Hi ho all, the holiday season is inching closer and so I though I'd set out some ideas in the spinning reel department for a bit of well-earned self-gifting - hey don't we all have a bit of "fishing mad money" stashed, just waiting for the right purchase? I know, don't tell the Missus, right? 
Currently there are three inshore spinning reels in particular that I've looked at hard this season, all of which are worthy of considered discussion. And I'm limiting my thoughts to the approx. $100-150 or so class. Well, everybody knows that the Shimano Saragossa and Twin Power, as well as Daiwa's Certate are currently the Big Dogs (other than the ridiculously expensive Stellas, Exists and the like). But not everybody wants (or needs) to spend $400-700+ for an inshore spinner. Unless you want to fish with the best, I guess.
So in no particular order, first up is the new Shimano SW Inshore.
This is an interesting reel, in that its actually the last generation Stradic "FK" with a refreshed paint job, incorporating a few added SW-repelling seals and much more importantly, NO RUST-ABLE BALL BEARING IN THE LINE ROLLER. Truth be known, these things are generally more of a PITA than anything else. Instead of a bearing, Shimano wisely put a greased metal bushing inside the line roller, so to preclude that annoying raspy sound that such a teeny little bearing would begin making, very soon after being exposed to the corrosive effects of SW intrusion. Good move Shimano!
The last-gen Stradic FK was always considered a smooth reel, but this new Spheros, well, I don't really know how Shimano did it, but its at least as smooth, if not even smoother-turning than the current Stradic FL. I put them side-by-side, so I know what I'm talking about. Now consider this - the Stradic FK sold super-well at $199., but this reel, well, it sells for $119 in the 3000 size! This makes it a BEST BUY, all day long.
You can get "better" reels in Shimano's lineup of course, but why? What does a $200 Stradic FL, or even a $300 Sustain do that this reel cannot? Beats me. The "upgrades" in those reels are just not worth 2X and even 3X the cost of this reel. Not to me anyway. If I were in the market for a fluke spinner in this price range - there is zero doubt that this is one I'd go with. Oh sure, it utilizes a bushing instead of a right side handle bearing (easily remedied for a couple of bux - though not really needed) and a pair of Delrin bushings in the handle knob, instead of the Stradic's FL's ball bearings, (again, for SW use this is a PLUS not a negative), but for $119, who cares? Its already whisper quiet and smooth as 20 yr old Single Malt. Just a nice, nice reel. I cannot think of a better spinning reel for fluking in this price range. It. Just. Doesn't. Exist.
Oh, and did I mention that this Spheros also has the X-Ship dual ball-bearing pinion support system that all the better Shimano spinners feature? Well, ponder this - Shimano must have been concerned that this new reel would "cannibalize" sales from their equally-new more up-market reels, like the Ultegra and Stradic FL. So they've conveniently left the "X-Ship" badging off the outside of the reel. But for sure this technology is in there. I will bet dollars to donuts (Dunkin', of course!, I am Lep after all) that Shimano's all-powerful marketing department had something to do with this. Marketing (not engineering, unfortunately) is king in retail merchandizing these days. And no one on Earth is better at it than Shimano. Not in the fishing world, that's for sure!
Reel number two is an early 2021 release by Daiwa - the Procyon AL. What Daiwa did here was to take their carbon-bodied Procyon and give it an aluminum frame, for increased rigidity. Good move - and they are selling lots of them, according to the guys at The Tackle Trap, who are my go-to for all things Daiwa.
I believe that "looks" can be subjective, and to some, completely irrelevant. But to my eyes, this is a very pretty reel. That and the fact that it is available with the more powerful 5.2:1 gearset in the 2500/3000 sizes - for increased ease in pulling on decent fish, making this a solid choice for SW species that "take a bit of persuading" to get into the net. Daiwa actually released this reel to compete with the current Stradic FL. And it does undercut the Shimano price-wise a bit, coming in around $180 or so in the 2500/3000 sizes.
Its price is a good bit more than the above Spheros SW Inshore, that is for sure. The big difference between this reel and the Stradic/Spheros is that this reel uses a locomotive type of gear train, vs the "pawl-drive" spool oscillation that Shimano utilizes. Some say that the locomotion type can generate more power, but I'm not sold on this. Meh, tomato, tomaaato.
Both the Stradic and Procyon AL are very good indeed. But, it seems that there are some guys that just don't like Shimano and will always look elsewhere. Of course its a completely irrational argument, but we all know those type of guys are out there - right?
So anyway, if you want a more powerful set of gears (Spheros/Stradic are 6:1 reels), or you like Daiwa's thicker "AirBail" wire bail wire (I certainly do), or you just prefer the flashy silver/red paint job, then this reel is a solid choice. Oh, and I have to mention that its every bit as buttery-smooth turning as the above reel. When you do finally get to handle it, the quality is obvious. Also, it carries the same internals as my own up-market Ballistic LT, which reel has proven to me that it can take the abuse of pulling good fish out of 80 feet of water, all this past Summer long. I do like this little silver reel A LOT. Even at the increase cost that it carries over the Spheros above.
The third candidate is the Penn Battle III DX.
Penn surprised everyone with this reel - including many of its own dealers. Hey, the name "Penn Battle" everybody knows. They've always been tough reels, through the three generations that Penn has produced it.
However this DX version is unique in the spinning world, because it offers the increase toughness of a full set of brass gears - not just a brass pinion/aluminum main gear (which the more common "standard" Battle III carries). In the DX BOTH gears are made of brass - a much longer-lasting material for fishing reel gearing. Once brass gears seat themselves or "break in," you can expect a long, smooth life.
The "DX" in the name comes from the fact that its a "Dealer Exclusive," only available from factory-authorized distributors. It will not be mass-marketed like so many other Penn reels end up. You have to go to a real Daiwa dealer to buy it (Try Causeway B&T as John at Trophy Tackle, though he's as good as it gets in a local fishing shop, no longer carries Daiwa).
The silver paint job is a departure for Penn. I am told that they are actually test marketing the public's acceptance of a silver Penn, vs the endless generations of black/gold reels they've offered for what seems like forever. One dealer I spoke with told me that Penn is attempting to go after Shimano's Stradic with this reel - which is an interesting (though somewhat futile) point, considering the Stradic is about as well-accepted as any reel on Earth.
Anyway, the DX carries a price of around $130 in the 3000 size - which is a $10 or so up-charge over the standard Battle III, because of the better brass gearset. Money well spent! I like this reel a lot for heavier work, like shallow water tog jigging for example - because its got the guts to really bear down on a "good one," without over-stressing its gears. That’s the good news.
The other side of the coin is that it is not quite as free-turning as the first two reels I've mentioned, though it is still very nice to crank, indeed. Penns have always been like that, sacrificing super-smooth turning for increased, more direct-feeling strength. This isn't necessarily a negative, as many guys seem to prefer the solid feel of a Penn spinner with its slight resistance - and of course no one can question the ease of self-servicing or obtaining factory support on a Penn product. This DX version is a tough and very fine reel for heavier work.
One other very slight minus is that its just a bit heavier in the hand that the two foregoing candidates. Most would never notice this, but because I fish an ultra-lightweight Ballistic LT all Summer, to me the slight extra weight immediately becomes apparent. Anyway, I would compare the Battle III DX to the Evict 2000/3000 (full stainless steel gearset), except its less expensive and its Penn, not Tsunami. Don't get me wrong, I love my Evict, it is really a solid little reel. But I am concerned (a bit anyway) that Tsunami's on-line presence is so sketchy. Go ahead - try to find an Evict schematic on-line. Good luck. No such issues with just about any Penn ever produced. 'Nuff said.
So what reel in this price range did I purposely not mention? Well, that would be the ever-popular Daiwa BG series. I know I know, there's tons of them out there - and they have a loyal following. They do seem pretty nice, especially for the $99-109 price that Daiwa puts on them. But I cannot get past the fact that Daiwa did not use any specific water seals in this reel series and worse, they put a freakin' cast zinc main gear in it. This is just not for me. As an aside, one local shop (unexpectedly) received several spare gearsets with their first shipment of BGs from Daiwa. What does that say to you? I think it means Daiwa already knew there'd be issues with those Zinc main gears. So then why use Zinc? Beats me . . .
So those are my thoughts (along with those of some YT reviewers whose opinions I trust) - put forth for your review and consideration. I hope you find some of it useful, if you do decide to shop for a new spinner in this price range. There really is no "wrong" choice here.
Currently there are three inshore spinning reels in particular that I've looked at hard this season, all of which are worthy of considered discussion. And I'm limiting my thoughts to the approx. $100-150 or so class. Well, everybody knows that the Shimano Saragossa and Twin Power, as well as Daiwa's Certate are currently the Big Dogs (other than the ridiculously expensive Stellas, Exists and the like). But not everybody wants (or needs) to spend $400-700+ for an inshore spinner. Unless you want to fish with the best, I guess.
So in no particular order, first up is the new Shimano SW Inshore.
This is an interesting reel, in that its actually the last generation Stradic "FK" with a refreshed paint job, incorporating a few added SW-repelling seals and much more importantly, NO RUST-ABLE BALL BEARING IN THE LINE ROLLER. Truth be known, these things are generally more of a PITA than anything else. Instead of a bearing, Shimano wisely put a greased metal bushing inside the line roller, so to preclude that annoying raspy sound that such a teeny little bearing would begin making, very soon after being exposed to the corrosive effects of SW intrusion. Good move Shimano!
The last-gen Stradic FK was always considered a smooth reel, but this new Spheros, well, I don't really know how Shimano did it, but its at least as smooth, if not even smoother-turning than the current Stradic FL. I put them side-by-side, so I know what I'm talking about. Now consider this - the Stradic FK sold super-well at $199., but this reel, well, it sells for $119 in the 3000 size! This makes it a BEST BUY, all day long.
You can get "better" reels in Shimano's lineup of course, but why? What does a $200 Stradic FL, or even a $300 Sustain do that this reel cannot? Beats me. The "upgrades" in those reels are just not worth 2X and even 3X the cost of this reel. Not to me anyway. If I were in the market for a fluke spinner in this price range - there is zero doubt that this is one I'd go with. Oh sure, it utilizes a bushing instead of a right side handle bearing (easily remedied for a couple of bux - though not really needed) and a pair of Delrin bushings in the handle knob, instead of the Stradic's FL's ball bearings, (again, for SW use this is a PLUS not a negative), but for $119, who cares? Its already whisper quiet and smooth as 20 yr old Single Malt. Just a nice, nice reel. I cannot think of a better spinning reel for fluking in this price range. It. Just. Doesn't. Exist.
Oh, and did I mention that this Spheros also has the X-Ship dual ball-bearing pinion support system that all the better Shimano spinners feature? Well, ponder this - Shimano must have been concerned that this new reel would "cannibalize" sales from their equally-new more up-market reels, like the Ultegra and Stradic FL. So they've conveniently left the "X-Ship" badging off the outside of the reel. But for sure this technology is in there. I will bet dollars to donuts (Dunkin', of course!, I am Lep after all) that Shimano's all-powerful marketing department had something to do with this. Marketing (not engineering, unfortunately) is king in retail merchandizing these days. And no one on Earth is better at it than Shimano. Not in the fishing world, that's for sure!
Reel number two is an early 2021 release by Daiwa - the Procyon AL. What Daiwa did here was to take their carbon-bodied Procyon and give it an aluminum frame, for increased rigidity. Good move - and they are selling lots of them, according to the guys at The Tackle Trap, who are my go-to for all things Daiwa.
I believe that "looks" can be subjective, and to some, completely irrelevant. But to my eyes, this is a very pretty reel. That and the fact that it is available with the more powerful 5.2:1 gearset in the 2500/3000 sizes - for increased ease in pulling on decent fish, making this a solid choice for SW species that "take a bit of persuading" to get into the net. Daiwa actually released this reel to compete with the current Stradic FL. And it does undercut the Shimano price-wise a bit, coming in around $180 or so in the 2500/3000 sizes.
Its price is a good bit more than the above Spheros SW Inshore, that is for sure. The big difference between this reel and the Stradic/Spheros is that this reel uses a locomotive type of gear train, vs the "pawl-drive" spool oscillation that Shimano utilizes. Some say that the locomotion type can generate more power, but I'm not sold on this. Meh, tomato, tomaaato.
Both the Stradic and Procyon AL are very good indeed. But, it seems that there are some guys that just don't like Shimano and will always look elsewhere. Of course its a completely irrational argument, but we all know those type of guys are out there - right?
So anyway, if you want a more powerful set of gears (Spheros/Stradic are 6:1 reels), or you like Daiwa's thicker "AirBail" wire bail wire (I certainly do), or you just prefer the flashy silver/red paint job, then this reel is a solid choice. Oh, and I have to mention that its every bit as buttery-smooth turning as the above reel. When you do finally get to handle it, the quality is obvious. Also, it carries the same internals as my own up-market Ballistic LT, which reel has proven to me that it can take the abuse of pulling good fish out of 80 feet of water, all this past Summer long. I do like this little silver reel A LOT. Even at the increase cost that it carries over the Spheros above.
The third candidate is the Penn Battle III DX.
Penn surprised everyone with this reel - including many of its own dealers. Hey, the name "Penn Battle" everybody knows. They've always been tough reels, through the three generations that Penn has produced it.
However this DX version is unique in the spinning world, because it offers the increase toughness of a full set of brass gears - not just a brass pinion/aluminum main gear (which the more common "standard" Battle III carries). In the DX BOTH gears are made of brass - a much longer-lasting material for fishing reel gearing. Once brass gears seat themselves or "break in," you can expect a long, smooth life.
The "DX" in the name comes from the fact that its a "Dealer Exclusive," only available from factory-authorized distributors. It will not be mass-marketed like so many other Penn reels end up. You have to go to a real Daiwa dealer to buy it (Try Causeway B&T as John at Trophy Tackle, though he's as good as it gets in a local fishing shop, no longer carries Daiwa).
The silver paint job is a departure for Penn. I am told that they are actually test marketing the public's acceptance of a silver Penn, vs the endless generations of black/gold reels they've offered for what seems like forever. One dealer I spoke with told me that Penn is attempting to go after Shimano's Stradic with this reel - which is an interesting (though somewhat futile) point, considering the Stradic is about as well-accepted as any reel on Earth.
Anyway, the DX carries a price of around $130 in the 3000 size - which is a $10 or so up-charge over the standard Battle III, because of the better brass gearset. Money well spent! I like this reel a lot for heavier work, like shallow water tog jigging for example - because its got the guts to really bear down on a "good one," without over-stressing its gears. That’s the good news.
The other side of the coin is that it is not quite as free-turning as the first two reels I've mentioned, though it is still very nice to crank, indeed. Penns have always been like that, sacrificing super-smooth turning for increased, more direct-feeling strength. This isn't necessarily a negative, as many guys seem to prefer the solid feel of a Penn spinner with its slight resistance - and of course no one can question the ease of self-servicing or obtaining factory support on a Penn product. This DX version is a tough and very fine reel for heavier work.
One other very slight minus is that its just a bit heavier in the hand that the two foregoing candidates. Most would never notice this, but because I fish an ultra-lightweight Ballistic LT all Summer, to me the slight extra weight immediately becomes apparent. Anyway, I would compare the Battle III DX to the Evict 2000/3000 (full stainless steel gearset), except its less expensive and its Penn, not Tsunami. Don't get me wrong, I love my Evict, it is really a solid little reel. But I am concerned (a bit anyway) that Tsunami's on-line presence is so sketchy. Go ahead - try to find an Evict schematic on-line. Good luck. No such issues with just about any Penn ever produced. 'Nuff said.
So what reel in this price range did I purposely not mention? Well, that would be the ever-popular Daiwa BG series. I know I know, there's tons of them out there - and they have a loyal following. They do seem pretty nice, especially for the $99-109 price that Daiwa puts on them. But I cannot get past the fact that Daiwa did not use any specific water seals in this reel series and worse, they put a freakin' cast zinc main gear in it. This is just not for me. As an aside, one local shop (unexpectedly) received several spare gearsets with their first shipment of BGs from Daiwa. What does that say to you? I think it means Daiwa already knew there'd be issues with those Zinc main gears. So then why use Zinc? Beats me . . .
So those are my thoughts (along with those of some YT reviewers whose opinions I trust) - put forth for your review and consideration. I hope you find some of it useful, if you do decide to shop for a new spinner in this price range. There really is no "wrong" choice here.
