Fishing Reels: How Much Should You Really Be Paying?

In this video, Branson dives into the world of fishing gear and explores the differences between spinning reels at various price points. He takes us through a range of reels, starting at $100 and moving all the way up to $1000, discussing the features and technologies that become available as you increase your budget.
As a passionate fisherman himself, Branson offers unique insights and practical advice for anyone looking to upgrade their fishing gear. He highlights the advantages of investing in a higher-priced spinning reel, such as improved durability, smoother casting, and increased sensitivity.
Throughout the video, Branson provides detailed explanations of the various components that make up a spinning reel, including the spool, drag system, and handle. He also discusses the importance of considering the type of fishing you'll be doing and the species of fish you'll be targeting when selecting a reel.
Whether you're an experienced angler or just starting out, this video offers valuable information and expert guidance for anyone looking to upgrade their spinning reel. So grab your fishing rod and join Branson as he explores the world of high-end fishing gear!
Check out our selection of spinning reels in the store at
30801 US Highway 19 N
Palm Harbor, FL 34684
or check them out on or website here
tailwatershop....
Here's the reels featured in the video
Daiwa Eliminator - tailwatershop....
Shimano Stradic - tailwatershop....
Penn Slammer IV - tailwatershop....
Shimano Twin Power SW - tailwatershop....
Van Staal VS X2 - tailwatershop....
Shimano Stella SW - tailwatershop....

[@auvet1986]

If you want it, buy it. It’s a hobby. It may take awhile to save up for it but higher end reels are more fun to use and that’s what it’s all about. Glad you put in the part about taking care of it… most important of all.

[@Billyrussell0948]

Personally I use accurate for conventional, van stall for spinning, and Diawa for bait cast

[@maasai-]

I have three shimanos stradic fl , tp and stella , tp should be the right one to have for high end quality reels.

[@rl2382]

Give Pen Clash a try. It's a phenomenal reel for the money. I have one and after ten years. It is still holding up.

[@azmisabri1817]

Stella sw and twinpower sw ..are very very good reels...👍👍👍👍👍

[@rl2382]

I think you should have at least five setups for different applications and yes always take care of the reels. My $220 dollar Pen Clash after ten years is still holding up.

[@tailwateroutfitters]

Multiple setups are definitely a great way to go. That’s great after 10 years! I have a couple that just seem to be bulletproof like that

[@rl2382]

@@tailwateroutfitters awesome. Take care and good luck out there 🤙🏼

[@gogivunka]

200-300$ and you get yourself a NICE reel, without worring too much...even if you forget to wash it and store it correctly it will last atleast 2+ years, then you sell this one for 50-100$ and get new one for 200-300;)

[@mikem8295]

I have a gosa, twin power, and Stella. Gosa is just an insane value. Maybe the best value for any reel I’ve ever had. If I had to do it all over again…for the price difference I’d just get another twin power over the Stella

[@awilderireland]

Is a Twinpower SWor Stella SW better sealed than a Slammer? Genuine question. I would have thought not. But am open to correction. I thought they were smoother but not better sealed.

[@Thirteen7447]

I own both and I have dunked both in salt water and have no issues! I ALWAYS rinse off my reels after EVERY fishing trip, whether I dunk them or not. Got to take care good of them if you want them to last.

[@Ntyuask]

A testament to Shimano quality here... I never did any maintenance to my reel, never oiled or greased. Dropped it in the river an uncountable amount of times, stored it ina shed that gets super hot and super cold. I just generally abused the crud out of it. 27 years later, I finally am looking for a new reel because, surprise 😂, it developed a small catch where the gears are finally wearing out. And that was just the $150 version 27 years ago. Cant wait to get a new Shimano and get another 27 years out of it! (Maybe more if I actually am nice to this one lol!)

[@Al-oe8ib]

The new authority is fully ipx8 waterproof and hard to beat at half the price of anything similar. Cant tell you how smooth it is , and stays, and how easy to wash up after. So much better than a slammer

[@tailwateroutfitters]

It's a great reel!

[@peternguyen9602]

yea old is heavy as shit

[@Jetty.bum7]

Literally just an upgraded battle 3 not smooth at all super heavy

[@johnwilcox2951]

The Saragosa is half the price of the authority is also a fully ipx8 waterproof and is way smoother than any penn

[@andreasspyrou7688]

I am buying an Authority 4,500 HS i think

[@user-jg5zh]

Yes. I love shimano stella!!!

[@Teach_1ne]

I bought a Stella last March. It’s still in the 📦 🤦🏾‍♂️🤣. I’m babying tf out of it. I fish rocks a lot.

[@tailwateroutfitters]

Get out there and fish it!

[@artificialslinger9730]

@@tailwateroutfitters Amen !!! You only live once !!

[@artificialslinger9730]

You crazy !! I have 3. Trust me you need to get it of box and go fish. You won't regret it

[@Teach_1ne]

You all have motivated me to use it this fall. I think I’ll put Suffix 832 on there. 20-30 test… it’s the 6000HGSW Can use it to hook up with some fat stripers this month. Thanks for the encouragement

[@artificialslinger9730]

@@Teach_1ne once you break it in you probably won't touch your other combos much. 😂. Stella whole different ballgame 😂

[@gregsmith7821]

I have a Stella. It's not really the perfect real for me, as I inly use it fresh water, never in the rain and want a selectable reverse, with bait-runner. That said, it's a well put together reel that will probably see me out. I wish they made a reel of similar quality, with reverse and bait runner. I also have a few Vanfords (which I upgraded the bearings), which tbh, are about as good as it gets for me, with regards 'spinning'.

[@jonathangeorge-zs9vu]

Van staal doesn't get corrosion where as I have to rebuild my Stella's

[@markfauzi5587]

I've got a Shimano Stradic FL C3000XG 3 years ago and grabbed a Vandord C3000HG a year later. I feel more than enough for what those reels could offer. There're smooth, lightweight, durable and partially selaed. So, why should I spend $1000 for a spinning reel?

[@jinsu0504]

for one, the vanford and the stradic, while smooth when reeling underload, reeling with a fish on it increases resistance. I for one, felt little to no resistance using the stella and vanstaal. you can reel in fish with little to no effort and strain to the rod; increasing longevity of your rods as well. listen, when it comes to buying these expensive reels, you are right. It is like driving a luxury car. between a honda civic and a bmw x 7, they are both going to get you from point A to point B. now, the experience and the quality of the drive, thats where the difference is. It is significantly more enjoyable to ride a luxury car. stratic 5000 weighs in at roughly, 10.4 oz, the stella fk 5000 weighs in at 9.2oz. although not much on paper, that weight difference and reduction in resistance will significantly increase your experience on the water. at the end, it's all about how much you fish. if you tend to go multiple times per week, waking up during early hours of the morning chasing fish, why not. if youre a casual fisher, maybe fishing once or twice a month, stick with lower end reels, like the tsunami shields, stratic. having a better gear will not get you bigger fish, and thats a fact.

[@artificialslinger9730]

I have stradic FL , vanford , sustain , twin power FD , twin power XD , exsense and Stella. I can't talk from specifics / technical part of the reels. But from a on the water stand point you can definitely feel the difference between the reels as you go up in price. Can you get great fish on $100+ reels sure but will it perform as well as the 400+ reels absolutely not. The parts get better and stronger in the higher in reels.

[@jinsu0504]

@@artificialslinger9730 no joke...i felt like the tsunami shield 4000 (120$) reel felt much more stronger than the twinpower (420$). and thats without hesitation.

[@peternguyen9602]

I agree the vanford is the absolute best reel for the money light weight good drag and a beast , I have van staals and other such but the vanford is so good

[@miketorre16]

@@jinsu0504 exactly, when reeling a fish in on a Stella, its like a winch, or a pulley system... very impressive!!!

[@mysteriousoklahoma777]

I’m rough on gear..so 1k aint gonna happen. I’ve caught more fish more fish on a $200 rod reel setup…standing next to a guy using 1-2k setup. Technique matters and water know,edge, bait selection etc.

[@siquijorian73]

No high end Daiwas?

[@tailwateroutfitters]

We’ve got an exist vs Stella video in the works 😏

[@artificialslinger9730]

Unfortunately with 31 years fishing I have a bad addiction to fishing gear 😂 Problem I always have with reels , rods , lures and so on is like anything in life. You have so many people with so many outlooks. You have the sheep ( aka fan boys ) the ones who see and don't care about anything else but what brand they use , if it's not that brand everyone else is wrong and no other brands exist You have the negative people / trolls who just knock and bash brands with no personal experience and/or just to mess with people for no reason at all. Then you have the people like myself who have been around , have used just about every brand out their both older and newer , having the experience and seeing things from both sides of fence. When I was younger I was a Penn and daiwa fan as I got older I would and still continue to mess with other brands to see if there's anything that's " better " then what I'm using already. But for the last 17 years I've been pretty set on Shimano. FROM MY OWN experiences. I've only had 2 issues with my Shimano products. Both times they were taken care of in less then 2 weeks! Other then that my shimanos have been work horses. Do I think people need to spend $1000 on a reel absolutely not! There's so many reels that are fantastic starting around the $90-100 ish price point ( I.e. Shimano Sahara $89 , Shimano nasci $99 , daiwa Fuego lt $99 , Penn Battle 3 $100 ish ) But I definitely do think you get what you pay for. The higher up in the price NORMALLY the materials the reels are built with get better which means more reliability, durability and more refinement. I personally won't own anything under a Shimano Stradic and have model all the way up to the Stella ( stradic FL , vanford , sustain FJ , twin power FD , twin power XD Stella FJ and FK ) I have sunk my Stradic FL multiple times chasing snook around docks while Wade fishing and all I have done was taken the line roller apart ,took drag stack down and rinsed the entire reel , regreased my line roller and drag stack and it's still smooth as butter.) So Shimano has my trust hands down. The only recommendation I have to people is to stay away from off brand products. Just to name a few Florida Fishing Products, kastking , piscifun and any other china made junk. You'll regret having any these products. They will work for a few seasons tops but after that they just start falling apart

[@jinsu0504]

whats the point of having two twin powers when you have stella fj and fk??? are the stella fk and fj approved for SALT WATER use?

[@artificialslinger9730]

@@jinsu0504 I like variety. 😂. Also the twin power FD and XD are 2 completely different types of reels. XD is a finesse style reel / lightweight model and the FD is a workhorse / do all type of reel. Any reel can be used in saltwater as long as the person rinses off the reel after every use and does basic maintenance on it. You can use " saltwater approved " reels and if a person don't wash it or do basic maintenance that reel will rust and corrode just as easily as a " freshwater " reel will.

[@jinsu0504]

let me ask you another question. what is better when comparing the twin power FD and the stella FK. I returned my twin power FD to get stella FK, don't know if I made the right decision. I paired it up with the imx pro g loomis rod...and i usually use it for simple back bay, fluking and blackfishing on the piers. did i make the right decision, or should I have stuck with the twin power?

[@artificialslinger9730]

@@jinsu0504 Honestly they are both great reels. Once you get up in that price range especially in shimanos line you are basically splitting hairs. There's a few differences but honestly they are not that far apart from each other Going based off a 3000 model Twin Power FD has > -9 + 1 bearings -Gear ratio of 6.4.1 -weight of 7.6 -Aero Wrap II -HAGANE Body -MicroModule Gear II -Silent Drive -S A-RB Bearings -Waterproof Drag -X-Protect / X-Ship Technologies -One-Piece Bail Stella FK has > -12 + 1 bearings , -gear ratio of 6.4.1 , -weight of 7.4 -InfinityXross -InfinityLoop -InfinityDrive -Anti-Twist Fin -DuraCross Drag -MicroModule Gear II -HAGANE Gear -HAGANE Body -Long Stroke Spool -CI4+ -X-Protect -X-Ship -Titanium One-Piece Bail Shimano is really good with marketing. They make things sound better then they really are and unfortunately KZbinrs follow and use the same stuff Shimano does to push the reels even more. But having 3 Stella FJs I personally won't buy a Stella again. I'm going to stick with the twin powers for now on. For the very little differences between the twins and Stella's and the $400 ish price difference I'd rather buy 2 twins for the price of the Stella. And both are perfectly fine for the fishing you are doing. Basically those 2 reels really come down to personal preference to be honest

[@artificialslinger9730]

@@jinsu0504 also on a side note I used my buddy's Stella FK and my personal Stella FJ side by side besides looks I can't tell them apart performance wise.

[@Bigfish1day]

$650 is my limit for a reel. I have Penns, Van Staal and Twin Power, they all have specific uses for me. I looked at Stella, to me, not enough difference to justify price point past Twin Power.

[@miketorre16]

u never used one. i have the 4K FK.. its sick.... just saying

[@dinkobilic9078]

@@miketorre16 Stella fk is the best reel I ever held in my hands, period. It BLOWS anything out of the water from other manufacturers.

[@miketorre16]

@@dinkobilic9078 I agree. Couldn't be more happier with mine. I'm going out right now to go fishing.

[@dinkobilic9078]

@@miketorre16 I wish I had one. I just tried it in the shop...but the new reel is coming soon and after contemplating stella fk for a very long time, I still might end up with 2023 Vanquish due to weight difference.

[@miketorre16]

@dinkobilic9078 the weight is fine. I have the 4000fk and I use it daily. The performance is top notch. That's why I have a Stella SW ad well

[@wayneeden98]

I like a lot of different tackle and plus knowing how to keep good maintenance does make a difference

[@frostizz2072]

I wasted my money on the slammer 4 I bought a gosa after and it’s so much better

[@tailwateroutfitters]

Yea, the gosa is legendary

[@Jessica37323]

Can the shimano Stella be reeled under saltwater like the Van Staal, zeebass, Visser??

[@artificialslinger9730]

Vs sold their business awhile back and are not what they use to be. Still good reels but I personally wouldn't try that. Why would you anyways ? No Stella can not be reeled under water 🤦🏽‍♂️🤣

[@Jessica37323]

Cause you can with a Van Staal, Visser or zeebass...😁

[@artificialslinger9730]

@@Jessica37323 yeah , I wouldn't trust it. Lol I don't see the need for it either to be honest

[@OmarGarcia-vl6jx]

Spin fisher or slammer are war machine and i have twin power sw too but Penn Reels are solid and not pain in the pocket

[@shanilradegonde1900]

Not a daiwa to be compared to..its in another Laegue ?

[@Jessica37323]

Well the Van Staal is the only completely sealed reel you have on the table.

[@artificialslinger9730]

Yeah , unfortunately vs sold out to another company awhile back they been having a lot of issues since then. Customer service has went to poop badly. My buddy still waiting on them to send email to send his reel out. Reel had a manufacturer issue. Water got in. We both looked it over and can't see where the water got in on the body

[@jameshartman814]

@@artificialslinger9730 What reel the VS or the VR ? The VR isn't waterproof and people incorrectly think Van Stall im going swimming . Not the case with the VR.

[@artificialslinger9730]

@@jameshartman814 I'm not 100% sure which one. But I know he said it was supposed to be completely sealed. But he dropped it in the water by accident, was in the water for a few seconds tops. But the good news though they actually sent him a brand new one.

[@thelocotronaso]

I ❤️ my stella

[@Dave30867]

Maybe if i was fishing everyday or night i would consider a better quality reel but $1000.00 plus dollars nope never .

[@c.shoresfishing]

Penn authority eats Stella for breakfast

[@tailwateroutfitters]

BOLD statement!

[@c.shoresfishing]

@Tailwater Outfitters all the specs are nearly identical. However, the difference is price and being able to fully service the reels. You can quite literally take a penn to any repair shop and nearly have it fixed on the spot.

[@c.shoresfishing]

@Tailwater Outfitters also penn are made to be abused, and that's something no sane person is going to do with a stella. Hell, I'll even argue the slammer is better. If you're too afraid to damage the reel, then ultimately, it's worthless. The price makes stella worthless.

[@Ninj_SRG]

I’ve had an authority and it’s gone to shit. My stella is 9 years old still feels smoother than my 1 year old ci4+ and I’ve only serviced it 2 times after countless tarpon and snook.

[@hnt4fsh]

200-300 on spinning gear

[@artificialslinger9730]

Alot of good reels in that price range

[@tomdenapoli5313]

When the temperature changes things can get out of whack? 🤣 #science #factfree

[@maikp5505]

Yes, Stella is overpriced.

[@beimghadaw]

the last 2 reels don't catch fish, they catch dudes.

[@fishingislife34]

100 dollars for my usage

[@METATRON33]

Penn authority compared to the stella

[@123outdoorfun]

600 $

[@stripervince1]

I'd never get a stella, a saltiga is so much better. A stella has a THOUSAND Teeny little plastic parts. A saltiga has 100 and hardly any plastic. Look at exploded views of both. I'd say a saragosa or a van staal is better

[@jordangrabski2528]

FFP Osprey. Need nothing more, nothing less.

[@xrayron1]

ZeeBaaS