Another "which reel" question...

It's likely one of those "get what you pay for" kind of things... I'm sure that reel will work just fine, but it won't be quite as smooth or durable as a higher-dollar model.

I'm sure you're right.  Buying a $40 reel and expecting it to perform as well as a $200 reel is foolish.  I'm thinking of buying the cheap reel, playing with it for a season, and seeing how it goes.  If it's something I want to use regularly, then I'll hand it off to one of my sons and upgrade.  If I just can't see a use to it, then I'm not out much. 

On the other hand, if I use it, hook into a monster fish, and burn it up, then I can go home and tell the wife I destroyed my reel and need a new one.  Since she dosn't know I'm buying this one in the first place, and doesn't know one of my reels from the next, she won't know how much the "replacement" should cost...

I know, that's bad.  Very very bad...

Baitcasters are not like spinning reels.spinning reels all almost cast the same.when you notice the price of the reel is when you retrieve it.then you'll notice the 50$ vs200$.
Baitcasters is the complete opposite. When you cast them you'll notice the 50vs200.you'll notice the retrieve also.I would if your budget allows drop between 100$-150$ price point.or better yet go out and fish with someone who has a bunch of tackle you could try a few cast on and see where abouts you want to spend your money on.
Ebay is a great tool if you know what your looking for.

You know, I hate it when somebody like you jumps in and starts giving me very sound and educated advice!   Based on my experience with all sorts of other purchases, I have absolutely no doubt you're right.  Just takes all the fun out of buying cheap now, regretting it, and buying expensive later...

Well, down the line when you see me posting a thread asking for the best reel in the $150-200 range, you'll have an "I told you so" card to throw down...Cuz we both pretty much know that if I buy the cheap reel at Wally World tomorrow, I'll be buying a better reel later on.
Ron.

you know years ago i was told on purchasing a guitar for my daughter,
buy a good one , its easier to play sounds better and more enjoyable.
if she does not like it you can sell it and be out less money than if ou bought a cheaper one. i say the same thing for reels.

you know years ago i was told on purchasing a guitar for my daughter,
buy a good one , its easier to play sounds better and more enjoyable.
if she does not like it you can sell it and be out less money than if ou bought a cheaper one. i say the same thing for reels.

Yeah, you're probably right.

No worries, thats what were here for to help each other out

Well I couldn't resist.  I was at Wally World and they had the Abu Silver max at $40.  I grabbed one up, spooled it with some 12# mono I had, and started playing.  Casts the large size Spook really well, but when I went to a 3" Rapala, I had an awsome bird's nest.  I got the hang of adjusting the spool tension, but haven't figured out how much magnetic brake to use.  My neighbor the bass fishing nut, said he doesn't even know how to use the magnetic brake, and doesn't bother.  He was casting my new rig in his yard, and said it's pretty good for the price. 

I figure if I go back to spinning reels, or stay with these and go higher end, this'll make a dandy kokanee trolling reel. 

Koke's are huge at Stampede right now by the way...
Ron.

The magnetic brake controls the spool speed at the beginning of the cast.and the tension knob controls the end of the cast.if your happy  with the spool tension knob setting then adjust your magnetic brake to your highest settings with the rapala lure.
Now your not gonna get much distance but give it a few cast then adjust the brake down 1-2 clicks until your able to get good distance without birdnesting.
If its numbered 1-10 you should fall in around 6-7.or 1-2 clicks above your middle setting on the brake dial

That makes sense.  With the heavier spook, I adjusted the spool tension by holding the rod tip up and letting the lure fall to the water just to where it wouldn't backlash with no thumb.  When I was casting, I used no magnetic brake.  Worked, but I really had to thumb it just right.  Then I tried just two clicks with the magnet and it was much easier and I could actually cast farther. 

Then I tried the same with the lighter Rapala.  Re-tuned the spool tension to that lure, then casted with only two clicks of magnet.  First cast, I felt it just starting to birds nest under my thumb, but got away with it. 

Second cast, a good trout hit the surface a little farther out than I had just cast.  I got cocky and let her rip.  Birds nested so bad, I had to cut the line and hand over hand the rapala back in.  Then I had to go home, grab the knife, and start cutting.  Re-spooled the reel with some 10# for round two. 

Good thing mono's cheap...

Ron.

Hey Ron. Something to keep in mind... If a rod casts a big spook well, it won't also cast a 3" rapala well. Rods are designed to "load up" then release during the cast, which is what gives your lure enough speed to outrun the spinning spool. If the rod is too heavy for the lure, it won't load up properly and you will backlash more easily.

With practice you'll learn to avoid the backlashes, but it'll always feel best when the rod is matched to the lure weight.

Good point about matching the rod to the lure weight. 

So, I thought about the idea that the spool tension controls the end of the cast, and the magnets control the beginning of the cast.  When I'm surf casting with my Penn Squall, I never adjust the spool tension.  It's always just snug enough to keep the spool from wobbling, but loose enough that a 1oz sinker would probably drop like a rock and birds nest.  I do all my adjusting with the magnetic brake.  Thought that was how it was supposed to be done. 
With any casting reel, if I'm gonna get a birds nest, it's pretty much always at the beginning of the cast, and not at the end. 

With that in mind, I just went into the back yard and tried the Rapala again.  I set the spool tension correctly for the lure, then cranked up the magnetic brake.  No birds nest, but not a very long cast either. 

Just for giggles, I backed way off on the spool tension and just used the magnetic brake.  Long casts and no backlash!

I'm thinking maybe on any cast, my thumb starts out stupid and gets smarter throughout the cast???

Ron.

The squall is a conventional reel vs the abu is a baitcaster.its like having two dodge rams, one being diesel and the other being gas.similar but very different. Conventional reels spools are alot bigger and heavier so the start up is not as fast vs the baitcaster will almost speed up automatically

Auto adjusting brakes, cast weights down to1/8oz

Magnetic brakes cast down to 1/4oz

Centrifugal brake down to 3/8oz

You know, I hate it when somebody like you jumps in and starts giving me very sound and educated advice!   Based on my experience with all sorts of other purchases, I have absolutely no doubt you're right.  Just takes all the fun out of buying cheap now, regretting it, and buying expensive later...

Well, down the line when you see me posting a thread asking for the best reel in the $150-200 range, you'll have an "I told you so" card to throw down...Cuz we both pretty much know that if I buy the cheap reel at Wally World tomorrow, I'll be buying a better reel later on.
Ron.

When you're ready to purchase wheels, please follow your own advice and just do it once.  Guaranteed the more expensive beach wheels are the way to go!

You know, I hate it when somebody like you jumps in and starts giving me very sound and educated advice!   Based on my experience with all sorts of other purchases, I have absolutely no doubt you're right.  Just takes all the fun out of buying cheap now, regretting it, and buying expensive later...

Well, down the line when you see me posting a thread asking for the best reel in the $150-200 range, you'll have an "I told you so" card to throw down...Cuz we both pretty much know that if I buy the cheap reel at Wally World tomorrow, I'll be buying a better reel later on.
Ron.

When you're ready to purchase wheels, please follow your own advice and just do it once.  Guaranteed the more expensive beach wheels are the way to go!

i wish somebody would compete with weelezee. all my internet searches for low pressure cart tire , keeps comming up weelezee..  meanwhile i build muscles draging the kayak down the beach, thinking all these tire manufactures one of them has got to have something at a reasonable price.