Best spincast reel for the money

[Spoonminnow]

Sounds like the Diawa GC80 might be the way to go. My experience with Johnson is not good and the p/u always has a line groove after a year, same for Daiwa spincast with the metallic p/u. To pay $51 for the Zebco Omega makes me wonder if the reel is really worth the price, especially after a few years of heavy use.

Gear ratio and spool diameter is important so I'll check out the GC80.

Question:
Some reels come with a certain pound test line already spooled; others have one line test/yard capacity printed on the housing. Does this mean I shouldn't spool higher or lower #test line for fear of grooving the bell or line p/u?
My last 6 spincast reels all had line wear grooving which catches and frays line, limiting casts. With my carpal tunnel and arthritis, spinning and underspin are reels I can only use some of the time.

For smaller diameter spools, you really can't go over 10lb test, but can I use 4lb test on a reel rated for 10?

Thanks

BTW, the best lines I have good luck with on spincast reels are Trilene XL and Suffix. Not so with flourocarbon or braid (which I always use as a 2' leader).

[Bronson]

I use 6 lb. fluorocarbon with the Diawa GC80 but it does show wear after awhile. I do try to straighen my line to get the twist out every couple of trips. Doesn't seem to matter as much when I use the same set up when I'm tightlining.

[CrappiePappy]

Question:
Some reels come with a certain pound test line already spooled; others have one line test/yard capacity printed on the housing. Does this mean I shouldn't spool higher or lower #test line for fear of grooving the bell or line p/u?
My last 6 spincast reels all had line wear grooving which catches and frays line, limiting casts. With my carpal tunnel and arthritis, spinning and underspin are reels I can only use some of the time.

For smaller diameter spools, you really can't go over 10lb test, but can I use 4lb test on a reel rated for 10?

Thanks

BTW, the best lines I have good luck with on spincast reels are Trilene XL and Suffix. Not so with flourocarbon or braid (which I always use as a 2' leader).

Most any reel that comes with pre-spooled line ... the line is usually not all that good. I'd probably take it down to around 1/2 a spool & put on some name brand line of your choice. You can determine if 1/2 spool is enough or not, by figuring how much line of a certain pound test it takes to fill the spool ... and how much of the new line/lb test it will take to refill it ... and still have ~ 20-50yds of new line added on (depending on reel size).
Most reels have a range of line sizes listed on the spool cap perimeter. These are guidelines, not rules. Putting a larger/smaller pound test line on should not be problematic, as far as the reel functioning, but may increase or decrease your casting distance. If the lines/sizes, you're already using, are grooving the p/u pin or the housing hole ... chances are that lighter or heavier pound test lines will do the same, unfortunately. Doh

And, yes ... you can use 4# test line on a reel that's rated for (or up to, or greater than) 10# test. It's just going to take more line to fill the spool (which is where leaving 1/2 of the "old" line on as backing, helps).

I see no problem with your line brand choices ... and them being fairly soft/limp lines, they should work well with spincasts. The stiffer the line, the more chance that your p/u pin is going to miss grabbing the line when you engage the handle. This causes line twist, which results in more problems.

... cp

[Spoonminnow]

Thanks - I figure the pickups will usually groove with a few years any unless I stay with light lures and
don't catch too many larger fish I have to horse out of cover.

[blue thunder]

i like the wally marshalls, 19.99 at bass pro

[yikess]

Pflueger President 6725 off ebay for $49 each is hard to beat.

[Bronson]

Another thing I like about the Diawa GC80 is the antireverse flipper on the top. Whenever I get a really good fish on I flip it forward and use my thumb and index finger for my drag. I don't think any spincast reels drags are as good as spinning but used this way they don't have to be.

I've caught some huge fish this way (you wouldn't believe me if I told you) using 6 lb. test line. It can also help you maintain consistent pressure on a big crappie which could prevent the hook from tearing out.

Over 30 years ago, I caught a state record channel catfish (25 lb.) with an old Zebco 404 and a very cheap rod (probably didn't cost but around $2 when it was brand new). The Zebco's drag wouldn't work and all it would do was take up line. I didn't think it had enough drag to reel in a bluegill. I started to throw it away but went ahead and hooked a bluegill by the tail and heaved it out in the middle of the lake.

Turned out to be the perfect tool when I hooked into a big catfish. I used my thumb and forefinger for my drag which allowed me to pressure the fish without having to worry about the drag not engaging quick enough. The big cat kept making hard runs every time I got it close to the bank but I just let it peel out line.

I learned a very valuable lesson that night, most big fish will make a 20-30 yard run, then they will check up and you have to work them back to you. After several runs, she started getting tired and I was finally able to land her. Of course it helped that there weren't any stickups for her to break off on.

It's amazing how many people break off fish in the wide open. At the same time, I lost a nice smallmouth last week doing the same thing. The problem was I was using a baitcaster and had to rely on the drag. That's why I love the antireverse feature on the GC80. Makes all the difference in the world when fighting a big fish. Your pin that picks up the line will last much longer too.

[Spoonminnow]

The Wally Marshall looks alot like the Minicast Super Ultralight Spincast Reel MC40 Online

[Bronson]

As you can tell by this thread, I've been a strong advocate for the Diawa GC80 reel but I don't find it perfect. I've talked to people at the company to make the same reel with the same quality but reduce the size by about 15%. This would make your rod and reel a better balanced outfit. Right now the Diawa GC80 seems a little more bulkier than it should be. If they made this one change, it would be hard to beat with anything close to its price range.

[Spoonminnow]

Pflueger President 6725

is a spinning reel. I own plenty of them, but with my carpal tunnel/ arthritis, I'm forced to used spincast for at least half the time. I've even started using a bantam Shimano baitcaster to cast 1/8 oz jigs in order to not have to use spinning in my right hand. I was never ambidextrous, so that's not an option.

The GC80 with it's "oscillating spool levelwind for consistent, tangle-free line winding and rotating tungsten carbide line pickup pin" does sound like a better technology that could help prevent line twist and internal line snags. 9 1/4 oz is a bit heavy but still outweighs having to open the cap and screw around with line nests.

Thanks