Best spinning reel for steelhead $50-$100 range?

[tommyhydro]

Going to be in the market and just curious as to some opinions out there. Have been looking at the pfleuger president any thoughts good/bad?

[hewesbob]

Pfleuger Presidents are the only spinning reels that I use any more. I have six or eight of them on different style rods and I am always very pleased weather fishing for perch or steelhead, they cast nice and are light weight and have a very smooth retrieve. I still have some Mitchell 300's that I fished with in the early 1960's and I think these Presidents are going to prove they are just as durable as the Mitchells. Any reel that a person buys is only as good as the maintenance program, keeping them clean and oiled can help landing that monster steely.

[ragibby]

I have a president and I love it. Awesome reel. Good for all types of fishin, twitchin jigs, float fishin, drift fishin, throwing spoons and spinners. I've landed countless humpies with it and a coue chum last season and it preforms really nicely.

[MikeLFP]

Shimano Symetre is a great reel for a $100. I have one with 3 seasons on it. No problems!

[dutchman2858]

I have three Presidents in different sizes...love 'em. 10 bearings, very smooth and tough. You won't be sorry.

[KR58]

I have a president on my trout set up and love it. When it comes to salmon/steelhead I'm a baitcaster guy but if I were to get a spinning reel it would be a president or penn battle. The battle is rated for saltwater and j ust feels solid.

[kodacachers]

I have an Okuma rtx. It's a sweet reel, but I've only had cheap reels in the past to compare it to.

[tommyhydro]

Thanks guys, think I am gonna go with the president

[ragibby]

Great choice. You won't be sorry. Your gunna love it.

[mizm05]

I also own a President, and a Purist...love both of them. As long as Pfleuger keeps their quality where it's at, I'll keep buying their reels.

[fishinChristian]

President is my vote, too. I've landed huge fish with no problem, even on light line. I've got Shimanos that cost 5x as much and I like the president (the reel, not the golfer) as well or better.

[natetreat]

Penn Battle

[Bodofish]

Penn Battle

+1 I'm going to have to say yeah, for the knock down drag out!

[kyamukun]

Here's another vote for the Penn Battle. Lovin mine. Good for salt, but I've reserved mine for the rivers.

[goonatic]

im a shimano guy so id say a sahara or symetre, salt water ready, and smoother and stronger than all my presidents, plus great customer service. havent encountered any problems with any of my dozen shimanos over the years, new or old

[mizm05]

I also own a Sahara that is currently acting as a paperweight. One side of the bale just popped out one day. I was kinda surprised, considering it's a $70 reel, and a Shimano. Was not expecting that.

[mizm05]

$70 is a lot to us middle classers...My President was $50, and my Purist was $60...both have been through some good fights and have kept on going...still going. Love my Pfleugers.

[bugmasta]

Through Monday you can get the pflueger supreme xt for under $100 at sportco. Comes with an extra spool as well. Lighter and more powerful than the president. Retail is $149

[BentRod]

$70 is a lot to us middle classers...My President was $50, and my Purist was $60...both have been through some good fights and have kept on going...still going. Love my Pfleugers.

I bought a Symetre a few years ago. Loved it to begin with and then it started acting up. Turns out the grease on the gears would get displaced during use and it would start to bind up. Even after a complete teardown and maintenance it would happen again within a few weeks of use. If it got wet it would happen almost immediately. Completely turned me off to the the Shimano spinning reels. I was previously a strong believer in their reels as I've been using the economy versions nearly all my life without any problems previously. As for the Symetre, when it's working it's great, when it decides to quit while I'm on the water it's junk. My next spinning reel will most likely be a Pfleuger or Penn.

[mizm05]

This is a good recommendation...Sportco had a tent sale a few weeks back and the Pure Fishing rep was telling me that reel is basically the same as their Patriarch reel, just a couple different materials used and it's an ounce or two heavier...but it's basically the same quality as the Patriarch for $50 less.

Through Monday you can get the pflueger supreme xt for under $100 at sportco. Comes with an extra spool as well. Lighter and more powerful than the president. Retail is $149