Best Conventional Reels Made, List Your Top 5

[Keta]

I said every man should have, not your not a man if you don't have.

I have 4, 3 of them 375's, when I sold firearms I had $ and could not help myself.   I'll let both of you be honorary owners of one.

[madday]

my list specifically base on my experience for jigging/trolling/bottom:
shimano ocea jigger 4000P
studio ocean mark blue heaven series
okuma makaira
shimano tiagra
bx series tie with saltiga z conv series....

[MarkT]

I use these a lot... Especially the 1st 4.

1. Calcutta 250
2. Curado 300
3. Penn 525 Mag
4. Progear Albacore Special 280
5. Avet HX Raptor

[Bunnlevel Sharker]

A tiagra 130 with 250lb spectra to a short 300lb topper.
A okuma makaira 50w with new low gear and straight 200lb braid to a windon of 400lb
A tanked out 6/0 extra wide
A tanked out 4/0w
A older Stella 20000 with the SS gears and the supermax spool

[turboal]

what, no Penn 9500 or 8500 ? as i got older i sort of moved on to 2spd reels
had a bunch of my International's converted by Cal's and picked up a few Avet's

[bluefish69]

I must still be in the Stone Age with reels

Newell 220

Newell 322

Newell 332

Newell 338

Daiwa Sealine 50H


Mike

[john2244]

For surf fishing this year I have been using and like:
Penn Mag Power 970's and 980's

My favorite reel for 15# up to sometimes 25# is a PG 255
My Favorite reel for 25# up to sometimes 50# is a PG 545

For long range fishing using 100# line I love my Penn International 20's.

With that said, the past couple of years I have been fishing many old Penn reels and they are a lot of fun.  This weekend I am going on a 2 day trip and taking 3 narrow Penn 4/0's (black side plate), one standard Penn 349, one wide Penn 349, and either a Penn Squidder 146 or Jigmaster 501.

John

[Ron Jones]

John, you have to tell us how your Grouper Specials do!!

Ron

[redsetta]

Lads, just thought I'd let ya know that, as per my all-time list above and thanks to AT member Andrew/raumati, I'm now 'tanking' my 349HC with what I assume is a fairly rare Tiburon kit...
Will be basically a narrow 6/0, with steel 113H gears (1:3.25), 6/0 AT handle, 7+1 drag from Lee and S/S sleeve.
Everything's done, bar the double-dog - which I'm yet to figure out.
Will keep yas updated...

[Frank]

I must still be in the Stone Age with reels

Newell 220

Newell 322

Newell 332

Newell 338

Daiwa Sealine 50H


Mike

Stone Age? Not at all Mike. Out of all the reels I own I get the most enjoyment out of fishing my Newells.. Plenty of guys on here fishing old Penns too. Simple Machines!!!

[bluefish69]

I forgot the Newell 229 this is a great all round size.

That would have made 6 favorites

Mike

[chandimaabu]

I use these  abu 7000c  abu 7500c .penn 555gs. daiwa sl50sh .daiwa 50shb.                                                                                                                                           

[LTM]

I'll bite.

I'll go from light line to heavier and try to keep cost in mind:

Daiwa Luna series; Abu 4600/5500 trumps Luna's for value.

Daiwa SLOSH/SLX series for value, followed closely by TLD15/30 (or 20/40) star drag

Avet SX, fantastic little reel

Avet LX6/3, great 40# reel

Tied between Daiwa 600H (Sealine series) vs Penn 113H series with mods

Yeah, I fudged in some areas by listing more than one; couldnt help myself.

Leo

[Tightlines667]

Heavy Offshore Trolling/Standup
1)Shimano Tiagra 80W-smooth
2)Penn International 80T-bulletproof
3)Penn Senator 12/0-also simple and bulletproof
4)Avet TREX 50-spooled with holo-core
5)Okuma Makiara-good performance, and cost

Light Trolling/standup
1)Shimano Tiagra-smooth, performance
2)Shimano TLD-cost,weight,simplicity
3)Penn International 30T-bulletproof
4)Okuma Makiara-quality/cost
5)Fin Nor Marquesa-weight,drag,capacity

Shoreline Casting
1)Newell S550 upgraded with alum frame, SS heli gears, smoothies, and ceramics
2)Penn 6/0 H upgraded with swordfish kit, ceramics, smoothies, SS

Deep Drop/Chunking
1)Shimano Torium
2)Penn 15KG
3)6/0-upgraded with accurate narrow spool, frame, side plates, smoothies etc.

Electric Deep Drop
1)Lingren Pitmann..simply the best
2)Diawa-small size, easy of use
3)Electramate w/12/0 cost/capacity
4)commercial grade elec/hydro bandits

Saltwater light tackle/casting
1)Shimano Calcuta..Smoooooth
2)Penn International 975..increased capacity, bulletproof/reliable

Freshwater Conventional Casting
1)Abu 5500 tried and true bulletproof muskey reel
2)Lews Speed Spool..classic bulletproof bass reel
3)Shimano Calcutta

Spinning
1)Shimano Stella -expensive, overly complicated...but it does perform!(Stella is better bang for the buck)
2)Mitchell..bulletproof
3)Penn offshore series spinners-simplicity/cost

Oh yea...and for precision salmon/trout trolling I like the Diawa reels with integrated line counters

I know the above list is well over 5...If I could only have 5 conventional reels for all fishing styles and for life..I would lean towards 1 from each list that are simple, durable, and rated high for long-term use/serviceability

[Dynamo]

If you could have only 5 conventional reels, what would they be listed in order of preference, 1 to 5.

Everol 14/0
Everol 4/0CS
Avet Raptor MXL
Penn 118
Penn 118