Most reliable fishing reel under £25?

[duir]

My recent foray on the Ardnamurchan peninsula has finished off my £4.99 spinning reel! Now I am looking for something a little better but want to stick with the food for free (or as little as I can get away with!) concept.

I will use it mainly for spinning for sea fish and inland for trout etc.

My main criteria are:

Durability, compact, under £25 and able to use with my telescopic rod.

Any recommendations?

 

[uncleboo]

Any of the Far Eastern companies selling on E-bay, most tackle sold today is of Chinese origin anyway, regardless of brand.
I've had a few and they perform faultlessly and cheap enough to be almost disposable!!

 

[Prawnster]

There is a few on this page in that price range

http://www.gerrysfishing.com/shop_sub_category.asp?main=47&categoryID=125&tabID=1.

Those brands are normally excellent quality and the shop has very good customer service, I can personally recommend it.

 

[Opal]

I use Shimano, Youngs centrepin, Abu and the much cheaper Okuma fixed spool reels, these Okuma are absolutely a fine reel for the money.
I've used them for spinning from rocks to pike fishing on canals, If I take someone new to the sport I let them use an Okuma, if they drop it and break it (which I doubt) it didn't cost me much anyway.

 

[stooboy]

if heard good things about the okuma reels also, but i ended up going for ye old mitchel reel as it was on a special. Depending on your location take a wander through to glasgow angling center loads of choice there.

 

[Prawnster]

Yes I have an okuma reel as well, although it's a multiplier, and it's very good. Mitchell's are good too, I've used a few, good value.

 

[Thijzzz]

I'd go for Shimano or Daiwa. I have some more expensive Daiwa's and a few cheaper ones (€ 20,-) and they do the job excellently. My fishing buddy always uses Okuma (though a pricier model than what you want) and it's done its job very well also.

PS: Avatar caught with Daiwa Regal-Z reel ;-)

 

[slackman99]

It's a friday night so i'm in a good mood, and although I don't believe in it, a bit of karma never did anyone any harm. As I now live in Northampton which isn't that far from being the farthest place from the sea, drop me you address and i'll pop my old reel in the post (fixed spool okuma, in perfect working nick).

Dave

 

[lee2205]

have you tried somewhere like http://www.dragoncarpdirect.com/acatalog/categories.html ive had lots of gear from them and have always found them to be pretty good concidering the cost and deliverys not to bad either. it is cheep so you can get alot for your hard earned
lee

 

[Martin1]

I used to be an avid fisherman 30 odd years ago. I still have all my old gear and my late fathers. I was going to sell it but then after having seen just how cheap new stuff is these days I didn't as its worth s.f.a really by what I can gather.
Which leads me to your question. Have you considered looking on FleaBay? You can get some of the really old but good gear on there dirt cheap. Like my Mitchell 300 series fixed spool real etc. A classic in its day.
But I am sure all the cheap new gear is as good if not better probably now. Carbon rods and such.
( I still have a Spanish reed rod of my dads.)

 

[johnnytheboy]

Shimano fixed spools all day long!!!!!

 

[Bogman10]

Just try and get one with as many ball bearings in the drive that you can afford, Abu Garcia and Shimano are my 2 favorites and everytime I add a new reel to the pile, it is one of those 2 brands.

 

[Labrador]

Okuma reels have a good reputation & can be bought over the net quite reasonably.

 

[Cooper90]

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[Shewie]

Another vote for the Okumas, I bought one on the bay last year and it's really nicely put together. Great value for money and a reel of similar spec 10 years ago would have cost nearer £75.