My dad broke his reel the other night, and he's up visiting me for a few days trying to learn to fish the ditch for a few days. After work tonight I'm taking him to pick up a new reel.

What do you guys like in the 150$ range to go on an 8 foot loomis spinning rod.

He's fishing sand, loves smooooooth reels, but lives on an island where apparently no one knows how to fix a reel, so dependability is very important.

I was steering him towards a penn slammer. I have a 560 but mine isn't as silky smooth as he'd like. He likes the line capacity of the slammer, as the reel will most likely see some double duty on tarpon in the winter...

I know some of you guys like the shimanos and I know they are as smooth as he'd like but how well do they hold up ?

I just got a Shimano stradic and love it, little over your price range. The shero I think its called would be in his range.

150's just a number in the same rasnge as the slammer. If he falls in love w/ a reel, I'm sure he could go higher if he felt it was worth doing...

Stradic is nice and it is in that range... I have not owned a Slammer so I can't comment...

I love my Stradic's and they are smooooooth, until they go swimming :uhuh: but they clean up nice...

I also would recommend the stradic having switched to shimano from penn.

Shimano spheros is sweet and under your price range. however the slammer is good real and extremely easy to service yourself.

Recent reel discussion:

http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripertalk/showthread.php?t=26190

Shimano spheros is sweet and under your price range.

I second that.

daiwa Emblem Pro- may be a little big for a 9 footer though.

I switched to Daiwa Advantage's this year and like them better than my Stradics - not that I wont still use them too.

And Ive fished others Slammers and like them - ya got three great reel there!!! I plan picking up a slammer for a Lami 1084 Im building now. I want to alternate a Daiwa Advantage 4500 and A Slammer on it till I see which one I like better.

My first 3500 was broken in on a 55lb black drum on 12lb trilene. 40 minute fight on the Delaware Bay. Its had a dozen albies since and plenty of bass. No issues. Picked up 2 more the next day - one for the wifey.

Quantum cabo 50=sweet. Got it in spring no problems yet. About 180 at M&D's.

Quantum cabo 50=sweet. Got it in spring no problems yet. About 180 at M&D's.


:uhuh:

I've got the slammer 560, had it about 5 years. Been dunked quite a few times which has corroded some internal parts. I picked up a spheros this year which I like better. Much smoother drag.

how do the new penn SSG series hold up? i am kind of wary because the bodies are made out of plastic %$%$%$%$

Quantum cabo 50=sweet. Got it in spring no problems yet. About 180 at M&D's.
Sold the last one the other day . end of the year closeout

I picked up a Stradic this year and love it. Pretty much use it 90% of the time now.....Great Reel and its in that price range. Going to pick up a 2nd one in the off season.