looking at getting a new spinning reel and the three that I've narrowed down are all in the $80 price range and from what I can guess all very similar. Originally I've shied away from the Sahara due to the graphite side plate thinking I would prefer an all-metal reel this time but I'm not sure if the graphite side plate is all that much weaker to be a problem or not. So which one would you choose and why? Thanks.

id recommend a 2500 size for bass fishing. 4000 is pretty big. of those 3, ive only used the sahara and its a pretty decent reel....

Shop around and buy a Symetre 2500FJ. With the Father's Day discount,

this is very close to your pricing target:

http://www.***.com/descpageRLSSHIMANO-SSYFJ.html

Free shipping and no sales tax.

8-)

I agree with big fruit, 2500 is the ideal size.

The father days sale only works for certain items and the symetre is not one of them. But search google for *** 10% off and you might find something.

My dad owns the sahara and it is smooth.

OK, so I'm hearing a lot about using a 2500 size reel rather than the larger 3500/4000 size. I guess this past winter when I was deployed to Kandahar, I spent a lot of time talking to my team leader. I'm the CATM/gun guy (read this as very knowledgeable about firearms and hunting but coming up WAY short on the fishing side :-[ ) and he was a big fan of fishing and his recommendation was a bait-casting reel with a MH rod and 12-15 pound line.

I guess what I was thinking was doing something similar in the spinning reel class (I'm not really that good with a bait caster and it's nice to be able to switch hands every now and again with a spinning reel) by trying to go with a reel that is designed around 12-15 pound line and a MH rod. That's what lead me to believe the 3500/4000 class would be what I'm looking for. So just how far off am I here on my thinking? :-[ Am I F'd up as a football bat or might my plan be able to actually work?

I didn't vote but of the three I think the Shimano Sahara would be the best choice. I have the Sahara 1000 and its a great reel and I was gonna shy away because of the graphite but its not a main use reel for me so I figured it would be fine and so far its been a great reel. I also agree with the sizes the other guys have mentioned with the 4000 being a bit large for bass fishing.

buy that shimano symetre that roadwarrior posted.

typically people use spinning rigs for finesse style fishing. usually those are lighter baits. i generally use them for anything 5/16oz and lighter which accounts for 80% of my fishing. this does not mean you cannot use them for heavier baits however.

you can put heavier line on a 2500 although you wont be able to get as many yards on. to me that doesnt matter too much.

a 3000 reel is not too much larger and the line will retain a little less memory. my recommendation is to check out the sizes at a store before you buy.

id stick with 6-10# test for a fresh water spinning rod.

All this can be pretty confusing. If you want to go back through

this section, you can find advice on just about every brand and

combination offered. So, to cut to the chase, here's some specific

advice:

Value:

All of the major retailers have "in-house" brand rods. The best

"value" is a combination rod & reel on sale. Select any

combo which includes the Shimano Symetre 2500FJ. For an

"all-around" rod, choose one that is 6 1/2' or 7' Medium Power/

Fast Action.

Up-grade For Life:

This is a combination you will never grow out of: Shimano Stradic

2500FI with a St. Croix Avid AVS68MXF.

Whichever combination you buy, spool it up Yo-Zuri Hybrid or

Hybrid Ultra Soft #6 (.010" diameter, 11.9 lb test). I also like

all line treated with KVD Line & Lure Conditioner.

Good luck!

8-)

i agree with the others that the 2500-size is the best all-around size for bass fishing. regarding the sahara, i had a sahara FD (the current sahara) and it was smooth as butter...in fact, it was smoother than my symetre FI (the previous generation symetre) and my daiwa fuego and my daiwa tierra (plus all my cheaper daiwas). if you go the daiwa-route, pick a model with the air bail...i notice a nice reduction in line twist on my daiwa spinning reels equipped with air bails compared to the ones without.

so, here's how i would decide: if you plan to fish mainly bottom-contact baits, i'd choose a shimano (either the sahara FD or the symetre FJ). if you plan to fish mainly moving baits, i'd go for a daiwa with the air bail. why? because the shimanos pick up about 35 inches of line per turn of the handle which is great for taking out the slack on the line when bouncing lures on the bottom but which is too fast for most cranks, swimbaits and swimming jigs. daiwa's slower 28 inches per turn makes it easier to keep a nice, consistent cranking pace when working without having to constantly remind yourself to slow down.

by the way, another one to consider is the cabela's prodigy spinning reel. it is essentially a reworked daiwa tierra and it is on sale for $70 right now.

Get a pflueger president or a Guide Series/Gander Mountain GST series reel. I have two of these and they have been the best spinning reels I have ever used.

Up-grade For Life:

This is a combination you will never grow out of: Shimano Stradic

2500FJ with a St. Croix Avid AVS68MXF.

Whichever combination you buy, spool it up Yo-Zuri Hybrid or

Hybrid Ultra Soft #6 (.010" diameter, 11.9 lb test). I also like

all line treated with KVD Line & Lure Conditioner.

Good luck!

8-)

I followed this advice 2 years ago and couldn't be happier. The Stradic and Avid are a nice pair. My only complaint is Ultrasoft is getting harder to find. I like the line a lot but tough to find.

I actually have 2 Avids(my other one is (MF) and have been debating to get another Stradic or step down to a Saros or Symetre (Roardwarrior, what do you think?). Even thinking about the Pflueger President. I checked the reel the other day and was impressed.

I spent a lot of time talking to my team leader. I'm the CATM/gun guy

Understandable, in war big guns rule but in fishing big reels may not rule, besides you don 't need rope thick line, that 's why we have braided and copoly for, spool in some 8 lb test CXX and you can uproot a stump with it

Even thinking about the Pflueger President.

                 

                       

Get the new Stradic 2500FI.

Even thinking about the Pflueger President.

                 

                       

Get the new Stradic 2500FJ.

LOL. I knew you would respond that way. I got a gift card recently and was thinking of trying to make the most of it and looking at a lower end reels than the Stradic. I already have a Stradic 2500FI and enjoy it but the Symetre and Saros seem like nice reels too. I was just thinking of something different than what I have.

One point of clarification RW. Is there a Stradic FJ now? I thought FI was only out. I know the Symetre is out in FJ version.

go with 2500 at the max.

for child a 2000 is good.  

I bought Franks Shara...1 word, for the $$$$ it's sweet. I now have 2 Shimano spinning reels..they don't disappoint.

I wouldn't consider any of the polled reels.

Under a $100.........president(maybe a supreme )

Over   a $100.........stradic fi

Exceler in 2500 size has great line management.  Few tangles and excellent casting distance.  Not as smooth as the higher end Daiwas, but it will get the job done.  The reels seem to get much heavier above the 2500 size.  For bass, you probably do not need all of that extra capacity.  Cheers

One point of clarification RW. Is there a Stradic FJ now? I thought FI was only out. I know the Symetre is out in FJ version.

my mistake...Symetre FJ, Stradic FI

My first choice from those three? The Cardinal. Ridiculously overbuilt & smooth. Second, the Sahara, a sweet reel.

I just sold a President and I did like it alot, but I just bought 2 Daiwa Excelers and like them alot.  I bought a 2000 and 2 2500s.  Very smooth reels.

Hmm, just had another thought about the reels I've been looking at.  Does anybody know off hand what kind of material is used in their gear constructions?  I'm guessing it's brass gears but with the number of reels out there today with plastic gears in them, could it be plastic gears used in these reels as well? :-/

I can't think of any spinning reels that use plastic gears.  All three listed use some form of hardenned or high tensile brass.

You're going to get a lot of different opinions as to what reel is the best.  I think all three you've listed are pretty good reels, but I haven't actually fished with any of those exact reels.

My current favorite spinning reel for bass fishing in that price range is the Johnny Morris JM2000.  It's on sale quite often for $80.

Well, just an update here.  I finally decided to go with the Sahara.  Got the last one they had yesterday at the PX.  Had a chance to try it out in the back yard last night and it sure is a pretty decent reel!  Thanks for all the help!