Many anglers are under the impression that a decent spinning reel has to cost a ton of money. This simply isn't the case. As a matter of fact, I've never spent more than $50 on a spinning reel, and the ones that I use are more than adequate for all of the fishing I do (and I do a lot of fishing). The bottom line is that a good spinning reel doesn't have to break the bank.
The key is to first purchase your spinning reel from a quality manufacturer. The two that I like best are Pflueger and Quantum. These two manufacturers make quality spinning reels at very affordable prices. As a matter of fact, my twenty five dollar Pflueger ultra light spinning reel has been with me for more that 8 years, and I wouldn't dream of using anything else. For spinning reels that are a little larger, I prefer Quantum, but this is all a personal choice. My Pflueger has helped me land a lot of very large trout, that's for sure.
One of three keys to getting a quality spinning reel for under $50 is to pay attention to the amount of ball bearings the reel has in it. As a general rule the less ball bearings are in the reel the more 'play' the crank has. For a reel you will like and will last you a long time you want as little 'play' as possible. The easier the reel "engages" the better, at least in my humble opinion.
The other thing to pay attention to is the drag. A smooth drag is critical to fighting large fish, and both manufactures mentioned above have quality drag systems. In my experience Diawa's drags are normally serviceable as well. Some of the less known manufacturers drag systems can't be trusted, but I don't want to name any names. The location of the drag is important as well. I've always preferred my drag be in front of the spool. Some anglers like their drag adjustment to be at the rear of the reel. This is really a personal preference, but still something to consider. The bottom line is that the drags offered with both quantum and Pflueger are as good as in any high priced spinning reel.
The last thing to remember is to take care of your spinning reel. Spinning reel maintenance is quite important when it comes to your investment working properly. Once a year your spinning reel should be cleaned to make sure everything works as it should. This is a fairly simple process, and with a little research and a few tools it's no problem. The bottom line is that a good spinning reel doesn't have to break the bank, as a matter of fact you shouldn't have to spend more than $50.
Trevor Kugler Co-founder of http://www.JRWfishing.com Trevor has more than 20 years of fishing experience and currently raises his 3-year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country......Montana.
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