Northwest Fishing Reports

I just purchased a couple of new ten foot steelhead rods and I'm looking to pair them up with the best spinning reels that I can find. I'll be fishing mostly the upper columbia with bobber & jig from my boat and maybe a little from the shore around Pateros. If you had a couple of hundred dollars to spend on a spinning reel what would you buy?

Here it is.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/ ... t104837580

I've got one and soon another one. One sweet reel.

If you have a couple hundred to spend on one reel - then I agree with bodo. If you have a couple hundred to spend on a a couple reels (since you have a couple new rods), then I would go with the Diawa Tierra - They run about $100 and I have had really good luck with em.

Jens turned me on to the Shimano Symetre last year and I've really enjoyed it. It was about $100. I wish it would have come with an extra spool though.

If I were to buy the reel of my dreams this is it.

http://www.pfluegerfishing.com/products ... s.php?p=44

BentRod wrote:Jens turned me on to the Shimano Symetre last year and I've really enjoyed it. It was about $100. I wish it would have come with an extra spool though.

I second this!

I love the Pfluger Presidents, Landed a #30 king on mine on a 10' Okuma SST... smooth as silk drag all the way through the battle

+ 1 on the President reel. I have the XT one and its been good from trout to salmon. I also have used in the salt water and it was fine with care. The only Shimanos I have ever used were the cheapo ones just in case they get dunked in the salt water. The 30 dollar syncopate one I bought for trout fishing in the 2500 size, worked well against a 15 pound king that ripped line from it. My friend also owns a Sedona that was dunked in salt water and was starting to seize up. I tore the reel completely apart to clean it, lube it and grease it. It works perfectly fine now. The best one for you depends on how much you want to spend and the features you get for it. I like to check the reviews from Cabelas and Bass Pro Shop before buying a reel for and look for any complaints or shortcomings a reel has before purchasing.

Bodofish wrote:Here it is.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/ ... t104837580

I've got one and soon another one. One sweet reel.

Thats what were using now a buddy and I both picked it up. Very nice, light and smooth.

I have a penn battle 4000 reel, I believe it was around 90$ online. Never once given me a problem and drag is very smooth...

Shimano Symetre - EBay is a great source for them. Here's one with 10 hrs to go for $66 (incl sh):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SHIMANO-SYMETRE ... 3a6d787c9d

Or new, Buy it Now for $80!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shimano-New-Sym ... 27c0e88d93

Some of the "New" ones are last year's models, but really, they are virtually the same reel as the current model. The handle is different.

I love my Symetres!

If you like the Symetra, you will love the Stradic. Half the weight and 10 times the smooth. I have some Symetra's too and they still work flawlessly but the CI-4's are just sooooo.........

Bodofish wrote:If you like the Symetra, you will love the Stradic. Half the weight and 10 times the smooth. I have some Symetra's too and they still work flawlessly but the CI-4's are just sooooo.........

Couldnt agree more. There sweet.

tnj8222 wrote:

Bodofish wrote:If you like the Symetra, you will love the Stradic. Half the weight and 10 times the smooth. I have some Symetra's too and they still work flawlessly but the CI-4's are just sooooo.........

Couldnt agree more. There sweet.

yes, I have one of them as well. I agree.

Only possible issue I see is the Stradic is only a 6.x to 1 where the Symetre is a 7.x to 1. Normally the Stradic is ~$180 compared to ~$100 for the Symetre.

Still, two excellent reels.

PS: Cabelas in Post Falls Idaho has the Stradic on sale for $99 right now.

The Stradic's we have been talking about are the CI-4's, a little different than the metal ones. For their intended purpose, 7:1 can be a hindrance. We aint talking bass fishin, no need for a "burner".

Bodofish wrote:The Stradic's we have been talking about are the CI-4's, a little different than the metal ones. For their intended purpose, 7:1 can be a hindrance. We aint talking bass fishin, no need for a "burner".

I don't know squat about bobber & jig fishing from a boat, but from the bank I prefer a faster retreive. The faster I get that in at the end of the float, the faster it goes out again.

Touche! Can't say I do much bank fishing purely because I can't walk in or stand in the water for long. In the boat it's never that far away. Being granular is way more important than speed IMO.

I have the Quantam tour pro pti i bought it a few years ago, been a great reel. cabelas has a great deal on the catalyst
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Quantum1 ... 738977.uts" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I doubt you can compare Shimano Stradic CI-4to Quantum Quantum® Catalyst® PT listed above Stradic CI-4 is the top of the line. Pflueger Patriarch is cool too.