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Best spinning reel for $40 or under?

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#41 ·
I too like the Shimano series. Available in all price ranges, they provide a good combination of value and performance. Losing the fish of a lifetime to a poor quality drag or other equipment issue makes you rethink the 'buy cheap' option. Buy the best you can afford. You will never regret it.
 
#42 ·
Just wanted to second the Okuma avenger series... had a smaller one the av35 I think it was...on my first trout rod many many years back and its seen everything from surf to planks to wade... I still have it and its still capable as a backup... (regular maintenance required of course) the Trios series on the other hand are absolute crap...got one on sale and it didn't last 6 trips before the main gear stripped.

They have those avengers at wally world, and in a pinch I'd pick one up in a heartbeat...think they're around $30 still..

I would definitely put them in front of the sweepfires.... I think you really have to get lucky to find one that came from a good batch... they're like the disposable cameras of fishing reels IMHO... I've got one rolling around in the trunk/bucket somewhere...

But now, from recommendations taken from the community here, I wouldn't turn back from the penn battles as my 'lower' end spinning gear of choice...


Sent from my phone.
 
#44 ·
Where/how do you find these deals? I'm in dire need for some chest waders.
I was already to but the real until I saw the $9.00 shipping and I chickened out. It's a good deal for sure & I may go back to buy it but will first see if there is a store near someone I know

Beekeeping for chordoma
 
#45 ·
challenger said:
Where/how do you find these deals? I'm in dire need for some chest waders.
I was already to but the real until I saw the $9.00 shipping and I chickened out. It's a good deal for sure & I may go back to buy it but will first see if there is a store near someone I know

Beekeeping for chordoma
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Open a Cabelas credit card account and you'll often receive free shipping not to mention the rewards bucks you earn when you use it.
 
#47 ·
First of all I only fish freshwater so the salt doesn't affect me.

I have had 9 of the sweepfires on my tightlining rods for 3 years and no trouble so far. Very little casting with them and not a whole lot of reeling so they do what I bought them for. Got them for $12 each at a local bait shop when I bought them, now they are $20 at the same place.

I have 4 of the avocets I have used a lot for several years, mostly crappie and trout (mountain), & one bigger one for trick worms bass fishing. I guess if I used the same one all the time it wouldn't last as long but I have several.

One okuma I bought last year, haven't used it a lot but it seems to be smooth, casting and reeling.

For the $40 price range, one I haven't seen mentioned that I really like is the Abu Garcia Cardinal. Depending on the size you want, you can get them for $35-45 at Wal-Mart or amazon. I have a couple of sizes, 1 for crappie & 1 for bass.
 
#49 ·
Sweep fires have been junk in my hands. I just sold a Sedona for 35 shipped that was used I think 3x. Nice reel, I just hate spinning reels. Buy gently used at that price point I would think. But the big stores do have huge sales on some 100$ price points every so often.
 
#50 ·
trigger22 said:
Open a Cabelas credit card account and you'll often receive free shipping not to mention the rewards bucks you earn when you use it.
Click to expand...
True, and I have a club card, but I found this just going onto the cabela's site and looking in the bargain cave section. There are always some great deals in that area. Bass Pro has something similar on their site and the sale area on Tackle Warehouse are also good areas to find deals.
 
#52 ·
Don't hesitate to walk into your good locally owned tackle shops and simply tell them "Hey, this is what I can spend." "What can you do for me in that price range?" They get incentives and deals from time to time or know when an old model is being closed out, or may just see the chance to add to their business and give you a great deal. Many have some used reels on hand also. Especially if they do repairs. Greenville Marine usually has some around and they consign for others too or did the last time I was in there.
 
#53 ·
sundrop said:
Don't hesitate to walk into your good locally owned tackle shops and simply tell them "Hey, this is what I can spend." "What can you do for me in that price range?" They get incentives and deals from time to time or know when an old model is being closed out, or may just see the chance to add to their business and give you a great deal.
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There is only one small B&T shop local to me. There are two others which are privately owned but are much larger. The two larger have much more than fishing gear and a department store feel. All three are good stores but I try to go to the small store whenever I can because it is only stocked with fishing gear and it is a struggling operation so I try to give them my meager buying power. The larger two stores don't sell used but the small one does. Unfortunately the used reels are basically old reels and I've not been able to find anything appealing. I spoke with the owner about reel prices in general and he said that the larger brands all have set minimum SRP . Wally world will have the same price in other words. I avoid WW at all costs for reasons beyond the scope of this thread. This MSRP program was confirmed at the other shops fishing dept managers as well when I spoke with them.
Soooooo when & how are these incentives available?

Beekeeping for chordoma
 
#54 ·
The most common discounts on a higher priced reels are whenever that particular reel is being discontinued or if there is a model change. An example would be whenever Shimano went from the Stradic FI to the Stradic FJ. Some of the tackle shops lowered the prices on the FI to make room for the FJ. Most companies have a little wiggle room. They have the MSRP and then they have a you can't sell it for any less than price. You'll find that some shops will sell at MSRP while others will sell slightly lower and will run sales that will drop the price to the bottom dollar from time to time.
 
#55 ·
They can also "get around the rules" by using employee discounts, marking it as a scratch/dent, or even just asking them if they will spool it with a quality line and toss in a bottle of oil or tackle. Other ways to make it a "good" price... I always hit the local guys up for a few freebies when I buy something like a reel. The real trick is they have to see your face, know you will be a repeat customer, so stop in often and chat, ask questions , share what you may know as well. Small businesses are built on "neighborly attitudes" so you have to feel familiar to be treated like a "neighbor".. otherwise you just sound like a beggar and a con man.
 
#56 ·
sundrop said:
They can also "get around the rules" by using employee discounts, marking it as a scratch/dent, or even just asking them if they will spool it with a quality line and toss in a bottle of oil or tackle. Other ways to make it a "good" price... I always hit the local guys up for a few freebies when I buy something like a reel. The real trick is they have to see your face, know you will be a repeat customer, so stop in often and chat, ask questions , share what you may know as well. Small businesses are built on "neighborly attitudes" so you have to feel familiar to be treated like a "neighbor".. otherwise you just sound like a beggar and a con man.
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Amen to that. I'll always pay more to know I'm helping a local man/family. It's satisfying knowing I can get quality, personal service by doing so. There is also the small chance that a little less $ will go to china and that is something I'll always get jazzed about

Beekeeping for chordoma
 
#57 ·
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#59 ·
Must be Dave, looks like a good time to grab some. Gotta watch what some places charge for shipping too, they sell cheap then burn you on shipping.
 
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