I picked up a St. Croix Mojo Bass 7' MH Fast for $25 at Cabelas bargain cave. It had a broken tip. I put on a new tip and have a 6'8" rod that needs a reel. Gonna throw cranks and spinners with it. What reel would you put on it in the $100-$200 range and the $200-$300 range. ABU, Diawa, Shimano, Ardent etc.??? It's got to be strong enough for the ocassional musky and salmon. This set-up will be replacing a 6'6" MH rod with a ABU Ambassaduer 5500c3 which I've been using for 15 or so years.

I can tell you that the forum here has a huge Shimano backing. I have used most of the reels in your price range from the Revo STX. Revo Premier, Shimano Citica, Shimano Curado, Diawa Zillion, and can honestly say I'm thrilled with my Ardent XS1000. I think it outpreforms every other reel that I have used, and am extremely impressed with the quality of Ardent Reels. I sold every other baitcaster that I owned and I am officially an "Ardent and St Croix guy"

BTW $25.00 for a Mojo Bass rod is a great deal even though they are made in Mexico

Im real happy with my Revo STX... 

I have an Ardent F500 fro flipping and pitching and love it.

Do you think the STX and XS1000 will give me years of reliability

I have limited experience with the low profile reels, as I have just started using them this year and I'm not too impressed. $70 for an ABU c3 gets a reel that lasts forever. $60 for the BPS and Diawa reels I bought seem I'll be lucky if they last the season. I need to make sure whatever reel I buy is going to be strong enough for the salmon I catch while smallie fishing or musky when LM fishing.

If I'm going to drop 2 or 3 bills I want a reel that will last

The STX is a solid reel and will last you years.

I cant vouch for the ardent lasting years, as I have just recently purchased it. I can tell you though it has been fantastic thus far, and has a 3 year warranty.

Sounds to me like the CTE200GT would be the

perfect reel for you. It's $349 MSRP, but they pop

up occasionally for less than $300.

http://fish.shimano.com/publish/content/global_fish/en/us/index/products/reels/round_baitcasting/Calcutta_TE.html

Strong, smooth, silent and reliant. This

is a reel you can fish for the rest of your

life. I have several "favorite" reels and

this is one of them, but it's the only reel

I have two of.

8-)

roadwarrior, If I was to buy another round reel I'd stick with the Ambassaduer (call me old fashioned). I figured I'd catch up with the times ;D. Are you saying the low profiles won't hold up to the bigger fish?

I hate to say it, but I would stick with the Ambassaduer 5500.  I have several of those that I use for Musky fishing and they are at least 15 years old and are still going strong.  The low profile reels of today are really nice, but I think they lack the durability of the Ambassaduers.

Ahh...I suspect the low profiles will hold up just

fine. All I was suggesting with the CTE200GT is a

precision instrument comparable to any high dollar

reel. It's not fair to compare this with a $70 reel.

I'm just saying you will like it...a lot!

-Kent

I hate to say it, but I would stick with the Ambassaduer 5500. I have several of those that I use for Musky fishing and they are at least 15 years old and are still going strong. The low profile reels of today are really nice, but I think they lack the durability of the Ambassaduers.

Lucky Craft, I cant say for certain but the reels which were made 15 years ago are a different breed then the cheap reels mass produced in China. If you look at the old Shakespeare reels, and compare them to the ones made today, wow what a difference.

I would highly doubt that a $60.00 reel purchased today would last 15+ years, but I could be wrong.

I hate to say it, but I would stick with the Ambassaduer 5500. I have several of those that I use for Musky fishing and they are at least 15 years old and are still going strong. The low profile reels of today are really nice, but I think they lack the durability of the Ambassaduers.

Lucky Craft, I cant say for certain but the reels which were made 15 years ago are a different breed then the cheap reels mass produced in China. If you look at the old Shakespeare reels, and compare them to the ones made today, wow what a difference.

I would highly doubt that a $60.00 reel purchased today would last 15+ years, but I could be wrong.

Actually, you could be right there.  I recently purchased a new Ambassaduer 5500 C3 and it doesn't have anywhere near the quality that my 15 year old one has.  I guess that is the price of progress.

What are your thoughts on the Revo Toro

Although I haven't used all major brands, I will say that when I buy another reel, it will be another Abu Revo STX.  The frame is extremely solid, the drag is the best in its class, and it is almost entirely metal.  You may want to look at the small Toro if muskies are going to be a common occurence, but I don't feel like you can go wrong with a high-end low profile Abu.