Spinning reel advice...

[bman]

Ive been a bait-caster fisherman all my life...
I have a couple of inexpensive spinning rigs to throw Cajun Thunder with or let buddies borrow.

Then I borrowed one of my buddies Stradic on a 7' rod loaded with braid.
Casts were crazy long and the reel was SMOOTH...
Is got me hooked... except for the price. Any thoughts Saros? should I spend the extra?

Other brands I should look at?

[CairoTrout]

You will not go wrong with the Stradic or Saros. Also check out the Okumas as well!

[CairoTrout]

The Okumas is the Trio and Alumina.

[Talltails]

Barry, I have owned several Stradics and Saros reels. I have cycled out of the Stradics over the last year and a half, and now only throw Saros 3000's(I own 5 of them) for inshore fish. Compare the specs on the Stradic and Saros and you will see virtually no difference other than the price. As you know, I fish primarily out of a kayak and that is the worst possible environment(other than JT's dirty boat) that you can have for gear, and they have stood the test of time being dunked, sprayed, and catching big fish.

[Steve Stinson]

I have bought two Shimano Symtres from Lynn at Kevin's and been real happy with both of them. They are not quite as pricey or as smooth as the Stradics, but still a great reel.

- Steve Stinson

[sundown]

I have two Stradic 4000's and two Spheros 4000's...If I were in the market for a reel tomorrow, I'd probably go with Spheros....Quite a bit less expensive and just as good in my book..All these have quite a bit of flats time on them and the spheros has held up as well as the stradic and may be a bit smoother..at least to me..

[big bend gyrene]

I have bought two Shimano Symtres from Lynn at Kevin's and been real happy with both of them. They are not quite as pricey or as smooth as the Stradics, but still a great reel.

- Steve Stinson

[RHTFISH]

Daiwa SS 1300 or 1600!

[Aquamaholic]

I have bought two Shimano Symtres from Lynn at Kevin's and been real happy with both of them. They are not quite as pricey or as smooth as the Stradics, but still a great reel.

- Steve Stinson

+1 I love my Symetres, I match them with Shimano Compre rods and really like them for the price. I am actually in the opposite boat I alway use spinning reels and need a good baitcaster setup for topwater plugs.

[Reel Cowboy]

The Saros is a dang fine reel and it is just a s smooth as my Stradics.

[Reel Cowboy]

I am actually in the opposite boat I alway use spinning reels and need a good baitcaster setup for topwater plugs.

Check out the Shimano Citica. They are built on the same body as the Curado so they are super light but their only draw back is they don"t cast light weight lures as well as the Curado.

[WolfeMan]

Barry, are you talkin about my spinner?

It's a Shimano Sahara 4000, not a Stradic (or are you not referring to mine?)

Not bad for a $100 reel. I love it and am looking for another.

[wevans]

I absolutly love my US Reels 240XL SUPERCASTER smooth drag, smooth retrieve and holds a pile of line and I have yet to get a tangle from line twist
http://www.fish307.com/browseproducts/U ... -Reel.HTML

[Flint River Pirate]

The Saros is a dang fine reel and it is just a s smooth as my Stradics.

The only problem I have had with my saros is with braided line the windknots are horrible and I don't have that problem with the Stradics. maybe a different roller or something?

[WolfeMan]

I've never had a single wind knot with my Sahara.