Spinning Reels

What is everyones favorite spinning reels?  Im looking for a good quality spinning reel somewhere around a hundred bucks and am just looking for others opinions.

I have a few Okuma Integra reels that are very smooth with a great drag.
Some of there lower priced reels are not too great but mid priced and above are a good choice.

My next reel might be an Okuma Vsystem- I think they are $125-$150

ya i have tried some of the pfluger president reels and i do like that series.  I will be using the reel mostly for freshwater game fish.

im a daiwa guy so i would say anything from and excelor up is a good choice in my book. the 100$ area is unfortunately loaded with choices so it's tuff for most. best bet would b to go handle some of them and pick what you like. i will say one thing on behalf of daiwas though. if your a stream fisherman or get your reels wet all the time they have sealed drags that cant be beat. if your more into fluidity you might be better served with a shimano, daiwas are kinda raw in thier feeling.

edit. btw if you should choose a quantum like an energy pti or catalyst pti do not get them wet. i had them before and had massive problems with them after i got them wet. i ended up going through a couple before i said the hell with it and just stuck with the daiwas.
 
and edit again....dont worry about bearing numbers in your decision either. there are only so many places bearings can be used in a reel before they start using them in places they dont need them just to increase the count. most of the time when you see high bearing counts touted by a manufacturer a couple of those bearings are actually handle supports and added bearings to the line roller. you do obviously need bearings in each but do you really need 4 of those 10 bearings in the handle?

my choices, shimano symetre or quantum catalyst or even kinetics.  the shimanos have a great reputation but i think the quantums are a little smoother. 

do a search on e-bay under metaloid , scroll done and you will see a guys who sells md30's in 1 2 and 3 lot units , it is a discontinued okuma reel a little heavy but has a fantastic drag the only drawback is the lame spare graphite spool , really a nice piece for the price

I've had a Quantum Catalyst 20PTi for 4 years now,3 of which I used in saltwater(did not dunk it though) and have had NO problems.It's my favorite reel and rod combo(G-loomis Bronzeback 6'3" MF),all I did was put it in the shower after I used it in saltwater to wash off the salt residue.I fished at least once a week fresh and(mostly) saltwater and would recommend this reel to any family member for $100.The only thing that happened was a superficial piece of the outside started to peel the size of a pencil eraser from the salt.I have by far gotten more than the $100 I paid for it out of it by use.Most importantly you must match the reel to the rod whatever you choose.I was always taught that balancing the reel and rod combo 3-4" in front of where your forefinger will sit on the rod is what is perfect balance.But,everyone is different and may like some other weighting.
 
Sorry guys,I had to edit this since I thought I had an Energy,but actually have a Catalyst reel.I got it for $99 but I see it in BassPro for $149,sorry.

I love the pflueger president reels and have owned one for the last 5 or 6 years. Recently I bought a quantum pti and I fell in love with it. Its so smooth and has a great drag on it.

I've got one of these and love it.  Best reel that I've ever bought.  I've only had it for 2 years, so can't really give a true durability review.  It does get some good drag workout, and is smooth.  Do a search on this site for spinning reels.  That's what turned me to Okuma.  This was a new model when I was shopping, and thought to give it a shot.
 
http://www.fishusa.com/tackleshop/catalog_product.asp?ProductFamilyID=%7B2C680EC1%2D30F2%2D4387%2DB43A%2DC058ADED7059%7D&i=EEC7C580A67E42DF8BA098D7E0C66ACE&fx=1

The shakespear Agility is a awesome real for the money. 27.00.
the drag is really smooth and I don't think you can beat them.

Those are good reels.  My father had one and it was great. No problem easy maintain ect.

  I lilke shimano reels.  I had a plueger president and only got a couple years out of it.  I have 4 stradics and am on my 2nd sahara which retails for around $60 and comes with a spare spool.  The stradics are around $160 now but well worth.  I've also fished diawa ss tournament series reels, they have one of the nicest drags on any spinning reel and lay line perfect on the spool but are not balanced and not very smooth.  The new stradic FI lay line awesome on a spool and have a sweet drag.  My 2 cents..

Penn Spinfisher SSG Series Spinning Reels 420  275/2 165/4  110/6       5.3:1
http://www.fishusa.com/Penn-Spinfisher-SSG-Spinning-Reels_p.html?i=DCABFB3458B24D1D9B55536221C9E4B4


Or http://www.fishusa.com/Penn-Captiva-Series-Spinning-Reels_p.html?i=DCABFB3458B24D1D9B55536221C9E4B4CV2000 120/6 5.5:1 32

http://www.fishusa.com/Shimano-Sahara-Spinning-Reels_p.html?i=DCABFB3458B24D1D9B55536221C9E4B4

post edited by pghmarty - 2008/06/10 13:51:06

Something new out now - I know it on my wish list ....

http://www.wavespinreel.com/specs.html

My favorite Shimano Stradic FK. I have presidents and tica cetus which are also real nice. No need to spend more than 50 bucks.