Cheap Overseas Spinning Reels

[YakSlacker]

Doing this on the phone, don't have my readers, and can't find a post someone had put on here about "cheap" Chinese reels. Alllll that said, THAT post inspired me to conduct my own experiments. So, I like keeping a bunch of ultra-light spinning rods/reels ready to go in case my family or one of my boys wants to gear up and take a bunch of their friends out. I used to have a bunch of abu garcia, Diawa...host of others, that were intended for me. As my boys were growing up, they and their friends ruined-lost-broke many fine combos. I decided to rebuild my arsenal this year and (after reading that post) I basically bought 1 of every 500, 1000, and 2000 "Cheap" overseas spinning reel I could find on Amazon. When I say cheap...I mean not one of them was over $15!

First, I am NOT a professional fisherman. I fish a lot, but not for food or money. I have been an avid recreational fisherman for 40 years. I have tried out most of the reels I brought in over the last 2-3 months. I intentionally put them through the test and I know how to. I fished trout, walleyes, Panfish, White Bass and Crappie over this period and caught many. I trolled, casted, cranked hard, manipulated the drags, back reeled intentionally...and whatever else you can think of. 

Here is the scoop. If you need a new spinning reel for 2 - 10lb test "type of fishing", if your budget is for a "under $100" reel, Every single one of these reels are working out absolutely fine. "0" complaints. I have fished very expensive reels that will out perform these reels, but not by much. For the average fisherman, comparing against every cabelas or Bass Pro light spinning reel LESS than $100, you will not go wrong with any of the $10-$15 dollar spinning reels you can find on Amazon. 

There you go.

[chi0082]

I don't know but the last one I bought the drag wasn't consistent at all. It wouldn't hold the drag where I set it. It would work itself loose after several minutes of fishing if I'm constantly throwing a lure and reeling it in. I would find myself catching a fish and the drag would be wayyyy too loose almost like it was on free spool and have lost fish this way. Thought it was a fluke so I bought another one, it was great when it was new, but after fighting several 20-30 large (3 lb) white bass, the reel now has some play in it and wobbles every now and then when reeling in. So I stopped buying them and sold them to some guy who could repair them. I really wanted to like them as they are cheap and look good with a million ball bearings, but I couldn't risk losing a nice bass or hybrid because the drag failed. I went back to the old workhorse Daiwa Revros reels I've been using.

[Terrierman]

I like good reels. 

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

1 hour ago, chi0082 said:

I don't know but the last one I bought the drag wasn't consistent at all. It wouldn't hold the drag where I set it. It would work itself loose after several minutes of fishing if I'm constantly throwing a lure and reeling it in. I would find myself catching a fish and the drag would be wayyyy too loose almost like it was on free spool and have lost fish this way. Thought it was a fluke so I bought another one, it was great when it was new, but after fighting several 20-30 large (3 lb) white bass, the reel now has some play in it and wobbles every now and then when reeling in. So I stopped buying them and sold them to some guy who could repair them. I really wanted to like them as they are cheap and look good with a million ball bearings, but I couldn't risk losing a nice bass or hybrid because the drag failed. I went back to the old workhorse Daiwa Revros reels I've been using.

Sounds like my experience with Lews spinning gear.  Dont get me wrong i love there baitcasters but the Lews spinners are not that good unless you go high end.  I have a lews gold spinner that is good so far but nothing like my Diawa Procyon.