Looking at these 2 reels and trying to decide which way to go. Any input would be helpfull. Fish mainly for Walleye and Small Mouth in the river. Using 1/16oz to 3/16oz lead heads and 6lb Seaguar Senshi. Daiwa in the 2000 series the Patriarch in the 30 series. Unfortuneatly it's hard for me to get hands before buying due to my location. The reel will be going on a Phenix Recon 6'9" Med/Lite/Fast. Thanks

while i have no experience with the ballistic, so cant compare the two. i have a 9530 patriarch, great little reel, very light, smooth, good drag. i have used it as my cranking/jerkbait reel (yes spinning for cranks, blasphemy, i know) since may and it has had absolutely no problems what so ever. i even kind of like the little sanding block they put on it for a handle. i think i have had one wind knot with it, and that was my fault for not paying attention (fishing at night for walleyes, not as easy to notice things like that!) i have mine spooled with 10lb sufix 832.

on the other hand i do have a daiwa exceler, which is ALOT cheaper than the ballistic, and its a great little reel, and i did look into the ballistic...while i ended up buying a different reel it was more due to the ballistic not being available when i was looking, so i didnt get a chance to handle it. made form zaion (like the fuego) so it should be pretty light, and daiwa makes a good product, for sure.

i dont think you can go wrong either way, really, both should be great reels!

btw, let me know what you think of that rod, i recently lost (long story) my st croix legend extreme 6'9" mlfx, and am looking for a rod int he $100-180 price range to replace it. the recon is on my list, but i have no way of handling it in person before buying it, so not sure if i will choose that or one that i can get locally.

thanks, and good luck on the reel

I bought my wife a 9030 Patriarch and she likes it both of us only fish Daiwa reels however she loved the blue and had to have one so I bought it for her (I fish only Casting reels no need for Spinning reels I have Pixys and TD-Z 105's for that) but I do have two Steez spinning reels a 2500 and a 2508 for when its really windy and Im skipping docks normally I skip with a Steez 103 but one those windy days sometimes a spinning reel will allow me to get it farther back depending on how the wind blows...

Her Fav spinning reel is a daiwa Exist Native Custom on Custom built Loomis GLX stick. but this reel should be her fav and the best she owns as you can buy 4-5 Patriarchs for what it cost. I know im running off subject just want to let you know she knows what a QUALITY reel is and feels like.

She Loves her Fuego 2000A and I'm willing to bet the Ballistic is going to be close in performance to it for 100 bucks less. she fishes about 50/50 Spinning and casting reels.

The patriarch she said is a very nice reel and pretty smooth not so much as the Fuego but once again its a 100 dollar more reel. she hates to things about the Patriarch #1 the drag its smooth buts its a light switch (Her words I asked her what she thought about the reel to reply to this post so Im typing what shes saying) you have locked down and then a very light drag setting and very little in between so when you try and back the drag off it will get to light with very little mid range adjustment and when you try and tighten it its the same thing it goes from to light to to much and no matter the settings that how it is.

and #2 the reels a bit to close to the rod handle because the reel seat post is to short (And she has small hands) and makes you have to adjust from your other reels for feathering the spool to control distance and it takes a bit of getting used to and in till you do what will happen is when you move your finger to feather the line you will hit the spool and stop the cast in till you get used to it and when you switch back from another reel you will do it a few times till you adjust again.

other then that she says its a great reel and she loves it. but would take another Fuego in a heart beat for it and will be selling it soon in trade for a Ballistic 2000.

Her advice lol is get you a Daiwa PX Type R and forget about a spinning reel shes in love with hers... and I have 5 for a reason to and wanting one more.