So my Okuma Avenger baitfeeder reel just went on me and I'm wondering if I should get another, or something else in the under $100 range. Keep in mind that I'd love to go nuts and blow that $100 out of the water(pun intended) but I'm lucky my wife even lets me buy bait each week, so I really need a lot of bang for the buck. Any ideas would be very much welcomed. Mostly for striper fishing, going on a 7ft med/light UglyStik. Thanks again for any input!

N.ShoreFisher

Go on eBay and look for a used Penn 750 or 850. I still use both models on my boat and in the surf, Canal, Block. Not a Van Staal or a ZB but for under $100 used you should be able to find a nice reel.

thanks piemma; yeah, I've heard decent things about the 750 and 850. But I really like that baitfeeder feature on the Okuma. Any other reels you guys know of with that feature or something close to in that range?

A 750/850 would be awful big for that rod. 550-650 seems more appropriate. The bait runner feature isn't worth it. A older model Penn will outlast a dozen cheap newer reels and likely cost about 1/2 as much..

Look for an older Shimano Baitrunner 3500B. I think they were good reels.

I have a Okuma Avenger ABF 65 W/spare reel that I don't use pm me if interested
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no baitfeed option, but the saltwater edge has a penn 360 slammer spooled with braid for $96 and change. brand new with box. nice little reel. call the store as it probably wont last long! you can veiw it on the forum section of the website.

I know they are a price point reel but I would avoid Okuma. They feel great when they come out of the box but they crap out fast. The parts are really cheaply made. Many are plastic or some kind of low grade metal. I know they have some higher end models that must be better but I will never touch them.

Take the broken one apart you will see what I mean (you probably will not be able to get it back together). Also I doubt anyone will work on them.

Find the shimano bait runner if you want that feature. Tough to beat
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I'd go with a Shimano Baitrunner as well.....

where the bait runner shines is if you have it set into a sand tube
fishing a large chunk.... (think of chum)

and then your standing nearby keeping a watchful eye on it
plugging............... waiting for it to get bit.

Look for an older Shimano Baitrunner 3500B. I think they were good reels.

X2 I have a 4500 that was totally abused and still spins like a top. The thing was under water swam with etc. never had a problem
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The first reel I owned when I started fishing SW was a Shimano baiteunner 3500 and I loved it. Never chunked with it... What I missed when I moved on to bigger reels was the ease of playing out line when I noticed weeds on my plug as I was about to cast... And also removing the swivel from the tip guide after every other retrieve... :D
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emblem pro is around there, you could easily get the older emblem pro for under a hundred if you can find em, and i blieve the new emblem proA is sround the 100 mark, cast awesome and are great reels

Posted today. The guy has a 6500 listed too.... jump on this!



http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/spo/2988356446.html

NSF - I have an Okuma Epixor EB-80 sitting in my basement. if you can pick it up on the south shore you can have it. Its in great shape, I only used it a few times of the PP bridge.

agreed, go with a shimano baitrunner. You don't even need a new one, the older models were great too....

my okumas have been fantastic. And yes they can be worked on. Best bait runner for the money. Bought mine the same day as my friend got his shimano and he already had to have it serviced once than replaced. The epixor 80 is a cheeper made model but I got 4 years out of them. Not bad for $120. now I am using a salina saf 65 and the parts are much more stout than the older baitrunners. On my second season with it and only paid $69 NIB.

Try a Penn Battle- a great $100 reel.