I need to make some recommendations for a friend and looking for ideas for the best surf spinning reel under $200 (or slightly over).

Person will be fishing lures from a 9' - bombers to wood

Shimano Spheros......I love mine!:love:

he's right
they are a good value

$129.00 I paid and they are great! Great drag, smooth operation! Great value for the money!

Quantum cabo 60..... the drag is smoooooooooth...

Quantum Boca PTs Reviews - Saltwater Spinning Reels Inshore Fishing (http://www.tackletour.com/reviewquant40boca.html)

I am sure the Spheros are great, not familiar with them... I bought a Quantum Boca at the urging of a friend who knew more than I ever will, and have not regretted it so far...

worth a look.

$129.00 I paid and they are great! Great drag, smooth operation! Great value for the money!


I agree with Larry. Prior to getting a VS a couple years ago the Shimano Spheros was my go to. I have a bunch of them and they really are an excellent reel for the $$.

Spheros seems to be the most surf worthy for under 200. Fishes fine and much more durable than other reels at the same price point. Are they creeping over 200 yet?

stratic 6000

Spheros seems to be the most surf worthy for under 200. Fishes fine and much more durable than other reels at the same price point. Are they creeping over 200 yet?

Still around $130, and you can occasionally find them for less than $120. And they have the bailess coversion kit that runs for about 20 bucks.

Quantum cabo 40pt for light plugging that what I had before I got a vs150 and vs200
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Stradic 6000 or Spheros 6000.

My Penn Slammer 560 has gotten beat to hell the past two seasons and hasn't been serviced once. End of this season, it got a little dry, that's all. I'm more than happy with it.

My Penn Slammer 560 has gotten beat to hell the past two seasons and hasn't been serviced once. End of this season, it got a little dry, that's all. I'm more than happy with it.

ditto

i vote for the Stradic. I have several ,5000 thru 8000, and never a problem and extra spool too.

Shimano Spheros......I love mine!:love:

I agree I have the 6000 and the 8000 both are great and have lasted. I know they made a few changes a year or two ago, but so far I haven't heard any different. Smooth and fairly light, does very well with braid.

Penn 560 slammer.

Shimano Spheros 8000 - it is on the outfit I keep in the trunk of my car almost all the time. (5000 & 6000 are same size body with different depth spools).

I also like the Shimano Baitrunners because of their versatility. I plug with my 4500B and find the lever on the back great for letting out a little more line as opposed to grabbing the line with your hands and pulling it out or opening the bail to let out a loop.

Daiwa BG (Black and Gold) series has been around since the 70s - these things are like tanks! I've fished Penn's all my life and wish I hadn't been so pig headed as a youth! Charter captains in FL use them heavily and that has to say something. There is a reason they are still around. :D The BG30 is plugging size (about the size of Penn 650ss) and retails for $85. 20 lb Fireline works fine on them if you want to go the super line route.

Daiwa Bg reels, I use a 30 and a 60. Very durable and <$100

I also use the Daiwa TDA 4000 $150 a stronger drag than the new Tierra.

I'm partial to Stradics myself..very smooth drag

Spheros 8000 is the best bang for the buck going.You can find the older FAs in some shops still,they are a real bargain now.

Though I must admit my Stradic FI in the same size is superior.It lays line on the spool so evenly it has insanely good castability.Smooth too.

I have to give the nod to the new Stradic's, awesome reels for the money

I have to give the nod to the new Stradic's, awesome reels for the money

I agree with Dave. The Stradics have the new "Palladin" cold forged aluminum main gears that also have a super-hard black coating (possibly some sort of nitride). I'm also pretty sure that they have a brass pinion gear. One piece handle that screws directly into the main gear, and not through it where it's held in place on the other side by a cheap plastic nut. And it comes with an equal quality spare spool--lot of reel for under $200, with much better gearing than many other reels in the same price range.

The Saragossa is also a good reel with the same type of gearing, and it's almost as simple inside as an old Penn 704, but it doesn't come with a spare spool.

I don't think that the Spheros has the same type of gears--they're probably cast aluminum.

Anyone try out that new Daiwa Saltist yet?

i got one. nice but it is heavy. I wouldn't want to walk a beach with it.

I think Shimano added "Approved for use in saltwater" to the specs for the Stradic at some point in the past year.

I don't remember seeing that in the past.

Whether they made any "saltwater" changes or not I'm not sure.

Quantum Boca PTs Reviews - Saltwater Spinning Reels Inshore Fishing (http://www.tackletour.com/reviewquant40boca.html)

I am sure the Spheros are great, not familiar with them... I bought a Quantum Boca at the urging of a friend who knew more than I ever will, and have not regretted it so far...

worth a look.

Clammer would luv it just cause it comes with a Blue neoprene reel bag
to Protect It in transport. :hihi: :hidin:

go with Penn. 5500ss or 560 slammer. worth every penny.

I have used, owned, or fished with people that own every conceivable reel. I grew up fishin Penns cause by my dad's theory, if they break, you can get them fixed just about anywhere. They broke all the time.
Now anyone knows that I beat the Shat out of my gear, fish just about everynight, and never wash stuff.
Before the VS's, I was using the Stradic 8000. Awesome, smooth reel, but the drags required too much drag/ drag washer maintenance. If the reel got wet at all, I had to on a regular basis pull the drag washers out, clean them, lube them, and put them back together without breaking them. For me it was a major PIA. Before that used the Shimano 4500 baitrunners. Bullet proof, but heavy. Never once used the bait runner feature. But I loved the water proof drag.
The stardic is the nicest non- water tight reel out there.....BUT, and there is always a BUT, the absolute best bang for your buck is the Spheros 8000. Same size, smootheness, line capacity as the Stradics, cost less, but they have a WATER PROOF DRAG. Maximilius beat the bag out of his, swam and wetsuited with it for a whole season without cleaning it, and it never let him down.
But to each their own.........either way, go with a shimano.

I almost think that the Stradics have a water proof seal now on the drag Mike. I could be wrong though as I usually am a few times a day. But I could have sworn I saw a seal on the 8000 I just bought. When you going to change your addy to Westport?

the professor is correct the new stradics have water proof drag system. the only real difference between the stadics ($200ish) and the sustain($300ish) is a few ball bearings and about $100.

Stradic=:musc:

the professor is correct the new stradics have water proof drag system. the only real difference between the stadics ($200ish) and the sustain($300ish) is a few ball bearings and about $100.


The sustain is a bit more stimulating visually. :)

I'm a Stradic guy....had no idea they were this popular...I actually see other people fishing them only rarely.

ok since a lot of you guys use the spheros, I think it's an appropriate time to ask. I dont use is anymore but I really like the reel and want to hold on it, but there is one huge problem and I just want to know other users epxeriences. When I was fishing this reel couple of yrs ago, I went through 4 (not a joke) spools due to salt corrosion. I understand maybe one due to a product malfunction but 4??!! It got to a point that Shimano Customer service got sick of sending them out to me lol. The good thing is that I didnt have to pay for any of the spools so hats off to Shimano. I use braid and I was thinking that it maybe b/c of the saltwater that hangs out in it. I have no idea. I gave up on the reel and just bought a better reel but I want to keep it for a back up? Any thoughts? Its really weird:confused: but other than that its a great reel:drool:

This was my first season with the spheros 8000 and I'm very satisfied.

Ripitsik, I use braid, and haven't noticed the slightest bit of corrosion. I have gotten the reel wet, but do rinse it off after every use.

For the money, its a great reel. Also had a Stradic 4000 for 10+ years so I can side with those as well. If they now come with a waterproof drag, will only make the reel better. Are the bigger stradics sub $200?

560 Penn Slammer. Beat the hell out of mine, dunked many times during the season, and haven't had any problems. One of them is 5 years old and still works fine. Break them down at the end of the season for a good cleaning, otherwise it's just a quick rinse down the body and clean the drag once a month. Easy to break down and get parts if you did need them. Plus they handle braid very well.

i have tried it all and it continued. It got to a point that shimano customer service just told me to pull out all the line and water it down with fresh h2o and let it dry. That was when I said "eff that" and bought a vs. Its the older version, I don't know how the newer versions have performed but I don't understand it

I liked the stradics even though I broke them all eventually.
Mostly my fault and from poor maintenance. Didn't know the new ones had waterproof drag. Got a VS now but would be willing to try the stradics again, the 6000 or 8000 model. I've got four spare 4000FI spools around if anyone could use them.

ok since a lot of you guys use the spheros, I think it's an appropriate time to ask. I dont use is anymore but I really like the reel and want to hold on it, but there is one huge problem and I just want to know other users epxeriences. When I was fishing this reel couple of yrs ago, I went through 4 (not a joke) spools due to salt corrosion. I understand maybe one due to a product malfunction but 4??!! It got to a point that Shimano Customer service got sick of sending them out to me lol. The good thing is that I didnt have to pay for any of the spools so hats off to Shimano. I use braid and I was thinking that it maybe b/c of the saltwater that hangs out in it. I have no idea. I gave up on the reel and just bought a better reel but I want to keep it for a back up? Any thoughts? Its really weird:confused: but other than that its a great reel:drool:

I would say odd.I still use an original 1st year Spheros 8000 and still am using the original spool.I change line regularly and am very religious about freshwater rinsing.

I am also a diehard user of Sentry Solutions products on all my reels.This is key.You will not find any better anti-corossive products than made by this company.

Bass

do you coat the reel before use? Or do you use it as a cleaner after fishing?

its crazy, ill take pics of them and show you them... I still can't believe it. You start to see the white dust like appearance underneath the line. As soon as you start to unravel the line you start to see the pits. Ive tried putting the whole spool in freshwater for a night to get all the salt out of the braid, didn't work. Ive tried just rinsing, nothing. I have no idea :confused:

No love for the 704z?????
Not one vote?
That's a true 'surf' reel IMO.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

ok since a lot of you guys use the spheros, I think it's an appropriate time to ask. I dont use is anymore but I really like the reel and want to hold on it, but there is one huge problem and I just want to know other users epxeriences. When I was fishing this reel couple of yrs ago, I went through 4 (not a joke) spools due to salt corrosion. I understand maybe one due to a product malfunction but 4??!! It got to a point that Shimano Customer service got sick of sending them out to me lol. The good thing is that I didnt have to pay for any of the spools so hats off to Shimano. I use braid and I was thinking that it maybe b/c of the saltwater that hangs out in it. I have no idea. I gave up on the reel and just bought a better reel but I want to keep it for a back up? Any thoughts? Its really weird:confused: but other than that its a great reel:drool:

I agree about the corrosion issue, as I have experienced the same thing. I rinse my reel (never soaked) but thought this was just a braid issue as my switch to Power Pro corresponded with my switch to the Spheros about 3 years ago. All in all its not a VS and at the price I always felt the reel was somewhat disposable. I really feel bad saying that but most products made these days are not made to last and I just chalked this up to one of them. I fished with the corrosion all year BTW after cleaning out the pitting and never had an issue. I am sure it will get to me at some point......
Its funny you bring this up because I was going to post if its just me or if everyone out there using braid has similar issues and its just a braid thing regardless of reel.

I liked the stradics even though I broke them all eventually.
Mostly my fault and from poor maintenance. Didn't know the new ones had waterproof drag. Got a VS now but would be willing to try the stradics again, the 6000 or 8000 model. I've got four spare 4000FI spools around if anyone could use them.

i could use a spare spool

same here with the corrosion issue on the older model spheros spool....
no problems with the Stradics and I like the Saragosa's as well...
Shimanos are all I own until I can afford a real submersible reel

i could use a spare spool

PM sent

I almost think that the Stradics have a water proof seal now on the drag Mike. I could be wrong though as I usually am a few times a day. But I could have sworn I saw a seal on the 8000 I just bought. When you going to change your addy to Westport?

NEVER.....My body is in Westport, my mind is in the ocean, but my heart will always be in Kingston.........

I use a spheros 5000 and love it (30 pound power pro braid- not an issue so far, but we'll find out when I change braid this winter). It has not been seriously abused, but used/splashed for two full seasons now with just a wash with fresh water, then back in the trunk for the next time.

Alright, on a side note, I am looking to get a 4000 class reel for some early season/late season fishing...(I do not want to jump on someone elses thread, so i can start a new one, please let me know).

Is there a difference in spool size from the spheros to the new stadic at this level? If they are both "waterproof," then is the stradic worth the extra $50?
I am looking for the largest spool- to allow the 10-15 pound braid to come off easily (less wind knots).

Thanks you all for your help!

Chris

Pen 704 or 706. older off ebay.

I love a Cabo 60, but it can't take the abuse!

i have no idea just how long i've been using u.s.a. made penns. 40 yrs. easy.
very simple maintence. readily available parts for when the something does break. keep it clean and rinse after every trip.

I agree about the corrosion issue, as I have experienced the same thing. I rinse my reel (never soaked) but thought this was just a braid issue as my switch to Power Pro corresponded with my switch to the Spheros about 3 years ago. All in all its not a VS and at the price I always felt the reel was somewhat disposable. I really feel bad saying that but most products made these days are not made to last and I just chalked this up to one of them. I fished with the corrosion all year BTW after cleaning out the pitting and never had an issue. I am sure it will get to me at some point......
Its funny you bring this up because I was going to post if its just me or if everyone out there using braid has similar issues and its just a braid thing regardless of reel.


Call up shimano and complain and i'm sure they will send you another spool. They sent me 4! Does anyone know if the new style spool fit the older model reel? I am wondering if this same corrosion issue is happening to the new styles:confused: