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I have some Shimano Stradic CI4's. More than you want to pay, but light weight and great for saltwater.
If I were you, I wouldn't put more than 15 lb. braid on them. You get a lot of line twist with any braid over 15 lbs. on a small spinning reel. I moved up to 20 lb. once due to being in a hurry and not looking for the 15 lb., big mistake, in my opinion.
I love using a light weight reel to fish inland. Makes it a lot more fun.

call me cheap... but i have been using the quantum optix from academy for the past 5 years... $25 and i haven't had one fail on me yet... still work like the day i bought them.

Same one I got.....handled some big nasty reds no problem.

shimano for sure.. stradic is in your range and is a smooth reel.



i got a pair of the Lew's anodized aluminum pliers with the side cutters for $30. the cutters are tungsten and they cut braid awesome with one snip! and if the cutters eventually happen to wear out, they are replacable as are the jaws of the pliers! got em 6 months ago, shot it with corrosion-x and havent seen a speck of rust.

check em out here: http://www.sportsmansfactoryoutlet.c...Fishing/Detail

Them green and blue floating fishing pliers cut braid real good too.
X-Tool or something like that.

penn battle

all this fishing talk and all this rain....Lawd help dem fishies when all this freshwater moves out...You guys would laugh if you saw me tie a fishing knot...The OP said to tie uni with flourocarbon on the end for quicker bait change and visual....I would need to go to a ROCO class for 8 hrs to get that right! LOL...Great idea when you think about it, but I guarantee you I'd find a way to screw that up!

Thanks guys for all the suggestions. Think i might check out the penn battle. I like the shimanos but i find they are a little over priced. I have a shimano cardiff and i have used the calcutta and i find my ambassodors do just as good of a job as the shimano (baitcast) i guess it just preference. Thanks angin for the help.

Outcast Reel Co. Makes a great spinning reel and it sells for 89.95. Glen that owns Stick'Em Rods owns Outcast Reel Company. Great guy and backs up his product.
I have one at the house if you want to take a look at it.
+1

I've been using US Reels 240 supercaster reels for 4 years now and I love them. Great drag and can handle a wide range of line size from mono to braid. They're definitely worth throwing in the mix of possibilties.

Yes I love these reels I have them great reels

okuma with braid has been my go to

If the shimano's are a little out of your price range, go with Okuma. I have a couple that are about 5 yrs old and still silky smooth.

If you tie directly to your bait try using Tony clips. Makes swapping quick and easy. Fins windtamer is my braid Of choice.

It's all about how easy it is to "click the bale" over. I've owned about 10 Spinning reels in the last 10 years, love to fish with them, but in general I find none of the ones I've bought in the +/- $100.00 range hold up more 2-3 seasons of moderate use. Bait casting on the other hand go and go and last forever.

Penn slammers are great reels!

spinnin reel
 

My son bought a tourmanant choice from academy for 20 bucks on sale this is his second year with it and it is doing fine.

Just looked at the sale papers that reel combo is on sale now.

Penn gold series slammers