Buy new reel or buy combo ?

[rutgersfan1]

As stated in my other post, it's been 25 yrs since I'd been fishing and now want to introduce my young kids to it. I still have quite a lot of gear and tackle but a couple of reels no longer work and the needed repair parts are no longer available.

I'd been to Dicks, Sports Authority and Walmart looking for new reels yet the rod/reel combos they sell cost almost what the reels do alone. For example, $40 bucks gets an ultra-lite ugly stick and a Shakespeare reel while $36 gets a reel sold separately.

What should I do ? Find used reels on the internet ? buy the new combos and sell my current rods on the internet ?

Buy better reels on-line thru Cabelas ? Generally I do not see value in high-end reels.

[AndyS]

I do not see value in high-end reels,..... you will when you hook a very large fish and need a smooth as glass drag.

Buy a cheap rod, get a good reel. http://www.daiwa.com/reel/spinning.aspx

[RAMMFISH66]

Cabelas combos are good for starters but will outlast many others....they are moderately priced and good value for the $$$$$$...Cabelas brand is the way to go....good luck with your search, Robbie

[dboyd101]

got a stradic 2500 last week @ cabelas w/a mag touch rod - the setup is AMAZING.

also got a shimano spyrex (i think) 2500 and it is also great and good for the kids... check it out!

[rutgersfan1]

I must have dropped my reels while moving here and there over the years...all Shimano ultralites with the QuikFire one-hand cast feature bought new in the mid-1980s...and unrepairable I am told. My rods are all still good.

I don't see the one-hand cast reels on the market anymore. ANd I don't see them come with extra spools for different #test anymore either.

Problem is, w/o extra spools I need three reels for different line # options and I don't want to spend a ton on three. And again, the Walmart Shakespeare/Ugly Stick ultralite combos for $40 seems like a good value.

Any other local supply stores worth checking out ? I'm in Essex.

A good reel is a must regardless of the type of fishing you are doin....when in dout put the money into a good reel....if you are bait fishing mostly the rod is not as impotant as if you are fishing artificals....you can always up grade your rod later. A good reel like a Stradic will last a long time if you mantain it properly...