The last couple years I have been using these bait runner spinning reels. At this point I can say I think I own just about everyone on the market at this time. They are great for the guy who slings eels and plugs..or plugs and slings eels. The dual drag concept works great.

Here are a couple personal observations/comments I have on them so far:

Penn: I think they only make 2 models (4600 and 5600) I have both and I like the 4600 for the 12lb on a med spin rod. You can't handle big eels or plugs but for light lures and small eels and bait it is a lot of fun. I works great.
The 5600 is slighly larger but not quite big enough IMO. I use it on my *primary* surf rod. It is designed for 15lb line IMO. I have mine loaded with 20 and can't quite get enough smooth drag pressure. These reels have a new single disk drag system for the primary drag. This is the same material as in the penn international reels and is housed in the base of the spool and offers more surface area. The poroblem I have is that you can bottom out the screw and not get enought smooth drag pressure. Once you bottom out the screw it gets jerky. When it was brand new it was OK but after I caught a few fish I had some problems. It works OK but I fear if I had a 40+ fish I will not have as much drag pressure as I would like. IMO they need to beef up the thinkness of the break material and make the reel bigger for 200 yrds of 25-30 lb mono.
The dual drag system on the penns is manual. there is a switch that kicks it in and out. I love this set up. You can set it to reel in the eel with it on so when the fish picks it up and runs it pays out easily...flick the switch to kick it in to primary drag mode and set the hook. I like the reel, the dual drag concept but it needs to be slightly refined.

Shimano. They make a larger reel and the drag seems good. I have not used it that much yet. It is slightly more $ then the penn but not that much more. The only thing I do not like about it is that is fully automatic. When you reel it engages the primary drag no matter what. It would be nice it you could have it manual or automatic. I tend to like the manual system better but that is personal preference. (I wish penn made a big size like this.) IMO the fully automatic baitrunners are better suited to the bottom fisherman. (but this is *my* opinion) It works fine for normal cast and retrieve as well.

Okuma (sp?) This is a new reel company (china) that (from what I hear) actually makes a lot of the reels (and parts) for shimano under contract. They have decided to go into the businsess themselves and they make a full line of equipment from spinning to offshore. Here is the good news: they are largely unkown and are offering the reels at amazing discounts this year to grab market share from peen and shimanno. I could not resist to buy the biggest bait runner for 75 bucks. The features are almost identical and the reel is slightly larger then the biggest shimanno. It feels great and really smooth. It has the best handle by far. I took it apart and it seems well made. Machined stainless gears, ect. I have only used it a couple nights so far (It is on my ultra heavy surf set up for those 35 knot - 3.5+ oz plug nights) but no problems so far. I really don't need a bait runner on that rod but I figure I could use it for eeling in ultra rocky places where you need some extra beef. I spoke to a couple tackle guys and they said it is too new to know how it stands up long term but they have not recieved one back yet. (this is their 1st year) everyone says "for the money" it is amazing. The biggest reel they make (can't recal the #) can handle 30# + easy. My is loaded with 25. It is a honker of a reel. By the looks of the weather it looks like it will get some use this wed.

I would be interested to hear if anyone else has experienced any drag pressure problems with the 5600.

Overall, I think Penn is holding back from making a bigger baitrunner until they see how this new drag works out. I think they have a couple of minor bugs to work out on the larger reels but I like the concept of a big brake instead of stacked washers. When the screw is not bottomed out the reel is *very* smooth. I would like to see them make a higher quality (read: next price point) spinning reel.

I love my Shimano 4500 Baitrunner. It's helped me with my eeling lately. It's a bit small for my 9' Sealine-X, but still works well enough that it's usually on there when I fish that stick. Coupled with my 7' Ben Doerr, the thing is money. Great balance.

The drag is really smooth, and it holds a lot of line.

Speaking of Okuma, I won an Okuma Avenger spinning reel in the MSBA tournament, and I've been really impressed by the reel. First time out I couldn't believe how smooth the drag was for a $50 reel. Instant autoreverse, a solid power handle, and a nice wide line roller impressed me even more. Then I said to myself "All this for 50 bones? Won't last." Since then, I've been trying to kill it. It's my suds reel, and has gotten lots of dunks as well as some decent fish as well, and I haven't noticed any flaws yet.

I use Shimano 6500's exclusively for bait fishing.
I have 4 of em', and only one is starting to give me some trouble after many years of hard use.

I do like penn's 650's for casting, but not chunking, can't beat a baitrunner type reel. I have not tried any other type of BR though. I would be curious to see. and yes they need to make a larger one. Again that is why I still use my 6500's.

I also won that OKUMA reel (MSBA) and so did my buddy who fished with me, but have not found a use for it yet. I am curious to know if yours lasts. Keep in touch.

Haven't used the others, but I have two Shimano Baitrunners (4500 and 3500) and I love them.....granted, I do a lot of bait fighing, (which they are PERFECT for), but they are also great for eels if you are drifting them.....and for plugs or "working eels", I tighten down the Baitrunner drag most all the way. That way if I get a LARGE, I can fight it mostly with the main drag, and if it decides to make a major run, I can flip the Baitrunner on and have slightly less drag to let her go, without fiddling with a drag knob, and when she stops, just begin to reel again and the main drag is re-activated.

Only complaint....I have had some problems with the anti-reverse on the 3500...(almost busted my knuckles on a 10 lb blue a few eeks ago because of it)...it's a simple fix that I know how to do, but it seems I fix it and it works for awhile, then fails for no particular reason at some un-opportune times.....fix it again, works for a bit, and then fails again......know of another guy from the board (Hi Mr. Kav) that recently had the same problem. I also have a small fresh water Shimano with a similiar anti-reverse design, and have problems with that one as well.....

But all in all, I love them....:)

Checked out the Okuma, felt and looked nice, is cheaper, but the reviews I have heard from guys that have them aren't so great........

Which spinning reel is best in the 40-60$ range??? I need a new reel for a cheap price...i cant afford a stella, but i dont want a south bend 10 dollar reel....please give me some advice, i need something in the 20 lbs. line range.
Thanks everyone!

You couls go with a new Okuma. They are not a higher end reel like the Shimano or Penn but are pretty good for the money. They don't always handle a hammering of fish though. I've heard of them faltering under big blitzes that will kill most cheaper reels and some more expensive ones too.

Another thing to consider is picking up a used Penn 6500SS. You couls probably find one in that range used.

thanx for the advice john, but where the hell can i find a used reel? The only two places i know of that sells fishing stuff is Bass Pro shops offshore angler catalog and my local tackle shop, lol
And the tackle shop definetly wont have it!
:confused:

S&S , I was in that shop a week ago and there were three nice used reels in there for around the price range you are looking for! One of them was an old Penn spinning reel, wich are hard to find and a great reel.:D

S & S try E-BAY I have picked up some used reels for half price. I also saw alot of Baitrunner reels (new) for sale. I have the Shimano B4500. I like it alot for live lining macks. Nice waterproof drag system. It has held up for two years of ledge fishing no complaints.

What shop is that & where are they?

Thanks

Continental Arms on park ave in Cranston . not much else there as far as fishing goes

I think striperman posted on another site that he had an Okuma die the first night he used it, after a few stripers in the teens and low 20s. Based on that report, I wouldn't go near one :(

For the difference in price, I'd stick with the one that's been proven over 15 years--the Shimano BTR series.

Yea John, Continental arms i think its www.continentalarmscompany.com or sotim, and they dont have a huge selection, very overpriced!!! The $3.25 Kastmaster at Kmart is $4.50 at Continental!

:ss:

I gotta step in here with regard to Okuma.

I bought a MDS 60 spinner at the MSBA show this spring, and beat that thing almost every day. Absolutely loved it, smooth as heck. Used it on the charter service I had this summer. BUT did not hold up. The guys who were at Cutty know I put that reel through its paces, but too much plastic. The only non-sealed bearing (on the bail) seized regularly, even though I rinsed it daily. Ordered parts, sent the wrong parts. Took it to Kay's Surfland in Plum Island. She took one look at it and said it was the worst of many she has seen. She won't be carrying them. I hope that my reel, soon to be on it's way back to Okuma, will be replaced, or repaired with beefed up parts and housing. I really would give it another shot with the hope that they can make it take the beating I give it.

Ross

I bought a Shimano 450 many years ago, after my cheapo Shimano Speedmaster crapped out. I didn't bait fish, but liked the line control for driftin plugs in rips. Stripped the gears on a good big bass blitz one windy rainy morning about five years ago, and was not happy about that. Went to the Penn 650, which I'm still using on one rod. I still have both Shimanos in the basement , I was recentyly thinking about haveing the 450 fixed up. It always had a lot of slop in the handle, which I didn't like. That was my last Shimano, I know guys love theirs, maybe I'll give it another shot

Hey,
Continental Bait & Tackle / Arms Company is VERY high Priced,,

Most of the Guys who work there are more Hunters then Fisherman,,,, If Ask them a Question and you can Tell .....Not Very Much Help... They have a "okay" Selection,, But Mostly on Freshwater,,, they have a small area with some saltwater lures and soft plastics..that date back to the 80's (lol)
and a few big game combo's very over-priced as means to ,,, $65 there ,, and $45 at Wall-Mart for the SAME combo... but what can you do ? lol-- deal with it :( i guess...

Fishtales,,, I seen that OLD green Penn Reel,,, they want $65 for it ,,, you really think it's still worth that ? :confused: it's not in the best of shape ......a few of the reels there are Nice,,,but $25 more then they are worth ;) (lol)
What Appx. year do ya think that Penn Reel Is ?? I'm Guessing late 60's maybe....But i'm not a Tackle Expert,,,,,No idea..

Have a good one !