Information needed: Please
Have been a salmon/steelheader for 30+ yrs. During that time my reels have been "level wind". The brands have been many ambassadeur, abu garcia, shimano, daiwa, and a few that are no longer made.

My fishing style is changing, still fishing for salmon, winter/summer steelhead but have gone to lighter lines, smaller weights, smaller lures....I would like help on:
1. what brand of "spinning reel" you feel is best.
2. what model and number(1000, 2000, etc) works good for you.
3. and a few reason why...
Thank you.....

The shimano spirex or solstace are good reels. I have caught 50 summer runs on the two solstaces 2000 I have and the drag and gears are still smooth. The 4000 size is better for winter fishing when 12 or 14 pound line is better. 1000's are too small and might not last as long as the 2000 series reels.

I just baught a shimano Symetre 2000RG. I have not even got the line on this reel but I like it because it's a smooth fealing reel and with the fightin drag and anti reverse it's a nice reel. and the thing I found in this reel that I like and have a hard time finding in allot of reels is the 6.0:1 gear ratio. That allows for fast line pickup when that metalhead runs right at you. I allso got a free exra line spool so I can change line wts without any extra trouble. this reel allos has the fluid drive and some trick stainless bearings. I can't stand talking about it I gotta get out and hook something with it. Oh one more point the 2000 is nice for casting the lighter lines for summer and like was said it holds up to the bigger fish without packing the big reels around.

I paid about 75 bucks for this one at Sportco in Fife. it was the last one on the shelf so I got 5% off. They should be getting more in soon.

I just bought a Okuma Granite 30. I have it on a G1000 Lami ultralite. Have not wet the line yet, but have used my big Okuma spinning reel for sturgeon and not had any problems. The 30 is a nice size, holds 210 yards of 6 pound test. Gears are 5.0 to 1. The reel is very smooth. And cheap, I paid like 30 bucks. Otherwise go with what KOB said. Those are nice reels, but I'm VERY hard on my reels, so I hate shelling out 70 bucks to have it last only a year or two. Never had a reel other than a Browning last very long. If you can find one of those, it might be a good bet also.

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Just because I look big, dumb, and ugly, doesn't mean I am. It means I can stomp you for calling me it!

I use a shimano Sustain 2000 and I really like it with 8 lb. line. The quickstop feature is good, the reel is very smooth, it doesn't wobble while you crank it, the drag is good, the retrieve rate is good. I've used it on the Kalama for two years without incident. I mostly float fish with it. Have caught steelhead up to 15 lbs. and handled them okay. Also, silvers were not a problem. To my mind it is a little light to crank heavy spoons and size 5 or 6 spinners. Smaller spinners would be fine.

The Shimano Sustain is and outstanding reel. I use it for floats and drift fishiing, but its expensive.Another important thing is line choice, I've found Gamakatsu co-polymer superior to any other line for limiting line twist.

Thanks for the comments on the spinning reels. Shimano level winds work great for me so it looks like it'll be a Shimano spinning reel.......duh me......should have asked for comments.....Rear drag vs. Front drag...."Tight lines, and may the rain fall always be light"

I've only used the Shimano Sustain in my favorite gear shop, a little too pricey for me, but it sure is smooth. I use the Shimano Spirex 2000 front drag on rivers. I like the paddle handle for when you set the hook and the fish comes at you, easy to find and crank.

I also like the trigger finger casting feature, particularly during the winter so you don't have to use both hands (one to flip the bail). These systems are most effective without anti-reverse allowing the bail to circle back to the top. A lot of folks would rather have the A-R, but I prefer the trigger.

Go with the front end drag. There is a noticeable difference in smoothness. Well worth the less convenient access, in my opinion.

The 2000 works great for 8-10 lb test, but if your going heavier, I'd go for the 4000. Love shopping for gear!

I've been using the spriex 2000 for about 3 years now and love it ,I'm kinda from the old school so I weny with the front drag and no trigger on the bail I like to be able to really feel the weight of the lure and such.I fish Ande flo- green in 8 and 10 test no problems here ...good luck

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Tight Lines
FISH ON ------<*)>><
Men are like fish we get into trouble when we open our mouths to much!!

I don't think you can go wrong with most any of the Shimano spinning setups. I've got a Sahara 4000, Symetre 4000 and another Sahara in the 2000. They're all very solid reels and have held up to a lot of abuse, and fish. The 4000 reels are my choice for fall and winter and the 2000 is a great light choice for summer. As for the automatic triggers, I've never had one that didn't eventually crap out or catch on something in the truck and get knocked off. Enjoy.

Bruce

Hey, just because you're fishing light lead and light line doesn't mean you need to invest in a spinning reel. If you are looking to cast long the reel isn't as important as the rod. But a quality reel does help. My favorite year a round combo and will out fish any for steelhead is the GLOOMIS 1084C IMX which is a 8-12lb 9' casting rod,and the Shimano Calais casting reel. The only setup I've got that will cast light line farther is my GLOOMIS 1141S a 4-8 lb spinning rod used with a Stradic loaded with 10 pound magnathin. If I really wanted smoothness I would get the Sustain. But spinning rod fishing is more work for longlining to steelhead and I just love a thumb drag.

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I have two Shimano Stradic 4000s. I like the anti-reverse and inner bail because it helps avoid tangles. The 4000 allows for more line. When I get low on line then I take it down half way on the spool and tie fresh line with a blood knot. It comes with an extra aluminum spool. My fishing buddy has the Shimano Sustain which is even nicer and has more bearings making it smoother but its more expensive. Shimano just came out with another spinning reel that is even better than the Sustain but it is even more pricey. Check out www.shimano.com for a description and www.cabelas.com for prices.

What about the Penn POwergraph series. OH and is 160 yds of 10 pound test good enuf for steelhead?.

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To Hell with the Antis!

C.D

I have a couple of shimano symetre reels in both the 2000 and 4000. I fish 6-10 lb.on the 2000 and 10-12 lb. on the 4000. The drags are excellent, very smooth. Most of the models are good, even the less expensive. (I have been told by several guide friends to stay away from the rear-drag models.) Mine are front drag and I've never had a problem. I would highly recommend them.

Howdy,
My reel is a Quantum (Zebco) Snapshot SX3. Four ballbearing's(one is in the oversized bail roller), rated at 160yd. 8lb. I use Ande 10#,I guess it holds around 125yd. of that. Strapped on a 8.5ft. Lamiglass N.W. special. This setup is almost weightless, and fishes all day without arm strain. If condition's call for it, I can cast a shrimp chunk, or cluster without any additional weight. The reel cost 33 buck's at Fred's, cheap. The paint has rubbed off the stem where it attaches to the rod, yet the side bearing's are still tight and reels smooth. I have no use for the snapshot feature however, and found out the balance of the reel is way out of whack if you remove said feature. I like it.

i have the y2k spirex and i love it, it's smooth, it has 4 ball bearing, and fluid drive to make the reel even smoother, the spirex has two handels which is a great convenience to me.

The 2000 size if the reel is better i think because, it holds a greater amount of line than the 1000, the wieght in ounces is not a great difference, and when you go out to the river you'll most likely see mostly every one who is using spinning reels will be using a 2000 size reel

Abu Garcia has just introduced their CD series center drag spinning reels which are suppose to be the "next" thing in spinning reels. The top of the lines are about $100. They look sweet but I have yet to try them, but I may pick one up for this summer.