I’m not very diverse in my fishing experience so far, it’s mainly been bream, catfish and bass in creeks and lakes in GA and NC, and I’ve had plenty of success catching big fish using moderately priced underspin reels. As I’m only beginning to fish around here, and doing a bit of research online in saltwater fishing groups, it seems they are often seen as children’s reels, and get a whole lot of hate compared to baitcasters and open spincasting reels. If they work reliably and deliver consistent results for me, is there any big downside to using one for coastal fishing (for trout atleast)aside from the stigma? Right now underspin reels are all I own from lake fishing, so I’d also love to hear if anyone has a suggestion for a decent budget-priced rod/reel combination that might be more suited for someone who’s just beginning with saltwater fishing
Use what you have until it wears out or breaks,then go buy what you can afford and want.I have a variety of reels from the 404,733,808 zebco reels,2 penn’s a diawah[sp],mitchells,etc.
Double D.
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Originally posted by Double DUse what you have until it wears out or breaks,then go buy what you can afford and want.I have a variety of reels from the 404,733,808 zebco reels,2 penn’s a diawah[sp],mitchells,etc.
Double D.
I love a Zebco 33!! I have about 40 of them with a few being the early year models with the round ball instead of a thumb button. IMO, they arent heavy duty enough for most saltwater fish. You can use them, but plan on losing fish and wearing them out early.
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Pick up a couple of penn fierce 5000 combos and spool with 20-30 lb test braid. They aren’t the best but reasonably priced. The underspin and zebco won’t last too long in the salt.
Olde Man Charters
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Originally posted by sulcatamanPick up a couple of penn fierce 5000 combos and spool with 20-30 lb test braid. They aren’t the best but reasonably priced. The underspin and zebco won’t last too long in the salt.
Olde Man Charters
Thanks, I’m looking around at penn rod reel combos now and that’s definitely what I’m looking for in my price range, I’ll pick up the braided line as well.
I really like the Pflueger President reels in the smaller sizes with 10# mono on a Ugly Stik 7ft 1 piece medium light inshore spinning rod for trout. The rod/reel costs about $100. The Pflueger reels are not quite as slick as my Stradics, but are still great reels. The Ugly Stik rods are not as sensitive at the high dollar rods, but are plenty good enough to catch trout. I’m tough on my gear, so I don’t want to have to “baby” my rods and reels.
For redfish, use the “medium” Ugly Stiks and a little bigger President loaded with braid.
I used to buy Zebco 202’s when we were taking out folks new to saltwater fishing who had never used an open face spinning reel. The 202’s were familiar to most who had fished freshwater before. The 202’s used to cost maybe five dollars each. I’d buy a bunch of them. They worked great on trout when new. If one of them started causing trouble on a trip, I’d have several spares ready. They would last for maybe 5 or 6 trips. Then, I would throw them in the trash, and put on another five dollar 202.
Use what you have if it works OK for you. You can get better gear as the need arises.
spec
1980 Skandia 21 w/ '93 JohnRude 150 gas drinker
Was I the only one who is reading this to figure out what an ‘underspin’ is?
Fishing Nerd
“you win some, you lose some…but nothing beats getting some!”
Under spin reel??? They cast a MILE!
The pic above is about what I had in mind.
spec
1980 Skandia 21 w/ '93 JohnRude 150 gas drinker
I’ve liked the Penn Battles and Spinfisher reels on an appropriate rod (Star, shimano, penn). These reels have pretty good drags and are pretty simple. Parts are easy to get if something does break or gets lost. Drag washers are carbon fiber (HT-100) so you can apply quite a bit of drag with braid on a medium sized reel. Shimanos are smooth, but they’re all like a watch inside (complex) and they change models way too often. Maintain your reels in salt water…grease the drags, internals and oil the line roller.
I wanna thank everyone for their suggestions, I bought a penn fierce graphite combo, I’ve used it once so far and I had a great time using off a pier. (not used to open reels so I forgot to lift the bail a couple of times casting and I’m sure I looked funny but I’m learning quick). I’m already looking for a second rod so I can have two in the water, I’ll be out there often as I can from now on
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Originally posted by ElectricBass(not used to open reels so I forgot to lift the bail a couple of times casting and I’m sure I looked funny but I’m learning quick).
…I snapped a rig off the other week, bail closed, must have gone 100yrds out to sea! It will happen. Sounds like you are hooked, that too will happen! 
“There’s a fine line between fishing and standing in the surf like an idiot.”
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Originally posted by specI really like the Pflueger President reels in the smaller sizes with 10# mono on a Ugly Stik 7ft 1 piece medium light inshore spinning rod for trout. The rod/reel costs about $100. The Pflueger reels are not quite as slick as my Stradics, but are still great reels. The Ugly Stik rods are not as sensitive at the high dollar rods, but are plenty good enough to catch trout. I’m tough on my gear, so I don’t want to have to “baby” my rods and reels.
For redfish, use the “medium” Ugly Stiks and a little bigger President loaded with braid.
</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>Highly underrated reels IMO (underrated by saltwater folks at least). I have 4 or 5 Presidents on various rods. I use the 35 and 40 sized Pfluegers. A couple are on the 7’ Pflueger combo rod and couple of All Star rods.
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Originally posted by StumpNockerWas I the only one who is reading this to figure out what an ‘underspin’ is?
Fishing Nerd“you win some, you lose some…but nothing beats getting some!”
No. Thanks for axing
“Enough hijacking, this is a major thread”