Spinning reels

[Pete from shields]

Hi lads and ladies, my spinning reel fell to bits on my last spinning session last October, so I am in need of a new one that will hopefully last more than one season.

I have been reading loads of posts about lot's of different reels and looking at lots of different reels all over the net, I am now so confused about which one to buy. I was going to buy a Shimano Sienna, but seen a Diawa crossfire, then I seen an Okuma trio that looks the bees but seen bad reviews. I seen a penn captiva looks good but so many bad reviews also, I have since seen the Snowbee raptor but its a new 2012 reel so kind of untested.

I have also on the list a Shimano exage, Penn fierce and mitchel blade alu. Are the Captiva and Okuma trio really that bad,? we get a 12 month guarantee on products so are covered anyway.?

What spinning reels do you lot have and how long have you had them for, do you use any of the mentioned reels any info is appreciated.

P.S I posted this on wsf the other day and I am now settled on a shimano exage but I thought I would post it up here and throw it out to you nesa lot thanks, Pete.

[TerryC]

IMHO Shimano are tops

[<(Andy2009)>]

Choose the best, choose SHIMANO.

Go with Shimano, best fixed spools on the market, bar none, there very reliable and bomb proof.

I have 2, a Shimano Aero-R3 3000X and a Shimano Aero 5000 Baitrunner, both very reliable and last a lifetime if taken care of.

[Kev1n]

I’ve had a few Shimano and been underwhelmed by them. I gave two bait-runners away as they were heavy for their size, the bail arm often spring shut mid cast and the gears started binding. A friend’s exage has started to do the same, which may just be coincidence of bad luck.
My most reliable spinning reel is a Shakespeare, I don’t know which model as all the detailing has worn off over the years. Shakespeare seem to be like Skoda cars, originally infamous for poor build quality but now they’re as good as some of the prestige marques without the high price.
If you’re looking for a reel for more than just mackerel fishing small multipliers are worth considering too.

[steppeydog]

5010 shimano baitrunner old but still doing a cracking job cant fault it

[tonybax]

shimano baitrunner 5000 the dogs doo dahs imho

[phill_itofish]

Pete, i just got myself a Okuma High Speed Trio. It has the look and feel of a quality bit of kit.

[Pete from shields]

Thanks for the replies guys, it was a shakespeare spinning reel I had last summer it just started locking up. I had been using it since the April but in the October the reel just seized up the handle would turn buckled, I had to handball a mackerel up or the reel felt like it would fall to bits.

Have you read the reviews of the trio Phil,? or the Penn captiva II aswell actually. They got the worst mixed reviews of any spinning reels I mentioned in first post, I will though say we don't know what these guys have been doing to the reels. I mean some of the posts on WSF on the these reels say they have lasted mere weeks before seizing up, I don't know if they are upto there chests in sal****er everyday of these few weeks or if they are smashing them on rocks etc.

This is what brought me to posting and inquiring what spinning reels others here in the NE use and how long they've had them etc. For a £50+ reel for me to fall to bits after a few weeks I might aswell buy another cheap shakey reel that will last the season you know, over a few years the price will even out in that manner.

I am going to hammer the spinning this year so want something that's not going to buckle with a mackerel on the end lol, I just feel that with everything fishing related we are limited by regular fisherman as to what equipment we use. Yet there is such a vast amount to choose from, ie what rod to buy most will say century or zzippy or what reel most say 525 etc. Or you get what you pay for or buy cheap buy twice etc.

Sorry for the long post lads but its good to discuss these things, I'm sure there are others out there think the same, there is similar priced equipment that is over looked as expensive cheap carp.

[phill_itofish]

Thanks for the replies guys, it was a shakespeare spinning reel I had last summer it just started locking up. I had been using it since the April but in the October the reel just seized up the handle would turn buckled, I had to handball a mackerel up or the reel felt like it would fall to bits.

Have you read the reviews of the trio Phil,? or the Penn captiva II aswell actually. They got the worst mixed reviews of any spinning reels I mentioned in first post, I will though say we don't know what these guys have been doing to the reels. I mean some of the posts on WSF on the these reels say they have lasted mere weeks before seizing up, I don't know if they are upto there chests in sal****er everyday of these few weeks or if they are smashing them on rocks etc.

This is what brought me to posting and inquiring what spinning reels others here in the NE use and how long they've had them etc. For a £50+ reel for me to fall to bits after a few weeks I might aswell buy another cheap shakey reel that will last the season you know, over a few years the price will even out in that manner.

I am going to hammer the spinning this year so want something that's not going to buckle with a mackerel on the end lol, I just feel that with everything fishing related we are limited by regular fisherman as to what equipment we use. Yet there is such a vast amount to choose from, ie what rod to buy most will say century or zzippy or what reel most say 525 etc. Or you get what you pay for or buy cheap buy twice etc.

Sorry for the long post lads but its good to discuss these things, I'm sure there are others out there think the same, there is similar priced equipment that is over looked as expensive cheap carp.

Yeah Pete i read some reviews, some good, some bad, so i went for the old suck it and see method. I've got 3 old spinning reels that i paid very little for and by keeping them clean and oiled they still work. Will see how this fares up by the end of the summer. I'll have to save a link to this post just incase lol

[Pete from shields]

LOL I was thinking of doing the same Phil, I seen they are selling a spinning combo for £65.99 Berkley cherrywood 10' with the Penn captiva II cv2, the reel alone sells on most sites and shops for £50+. All the reviews are mixed some good some really bad, like I say I don't know what they are doing with them though.

I don't need another spinning rod its just one of those silly things we get when you like fishing you like to buy what you see aswell lol.

That snowbee raptor looks and sounds a corker but there's a big BUT next to it, I also had a look at a pfluger and the trio I like the orange one.

[Thunderpants]

I used to have a Penn Captiva 4000 and got about three years of regular use out of it until I hooked into the fish of a lifetime and it killed the reel and the fish got away . I use a Shimano Technicium now and love it. It's smaller and lighter weight and very smooth. I wouldn't buy another Captiva.

[Swilsonstu@aol.com]

you shouldn't use a spinning/fixed spool as a winch - you're just asking too much from the gear drive- remember, its turning the torque through 90degrees!
so if you pump any load correctly, you shouldn't have many problems.
personally i use a dacia with nanofil for extreme range - but also okuma distance surf for general clean ground - and shimano 4500/5500 xsa for medium bass/black bream. all with braid, no problems and lots of smiles!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Pete from shields]

I used to have a Penn Captiva 4000 and got about three years of regular use out of it until I hooked into the fish of a lifetime and it killed the reel and the fish got away . I use a Shimano Technicium now and love it. It's smaller and lighter weight and very smooth. I wouldn't buy another Captiva.

I was chatting to a fella who had a captiva and he says he is getting a different reel this season because the captiva feels like it will fall to bit if he gets a big fish on, I can't believe they are selling them for £50+ still. I am glad I asked and researched about them jeez it was bad enough my last reel breaking with a humble macky on never mind the fish of a lifetime, that is really unlucky mate.

[broony]

Simano Exage 4000 is cheap and bomb proof.