>>2518701You can think what you want, but I guarantee I fish 10x as much as you do. The fact is that even the budget shimanos and daiwas are smooth compared to all the other brands $100+ reels. Do they get nicer higher up the product range? Obviously, but it's not as noticeable the higher and higher you go. Aside from things like better sealing, more bearings, drag material, and lighter weight, the actual feeling isn't leaps and bounds better. Most people get suckered into getting a reel rated for "saltwater" for example, when the reality is that you still have to rinse and maintain those "saltwater" reels the same way you would the budget reels or they will be ruined. Aluminum body is another thing people fall for, when the Daiwa LT and Shimano Ci4 reels are strong enough where you rarely feel them flexing nowadays. Even the $50 Daiwas have machine cut gears now, and unless you're doing serious saltwater fishing, things like brass gears are a meme... even so, you should be using massive reels for that anyways. Now tell me more why a freshwater weekend fisherman needs a $300 reel... how much are they paying you? Why has my Shimano FX and Sienna beater reels(1000 size at that) lasted me for so long despite catching fish way too big for them? I haven't even maintained them either, the only thing I do is not lay them down in sand. I have expensive gear and cheap gear, it's the ultimate humbling experience to realize that plenty of things really are "just as good" after you drank the marketing koolaid.
