looking to buy my first baitcasting reel

[Lonewolf]

And I would love some suggestions, I would like to keep the price around 100.00. I have been looking at one of the entry level Lews reels.  Also keep in mind I have never used one of these reels so it has to be user friendly.

            Thanks Tom

         

[Bigwrench]

The Lews have my vote as far as ease of use , right out of the box . We have a lot of Reel Guys on the site and you will definitely get some other suggestions ( we all have our favorites) but for me its Lews smooth as butter and cast a country mile .
And Tom .... Again I want to Welcome you to the  UB Family

[BHenke]

Spring Fishing Classic sale at Bass Pro Shops starts on the 22nd of Feb and they usually put the Pro Qualifier Reels on sale for $79. You will not find a better reel for that price period.

[beast96z]

My recommendation would be the Lew's Tournament MG that runs $130. Their entry level reels are ok, but the MG is great. The PQ from BPS is a good reel to. I'm just really liking my Lew's reels right now!

[earldogg]

I fish lews, and shimano but for 100$ i like bps pq. I have 3, never had a problem with any of them , still operate like new, and i frog and deep crank with them. gl

[Camden]

i would choose one of these three options.
Lews Speed Spool 6.4:1
Bass Pro Pro Qualifier
or if ya have an Academy close The H20 Mettle

[Bigwrench]

I would also add BPS Pro Qualifier to the list . Especially with the spring classic coming up at BPS.   

[Grenation]

The lews reels are very smooth and seem well bolt.  Personally I like the Shimano citicas. I have been using the for the last 6 yrs or so and have never had a problem with them


Posted using Outdoor Hub Campfire

[Skeeter287]

Lews reels are great, and they are really taking the market buy storm. I know of a few people that sell Lews and Shimano reel locally around Toledo bend and they claim that the Lews are out selling Shimano 10 to 1 I don't know bout you but that's a impressive statistic. My grandfather has been fishing for upwards of 60 years and has always used Shimano, but he just bout a new team Lews reel. He says it is the best reel he has thrown in his life, and he has used the best of Shimano. All in all you cant got wrong with a Lews

[Lonewolf]

Thanks For all the help fellas. I decided to go with the Lews speed spool,it will sit on a St Croix Mojo rod.  I think that will be a pretty good setup for a rookie like me.   The only thing I am not sure about is the model I picked up is a 7.1/1 ratio reel will that be ok?

[LgMouthGambler]

7.1 is fine. I personally like a fast reel. All you have to do is make sure your crank speed is good. Maybe use a pool or a very shallow clear water area to look at your lure as you reel it in to see how fast or slow you need to turn the handle.

[Lonewolf]

7.1 is fine. I personally like a fast reel. All you have to do is make sure your crank speed is good. Maybe use a pool or a very shallow clear water area to look at your lure as you reel it in to see how fast or slow you need to turn the handle.

Thanks Gambler. Great idea. I am reading now on speed and different bait types, being completely new to this I have no idea what gets fished at what speed.
  Thanks Tom

[Facepunch]

Starting Friday, bass pro is holding their spring sale where you can do the whole reel trade in. I've got a 3 dollar Zebco that I picked up at a garage sale that I plan on trading in on a new Lexa300.

That being said, I saw abu black max combos for either 49 or 59 bucks last weekend. They also have their rig slinger combos for like 89 right now if you are looking for something that can handle bigger baits like an A-rig or medium sized swimbaits.

Just remember to match the ratio to what you are wanting to do.

Oh yeah, and if you want a great reel in your price range, go on eBay and look for an Okuma V100A. I've got one that I use as my drop shot and finesse rig. Decent drag, smooth 10bearing reel, and it will cast a mile. I find myself grabbing it over my t3, steez, fuego, and pixie.

[coldfront]

Just remember to match the ratio to what you are wanting to do.

I've simplified.  7:1's for most everything except deep cranking big baits like the DD-22's or SK FFShads...then it's 5:1. 

and don't want to spend another day burning baits with a 5:1 reel...less I have to...

[Facepunch]

Big blade spinnerbaits, wake baits, big chatterbaits, larger top waters like lunker punkers, etc. don't work well with a 7:1 ratio either. There is also the problem of it being hard to really work a bait slow with a fast reel. I've found that a 6:1 is perfect unless I'm frogging or really trying to cover a lot of water flipping. I mainly throw baits that target the 5+lb fish anyway though, so I tend to throw a 5:1.

[HunterFB]

BPS Pro Qualifier is smooth and tough for under a hundred.   If that is the budget, you can put some faith in that reel.  I saw my partner catch a 45 inch length, 25 inch girth Musky on one while fishing for Smallies on the Susquahanna River in PA. (besides a corner of the mouth hookset on the spinnerbait, a lesser reel would ave failed to get that beast in.)  We bent the net all up, but we got it in.  This is a good reel choice, the fishing went on with the same reel for hours after without fail.