DR has a good point but if I had waited until I could buy "quality" reels I probably would have given up on fishing long ago. In the $40 price range any reel is temporary, but how you maintain it and treat it can make a huge difference in its longevity. I have cheap reels that have been used hard and still get it done. They are now more "loaners" for friends or equipment I chunk in the truck to go "plinking/exploring but they still work. Others are in a pile of parts I steal bits from when I can or just keep around to remember specific catches..Don't get focused on bearing count. You can put 15 bearings in a blob of monkey metal.
Bearing count today is used to take your eye off the ball.
Just like metal flake gel coat is on bass boats. It keeps your eyes focused so you don't look around too much underneath it.
Coming from Okuma at that price...they'll be low grade bearings anyway.
I'd rather save up another month and go after quality, longevity, and parts availability. Some brands namely the name brand reels, parts are easy to come by from numerous places.
First decision to make is to buy disposable or something to last many many years.
DR has a good point but if I had waited until I could buy "quality" reels I probably would have given up on fishing long ago. In the $40 price range any reel is temporary, but how you maintain it and treat it can make a huge difference in its longevity. I have cheap reels that have been used hard and still get it done. They are now more "loaners" for friends or equipment I chunk in the truck to go "plinking/exploring but they still work. Others are in a pile of parts I steal bits from when I can or just keep around to remember specific catches..
Thanks for the insight! Gonna check that site out.Shimano Sedona FD $ 60.00. The bail is not braid friendly so I spend another $21.00 including freight @ eReplacementParts for a far superior aftermarket bail. Reels are almost five years old (except bails) and are still crankin like new. I fish minimum of twice a week and tear the reels completly apart at least three times a year because old habits die hard.
I might be missing something but does anyone sell a reel under $100 and give any decent customer service on it ?
Go git you some of them Ming Yangs. Now that's quality.