Whatever shimano sells. Probably the citica for that price. If I could just buy one baitcast though, it would be the chronarch.

Not just because we sell them, we could sell any reel but, because we only sell what we use and what we believe is the best.

For under $100 the US Reel Super Caster 1000 can't be beat! Try one and you WILL want another.

Capt E
CATCHDAT.com

I'd second that of the U.S. reels. I use both the U.S. baitcaster and a curado. Both are great reels but for 100 bucks the U.S. is solid and durable reel

Go to Bass Pro they have some Nice Combo for lil less the $100 high Speed too!!!!!!

I'm on the water over 200 days a year. The best reel for you $$$$ is the U.S. Reel. I put the Supercaster 1000 through hell day in and day out. You cant get a better bait-caster for the price. Check out catchdat.com as they take care of all their customers. Delivery to your door step, you won't be disappointed. Good luck in deciding.

Capt Marty

i never could use a baitcaster without literally being tied up in knots all day and blisters on my thumb, but thats a whole other topic.

i was wondering what sort of retrieve ratio do you really get with those things? like one turn of the handle will wind in how many inches of line?

i find even with spinning gear it takes a fast retrieve to get fish in without risking them getting slack and spitting the bait. i cant be the only one that finds fish swim straight at the boat more often then not and keeping a tight line is key.

Bait caster is the only reels I fish with. I've been using a baitcaster since I was 12, it's all what your used to. Check out my video from yesterday and you will see the U.S. Reel in action.

I find it also helps to match your rod to the reel. When I first started with them I was frustrated. Before I gave up I put the reel on a different rod and now I'm hooked! Expect a lot of backlashes at first. One trick I learned when I have a bad one is to put my thumb on the spool and crank real hard on the handle then release the spool and the birds nest will usually pull right out.

Keaker- I wondered the same thing. I find I have better feel when working plastics on the bottom or some of the awesome highlife swimmers! Also I'm able to walk the dog alot better when fishing top water baits.

Bought one from Catchdat.com and thank goodness the people at US reel fixed my problem with very little hassle because Capt Elton didn't seem to make it a priority. Dropped it in the boat for the first time and the reel completely failed. Guys at the warranty dept admitted that cheap plastic parts since they moved manufacturing to china were to blame. They replaced with metal and it has been flawless ever since. It casts further and has a better drag than any of my shimanos

Ill probably catch a lot of flack for this but, i really like my 5500 Ambassador. I believe it was $100. Very smooth, reliable, and an overall good reel in my opinion.

I've used ambassadors my whole life ...used to be able to get the rod n reel combo for around $60 , but now just the reels are like $80 .

Thanks a lot for the info guys.

Shakespeare Fact Recondion Baitcaster $25 for da Pair

That use to be all i used was Ambassador from 5000-6000 w/ good success until recently I have w/bad luck I guess from Saltwater/Brackish water Fishin, So i swapped to Spin Cast less expensive Shakespeare&Baitcast too so far they've held up good I got 2 Factory Recondtion Baitcaster So should be fully Loaded Again coming in soon

Everyone has opinions and this is mine. Keep in mind my intentions are not to beat up anyone but rather help people to make the right choice. If I was going to spend 100.00 on a reel it would be the Shimano Citica. I own 3 Citica's and 8 Curado's. The only real difference between it and the 150.00 Curado is the outside housing. The Citica can be bought at Academy or Wal Mart for about 100.00 every day. I have owned 4 US reels in which Terry & Capt Elton gave me my first one to help promote them on Catchdat .com . I was impressed with the reel at first because of the ability of making long casts and it's smoothness. I ordered 3 more reels with Terry and used them on every fishing trip. Long story short, the reels just did not hold up to everyday fishing from a guides standpoint. After a few months of heavy use the reels became very 'loose' and literally wore out from the inside out. I think they are comparable to Quantem reels. I have one US reel left that still works but I hardly use it. I brought the reels to my repair guy who complained the parts were hard to get and he does not like dealing with them.( I should have sent them back directly to US reel) I had an opportunity to fish last year on the redfish tour with some pro's who said the reels didn't hold up and they could not endorse them. The US reels would probably be a good choice for people that don't fish often but I would still put my money on the Shimano products( and no I'm not sponsored by Shimano). Maybe they are making the US reels with metal parts now instead of plastic and possibly could be better than the reels that I had bought. Another reel you may want to try is the Abu Garcia Revo. It's a low profile bait caster that I just started using but I have not had it long enough to give you an opinion on how it will hold up over the long haul. It is similar to the Citica in weight and size and has been a sweet little reel for the past 3 months.

...what's wrong w/'dem AbbaDabberGarseeer ???...and if you maintain and can depend on your equipment take one of each...bait caster,open face and a closed face all rigged different and 'ya have nutt'n to groan about !!!...just think how fast and versatile'ya get !!! cheers

P/S Fish Taxi...I'am screwed-up like that...cast w/the right, switch over to left hand and crank w/the right...but we can't throw a ball w/the right ???...French Mkt Grandpa would say I was born in a Quarter Moon ??? cheers

Like capt above has stated. Parts are easily obtainable for shimano. Everyone works on them. Lots of video online if u want to do maintenance yourself. I've tried most other brands and always find myself going back to shimano.

...years and years ago in a place far far away Puglias TD a part-sponsor to a Speck/Red Rodeo in Hopedale...Chags did not...we still have about 12 up-set long memory old coots in circulation...moral of story 'Never mess w/long memory old coots'...cheers

Although not a guide i fish 3 days a week and my thoughts are i would stick with shimano. Ive grew up using the old shimano bantam reels and fished many other types over the years and then once i got hooked on the older green curados havent seen the need to change. got 8 of them plus two newer curados so obviously doesnt make sense to change. Ive used and abused these reels and when they do have problems there is a local guy in houma who does wonders with making them brand new or even better than new for a pretty small amounts of money. I havent used the U.S. reels everyone many of the local guides use so i cant comment on them. And to that point much like buying a truck/car etc. If you want the truth about vehicles(obviously cant get at dealership) talk to a local respected mechanic that works on all types of vehicles. They can tell you all the things you need to know about which vehicles have more problems etc. Same suggestion on reels. Talk to someone who does repair work on them they can tell you and unbiased opinion which you may or not get on here. Ive tried some fleuger and other reels that were less than 100 bucks and all start out great and would probably make great freshwater reels but fall apart pretty quick saltwater fishing.. My thoughs anyway. and a final thought is with reels like most things for the most part you get what you pay for. Most reelsyou buy in that 30-80 dollars range regardless of brand arent going to hold up longterm and it is a better investment to pay for a 100 to 200 dollar reel regardless of brand althoug my preference is shimano based on using the same bunch of curados for about 15 years

Chronarch and curado all the way. I have one chronarch and two curados (all three about 7 years old) and they're the best baitcast I've ever had! Also have an old stradic and a newer Sahara. Shimano is my favorite.

Agreed Capt Bill the revo is sweet. They also make the Orra inshore version that I believe is a good reel but neither is under 100 bucks. The orra inshore and chronarch are my two favorite baitcasters. The only citica I have ever owned lies at the bottom of Brenton sound and it was only 3 days old so I can't pass fair judgement. However, I still think the US reel is your best bet for under $100

US Reel also makes several models over $100, one of them being the 'Salt' model but, I have never used any of them yet. I have never seen a reason to move up from the 1000.

I also have 4 of the spinning reels ($50-$60 range) that have been in use for about 3 years that I have done absolutly nothing to. They get a fresh water hose down once in a while, never even been oiled. Except for a smoother drag system I wouldn't rate them any better than my $100 Shimanos?

Capt E
CATCHDAT.com

i have been using bait cast for a long time, wasted money on cheap reels. last few years i found the one for just the right price, i ahve 4 shimano citica's best reel i found i use them for salt water only in the marsh all the time and never failed me. i always rinse with fresh water for the next trip. i have purchased all my reels through ebay for right at $100 brand new i find the ones that have free shipping. never had any issues. i have been using the shimano citica 200 g6 right hand. don't know if you are left or right handed, but anyway your choice. try one and you will see. good luck

Bought a us salt one not more than a year ago and its already totally ruined.the shimanos I have are still kicking after years.will never buy another us real again.great concept,cheaply made.

Gotta agree with Samarai, Tyhibbs8 and Mulechaser. Can't beat Shimano. Citica or Curado for that price, but I bought a Chronarch and a Calcutta that I've been abusing since the mid 90's. Aside from a little maintenance and replacing a few worn parts, they're still going strong and are still the best reels I've owned.

Damn Fine 10 Bearing Tough Reel For 80.00....Brothers Found Um, Bought Um and Use Them....I have used them and they are great BUT nothing in Left Handed For Me...

I owe an apology to the CatchDat.com crew. After talking to Terry I found out I had my contacts screwed up. I was truly frustrated that no one with the group would even respond to my issue after a month of attempts for advice (hence the reason for the bad press). Turns out they never knew I had a problem. I have since had no issues with my US reel and love using it. And knowing what I know now, when I am ready for anoter they will be the first place i look.

Fish Taxi...I still have a few baits I bought from that store (w/wooden floors)now and then would run into 'Old John Sr' at the barber shop and 'might' get a dozen oysters on the shells out of him (if he was in a good mood)...my Aunt was his CPA's secretary...cheers

All that I have been using lately is a lews real and it is about the best reel that I've come across.. It beats those new currado's by a long shot in my opinion

I recently got a lews tournament pro and while its a slick reel,I've been having terrible results with it. I could not cast it without getting a birdsnest. I guess I just havent gotten used to the two brake settings. Seems like my curado 50 performs so more efficiently. Might have to play with the lews a little more.