Best 100 dollar spinning reel

A buddy and I were just talking about this today. It seems that the ole sweet spot / $100 price point just doesn’t get you what it once did. Just like everything else. Saying that I have a couple of the Daiwa Fuego reels in the 3000 size. The are both very smooth and have nice drags. I did have some issues with wind knots and braid when I first started using them, but stacked washers on the spindle changed the way the line loads and casts from the spool. That helped a ton and now they are really nice every day reels. I really like my old Shimano Symetres’ which used to fill the $100 price point well. I have a Nasci 300 gen 1 that is nice, but something about the foot of the reel that isn’t the most comfortable after using it for a while. Im not sure if the latest model has the same design. Now if you want to spend some $$$…. the Shimano Vanford is AWESOME!

I’ve just started using the Piscifun carbon x…$60 on Amazon. It seems on par with similar reels.

I agree you can’t go wrong with any of the daiwa stuff. I like the BG series and run a handful of them.

My favorite reel is the Penn Battle 2…they are being phased out for the Battle 3 but if you can find them they are bullet proof. You can usually find them under $100.

Joes sporting goods has 20 percent off right now I think thru Sunday. Just picked up two Daiwa Legalis reels for $55 each. As others have mentioned I think the Scheels reels are just rebranded daiwa reels.

Most of Scheel’s are made by Diawa.

Matt Moen wrote:

I’ve just started using the Piscifun carbon x…$60 on Amazon. It seems on par with similar reels.

I agree you can’t go wrong with any of the daiwa stuff. I like the BG series and run a handful of them.

My favorite reel is the Penn Battle 2…they are being phased out for the Battle 3 but if you can find them they are bullet proof. You can usually find them under $100.

I was skeptical on the Piscifun reels. But over the last year I’ve had some friends buy some of their spinning gear and liked it. My Penn Warfare catfish baitcaster crapped out on me last year and I bought the Piscifun version. Very solid feeling. Looking forward to reeling in some cats with it.

Hard to go wrong with the Diawa Fugeo LT 1000D. Own a bunch, like 5, bought them on sale when they first came out and have been stellar reels.

Bought 3 Piscifun Carbon X 1000’s on sale a couple yrs ago and those have far exceeded my expectations by miles.

Own a bunch of older Shimano Sahara’s from 500-2500’s. Great reels still plugging along.

All have been great reels for the money. If I had to pick right now between them all, it’d be close but Piscifun would probably win by a hair. But I like lighter reels, and they are lite and smooth so far. Diawa would be a close second and have had zer0 issues with either.

I have 6 Diawa Regal lt and am hsppy with them . Havnt tried the legalis or fuegeo but might have to give them a try

I have at least a half dozen Symetre’s… picked up the replacement Nasci, equally impressed with them too.

I just can’t get past the name…..pissyfun? WTF???

Very happy with my okumas. Inspira is that price point.

I would never compare a $100 reel to a $300-400 reel. That’s all very subjective opinion. However the Diawa Fuego is the favored candidate at that price point.

I’ve been died in the wool Shimano for 30 years. Still have 4 original white Stradics, ones from the 90’s. They still work fine and never had more than a spring, during a maintenance cleaning. Along with 3 newer versions including half dozen CI4s. 3 years ago, I did a lot of research for a $100 reel when I started Kayak fishing in the gulf. Not wanting to expose my better reels to salt. The Fuego was at the top of a lot of reviews. Mostly to Mag Seal giving it great protection in salt and the elements. Good drag system, with good combo of fairly smooth and durable. One of the only cons, was inshore where 20+ pound fish are not uncommon. There is quite a bit of flex in the composite reel frame. I’ve now run 2 for a couple years with no issues. Don’t be mistaken. The Fuego is a good $100 reel. But isn’t a $250 reel flying under any radar. Fished side by side with a Stradic or other mid-range reel. Yes, there are definite difference. If you look at the materials and manufacturing, again there is a difference. The Scheel version hadn’t come out yet, when I bought my Fuegos. But they claimed a couple upgrades for the same price. And always happy with their customer service. Speaking to Saharas and other Shimano reels. They seem to be courting the inexpensive reel market lately. Seeing them a lot more in Farm and Fleet etc. But their higher end stuff is still good.

stevenoak wrote:

Don’t be mistaken. The Fuego is a good $100 reel. But isn’t a $250 reel flying under any radar. Fished side by side with a Stradic or other mid-range reel. Yes, there are definite difference.

I think we’ve made it clear that it isn’t to be compared to reels in the upper echelon of the market. The main point is it tops the other spinning reels in that price range and many of the reels up to $150-200.

I used to think you couldn’t go wrong with Shimano. I have many older ones that won’t die however the newer Sedona and Sahara models I have all started binding. I wouldn’t buy another. I’d go with the recommendations above.

Shimano Sahara are 6-point-something to one gear ratio. Fastest spinning reel I can find, which I like.

I used to be Shimano, Stadic, Symetre and Saharas. Past 20 years has been Daiwa, both Daiwa and Cabelas ones made or engineered by Daiwa. Have one President since everyone raves about them. Really like the Daiwas now. Have a Tatula LT and a Kage LT. I think I’ll jump on the Joe’s 20% off deal and get a Daiwa Regal or Legalis. Nothing to fancy for a slip bobber rig.
Some of the Daiwas with a certain size and spool have 6.2:1 gear ratios.

Bought a Daiwa BG 3000 for a trip to the Gulf this Winter. Tried it this Spring for Walleyes and like it so much I have a BG 2500 coming and I think it may become primary fresh water spinning reel.

Check out https://ffo-tackle.com/ they have some deals that get you into a good reel at that price point.

Quantum Energy PTI. i bought the 25 size for $94.00 from Amazon.

I have about 60 days on my Fuegos. Mostly in salt water, and fishing strip mines where they get hauled in the back of the truck. Then fished out of a flatbottom with no safe rod storage. Having used Stradics for 30years, I just found them to be stiff for lack of a better term. Clenzoil was a high-grade lube that’s big in saltwater fishing. Anything metal/mechanical can be a challenge. Scissors, plyers to outboards. I started using it after rinsing everything after every trip. {One time I miss freshwater fishing.} After this last year, I found it really helped smooth out the reels. The bail pivots and crank shaft in particular. Try removing any heavy grease globs and add a light amount of a quality reel lube regularly. Think they use heavy factory grease, expecting the average angler may do maintenance between seldom and never. Thinner lube needs done more often. But lubes better. I wouldn’t add to gearcase, not sure if it would affect the Mag Seal.

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Was just looking at the same reel in that price point at Scheels the other day, I thought the Daiwa’s were the smoothest and best built out of all the size 750/1000 I played with. The president was 2nd.

Little off topic, but if anyone is interested in what “magseal” really is and what portions of a fuego it pertains to, this video goes over it in pretty good detail.

Daiwa Legalis = Good
Piscifun Carbon X = Good

When I need another spinning reel, I will probably buy another Carbon X.

A store manager told me the Scheels reel was an upgraded Fuego. Looking at the specs on the one thousand. They look identical exc., Fuego has 6+1 ball bearings, one more than the Scheel reel. One other possibility Lews has been taking Editor choice in some magazines. Bottom line I’d buy what feel good to you, in your price range.

I added a couple of new rods last year. I went to Cabelas looking for a spinning reel. I just went around and put a bunch in my hands and played with them. I landed on the Diawa Fuego. Nice reel for the money.

So I ordered the Daiwa Legalis LT 2500DXH from Joe’s on Sunday. No shipping charge even for 1-day priority mail!! Shipped yesterday and it arrived on my neighbor’s door step this morning.
It will work very well for a slip bobber rig with a 6.2:1 gear ratio to take up the slack quickly before setting the hook. I wish Joe’s and Thorne Bros weren’t on the other side of town from me. They’d get more of my business. Although I do have Scheels in Eden Prairie about 8 miles away.

Like many others here I was a lifelong Shimano and Pflueger reel fan and user. After the last few that I got from them, I’m no longer a fan. I think its time to give a Daiwa a try. I think I’ll try a Fuego and a Legalis and see how they compare. Its sad to see how far Shimano has fallen in quality lately. Its not just in the low and mid end models. I have fairly recent Stradic that has had problems almost from the start.

I have not used the Nasci so……

I would use the Fuego, carbon X, Supreme XT in that order… I also have used the newer Sahara’s and also have the opinion that they are not what they used to be. I have used the Supreme the most out of the above 3 but they are older models, I have heard the newer XT’s are nice. It seems to me that the Fuego’s and Carbon X are very durable for the money.

If you are spending the money, then for me its the Vanford all the way… Love it!

Like my Daiwa Fuegos, and use Revros and Regals as well. To me they blow Pflueger and Shimano by far away. One Fuego had over 2 years and smooth as can be.

I hope you Daiwa guys are right. I just ordered a Fuego and a Legalis from Joes. Last season seemed to be rough on some of my equipment. Had several reels go to crap, I have 3 rods headed to my rod repair guy tonight after work. Just finished replacing a fender and fender bracket on the boat trailer. It seems like there is always something costing money with this sport Well like they say, ” you never see a Brinks truck following a hearse ”