Spinning/baitcaster recommendations

[Huskereyes]

hey guys-
I would like to request that everyone who opens this please leave me your best recommendations on your favorite spinning and or baitcaster reels. I am in the process of buying new equipment and would like expert advise from you guys that have experience with this tackle on the water. Thanks a million in advance.

[Phil T.]

My favorite spinning reels are a Cardinal C-3 that was imported by Abu. No longer imported, I've seen them for sale for twice what I paid. Also excellent is my 1969 vintage Mitchell 308. Like the Cardinal, real bronze gears with stainless shafts and bearings. Both have smooth drags, the Cardinal is rear-mounted, the Mitchell is front-mounted. The current version of the 308 is total junk. Aluminum gears, and sticky drag. I just bought a Penn SS 4200 ultralight. If it's as good as it first seems, I'll be adding another in the 4300 size. It may actually be as good as the Cardinal. My favorite baitcaster, if price is no object, is the Shimano Calcutta 400. I own one. Next in line is the Abu C3 or C4 series(C4 is high-speed retireve). I own a few. The best of the lot is a 1963 vintage 5500. All the gears were bronze back then. It won't wear out. I've tried over the last 36 seasons.

[Colin]

For spinning reels you can't go wrong using Abu Garcia Cardinal Tournament T500. Baitcasters are your most versital I use the Ambassadeur Tournament Pro TP3000C. Use these for casting, pulling three-ways, bottom bouncers. The flipping switch is on the thumb bar and out of the way the reel is low profile so you don't get fatigued as quick holding it all day. Both offer anti-reverse for good hook sets.
Just my opinion
Colin

[RANGER]

AFTER A "MILLION" EXPERIMENTS OVER MANY, MANY YEARS OF FISHIN' I HAVE SETTLED ON CABELAS IM7 TOURNEY TRAIL RODS IN 7' AND 7'6" LENGTHS. THE RODS ARE EXTREMELY LIGHT WEIGHT, SENSITIVE, VERY FAST TIPS AND HAVE THE BACKBONE OF A MULE!

REELS - SHIMANO SPIREXs SR1000RB,2000RB,4000RB (DEPENDING ON APPLICATIONS) REAR DRAG MODELS WITH THEIR UNIQUE "FIGHTIN' DRAG, A NEAT FEATURE WHICH WILL INSTANTLY ADD OR DECREASE DRAG BY ABOUT 25% IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE (WHEN YOU NEED IT THE MOST).

SHIMANOS' DRAGS ARE LEGENDARY AND I HAVE NEVER HAD ONE FAIL ME AFTER GETTING DUNKED, DROPPED IN SAND/MUD OR SITTING OUT OVERNIGHT IN MY BOAT AND SOAKED WITH DEW IN THE MORNING - NEVER! THERE IS ALOT OF "SHIMANO BASHING" AROUND BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS, THEIR REELS HAVE NEVER LET ME DOWN!

THE RODS SELL FOR $60 AS DO THE REELS IN CABELAS CATALOG. AT A $120 PRICE, I PERSONALLY FEEL YOU WON'T BETTER THE PERFORMANCE OF THESE COMBOS PAYING TWICE, OR MORE, FOR A RIG.

TEAM THESE COMBOS WITH FIRELINE OR VANISH FLUORO AND I CAN FEEL THE BLADE STOP ON A WORM HARNESS!

RANGER

[Mrrugs]

The Cabela's catalogue offers all of what, in my opinion, are outstanding options. Spinning reels: I've had a lot of luck with the Quick reels. As for "thumburners", I'd recommend the Abu Garcia 6500C4 on a Cabela's 6 1/2 ft. E-Glass medium rod. For most applications, I still prefer glass over graphite, except for jigging. The glass rods load up and throw lures smoother than graphite, in my opinion, and give you a better feel for lure action. They also are more "forgiving" when using no-stretch and lo-stretch lines. As far as lines go: Fireline for cranking, Trilene XT for jigging and Trilene XL for trolling. Happy shopping.

[Starfish]

My favorite spinning reel is the Shimano Stradic, but I also have had good luck with the much cheaper Pro Qualifier and Winchester reels.

I love the Shimano Calcutta and Quantum PR600 baitcaster reels, but for really heavy duty stuff I like the Ambassadeur 6500 C3 and Shimano Triton (Triton only for downriggers, Ambassadeur if I might have to cast a little). But I don't think the newest Ambassadeurs are as good as the old ones-- I burned up a brand new one after less than a week last season on an accidental sturgeon (a 6-1/2 footer).

[fisherman]

See my post on places to buy/posted yesterday

[Mike B. (OK)]

Spinning reels; I like the Shimano Sahara for jigging and rigging, it is a great reel at a great price. Spirex's are good too, but do not have infinite anti-reverse. Quantum Hyper-Cast is a really good spinning "crankbait tossin" reel, you can bang out casts quickly without having to handle the line. Quantums are also an excellent reel for the price. Baitcasters; I like my old Garcia 5500C, but haven't bought a new one in many years. I do have a Cabelas baitcaster reel coming, with a glass rod, and will evaluate soon!